Who Will Roam The Sidelines of the SEC Five Years From Now?
by Jay Coulter on May 8, 2009 3:00 AM CDT
in Football
99 comments
Among the many things SEC fans pride themselves on are the quality of coaches from top-to-bottom in the conference. Heading into 2009 there will be three new coaches roaming the sidelines: Auburn's Gene Chizik, Miss State's Dan Mullen and Tennessee's Lane Kiffin. I had a lengthy debate with some friends Thursday about Chizik and his chances and that led to a broader discussion of conference coaches in general.
We began ranking each SEC coach on a scale of one to five (five being the highest) on the probability that they'll still be at their school five seasons from now. It got so hotly debated that I thought it would be a good discussion to have here at Track'em Tigers.
Here's my take...
SEC West
Gene Chizik (Auburn) 2.5 - Despite showing some early signs of being an excellent choice, it's hard to give Chizik anything better than a 50-50 chance. Because of his lackluster record at Iowa State, the honeymoon period for him will be all but non-existent. The fact that he's tied to the highly unpopular athletic director, Jay Jacobs, doesn't work in his favor.
Les Miles (LSU) 3.5 - Miles doesn't get enough credit for what he's accomplished in Baton Rouge. Maybe this should tell him something. He reminds me a lot of Terry Bowden and his tenure at Auburn. Personality wise, he just doesn't seem to fit in at LSU. On the flip side, he's got all the tools at his disposal to be a success. If he solves his quarterbacking problem, the Bayou Bengals should again contend for the conference championship.
Nick Saban (Alabama) 2.0 - Considering Saban has never lasted more than five seasons anywhere, there's no reason to believe he'll do it in Tuscaloosa. Plus, with all the rumors of an NCAA investigation swirling around the state, you can't help but think the end is sooner rather than later.
Houston Nutt (Ole Miss) 4.0 - Nutt has proven that he's one of the best field generals in the game. The big question is whether he can win after Ed Orgeron's players graduate. He'll need to improve his recruiting skills to have a chance. Overall, Nutt seems to be a solid fit in Oxford.
Bobby Petrino (Arkansas) 4.0 - Despite his character flaws, Petrino is among the brightest offensive minds in the game. Arkansas is glad to have him. Most other schools will not touch him with a ten-foot pole. This means a rather lengthy marriage in Fayetteville.
Dan Mullen (Miss State) 2.0 - Can anyone make it more than five years in Starkville without cheating? Mullen looks to be a solid hire. But my guess is he'll parlay his first big winning season into a better job.
SEC East
Urban Meyer (Florida) 1.0 - With two national titles under his belt and perhaps the best quarterback to ever play the game graduating at season's end, look for Meyer to bolt for South Bend and the Notre Dame job the second it opens. Don't forget, he's named after a Pope and still covets the job.
Mark Richt (Georgia) 3.5 - On the surface you may think this number is low. But Athletic Director Damon Evans made some interesting off-season comments about his displeasure with last year and Georgia's inability to catch Florida. Last season was deemed a disappointment by most Georgia fans and with Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno headed to the NFL, things won't be any easier this year. Richt's seat may not be hot, but it's certainly warming.
Lane Kiffin (Tennessee) 3.0 - Along with Chizik, this is the toughest one to rate. Kiffin has surrounded himself with excellent on-field coaches and recruiters. His dad, Monte is perhaps the best defensive mind in all of football - NFL or college. Combine this with Orgeron's recruiting ability and you have to think Kiffin has a better than average chance of succeeding.
Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) 1.0 - Five years from now the ole ball coach will likely be spending his days on the golf course. Last season, Spurrier looked like a beaten man. His inability to develop a proven quarterback has to be a tough pill to swallow for the former Heisman winner. Many believe 2009 will be his last on the sidelines.
Rich Brooks (Kentucky) 1.0 - Brooks has already named assistant Joker Phillips the "coach in waiting" and is likely to wind down his career in the next couple of years. Give Brooks credit: He's won at a place where few have in the past.
Bobby Johnson (Vanderbilt) 1.0 - Staying eight seasons and leading the Commodores to a winning record and bowl victory is enough to have your named etched on the stadium in Nashville. To think anyone could last at Vandy more than a decade is unfathomable.
So there you have it. What are your thoughts?
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A really interesting article
I said a few years ago that the SEC was not big enough to allow all of the mammoth egos to co-exist. Little did I know that Tommy Tuberville would be one of the first to fall.
While I don’t really disagree with the content of the article. I find it intriguing that most of the so called “big name” coaches (Meyer, Saban, Spurier) received lower rankings, while Houston Nutt (who is good coach) who managed to hang on for 10 years at Arkansas and Bobby Petrino who has a really abrasive personality received the highest marks.
It’s issues such as these that keep it interesting even when the Tigers are having a rare down year.
Welcome to the wild and wacky SEC where the more things change, the more they stay the same.
I agree, good article...
1) Chizik, dead on
2) Miles, dead on
3) Saban, you can’t really argue your points, but I’d have probably bumped him to at least a 2.5. Since he won’t be fired, that at least gives him a 50-50 shot right?
