2010 SEC Coaching Report Card: Ranking All 12 SEC Coaches
Well, we have truly reached one of the most boring points in the SEC football season. The regular season is over, no SEC bowls have begun, and signing day is not yet upon us. Only the summer is more useless for college football fans.
It is only a matter of time before we, as SEC fans, have to start caring about football again and a serious question looms over all of us: How should we get through the SEC-less bowl schedule?
To answer my own question, I think we should take a look at the performances turned in by SEC coaches in 2010. Much of this list will come as no surprise, but I'm sure many of you will might have a different opinion.
Everyone ready?
Let's get started...
12. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss
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I genuinely hope that no one is surprised at this selection.
What Went Wrong: Ole Miss lost to FCS-foe Jacksonville State in the season opener and the blame for that loss has to start with the head coach. They had plenty of chances to turn the season around and finish with a respectable record, but that went out the window when they lost to Vanderbilt, at home, by two touchdowns. That is just shameful. Also, did anyone notice how Ole Miss quit on Houston during the Tennessee game?
What Went Right: Not much. Houston failed to win any meaningful games and because of that Ole Miss is sitting at home watching bowl games instead of practicing for one.
Final Grade: F
I see no other way to score this one.
11. Mark Richt, Georgia
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This one might cause a stir.
What Went Wrong: Well, a 6-6 record for starters. Losing A.J. Greene for the first four games definitely hurt Georgia's chances to start off on the right foot, but they lost to Colorado even after Greene was back in the line-up. However, Richt's biggest error was failing to produce wins with the amount of talent he had on the team. Georgia had five players selected to ProFootballWeekly.com's All American team. In case you missed that last part, I said FIVE All Americans. Apparently that equals six wins with Richt.
What Went Right: Georgia is going bowling. I know that isn't much to hang your hat on if you're a Georgia fan, but things could have been much, much worse. As usual Georgia has a top flight recruiting class in the works and has the potential (probably as the favorite) to win the SEC East in 2011.
Final Grade: D-
Richt isn't failing, but this isn't a report card he would want to show his parents, either.
10. Urban Meyer, Florida
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In all honesty, I think Urban probably deserves to rank last amongst SEC coaches after his performance this year, but Florida made it to a bowl and that is worth something.
What Went Wrong: The stress level in Gainesville. I tend to believe that Urban is sincerely concerned about his health and wants to spend some quality time with his family. However, with the exception of Mark Richt, no coach did less with the talent that surrounded them. Meyer never looked like he was happy this season and Florida's 7-5 record is a reflection of that.
What Went Right: Florida's recruiting is still absurdly strong despite all the turmoil of 2010. Will Muschamp is now in control of the program and looks right at home as the head man for the Gators.
Final Grade: D+
A bowl game means no "F", but D+ is as high as I can possibly go.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
9. Robbie Caldwell, Vanderbilt
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To be fair, Robbie Caldwell stepped into a no-win situation, but he was still the coach at an SEC school in 2010 and needs a grade.
What Went Wrong: Going 2-10 is pretty "wrong". Going 1-7 in the SEC is also very "wrong". I know, I know...everyone will say, "It's Vanderbilt, what did you expect?". In the time I have been alive Vanderbilt has only played in one bowl game... Obviously, things have gone very wrong for a very long time at Vandy.
What Went Right: Vanderbilt seems to have finally made the commitment to spending some major money on their football program. They recently hired former Maryland OC James Franklin to be the new head coach in 2011. Things look like they might be pointing up for Vandy. To be sure, Vanderbilt has a long way to go until they can be considered contenders in the SEC, but at least they are trying.
Final Grade: D+
Terrible team with an awful year, but that is par for the course for Vandy.
8. Joker Phillips, Kentucky
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Kentucky looked like they were on the verge of being a good team at several points during the season, specifically after they beat South Carolina.
What Went Wrong: Failing to finish games. Kentucky had the chance to get on a roll after dispatching with South Carolina, but was never quite able to get over the hump. Joker Phillips has the team headed in the right direction, but there is certainly some work left to be done by the coach and staff if they hope to be a consistent threat in the SEC.
What Went Right: Kentucky is headed to their 5th straight bowl game. I realize it is the BBVA Compass Bowl, but five straight bowl games is nice for a program like Kentucky. I don't know how Kentucky builds off of this season, but 2011 will answer that question.
Final Grade: C
Kentucky showed sparks during the season, but no fire.
7. Derek Dooley, Tennessee
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After starting 2-6 Tennessee and Derek Dooley made the change to QB Tyler Bray and things took off. UT finished 6-6 and is heading to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville providing a de facto home game.
What Went Wrong: Going 6-6 as Tennessee is wrong. Pretty simple. Tennessee is 9th on the all time FBS win list and no disrepect to the Music City Bowl, but Tennessee belongs somewhere else.
What Went Right: It looks like Tennessee found their QB of the future in Tyler Bray. Similar to Georgia and Florida, Tennessee's recruiting is looking strong again heading towards 2011 National Signing Day. Dooley and UT looks like they could walk away from 2010 with a winning record and a lot of potential.
Final Grade: C+
There are some positives to take away from 2010, but Tennessee was still a "middle of the pack" team in a weak SEC East.
