The Debate: Urban Meyer vs. Nick Saban

Editors note: This article was written on the eve of the 2008 SEC championship game.

Written by James Brown, Gatorsfirst.com Co-Founder

A couple of weeks ago, one of my Arkansas-fan friends asked me if I thought Urban Meyer or Nick Saban was the better coach. 

There are some similarities.  Saban is a part of the Belichick coaching tree, while Meyer is turning into Bill Belichick. 

Meyer's "year-two" magic was well publicized at Utah, and then when Florida won a national title in 2006.

Saban, of course, has Alabama the undisputed No. 1 team in the country, and in position for a national title in year two. 

There are more, but that's not the point.  The point is, who's better?  My answer, of course was Meyer.  Here is my argument as to why...

Consider Saban's coaching record outside of powerhouse schools LSU and Alabama.  Up until year five at Michigan State, they were really a .500 team.  They also lost three consecutive bowl games to start his tenure (the only three they made). 

In fact, Saban never won a bowl game while at Michigan State. When they beat Florida after the 1999 season, they were led by an interim coach. 

He lucked into an SEC title in 2001, as the best teams were most certainly Florida and Tennessee, but a three loss (all in-conference!) LSU was the SEC West's representative in Atlanta, and benefited from what is now considered the beginning of the end of former Tennessee head Coach Phil Fulmer.

Meyer has won everywhere.  He went 17-6 at Bowling Green!  BOWLING GREEN!  He started Utah on a roll that hasn't stopped.  And I thoroughly blame the players and their lack of maturity for last season. 

Even last year, which was probably his worst year (it certainly was, record-wise, though his year end rankings were roughly the same in 2005) he coached a Heisman winner! 

He has a phenomenal record in bowl games, rivalry games, and games played with extra preparation (usually after a bye).

Anyways, what do you think?  I've tried to look at this objectively, and the only arguments I've come up with for Saban over Meyer I can attribute to his being a head coach for longer. 

I also don't think this will be decisively answered Saturday, I think it will be but one more data point from which to form a conclusion.

Any Thoughts?

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