4) Nutt, this is the toughest to call for me, no clue
5) Petrino, dead on
6) I think you have Dan Mullen rated way too low. Once Orgeron’s players leave and Ole Miss starts to slide, if Mullen can beat Ole Miss a couple of years and show improvement he’ll be there for 5 years. I mean even Croom was there for 5 wasn’t he?
7) Meyer, dead on
8) Richt, dead on, but if the warmth of his seat is directly tied to UGA beating UF, things could change in a hurry if you have Meyer pegged correctly. As in, this number could change to a 5.
9) Lane Kiffin, I’d give this one a 2.0. Let me put it like this, if you were to rank which programs would be most likely to be put on probation in the next 5 years, UT would be number one on that list. Therefore, I have to rank Kiffin lower.
10 – 12) Spurrier, Brooks, Johnson, dead on.
I agree with you on Saban
At least 50-50. If you’re giving Chizik 50-50 it only makes sense. Saban won’t be fired and Chizik won’t leave for anywhere else so I think they would both be 50-50.
Could prob even argue Saban 3 and Chizik 2. Saban won’t go back to the NFL. He has learned he can’t coach the well he likes to with men who make as much if not more than he does. He’ll stay in the NCAA and if Bama is winning there is no reason for him to leave. He’s already the highest played coach and “MOST POWERFUL MAN IN SPORTS” (Der der derr) Why would he leave?
Chizik there aint no telling what’ll happen there. He could end up here for 5 years or he could be gone in the middle of next season. Who knows?
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 8, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions
The answer to the "most likely to be put on probation" question
is always Alabama. Always.
Will - Rocky Top Talk
by Will on May 8, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
If this were facebook...
I would click the “like” button for this comment.
"Tigers make history. Undefeated, unmatched, undeniably the best team in Auburn football history, and the best team in the nation. They are YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, Auburn fans. The TIGERS are 13-0!" -- Rod Bramblett, AU Network, 01.03.05
Always? Really?
This list begs to differ… but hey, those are just facts, right?
"There's a lot of blood, sweat, and guts between dreams and success" - Coach Bryant
Is that just football...
or all sports?
"Tigers make history. Undefeated, unmatched, undeniably the best team in Auburn football history, and the best team in the nation. They are YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, Auburn fans. The TIGERS are 13-0!" -- Rod Bramblett, AU Network, 01.03.05
Nevermind, I checked
That’s all of sports. That’s not just football, which is the topic of this blog post. “But hey, those are just the facts, right?”
"Tigers make history. Undefeated, unmatched, undeniably the best team in Auburn football history, and the best team in the nation. They are YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, Auburn fans. The TIGERS are 13-0!" -- Rod Bramblett, AU Network, 01.03.05
I honestly don't care
if AU gets an infraction in men’s tennis.
"Tigers make history. Undefeated, unmatched, undeniably the best team in Auburn football history, and the best team in the nation. They are YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, Auburn fans. The TIGERS are 13-0!" -- Rod Bramblett, AU Network, 01.03.05
A couple of things...
1) The subject of this post is actually SEC coaches, but a UT fan comes in a bashes Bama and you all become BFF’s…
2) The fact that you don’t care about how Auburn’s athletes, coaches, students, etc. represent your school (unless they are associated with the football team) is truely saddening, and proves that you truely are a crowd follower rather than a true fan of your University.
3) Since you cannot do any homework on your own (and you care about nothing other than football), 5 of those 7 major infractions were associated with football, which is still second among football programs committing major violations. Bama has 3 (only because I know you were about to try to look that up).
"There's a lot of blood, sweat, and guts between dreams and success" - Coach Bryant
Boom
Roasted.
"When people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears their people, there is liberty" - Thomas Jefferson
by BamaReturns07 on May 11, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions
get your facts straight
Since this is a Aufarm website. I thought the comment of Alabama being on probation a lot is a typical barnie comment, check your facts. Aubarn has been on probation 5 times. Seven if you count other sports. I would have to say the barn has Alabama beat at one all time record. I guess that is something the barners can claim. Take pride in your schools probation record, because the barn will never have 12 national titles and god knows how many sec titles as Alabama. Roll Tide and have a nice day.
These are
the type of Bammers I like to see. Thanks for your contribution
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 12, 2009 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Mark Richt will retire as the winningest coach in Georgia football history
I’d give Coach Richt a 4.9, and the only reason I’d go that low is because it’s not impossible he’ll have a Bill McCartney-type moment and resign abruptly because he feels called by his religious faith to do something outside of football.
Also, alas, I don’t think Urban Meyer’s going anywhere. His offense wouldn’t translate to the N.F.L. and he turned down the Notre Dame job to take the Florida job. At this point in human history, being the head coach in South Bend simply is not remotely on a par with being the head coach in Gainesville. Not even close.
Go 'Dawgs!
P.S.:
If I’m not mistaken, Coach Meyer’s daughter is going to Georgia Tech. I’d be very surprised to see him move from Florida to Indiana while he has a kid in school in Atlanta.
Go 'Dawgs!
Yes
Though that’s not the child that will keep him in Gainesville.
