Questions or comments? E-mail me Barrett Sallee
Now that Atlanta Falcon legend Bobby Petrino is now in the SEC, the question has to be asked, are there TOO MANY good coaches in the SEC? Will all of them still be coaching in the country’s top conference in 2009? With all the talent in the league, the answer is no.
Phil Fulmer, Urban Meyer, Les Miles, Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban all boast National Championships, and Tommy Tuberville should have one if not for ridiculous pre-season polls. Mark Richt and Houston Nutt both are arguably the SEC’s two best coaches, not to mention the outstanding job Sylvester Croom is doing in Starkville. And to think, some people still think the SEC isn’t the best conference in the nation (Big 10+1 fans, I’m looking in your direction).
Unrealistic expectations by both fans and administrators will cost at least one of these guys their jobs after the 2008 season. But who?
The easy answer is Petrino. He seems to quit jobs every pay period. So, expect him to abandon the Razorbacks once he realizes that Darren McFadden and Felix Jones are no longer on his team. But, the way Petrino communicates with his players, that may take a while.
Saban is like “Petrino Light,” so he could decide to up and leave if things aren’t going his way. Considering Alabama’s tumultuous off-season, remarkable lack of depth, and out-of-control expectations, it could happen. It’s highly unlikely that Saban gets the ax following the 2008 campaign, even if he loses his second Iron Bowl. But, three straight Iron Bowl losses spelled the end of the Bill Curry Era in T-Town, so two could certainly put St. Nick on thin ice.
Both Richt and Meyer are facing astronomical expectations. Of course, neither has their job in jeopardy, assuming, of course, they don’t end up at Artey’s Angels in Pensacola a la Mike Price.
The guy to watch is Fulmer. The Vols are flying under the radar while everyone is paying attention to Florida and Georgia in the SEC East. The Vols are going to be better-than-advertised in 2008. Nobody seems to remember that they won the SEC East last year, thanks to Georgia’s off-base whining for a BCS Title Game bid.
Believe it or not though, this is a make-or-break year for Fulmer. His career is winding down, he’s won everything there is to win, and there is some sentiment that a coaching change needs to be made. If the Vols wind up in one of the bowl games in central Florida again, Fulmer will be gone…probably “on his own accord.”
Unlike every other conference, the SEC is a battle week in and week out. That’s why the best of the best chose to coach here. Some will survive, and some won’t. That’s the nature of the beast. With all the talent in the league, it should be another fun year!
Questions or comments? E-mail me Barrett Sallee
SEC Coaches: How Many Is Too Many?
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