New Coaches, new opportunities: Part Two

Work hard, demand excellence and stay focused on the details has been preached as a sure path to success in America. While a good prescription for obtaining success, and except for the case of Kentucky basketball coach Joe B. Hall in the 80’s, is generally an absolute necessity. Not always though. In business you can sometimes do everything just right and still not create success. The same is true in coaching college football. You can make all the right moves, but still fail because the pieces were just not there when you arrived to make things go in the time available to you. The other day we looked at coaches who look like they are the right guy, in the right place, at the right time. Today, we glance at coaches who may or may not be the right guy, in the right place at the right time. Wednesday we will pay regards to the ones that are just in the wrong place no matter what their skills might be.

Lane Kiffin, Tennessee-Remember Al Davis? The crazy owner of the Oakland Raiders where Kiffin coached before the two proved they could not work together. Given Kiffin’s antics since arriving in Knoxville you actually have to scratch your head and wonder if this time Davis might be the one who is sane. On the plus side for the Vol’s coach: His dad is a proven defensive innovator, he has assembled a staff of talented recruiters and pulled in some dynamic players. On the negative side: He has alienated every coach in the conference, played loose with NCAA rules and beyond his dad, has not assembled a staff full of great x and o’s people. Kiffin has thirteen returning starters, including the incredible Eric Berry. He has a rabid fan base. Does he have the ability to pull everything together fast enough to keep from being bitten? His own actions have put him on a pretty short leash.

Frank Spaziani, Boston College-If Spaziani wins he might just become the true BC man the school wants for a head coach. He has been on staff for thirteen years coaching defense for the Eagles, and has waited patiently for his opportunity. Last season Boston College won nine games. ACC champ Virginia Tech beat them twice and there was a tough loss to North Carolina that was surprising. The Eagles will have fourteen starters back with an equal number on both sides of the ball. What Spaziani has going his way is the potential for an improved offense. Working against him will be road games at Clemson, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame.

Dabo Swinney, Clemson-Swinney is a passionate coach who works hard at recruiting talent. Last year the players responded during his interim tenure by winning big games against Boston College and in- state rival Gamecocks. To help him be a success at Clemson he will have a solid offense taking care of the ball and a defense that should improve as the season progresses. The challenge will be getting the program to rise above the mediocrity that has enveloped the Tigers the last several seasons. If Swinney can produce as he is capable, then Clemson should make their way to the ACC Championship. A first for the program.

These guys are fortunate. Their success or failure is tied in many ways to what they do with the situation they are in. The jury is out on if they can actually get it done. The coaches we will take a look at on Wednesday might be better technicians than these guys, but their situation indicates they should not get to comfortable in their new offices.

New coaches, new opportunities

Not all opportunities in life are created equal. Do you really think there are not better actors in the world than Megan Fox, except she is the one with the good looks? College football is much the same. You can be a genius when hired as the new head coach for a school, but your success is often times dictated by who surrounds you and where you are walking a sideline. So, who are the new guys that might be in the right place, at the right time? Here are a few of them. Monday we will look at the ones who the jury is out on. Wednesday we will consider those that need to keep their resumes’ up to date. For now, here are the winners?

Staying Power

Gene Chizik, Auburn-The Tigers were a better team than their five wins from last season indicate. With fifteen returning starters and a staff on the same page look for the Tigers defense to lead a turnaround while the offense finds a rhythm with the quarterback position settled. Looking at the long term one has to believe that Chizik has done an excellent job assembling a group of people that know how to coach football. He will also have better recruiting success than the prior regime enjoyed after Saban’s arrival in Tuscaloosa.

Steve Sarkisian, Washington-What is success? After going zero for the season, three of four wins will help improve the mood around the Husky campus. That can by you several years in Seattle right now. Here is the key to Washington’s 2009: Are the eighteen returning starters a year more mature, or is it a case of returning that many football players who can’t win? Opening against LSU is not a good way to change the momentum, but there are winnable games against Idaho, Stanford and Washington State on the schedule. A few upsets and the Huskies might get to five wins. Getting Jake Locker back at QB will also be a big plus. He is a fiery, athletic quarterback.