He took the Florida job over Notre Dame so he would not have to recruit nationally and be away all the time while his children were growing up (do not argue this, Auburn fans; it’s straight from both him and his wife in his biography). Based on that, he’s not leaving UF until his youngest, his son Nate, goes off to college. I think Nate is 10 or 11 right now, if I remember correctly from an old Gainesville Sun article from last season, so Meyer will be around for another 7 or so years before he even considers leaving. Even then, leaving is not a guarantee.
Oh God, I was going to argue that...
but then I thought, who cares?
by auburn tigers on May 8, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
It's statements like this...
His offense wouldn’t translate to the N.F.L.
That will make Urban want to try it in the NFL. Nobody thought it would work in the SEC either. Urban will be gone in under 5 years. He’s won 2 NC’s in his 4 years in Florida, and is favored for a 3rd, and he’s had a player win the Heisman. What else can he do?…Well I guess there is one thing he hasn’t done, beat Auburn.
by LSU Jonno on May 8, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Question
How old is Urban Meyer?
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 8, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
If I am not mistaken he is the same age as me.....
43
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
REALLY OLD!!
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
Some mornings its older than others.....
and its soon to be 44 but what can you do about it other than eat viagra like candy and play as much golf as is humanly possible, not at the same time though as you may have a hard time (pun intended) getting the beer girl to stop on the course for you.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
i don't understand the thinking
He’s got 2 NC’s and probably more on the way. Why would he leave? If he stays long enough he’ll go down as one of the all time greats…
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
Lets face it
Who on this blog really thinks Florida will continue to dominate when Tebow leaves. I Dont see it happening. Tebow is a once in a lifetime player. Florida will never be the same unless tebow has a twin brother. Once that happens, I could care less how long Urban stays.
I agree with you Kyle on the comparison between Notre Dame and Florida...
But if he wins another national title this year – and that’s not guaranteed, you have to wonder what else is left to prove. I just think the pull of Notre Dame and it’s challenge will be strong. But there’s no doubt, Florida has the best of everything in terms of resources and recruiting advantages. I’m surprised you rate Richt that high. Another five years is a long time in the league. Don’t get me wrong, I believe he’s one of the best in the business, but man it’s a tough business. It will be interesting.
Track'em Tigers.com
Tuberville is also....
one of the best in the business (although admittedly our BOT is dysfunctional).
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Interesting review
I don’t disagree with the assessment of Coach Chizik. I think Chizik has a 1 year grace period and after that, he better win early and often.
I do want to comment on Vandy’s Bobby Johnson. What that man has done there with that program is truly remarkable. I was at their bowl game (where they beat BC to cap the winning season) and I was really proud for them and their fans. Vandy being the consummate underdog (at least until the last few years) I have always pulled for them and am glad to see their team and coaches get some well-deserved PR.
Given his track record, it is hard to see Petrino staying 5 more years at Arkansas.
After a couple of winning seasons there, I think he will bolt for more money elsewhere. I would give him a no higher than a 2.5.
I just don’t see Urban Myer leaving UF anytime soon either. I would go as high as 4.0.
I don't see how you can give Saban a 2.0 and Petrino a 4.0
They both have to prove they’ll stay at a place longer than 5 years to get a rating as high as 4.0
I've got one foot on the platform, the other foot on the train
I'm going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain
Chizik a 5!
If you look no further than 5 and 19, you’re about right. If you look at coaching defense on back to back unbeaten teams (Little Nicky has none), the quality of the staff assembled, recruiting skill and determination, he will be at Auburn for a long time and win BIG! If you accept the conventional wisdom, do a little reading on Gus Malzahn, Trooper Taylor, Ted Roof, Curtis Luper, Tracy Rocker and the others. All of the talk is about the Tennessee staff, but this staff is scary good! Coach Chizik, after next season, start paying Gus head coach money and you will win multiple championships in the next twenty years.
UH...I think you're jumping the gun for sure
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 8, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Finebaum?
You’re quoting Paul Finebaum? It looks like Jay Jacobs did the right thing. Be courageous and think for yourself. The head coach is first class, the staff is first class, so please tell me where I am wrong. This is May. All anyone can do is speculate. I see a winning combination at Auburn. People like Finebaum are great at looking back, but without a clue in assessing the future. They assume last year sets the results for next year which is more often wrong than right. Did Georgia maintain their number one ranking last year? Did Alabama lose four as little Pauly F. predicted? Did Auburn win the west? The cupboard is not bear at AU. If you read a little bit about Gus, you may agree with me that he has enough talent at quarterback on campus to adequately run his O. It will get much better. If they add 14 points a game from last year and the defense is as solid as it appears, they will win 8 or more. Injuries can drive that number down. A quick pick-up of Gus’s offense can push it up as well. Look it up. Gus led the nation in total offense in his first year at Tulsa. He did not play in the SEC, but he did not have SEC talent either. He beat Alabama and Auburn in his only year with little help at Arkansas. He was not Tony Franklined at Arkansas, but it was not far from it. Am I jumping the gun or are you not doing your homework?
OK superfan
thanks for the lesson.