6. Nick Saban, Alabama
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Now we're starting to split hairs. There is sure to be much debate about the top half of my rankings.
What Went Wrong: Strangely enough, winning the 2009 BCS National Championship is where Alabama went wrong. You should read that sentence as, "There was no where to go but down." Winning the 2010 BCS National Championship was the only way to keep the season from being a failure. However, there were plenty of chances for Alabama to take control and run away with the SEC. Three losses constitutes a "bad" season in Tuscaloosa especially when one of them was to Auburn...
What Went Right: Playing in the Capital One Bowl against Big Ten co-champion, Michigan State, is a bowl scenario that a ton of teams would love. Just like clockwork, Nick Saban is orchestrating another top recruiting class. Seriously, it might end up being number one. Look for Alabama to grow from the mistakes learned in 2010 and be the favorite to win the SEC next year.
Final Grade: B
If just about any other team turned in the same resume as Alabama I would be inclined to give them an A, but being Alabama means meeting certain expectations. Unfortunately, Alabama's standards are pretty high and Saban didn't meet them this year.
5. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
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From 5-7 in 2009 to 8-4 in 2010. Looks pretty good on the surface. How do things look if you dig deeper?
What Went Wrong: It is tough to have too many complaints against Mississippi State's four losses (Auburn, LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas), but if Mullen hopes to get Mississippi State into the "elite" category in the SEC he is going to have to figure out a way to win the games he lost in 2010.
What Went Right: Playing in the Gator Bowl is nice considering they had to watch all the bowl games in 2009. Recruiting is looking up and it seems like Mullen is bringing some genuine enthusiasm to Starkville.
Final Grade: B
Same as Saban, but expectations are lower in Starkville (as they should be). 8-4 at Mississippi State is more impressive than 9-3 at Alabama.
4. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
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Despite the fact that South Carolina reached the SEC Championship game for the first time in school history I feel like there were other coaches who had more impressive seasons.
What Went Wrong: Honestly, not much. Spurrier and Co. locked up the first SEC East title in school history, but it still feels like South Carolina should have accomplished more. After the win over Alabama it seemed like South Carolina really was finally ready to ascend to SEC elite, but then came the loss to Kentucky. They were crushed at home by Arkansas, but then destroyed Florida to capture the SEC East title. Very inconsistent.
What Went Right: Winning the SEC East. Discovering the absurd ability of Marcus Lattimore at RB. Being on the verge of signing the number one overall recruit in the country, Jadeveon Clowney. It looks like South Carolina may be ready to make another run for the SEC title in 2011.
Final Grade: B+
Things went great for Spurrier in 2010, but it left a little to be desired after their demoralizing defeat to Auburn in the SEC Championship Game.
3. Les Miles, LSU
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Les Miles is on the verge of another 11 win season...again.
What Went Wrong: Running into the Cam Newton buzz-saw and blowing a chance at the Sugar Bowl by losing to Arkansas. Other than the occasional clock mismanagement issues and the potentially HUGE mistake against Tennessee it was another ho-hum year for Les Miles.
What Went Right: Playing in the Cotton Bowl and having a chance for 11 wins is something that nearly every coach in the country would like to say. Similar to a lot of SEC schools, LSU has the potential to sign another top 5 recruiting class. Look for LSU to have a shot at winning the SEC again next year.
Final Grade: A-
10 wins and the Cotton Bowl goes a long way in my books. Still, Les is an enigma that may never be solved, but he sure is fun to watch.
2. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas
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Sugar Bowl bound...Well played Mr. Petrino.
What Went Wrong: Losses to Alabama and Auburn are the only thing keeping Arkansas from playing for the BCS National Championship. If Cam Newton hadn't burst on the scene at Auburn Bobby Petrino would also likely be the coach of a Heisman winner in Ryan Mallett.
What Went Right: Locking up a trip to the Sugar Bowl is very "right". As far as SEC vs. Big Ten supremacy goes, Arkansas has a chance to deal a major blow to the Big Ten's ego by knocking off Ohio State. Also, don't look now, but Petrino and the Hogs are quietly turning in an impressive recruiting class for 2011. Watch out for Arkansas next year.
Final Grade: A
Fantastic year that could be capped off by a huge BCS bowl victory.
1. Gene Chizik, Auburn
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Go ahead, call me a "homer". Chizik has guided the Tigers to a perfect 13-0 record and a chance to win the BCS National Championship.
What Went Wrong: Technically, absolutely nothing. It would be negligent of me not to mention the Cam Newton situation and that could have gone very wrong, but as it stands right now, everything is great with Chizik, Newton and the Auburn Tigers.
What Went Right: Going 13-0 and playing for their first national championship in 53 years is the reason Chizik sits atop my countdown. Doesn't hurt that Cam Newton won the Heisman, O'Brian, and Maxwell awards. It was also revealed last week that Auburn OC Gus Malzahn turned down a very lucrative offer to become Vanderbilt's next head coach. It looks like Auburn will once again maintain staff continuity. Not to ramble, but it also looks like Auburn might be on the verge of securing yet another top 5 recruiting class.
Final Grade: A+
Winning the SEC and having a chance to win the BCS National Championship means an A+ in my book. Chizik has now gone 21-5 in his two seasons at Auburn and is looking to make it 22-5.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