Chip Kelly, Oregon-Here is the key to a great year for the new top man at Oregon. Beat Boise State in the opening game. This team is probably a year away from having a legitimate opportunity to compete with USC in conference play, but the table is set here for a nice long run in the Pac 10. Look for Kelly to stay active in the offensive game plan and the Ducks to score lots of points.

So, of the eleven coaching changes we will look at, only three seem to have staying power. That will tell you just how hard it is to keep a head coaching job for more than a few years in big time college football. Monday we will take a look at the guys who might go either way. Kickoff is just around the corner.

The penalty should stand for Florida State...and Bowden

Gary Brown

College Sports Matchups

August 11, 1009

When you have been in the public eye for as long as Bobby Bowden, it is hard to fake it. He must be a good man. He is surrounded by a family that seems to adore him, stories abound regarding his dedication to serving within his church and people who know him have a difficult time finding something bad to say about him. Given these points, and so many others, it is important that his goodness and decency as a man be considered fact in any discussion regarding Florida State football and Bowden.

He can coach football. This is also an undisputable fact. With 382 career wins Bowden is in a rare class of coaches from any sport, anytime. When he arrived at Florida State the program was in a dismal state, having won only four games in the prior three seasons. Since that time he has posted one losing season, and from 1987-2000 the Seminoles were ranked in the Top Five nationally at the end of each season. In his other head coaching stops he was also a success. His Samford record was 31-6, and at West Virginia he compiled a 42-26 record. Bowden is a Hall of Fame coach and his legacy will be remembered as long as college football is played.

Here are some facts that are not as pretty though. The ones that brought the unfair glare of the NCAA to Tallahassee. Unfair because there is cheating in so many corners of college football the NCAA selectively ignores, and while the infractions committed by Florida State are serious, they were self-reported when discovered and the school immediately imposed meaningful sanctions that included suspensions and scholarship sanctions. So what are the facts of the case? Twenty-five football players cheated in class with the assistance of staff from Florida State’s academic support team between the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007.

The last fact, to this point, is from the NCAA. Florida State must forfeit the games the players appeared in. There are other details in the NCAA ruling, but for today those are the ones that matter in this discussion. Why? The outcome has potential to impact the history of the game as it relates to the leader board for all-time coaching wins. So, the question is very simple. Should the NCAA penalties stand? The answer, while many want to make it complicated, is simple as well. Yes.

While we may not like the answer, it is the correct one. Why? Look at the facts without the man involved. Some team, somewhere in time lines up a group of players who cheated in class to retain their eligibility to play. Not only did these players cheat, they also had people helping them who had been put in place by the school to make sure they received appropriate academic assistance. If this occurred in a place where we did not like the head coach, where there was not a record possibly on the line, where the career of a living legend from coaching stood to have his legacy tarnished would we think the penalty was unjust?

Florida State won games using players that should have not been on the field. The other teams, to the best of our knowledge, played the game with players who were doing their coursework the right way. When you cheat there are penalties. That is life. Would you want an official to hold a flag if Tim Tebow scored a touchdown that was aided by a clear holding violation in a game against your team? Why then do you think the NCAA should not drop one in this case?

Real men love soap operas

Who says that men don’t like soap operas? College football is an extended season of drama that drives our emotions from one extreme to the other, and hold us breathless waiting for the next episode. What will be the storylines to watch for this fall after the games begin? Here is one from each conference for consideration.

ACC-The league has not contributed to the national title conversation in quite a few years. Is this the year a team breaks through and keeps conversation regarding the national title alive until late in the season?

Big Ten- Ohio State and Penn State will keep the conference relevant all season, but the interesting place to watch will be the state of Michigan. Will the Wolverines become competitive and can Michigan State give the big two a run for the title?

Big Twelve-We watched big points be put up by Big Twelve teams all last season, but their two highest profile bowl games last year gave reason to pause and ask questions. How much good defense is being played in the conference? Has signing the number of players it takes to run the spread offense hurt the talent level of the defenses?

Big East-The best argument the Mountain West could make regarding the BCS is why the Big East gets an automatic BCS Bowl Berth and they don’t. The league schedule is only marginally better and day-in/ day-out the teams from the Big East would not be successful against their larger cousins. Will the Mountain West start to point at the Big East as a reason to allow them into the BCS?