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 8, 2009 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions
jumping the gun
Just “add[ing] 14 points a game” seems to be an unreasonable 1 year goal even with a new coaching staff. I know that Franklin was never given much a chance to succeed with his spread offense but didn’t the personel have a little to do with that? Does Auburn have the right pieces for Malzahn to thrive year one? I don’t think we’re looking at a Nutt year one scenario here. You will have your growing pains with the new regime and with Alabama in the position they are in right now it’s hard for me to see Chizik lasting 5 years. I think 2.5 is probably about right. If Lane Kiffin were not taking all the attention away from this hire(from an SEC fan, not Auburn fan), I’d go lower.
by JoeinSavannah on May 8, 2009 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Re: jumping the gun
First of all, bammer’s “position” is overrated. They won’t be the team of last year in 2009 with a new QB. They won’t be horrible, but they won’t win 12 games. Plus not only is AU proving we can establish new recruiting bases (TX, LA, OK), but we are demonstrating that we are not going to sit around and give up the states of AL and GA either. We have some amazing recruiters on this staff; there’s no denying that. They had a few weeks to assemble a recruiting class for 2009 and ended up with a top-20 class. Can you imagine what they’ll do with an entire year to assemble the 2010 class? I certainly don’t expect an SEC title this year (not yet), but I do expect nothing less than 8 or 9 wins. The big difference in Chizik and his staff now vs. the Tony Franklin debacle is that all our staff members are on the same page now. There was so much infighting going on between Franklin and other members of Tuberville’s staff last year. That’s not the case this year, which will allow for better efficiency (a more “well-oiled machine” if you will). We have talent. I think that’s a common misunderstanding among fans of non-AU SEC schools, that Auburn’s cupboard is bare. I’m pretty excited to see Onterrio McCalebb, Ben Tate, and Mario Fannin running up and down the field, Emory Blake and DeAngelo Benton catching passes, Antonio Coleman sacking some QBs. OL is our main question mark, but I’m confident in Jeff Grimes’s ability to coach and recruit. As for our QB situation, we won’t have a Tim Tebow by any means, but Kodi has proven he can help us out in certain situations (Florida and Clemson games in ‘07, for example), and Neil has a strong arm. It will be interesting to see what happens in August. But I’m confident Malzahn and Chizik will make the best choice. That’s all I’ve got for now.
"Tigers make history. Undefeated, unmatched, undeniably the best team in Auburn football history, and the best team in the nation. They are YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, Auburn fans. The TIGERS are 13-0!" -- Rod Bramblett, AU Network, 01.03.05
If Jay Jacobs did the right thing it was.....
purely like hitting the lottery, all luck and no skill. I have and will give Chizik my full support until it becomes obvious he doesn’t deserve it, but Jay Jacobs has already proven he doesn’t deserve my support. FIRE JAY F@#king JACOBS and hire someone qualified as AD.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
I'm glad
others are chiming in on this. I tried writing a response Friday afternoon, but couldn’t get one together that was appropriate to say to a fellow tigers fan so I finally just gave up.
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 11, 2009 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I will defend Jacobs.
When my daughter called me and told me Auburn had hired Gene Chizik, my heart sank. After I saw his arrival and press conference, I felt a little differently. In the months past, with his hires, his recruiting and the way he handles himself, I cannot look back and see a better hire even though I was a big Turner Gill guy at the time. I see personality, desire, charisma and winners in the program and thank Jay Jacobs for being courageous enough to hire the right guy and take the heat. I say Jay will come out of this looking good and a lot of Auburn people will be embarrassed that they trashed a good man.
Good Man?
Tell that to the coaches he has railroaded over the years.
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 11, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh stop it....
Jay Jacobs is a horrible AD and that will remain regardless of Chiziks success or strength of character (which I don’t think is in question). Jay Jacobs needs to go and I will never be “embarrassed” for stating the truth.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
now
who’s drinking the orange colored kool aid….
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
I think
he might be shooting it right into his veins
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 12, 2009 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Common Sense
Jay, do you even watch football? Read about it on the internets or the newspapers? Or is this some William Burroughs job where you cut up names and numbers and throw them in the air and see which ones land next to each other.
i make adequate look good
I take it you object to my rating of Nick Saban.
Track'em Tigers.com
by Jay Coulter on May 8, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
and meyer
this is was a golden age for SEC in terms of coaching. hell, we just fired two of the greatest in conference history with tubs and crocket fulmer falling out. houston nutt can do more with less than any coach in the country- lsu and alabama are on notice. In the 2008 season you had 5 coaches with ? national championships and one with an undefeated season in the league- meyer 1, fulmer 1, miles 1, saban 1, spurier 1, tuberville 1. what were you smoking when you fired tommy tuberville? gus malzhan will be a pretty good head coach for auburn in three years, but no tuberville. the onside kick in the 2006 south carolina game was pure genius.
i make adequate look good
I'm not arguing their success...
I’m just betting on who’s going to be around five years from now. Richt and Miles are excellent, but nobody in this league lasts long. As for Tubs, you won’t get an argument here. Few on this board favored him going.
