SEC Media Days has been taking place this week over in Atlanta. I personally enjoy this week because it is a sign that football is getting closer and cooler weather will eventually return. I doubt anyone reading this blog doesn’t know what SEC Media days are about, but in case you don’t here is what you need to know. It takes place over the course of four days before the season and gives every coach a chance to address the media, answer questions, and bring along a few players as respresentatives for their respective teams. It usually brings about a little trash talk and some quotable radio fodder for all the talking heads to discuss while nothing else is going on in college sports. This event wasn’t as interesting in the Mark Richt era to us Georgia fans because we just didn’t stir up much buzz on media row. Maybe that is a compliment to Richt, but in all honesty he was usually fielding questions about arrests that took place over the summer and not about a quarterback controversy. These days Georgia is viewed in a little different light than in past years. But I must give Kirby credit because he has done a good job of making Georgia a non-story for off the field issues, and he now handles the media like a seasoned pro. On the other hand, Georgia and its former players have still been a big story in other ways this week.
For example, former Georgia Quarterback, Aaron Murray, decided to share his thoughts on new Tennessee head coach, Jeremy Pruitt. Aaron basically explained that in his experience at UGA Pruitt did not demonstrate the characteristics required to be the head man. He was a good coach, but lacked maturity and people skills the job required, and in the past, he was disrespectful to Coach Richt along with other members of the staff. If that wasn’t enough, David Pollack and Hutson Mason decided to jump on board and continue the Pruitt bashing. This created some buzz, but thankfully it was not from one of the current players. Lastly, the Florida Gators can’t help but be themselves even when they are losing. One of their players not only predicted they would beat Georgia this year, but even went on to say last year’s game was closer than the score reflected. If you recall, that game was 21 to 0 in the 1st quarter and was easily one of the biggest A-S-S whippings handed out in the SEC last year with a final score of 42 to 7. At the end of the day, if Gator players are having to discuss our team this early in the season that is a good thing.
It didn’t take me long to get off track here today. What I really want to do is discuss the current coaches in the SEC as of today. I often play a game with friends that are fans of other teams. Basically, I would ask them in their opinion what coaches they would want to stay or go from their rival schools. I am fairly certain Jeff Danzler plays the same game and may have invented it. If so, good for Danzler because the answers are quite revealing. For example, do you think a Georgia Tech fan wanted Mark Richt to stay or go? I bet they wanted him gone. As another example, Georgia fans were sad to see Chan Gailey be fired as the Tech head coach. So now that you understand the game, we can look at the current coaches and ask the same question from a Bulldog point of view. Should They Stay, or Should They Go? (Clash reference intended)
SEC WEST:
Gus Malzahn at Auburn-STAY: Everyone thinks this guy is such a great coach, but I am just not buying him and never really have. I have seen his offense play poorly too many times, and other than one game his teams have performed badly against UGA. I personally want the GUS BUS to stay in Auburn a long time. He makes Auburn a good win, but not real good real often. Sorry War Eagle that is how I see it from Athens, GA. No one loved his contract extension more than me.
Saban at Bama-GO to HELL: This goes without saying. This guy has done a tremendous job, and much like a Sith Lord his departure will restore balance to the force. Good for Bama. They should enjoy it as long as they can.
Ed Orgeron at LSU- STAY: This coach is a good guy and an authentic Cajun Tiger, but at this point he doesn’t really scare anyone. Now I could be singing a different tune come this fall after they play Georgia. But for now, I think he is doing a good job but not a great one.
Jimbo Fisher at Texas A & M-STAY for Now: Hard to make a call on these new coaches, but he brings another good name to our league. I am not sure how much success he will have there, but I like him where he is for now.
Rest of the SEC West- All are Welcome to STAY: Ole Miss is still recovering and Arkansas along with Miss State have new coaches. So, for now we are calling for these coaches to stay.
SEC EAST:
Dan Mullen at Florida-STAY for Now: The fact that Dan Mullen is the new coach at Florida is generally a good sign for us Bulldogs. Don’t get me wrong, I think he is a good coach, and he could be a dangerous hire in Gainesville. But only time will tell, and I think this has about a 50/50 chance. For example, he and his players are already trolling Georgia with comments and braggadocios remarks meanwhile the current team has accomplished nothing. Personally, I like it when I see one of Florida’s best players having to answer questions about a Georgia loss from last year.
Will Muschamp at SCAR-GO: Some of you that know me may find this one surprising, but I must give Muschamp some credit. I think he is doing a real good job in Columbia, and if given more time he could become dangerous. A lot of this depends on the success of his opponents. For example, if Georgia and Clemson remain good his job is difficult enough, but what if Tennessee and Florida turn it around?
Jeremy Pruitt at TENN-STAY: He hasn’t coached a game, but he has his work cut out for him. This one could be fun to watch if it turns bad. But you never know, he may just surprise us all and do a great job. I know one thing for certain, their defense will get better immediately.
Rest of the SEC East-All are Welcome to STAY: I am not trying to diminish the job that any of the coaches are doing at Vandy, Mizz, or Kentucky, but they just aren’t real threats in the league at this point. Maybe that will change but for now they can stay.
Other Notables:
Dabo Sweeney at Clemson-GO: This guy is good and has made Clemson a real power in college football again. For recruiting purposes, they are located too damn close to Athens, GA.
Paul Johnson at TECH-STAY Forever: I know he has had some success against Georgia, but this guy is perfect for us. He makes Tech good every once in a while, which can make beating them a little bit more relevant. Granted, we don’t’ gain as much by beating Tech as Florida, Bama, and South Carolina do with their in- state rivals. But running the triple option is openly admitting that you can’t compete with the big boys. So, they run a chicken sh*t high school scheme and chop block the defense. He will never attract quality defense players running that scheme in my opinion.
That makes only two coaches I want gone in the SEC and three if you count Clemson. I know things could change, but this a good sign for Georgia football in the years to come. Go Dawgs! 43 DAYS!