# Nick Saban says Skip Bertman was ‘100% right’ that leaving LSU was a mistake

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-15 00:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Former football coach Nick Saban expresses regret over ignoring the advice of legendary LSU baseball coach Skip Bertman following Bertman's death at 88.

## Intelligence Brief
The sports community is mourning the loss of Skip Bertman, a legendary figure in LSU baseball and a former Athletic Director, who has passed away at the age of 88. The news of his death was reported by outlets including WWLTV.com and WBRZ, sparking a wave of tributes across Louisiana. Amidst the memorials, Nick Saban has made a candid admission regarding his professional history with the late coach. According to Yahoo Sports, Saban stated that he previously asked Bertman for career advice and chose to do the opposite of what was suggested. Coverage of Bertman's passing is extensive across regional and national sports media. NOLA.com describes him as the greatest of all time, asserting that the Age of Bertman continues to live on at LSU.


Yahoo Sports has focused on his multifaceted legacy as a father, leader, and coach, publishing interviews featuring various stories and memories from those who knew him. Additionally, Louisiana Sports features insights from Palmer, who characterizes Bertman's overall impact on the people of Louisiana and the university as immeasurable. The reporting emphasizes that his influence extended beyond the baseball diamond to his tenure as the school's Athletic Director. The context of this trending story lies in the immense legacy Bertman built at Louisiana State University. As a champion and a leader, he is credited with transforming the trajectory of the baseball program and the athletic department. For Nick Saban, the admission highlights a specific moment of career pivot where Bertman's guidance conflicted with Saban's own decision to depart the university.


This public acknowledgement of a career mistake connects two of the most prominent figures in the history of LSU athletics, framing Bertman not only as a tactical coach but as a strategic mentor whose instincts proved correct in the long term. Moving forward, coverage is expected to continue focusing on the enduring legacy of Skip Bertman as LSU fans and alumni share further recollections. The reports from WBRZ and other local outlets indicate a sustained period of remembrance for the former coach. Observers will likely look for further details regarding the specific advice Saban ignored, though current reports from Yahoo Sports focus on the general regret rather than the specific nature of the conversation. The sports world remains centered on the impact of the man NOLA.com identifies as a legend whose voice has been stilled but whose influence persists.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| WWLTV.com | LSU baseball legend Skip Bertman dies at 88 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivgFBVV95cUxQUk9oYlF2UWJTaklmR2tlOTNLaDkxXzRSLTZVbWJISFJwWHZZalRJZ2VvWUdKWllISXU2QTh1dUxlTDNQZHdLbGxkYzR0QTdjdE1xbkE3UUg4TXlwU1RIMmJHeExlaERET0RScUxEN0VDT2hOZ0N3eXRvejRJblhmRkNzdHU5QW9MSnRESF9uNllMd0FPVjFBRURWMXdjbWdBMHBDOUFVRUNrSUw2cmVxNDFfMVBpRmpLTDJWaVhR?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | INTERVIEWS: Memories, stories from the life of Skip Bertman | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxQakFlWWh3ODNBWFNYcHlScHNuTHJEeF95ZUlRdWJGWjhfVkZYWUNzZ053NjA3T3l0MFA3MXdTdFFRcDJYUGtFRG85QXVOVjFiNU50NEhVZHpjQTU3bjROazAwRTU4UW9OcG9CRThxU1V2ZUdKTkNNc0pSaW1LOVBEQnJPbXktOXBVQlpTYy12Yw?oc=5) |
| NOLA.com | ‘He was the greatest of all time’: Skip Bertman’s legacy at LSU lives on as champion, legend | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi3gFBVV95cUxQaFE5X2lFWHhHbVE2cTZ2dE5pUk5OMUFucnY4LXJfWmtxNk1fVDE4RTl6X1NrQnJ4cDhSRm9uWG9uVm1fRDRtbVF2QWxmYmZoMWh2d2Z4QXhqQllzUEtyVXgteVVXZi1RYlpmVC1Ra0dWbkxNcmpsNHlKSlR2NDF6SW1WYjl1N25PamFkQUJsWlZMcWRDdmdnRXVVOUhpaDczV2pzR2VXNmU0V3J0VDZYWXRlVVNWQlI2VEZ2elpaZEJWVmN6UHNmdU14Z0pkZnlOT2RpTHpZc3dDREVCNVE?oc=5) |
| Louisiana Sports | PALMER: Bertman’s impact on people, LSU is immeasurable | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxQaDBMd1V6VjV4U0JHOXNteWgxeFNDcjVoU3FONGR3dmRmNEhZNmxxQ2pxQ0JQZ2VsX1NqeFpXTkllU3J4QU5hV3RBNHRTbTZudDN2TVZ4bkQ3anFjVFZaX2s4ZVhBR1ZWUktvQkxsV2Rxejh6SDcxa1VZNnBFcFdxR1VyRV9jZ3BJZUotc3JhYzhTR0Y1UkcwVm53OE1kWU5odmxmOFY5Rjk5a2c?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | The Legacy of Skip Bertman: Father, coach, leader | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxONHF1Qkw3LVhMcFBTazFpbVVzVnBGeGtvY2NaX1ZIaTVWenhHV053Q3VJMUU4aDNVLUs2QUdKdzJtUmVVTkhkb210Z29WbWxLQVhEWUFhNHRTOW4tRm9mY0x3aEx4QWZqT01uZEtnU3dqaVYxRS1GOFFXMkJ4azRNVDdaZVFvbmh1?oc=5) |
| WBRZ | LSU fans remember former LSU Baseball Coach and Athletic Director Skip Bertman | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxPRHMwRXc0Rkl4UW41MXphREZGNlVsZl82UlQ5anVuUkpQSTBEQk9VdEc4S1NBNXRqVFkxQmNHTUtDS2J6RV80WEhkclY5eXVPVWdqaE9PT3lOWFMtNmRCaVdZQ3VEYjB0UFZMOG9nd3pUdml6c2VBN0o0TDlYOHFRVmhzdVJwb1lhQ0ZJbEFISGhXcm05OGFGeWdfZ0dTaTNUVEg1MDFIODg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | "Did Just the Opposite": Nick Saban Admits He Asked LSU Baseball Legend for Advice and Ignored It for Career Mistake He Regrets | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxPUXB0NVl0enNNX0dURXprZ291WFlsc202bDkyOHNxQTBjNm5aZXdVczFqc0sycWJxdThJbWJmVHJUOE9WM0JBVGpibWtDcXpXaXI2N0tfNUJOb1VickZPZ1VWbGpNNEU3eEhrUlNtUm5xMGxPcWIxckZkOXFzS3NKSkxrdw?oc=5) |
| NOLA.com | Scott Rabalais: Skip Bertman’s voice is stilled, but LSU’s ‘Age of Bertman’ lives on | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi7AFBVV95cUxONndiWWNpdUVtdUdscVlCU01TWkpZdk1NZVhldjFuZVdickE5ZmtnWVRXY3FTZWo1dXdMNHhrREFVM0dlOV9NUHVyWjE4M0Y5X2thWXE1V0JyWG5iSDZvSEJta3ZoQjljMzVVQWNnaHBDT1NBdUtqZEUzaU5naXVTajRLTWxqSklPSnIzWlFYaWNYLWZKT0dJdmpHVktFYW8yN0pOX19pOU1IVkhsS0tkcWZyX0xhaDJ6QUlWU201UGhaQm1XTS1zNXdOamtEdUV2UzhIaFQtUXlkZVRnV1lqaDE1ajh0Wlh0b2lSdw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-15/nick-saban-says-skip-bertman-was-100-right-that-leaving-lsu-was-a-mistake*