Track'em Tigers.com
Bobby Johnson
So what is his undoing at Vandy? I don’t believe that the expectations are going to rise too much. He can be competitive for 4th or 5th place in the SEC East every year and I won’t be surprised if he can get two more bowl berths in the next 5 years. Realistically, what else is Vandy aspiring to be? I can’t imagine that any sane Vandy fan believes they are going to be playing in the Dome.
Bobby Johnson won't have an undoing...
he will leave on his own accord, likely for a top third ACC or Big East team. I predict that if he can lead Vandy to a bowl anytime in the next 2 years, he will leave for more money and much better talent.
"There's a lot of blood, sweat, and guts between dreams and success" - Coach Bryant
I hope you are right
You can’t help but like Bobby Johnson. He has done quite well with a pseudo ivey league school that all you have to do is look at their stadium to see that they don’t take their football very seriously. Actually, I have always been kind of perplexed at how they are even in the SEC.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 10, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions
In five years...
Les Miles-gone
Gene Chizik-still there
Houston Nutt-still there
Bobby Petrino-still there
Nick Saban-gone
Dan Mullen-still there
None of the SEC East coaches, besides MAYBE Kiffin, will be at their respective schools five years from now.
Very interesting thread
I agree with you on most points
1) Nick Saban – Going nowhere unless Bama ends up on serious probation and he gets his hands tied. Or he gets lost going to a jackass convention in Michigan. Don’t get me wrong, he is the head coach of my beloved Crimson Tide and I love him but put him behind a podium and he can be a jackass. I don’t care though as long as he is winning. Check out my handle, I may be a little biased. I think all the talk about Saban and ND is more wishful thinking that anything. Don’t stone me yet, hear me out. The ND job will be dealt with long before Saban has accomplished what he wants to accomplish at Bama or has any reason to want to leave. The money won’t be any better and even if it is I don’t think it would close the deal. The Saban’s, I think especially Terry, seem to be very happy in Tuscaloosa. Terry is very involved in a lot of civic organizations and they donate a huge amount of money, which indicates that more money is not an issue to them. I believe Saban would still be at LSU had he not decided to try, unsuccessfully, the NFL. That is the reason I cannot understand the LSU hatred for the man. If he left LSU for Bama I could certainly understand it. If the LSU job was open in 2008 he would have probably gone back there. What was he supposed to do, go down to Baton Rouge and tell Les Miles to get out of his seat? Maybe Jonno could shed some light on that for me but he took over an LSU team that had not had a winning season in some 7 years I think and took them to the pinnacle within 4 years. He should be Saint Nick down there. His leap from Michigan State to LSU ended up being a very risky but very good move. It took him from "Nick Who?" to a household name in college football. I just don’t think he deserves the reputation of not staying anywhere even though the numbers might support that statement. Anyway, I am a Bama fan so as I accuse you guy’s opinion on this matter as being wishful thinking, I also recognize that it could be the other way around.
2) Dan Mullen – I have no idea what he is doing down there. Talk about flying under the radar. No opinion
3) Lane Kiffin – Will Romper Room himself out of a job within 2 years if dad doesn’t reel him in.
4) Gene Chizik – Please note that I spelled his name correctly. His name has been so butchered by my side of the fence in this never ending attempt to one up the last guy that my spell checker didn’t even have a clue who I was talking about. I don’t like that and I will not do it. I consider it meat headed (there is a new word for you) and school yard. Anyway, I don’t come here with smack talk in my heart so please hear me out. I don’t think he stands a snowball’s chance in Arizona of being at the plains 3 years from now. Coach Tubberville was a winner. As you know, he beat us 6 years in a row. Aaaaaarrrrgh. Still, how much time did your boosters and whoever spend trying to run him off. I know you remember "Jetgate" That was a love-hate relationship from the beginning even though he proved himself a winner. I certainly don’t think Chizik will be more successful than Tubberville. You can Google "Chizik" and "Iowa State" and all you get is site after site of reports containing hundreds of thousands of words that could all be reduced down to 2 words… "Good Riddance". I do not mean anything mean spirited towards Coach Chizik. He obviously is an excellent and very successful assistant. I think that the Chizik hire will be short lived and the ultimate downfall of Jay Jacobs and possibly even be a big ole’ "sit down and shut up" for Bobby Lowder (spelling ?). After that happens I think Auburn will begin to return to the success that it has known as recently as 2 years ago. Guys, Jay Jacobs is a buffoon. You have to know that. You don’t have to look any further than YouTube and the presser he did when they announced Coach Tubberville’s "resignation". Half way through it he was asked if the Iron Bowl score had anything to do with letting Coach Tubberville go. His answer "Not at all, in fact I just heard that score." What??? This was some six days after the Iron Bowl. The look on his face right after he said it was priceless "I can’t believe I just said that." Now, if it takes the AD 6 days to learn the score of the game against your chief rival, then who needs to be fired. Obviously this was a lie. Everybody in this state new that score before they laid their head down that night. Many in crimson PJs included it in their good night prayers but Jacobs entered that room with a lie in his heart…. Coach Tubberville resigned…. and when a man has a lie in his heart, the sky is the limit. I think those two guys are dragging the Auburn Nation down like a couple of 10th grade potheads.
