Preseason SEC Power Poll: Ranking the Coaches
12. Bobby Johnson - Frequently gets credit for doing more with less, but after he still couldn't break through the five win ceiling with the best team he has fielded yet he drops to the bottom.
11. Sylvester Croom - Sly pulled off a miracle last season, and by all accounts he's doing things right in Starkville and is a great guy. But he won with defense and special teams and his brand of west coast offense has yet to do anything more than produce a couple of good power backs. With Ellis Johnson gone, I doubt State will make another trip to the postseason, and he's still at the bottom of the barrell.
10. Rich Brooks - I feel like Brooks should be higher for what he's done with UK the past few years, but you can argue that it was a happy confluence of talent that built those results and that he hasn't built a program that can sustain that success.
9. Steve Spurrier - I hate putting him this low, as well, but his offense just isn't what it used to be and, like Croom, his best teams have won with defense, something he all but ignores.
8. Bobby Petrino - Jury is still out, but he gets at least this high on rep alone. It will be a tough year (or maybe few years) for him until he can get the right personnel into Arkansas.
7. Houston Nutt - Did more with less at Arkansas, and has some talent to work with at Ole Miss. Won't set the conference on fire, but will be a pain in the neck for the rest of the division and is going to ruin a lot of people's seasons before he's done.
![]() He scares me. |
6. Phil Fulmer - He's pretty well worked the Vols backwards to the middle of the conference, so in the middle of the poll he goes.
5. Les Miles - He strikes me as the kind of huckster car salesman that's damn good at selling himself first, even if his product isn't all that you expect it to be. But hats off to him, he's sustained the success level at LSU, is still keeping the blue chip recruits rolling in, and has done well so far as assistants go.
4. Tommy Tuberville - Has reverted back to the 9 win mean that had boosters on a plane to Louisville, and you have to wonder what the Auburn faithful would be thinking of him if it weren't for the six win streak over Alabama.
3. Nick Saban - He's walked back into college football, completely reshaped the culture of one of (if not THE) most obstinate fan bases in the country in his own image, landed a top recruiting class and assembled an amazing staff despite a reputation for being an utter tyrant, all in one (7-6) year. Name me another coach that could have done the same?
2. Mark Richt - Has really grown into the role of elite head coach and could be at number 1 in next year's preseason poll if the Dawgs live up to their potential.
1. Urban Meyer - His offensive system is brilliant, and as soon as he can build up the depth on defense (which he will, since he's an insane recruiter) there is no telling how terrifying they will be.
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I'm wondering, people...
…if Nick Saban gets named VP for McCain or Obama and leaves the Capstone, which of these coaches would you want to replace him: Les Miles, Phil Fulmer, Houston Nutt, or Steve Spurrier? And what order would you place the other three in, just in case your first choice said “No”? Does your list correspond with their rankings above? Mine, alas, does not. In fact, it is the inverse/reverse/converse (pick one) of those rankings.
Oh, and Nick Saban at #3? He was 7-6 last year!
He should be at #2.
by NiceLittleSaturday on
Aug 20, 2008 1:41 PM CDT
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is urban meyer's offense really that good
when he first came to the SEC most thought that his system would not work bc of the big and fast defenses. Well, they were wrong. But his offense is being run by a truly unique player that is perfect for the system Meyer runs. When Tebow leaves and there will surely be a drop off on talent at the QB position, will the offense still be a success? I think not. It takes a Tebow to pull it off in the SEC. Now if Meyer can install a new system that is better suited to life after Tebow and he is still successful, then I say he is the best coach in the SEC by far. But not until that happens.
I wouldn't piss off the boys from Alabama . . .
by I hate UT on
Aug 20, 2008 2:48 PM CDT
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The kid behind him..
…(Cam Newton?) is supposed to be the next Tebow (i.e. fullback that can throw), and he’s always going to have some way to get the ball into the hands of his best playmakers, even if it isn’t the QB.
by Todd on
Aug 20, 2008 3:25 PM CDT
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QBs
Cam Newton is even bigger than Tebow is by a couple inches and a few pounds, but the report from practice is that he’s pretty scattershot with his passes. The other guy gunning for the #2 spot is John Brantley, Jr. who is good as a dropback passer and he can scramble some too. Brantley is closer to a Matt Flynn-type player, if that makes sense, than a Tebow-type player.
Meyer’s offense doesn’t need a bruiser like Tebow to go. Alex Smith was not like that at all but still went undefeated at Utah. The offense will be adapted to whoever is behind center, and as long as Meyer keeps recruiting frightfully fast and elusive guys at receiver and tailback, it won’t take 55 TDs from the QB to put up points.
by Year2 on
Aug 20, 2008 5:42 PM CDT
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Would not...
..rate Tuberville that high and think Croom has got to be higher then 11. How long will UT put up with Fulmer? But Urban Meyer and Mark Richt are the real deal. Saban is a good #3 right now. Saban may be the #1 recruit guy, Richt #1 motivational guy, Meyer #1 scheme guy.
by 5026 on
Aug 20, 2008 8:13 PM CDT
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And...
…Miles #1 hat guy, Spurrier #1 visor guy, Nutt #1 nutty guy, Petrino #1 moving van guy, Croom #1 deepthroat guy, Brooks #1 old guy, Johnson #1 f**ked guy, Tuberville #1 “those ears” guy, and Fulmer #1 buffet guy.
by NiceLittleSaturday on
Aug 20, 2008 10:22 PM CDT
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Houston Nutt.......
Doesn’t he look like he ought to be wearing “pink” in that pic?
"THE Baldguy"
by russellc on
Aug 22, 2008 8:37 AM CDT
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