5) The rest of them – No opinion but I would hate to see them leave. They are formidable opponents for my beloved Tide. Except Houston Nutt. He scares me a little. I don’t know why. Maybe it is the combination of his first and last name. Either a good name for a strip club in Houston or a crazy Texan.
Once again, I didn’t come here to smack talk and never will so please don’t take my opinions that way. I have just read everything on my blogs 3 times and it is the off season. I have noticed that you guys seem to welcome intelligent discussion here over the smack talk of AL.com and the like. I like to exchange zingers occasionally as much as the next guy but I’d much rather talk about football at least most of the time.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
Umm...
Well, nobody on here that loves Auburn wants to keep Jay Jacobs. We all want him gone. I think that one is unanimous here. Where could you have heard we think he’s a good Athletic Director? I don’t think this article has anything to do with beefing up any sort of support for that jerk off. We know he’s a baffoon, and we know he’s trying his best to ruin Auburn. You could put a five year old up there just scribbling stuff and we would have a better Athletic Director. At least, the five year year old would not have a personal vendetta against Auburn as Jay Jacobs has shown he possesses.
At one point did anyone mention Nick Saban for the Notre Dame job??? We all were talking about Urban Meyer. You know, the guy was named after a pope. I mean, if that doesn’t mean there’s a good possibility he’ll go to Touchdown Jesus, then nothing is a good possiblity. This will be Charlie Weis’s last year. Coach after coach is proving that Bill Bellicheck is the real genius behind the Patriot success. Whether you like the guy or not, the team continues its relative success after many individuals have left the outstanding franchise. Oh well, I digress.
You seem really intelligent. However, you don’t seem to be paying attention. We said Urban Meyer is going to ND, never did we mention Nick Saban for the job, and if we did it wasn’t much. No, we’re saying Saban will go when there’s more money or greener pastures somewhere else is our theory. Plus, the probation wouldn’t sit well with Coach Saban and he’d be off like a prom dress past midnight. Still, there’s a solid chance he doesn’t leave. In fact, I would give Saban a 3.0 chance rather than Chizik. As far as Gene Chizik goes, I give him a 2.5. When he was first hired, I would have given him a 0.2 chance but he’s really making a lot of head way. I mean you can sense a difference in the program. Worst case scenario is that Coach Chizik fails and Jay Jacobs gets the boot. Yet, we here TET are pretty together when we say we want Jacobs out regardless of well or bad Chizik does. Decisions like not playing UCLA in Atlanta are the reasons why Jacobs is just down right a jerk and out to destroy Auburn. I have said as much many times.
I didn't get that UCLA decision at all
No disrespect to you fans but that made Jacobs look scared. I am not just saying this because I am in your house but I think you could have beaten UCLA with the proper motivation… ie a shot at redemption on a national stage and a chance to re-establish a foothold in GA recruiting.
Look, I don’t mean to be Captain Obvious but I think your season last year rests entirely on the shoulders of the spread offense. I can remember in August of last year when my Auburn buddies at work were screaming "spread eagle baby" at me I was thinking, finally this 6 year nightmare is going to end. You guys don’t have a quarterback that can handle that. No disrespect… neither do we. In the 43 years that I have been practicing taking one breath after another, Bama has not had a QB that could deliver that offense. We have never relied on a strong QB. Since the day Coach Bryant first showed up it has been a power running game, a QB who will minimize mistakes and a strong defense. The trickiest thing we ever did was the Wishbone. You will never see a spread offense at Bama. Even Coach Saban would be tarred and feathered if he tried that.
But I digress, this is an Auburn blog… sorry. The point I was trying to make is that once you reboot and plug your game back in I think you could have beaten UCLA. Hell, all you would have to do is give them a good game in the GA Dome. GA boys ain’t going to UCLA. Not as long as UGA, Bama and Auburn are calling. I promise you…. mama makes that call.
That Clemson beat down last year paid massive dividends for us in GA recruiting. Maybe they did prove to be over rated in the end but it was impossible to ignore the spectacle of what looked like an Alabama home game in Atlanta. I was at that game.
BTW, if you guys ever play Clemson get yourself some tickets. We were sitting on the Clemson side because that is the only place we could get tickets. Clemson fans are a lot of fun. At half time they were telling me "I just wish you guys would quit beating our ass, we are supposed to win this game." I said "You haven’t been following Alabama football in a while have you? Don’t leave yet." Then 5 minutes later they run the opening second half kickoff in for a touchdown and they turned around and looked at me. I said "Told ya’". Of course we all know how that ended. Anyway, I’ll quit rambling.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 11, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Good post
But we already beat Jacobs up over the UCLA fumble. But we don’t mind if you beat him up some more. We got your back…
by War Eagle Atlanta on May 11, 2009 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I know I was beating a dead horse on that one
So you guys already noticed that one? LOL.. I can’t believe I spent that much time preaching to the quior.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 11, 2009 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Quior???
I don’t know how to spell it. Those people that sing together every Sunday at Church. You kow who I mean.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 11, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions
If you hadn't been so civil with your post.....
this would be the spot where you would be defending Bammer edumacations. But you get the pass for your honesty and manners. ;-)
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Thanks, I wasn't even close
I must admit I had a couple of Bama slammers about that time. Thanks for the pass. LOL
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 12, 2009 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Good post
I agree with almost all your points. I don’t think Saban will be gone in 5 unless there is some soret of outside reason(Ie probation), but I dont think anyone mentioned ND in reference to Saban. I think that was Meyer that you’re thinking of.
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 11, 2009 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree with some of what you say.....
I don’t think that you can judge Chizik by what was done at ISU or by what is said by there fans or boosters. ISU is the worst team in any BCS conference……by far. What makes you think that ISU is capable of making a good judgement when it comes to their football team? While Chizik was not the choice of any AU fan I know, I don’t know of many that don’t think he is capable of winning at AU. Tuberville should have never been fired and Jay Jacobs is an imbecile…..but I don’t know of many Bama fans that don’t have the same opinion of Mal Moore (people in glass houses…). As for Bobby Lowder, if Chiziks absolute failure meant his demise as AU’s dictator then many of us would consider it worth the cost to get him gone for good. And as far as the 10th grade potheads? I resent that….
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Sparky, I stand corrected
After perusing the posts on this site you are absolutly right that no one here made any reference to Nick Saban and Notre Dame. I think I may have confused this thread with AL.com
On Jay Jacobs, I didn’t know what the Auburn Nation in general thought about him. I just couldn’t get past that presser when Coach Tubberville was fired. I didn’t even know his name before then.
Anyway, I hope you guys don’t mind if I pass through here every now and then.
Roll Tide
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
You're welcome
anytime.
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on May 11, 2009 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions
RE: LSU hatred of Nick Saban...
LifeLongBammer,
Richard Pittman, the Manager of And The Valley Shook sums up the Nick Saban stuff very well in this article.
But you can basically break it down into two reasons:
1) The emotional, completely unrational – Let’s say you’re in college, and you’ve been dating your girlfriend, Lindsay, for 2 years. You graduate and you get a great job in your hometown but Lindsay gets her dream job 2000 miles away and you break up because you both know a long distance relationship will not work. 2 years later you hear that Lindsay hated her job and is moving back to yall’s hometown. She gives you a friendly call when she get’s back in town, you go have coffee and she informs you that she is already dating your best friend, Billy-Joe. Even though you are currently dating a girl who is every bit as hot and fun and smart as Lindsay maybe even more so, Lindsay was your first…It’s a completely natural way to react to someone that you were so proud of for so long, yet there isn’t really a great way to explain it.
2) The tangible highly logical – Saban can hurt LSU more than any other coach at any other school. He has intimate details about our athletic department that he can use to his advantage. He has relationships built with our high school coaches that give him an advantage in recruiting LA more than any other coach not named Les Miles. Many of the recruits who are currently in high school in LA heard how great of a man he was from 90% of the state of LA for 5 or 6 years when they were impressionable kids. And most of all, we knew what he was capable of. When Saban went to Bama, we all knew there was only so much room at the top, and now Bama would be sitting at the cool kid’s table. We didn’t know how long it would take, but Saban was the new kid in school and he was going to pick a fight with a cool kid and kick his ass to impress the girls. Someone would have to leave. We all thought it would be Auburn, but it appears that Saban will also be having some effect on LSU as well.
Thanks
That does kind of put it in perspective. Let me ask you this, I have always kind of wondered, would you guys welcome him back if he came?
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 11, 2009 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Winning sure does win over a lot of people.
I bet you’d be surprised though, I bet the majority of people wouldn’t want him back.
If the two choices were, would you rather:
1) Saban leave Bama for LSU
2) Saban leave Bama for XYZ university
I think more people would pick option 2.
You are right
I would take No. 2. Ok, I get it. You still didn’t plug the NFL in the middle of those choices so it is still hard for me to feel it.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 11, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions
I plugged the NFL in for you
I thought about it. Saban need to give us a National Title before I would forgive him for bailing on us. After that, he could move on and I would still love him.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 11, 2009 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Sorry...
I was answering the question of:
would you guys welcome him back if he came?
And not asking a Bama fan what choice he/she would rather.
My post should have read:
If the two choices were, would LSU fans rather:
1) Saban leave Bama for LSU
2) Saban leave Bama for XYZ university
I think more people would pick option 2.
Ok, I misunderstood.
You guys are doing pretty well with Coach Miles though with a recent NC under him. Actually the LSU/BAMA 08 game being settled in OT after your QB threw some 4 picks doesn’t speak well for our play in that game.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 12, 2009 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Come on by man
We don’t mind you coming on here at all. Come out more than you don’t friend. Yeah the Auburn Nation hates Jay Jacobs. I’m not sure you guys are too thrilled with Mal Moore either. Which, is another reason why Saban may not stick around. I mean, these guys are really crappy and you only want to shovel dung for so long. Take care man.
No
We have no problem with Mal Moore. In the past two years he has knocked it out of the park with the football coach and most recently with the basketball coach. He has also orchestrated two additions to Bryant-Denny Stadium. He is certainly doing a fine job and no one in Bama Nation wants to see him leave. No idea where you are getting that from.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 10, 2009 11:16 PM CDT reply actions
For one from my Bammer friends and family....
some of whom are alumni and or boosters.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Bet Bammers weren't nearly as magnaminous...
about Mal when he was standing at the plate on a 0-2 count, before Saban signed…
I’m just saying…
by War Eagle Atlanta on May 11, 2009 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree 100%
But he did end up fouling a few off before knocking a hanging slider about 490…
"There's a lot of blood, sweat, and guts between dreams and success" - Coach Bryant
AND IF
Chizik turns out to be a steal then your guy looks like a genius. Winning always does.
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
Mal is doing fine
Two great coaching hires, football and basketball, and a couple of updates to Bryant-Denny. What more could we want from him?
How is that little girl doing Bammer? Give her a smooch for me.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 11, 2009 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Moore certainly gets an A- in my book for his hire of Saban....
and the only reason for the minus is the business end of it……he could have gotten him alot cheaper had he waited one year before making the coaching change. The Basketball hire is good on paper but lets wait a couple of years before saing it was a great hire. And as for the “foul balls” I would say they were more like strikeouts and you should add the previous coaching hires as lost games……..unless you gave him a clean slate after he got rid of Shula (which most people I know have not). Just sayin’.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Honestly
He probably gets a couple of points for being one of the few still around and contributing that can still tell Coach Bryant stories first hand. I know that shouldn’t be the case but it probably is. It is to a degree for me. I know, I know… The Bear is dead but as you have probably heard, we still love us some Coach Bryant.
I was there with my father the day he won number 315 and I remember just like it was yesterday in 1981 I was wearing #52, left defensive end for the Butler HS Rebels in the spring jamboree and heard a familiar voice in the stands while we sat waiting to play our quarter of the game. I turned around and there he sat watching the game at Goldsmith-Schiffman Field in Huntsville. He would pass away a year and a half later.
Sorry guys, I know this is an Auburn blog….. that one was just for me.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 12, 2009 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Mal could not have waited another year
Something had to be done with Coach Shula and done right then. 2005 was fun although we lost again to LSU and Auburn. Despite a good 10-2 season we barely eaked out a win in OT to a supposedly inferior Ole Miss team at home. Two other games won by Christensen fieldgoals at the last second.
In 2006 our offensive play book could have been written on a post card. Coach Shula is gone now so I will go ahead and give it to you. Here goes:
First Down: Send Kenneth Darby up the middle.
Second Down: Send Kenneth Darby up the middle.
Third Down: Send Kenneth Darby up the middle.
Fourth Down: Punt if necessary, and it probably will be because at this point your opponent sees a pattern developing.
My grandmother could have defended that offense if she were not too busy writing letters to President Eisenhower. And singing in her “Church Quior” (little joke on me, back up a few posts if you didn’t get it ) …….Bless her heart.
Anyway, something had to give and it could not have waited another year. Besides, I don’t believe that Mal Moore would have continued courting a coach that had publicly stated that he “was not going to be the coach at Alabama” had he no priviledged information. Unless, and maybe this was the case, he thought the check that UA was willing to write in addition to Coach Saban’s love of the college game would be enough to close a cold sales call.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 12, 2009 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions
No worries
I appreciate you guys letting me play along. I don’t usually hang around on Auburn blogs but I just love to talk about football and you guys seem to welcome intelligent discussion, even from your rivals.
Roll Tide
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 10, 2009 11:27 PM CDT reply actions
I will admit....
you are better mannered and certainly more friendly than the usual trolls on here…..good to talk to you and welcome.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Thanks
Mom always told me that if you disrespect someone in their own house don’t cry when you get your ass beat.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
by LifelongBammer on May 11, 2009 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions
So....
4 East coaches are going to be replaced next year…. Come On, that’s a little ridiculous. I don’t know how much Spurrier can take, but he will help find the coach to replace him and probably won’t leave till he has a suitable coach in place.. That won’t happen for, at least, another 3 years.
I have never been a big fan of you, Coulter
but this is a great thread. I don’t agree with everything you said, but a lot of what you said is pretty much gold.
And kudos to all the fans on both sides keeping it civil for the most part.
"When people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears their people, there is liberty" - Thomas Jefferson
Mal Moore
I guess our fan base is a bit divided on Mal. He seems to be doing well of late but there has been some strange desisions made in the past. Eg. this decades long insanity of insisting on hiring head coaches from within the Bama family. That obviously worked out great with Coach Bryant and Coach Stallings, but other than that. I hated the Mike Shula hire. He is a beloved son of the Crimson Tide who actually orchestrated “The Kick” and now due to our short term memory he will just be remembered as a bad head coach.
I also agree in retrospect that it is probably not fair to judge Coach Chizik by ISU. I just think, as most of you do, that letting Coach Tubberville get away was just insane.
I have to either stop drinking.... or drink more
Should have read this before my comment above......
well said.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
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