PAC 10-USC is clearly the dominant team in the league and has been for a decade now. Just like last year the big question out west still remains this: How many years until the men of Troy have a genuine rival in the conference?

SEC-The real fun in the south will not be the East where Florida should easily win a slot in the conference championship game before playing for another national title. The West is where things will be interesting. Alabama is replacing lots of offensive parts; Ole Miss is, well, Ole Miss and LSU will be out coached in at least two games. The team form the bayou state may be the most talented on this side of the league, but keep an eye on the Razorbacks. Can Bobby Petrino take his team to Atlanta for the conference championship in only his second year?

These questions will all soon be answered, but as the drama unfolds there will be plenty of plot twists that cause us to stay on the message boards and start tracking the movement of planes around the country. You know you can’t wait. After all, real men really do enjoy a good soap opera. Enjoy.

A different sort of ranking criteria for SEC coaches

As pundits around the country wait for real news from college football to start unfolding, they fill their space with lists ranging from player rankings to best mascots. There is also the mandatory listing of best coaches. Becoming a great college football coach is very hard. In some places it is harder than others. The SEC is no different than other conferences in this regard. Do you really think you are on equal footing with Southern Cal sitting in Pullman, Washington as coach of the Cougars? Come on now, how many of you even knew the nickname for Washington State? Who knew that was even the school in Pullman?

Below you will find the SEC head coach rankings from a somewhat different perspective. We are taking a challenge/outcome approach to selecting the best coaches in the SEC. When you measure success this way it shuffles the deck a little. You see, things like conference titles, national championships and wins are not the only measures of success. It also matters on just how difficult it is to achieve success in a place. Sometimes schools have a better coach than they might think. From top to bottom here is our list.

1. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt-When the Commodores defeated Boston College in the Music

City Bowl it was their first bowl victory since the 1955 Gator Bowl. The last time they even played in a post-season game was 1982. It might have taken seven years to get 20 wins, but this is not Gainesville we are talking about.

2. Rich Brooks, Kentucky-Kentucky has won three bowl games in the same number of seasons. This has never happened in the history of Kentucky football. It is also the first time the Cats have won seven or more games in three straight seasons since a similar streak from 1949-51.

3. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State-He has not coached his first game in Starkville yet, but just the fact that Mullen has been able to generate increased ticket sales for the Bulldogs means he is delivering more value than some of the other new coaches at schools with more success traditionally.

4. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas-In all of his job hopping Petrino has shown one thing. He can deliver an offense. Last year started badly, but the season ending victory against LSU shows Petrino has the Hogs pointed in the right direction. They Razorbacks are going to be the surprise team in the SEC this year.

5. Nick Saban, Alabama-Saban came into a demoralized Alabama program and provided a spark of life that has been missing for almost a decade. The Tide’s talent level was pretty low his first season and he had them in every game. It was not that much better last year when they won the West, and came close to playing for a national title. Pretty good work.

6. Urban Meyer, Florida-He has two national titles under his belt so he can coach, but get real. He inherited a decent roster of talent and resides in a state with enough top level talent to stock an entire conference. He should win, and win big, at Florida. This is not Nashville we are talking about.

7. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss-Razorback fans can scream about him all they want, but Nutt consistently provided Pig fans with one of the best offenses in the conference. He is showing the same skill at Ole Miss, and is doing it through the air and ground now. He may not meet the high expectations this season, but that is what happens when you blow out last year’s media darling Texas Tech in your bowl game.

8. Gene Chizik, Auburn-The last few years on the recruiting trail were not kind to Auburn. Nick Saban has dominated the state, but Chizik and crew are working to reverse that trend. They have used high profile campaigns to accomplish their task, and violated a few NCAA rules in the process. Chizik’s most impressive accomplishment so far has been the top flight staff he assembled. They can coach football.

9. Mark Richt, Georgia-Knowshon Moreno. Mark Stafford. Great receivers. We like Richt, but the Bulldogs were less than advertised last year. With lower expectations this year Richt will have a chance to move up, but if they don’t look like they are making progress his seat could become hot.

10. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina-He won big at Florida. He should have. His “everyone go deep” offense has not worked as well at South Carolina for a simple reason. The Gamecocks are not as talented. During his time at SC he has not developed a consistent leader at quarterback and is just four games above .500. Not what the South Carolina faithful expected when making this hire.

11. Lane Kiffin, Tennessee-NCAA violations galore. Unable to get the QB of the future despite his reputation as an offensive genius. Staff members who like to run their mouths. We are not big fans of Al Davis, but when we consider the relationship between him and Kiffin, it may be that Davis was right.

12. Les Miles, LSU-We just don’t believe he is the guy. Losing to Alabama at home was bad enough, but the loss to Arkansas cemented his position at the bottom of our list. He is in one of the most talent rich states in the nation, but he does not seem to be coaching players “up.”

Gary Brown
gary@secmatchups.com

Tim Tebow is a great example, but….

How can you not like Tim Tebow? Even if your team has suffered a loss at his hands, here is a young man that spends his offseason going to foreign countries to provide physical and spiritual aide. Florida inmates have been inspired to better lives through his talks behind bars. He has been allowed by the NCAA to raise funds for charity, and all of this is before we get to his tremendous athletic ability. He is a walking, talking example of a real life hero. Someone you can tell your kids to look up to. Except maybe you ought to rethink that.

What, with all of the good he is doing? Even with all the good he does. Why? Steve McNair. Kobe Bryant. Roger Clemens. LeBron James. Matt Jones. Mark McGwire. How many reasons do you want? While there is no reason to believe Tim Tebow will meet similar disgraces that these athletes have, it is important that we don’t rush to name someone a hero until enough time has passed for their life body of work to be deep enough to be considered.

Who then can qualify as a hero for our children to look to and admire? How about John Wooden, who has proven the genuine goodness of his character for decades now. Dale Murphy, the former Braves slugger who always stayed true to his values. There is an even more important list of people we should identify as great role models. The teacher who has been in the classroom of the child and the child’s parents. The firefighter who runs into a burning building with concern only for the people who don’t want to be inside. The soldier on foreign soil who defends our freedom daily. Coaches, who earn little money, work long hours, don’t win state championships every year, but instill proper values in their players that shape lives forever. These are the people who we should hold up to our children as the people they want to emulate. One last group that needs to be the real heroes to kids? Mom and dad. Parents, we should all work diligently to be the people our children think of first when they are deciding who they want to be.

Time Tebow will probably be a person we can add to the list of heroes thirty or forty years from now. Until then we need to keep in mind that the greatest people in the world probably die with no one ever hearing of them.

Gary Brown
gary@secmatchups.com

Some college football records are more interesting

Exploring college football’s record book is an eye opening experience. In many ways the history of the game unfolds right in front of you. Reviewing passing records reveals the transition from three yards and a cloud of dust to the spread offenses that dominate offensive stats today. Individual performances jump off the pages, like the incredible year Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State had in 1988 where his season was not defined by 200 yard games, but the four he had over 300.

A figure that is really kind of staggering, even when considering the high powered offenses of today, is the single game passing record held by David Klinger of Houston. In a 62-45 win over Arizona State he threw the ball around all day, and when the air was cleared had passed for 716 yards.

There are other records we don’t think about very often that are interesting because when we see them, we just scratch our heads and ponder the reality of them. When you recall the 1916 game between Cumberland and Georgia Tech it is difficult to figure how there is even enough time for one team to score 222 points. The reason may be an offense for Cumberland that was just as inept as their defense, since they were shut out in the game.

But we don’t recall some moments because they did not happen in an era when replay is found for every game played from pee-wee to the NFL. Records are broken at all levels as well, and sometimes it is hard to find the superlatives that occur in the levels below the Bowl Championship Division of the NCAA, you know, Division I. Beyond being broke at lower levels, it is special teams that cause the curious to stop and ponder just what the day was like for the record holder.

For example, in 1976 Ove Johansson sent a field goal 69 yards off a 2-inch tee against East Texas State. It was an NAIA game, but hey, 69 yards is 69 yards in high school, college or the NFL. How do you even begin to line that one up and decide how much to get under it? What was the wind like? When the ball came off Johansson’s foot you have to wonder at what point he knew it was good. It would be hard to imagine he kicked it and instantly raised his arms making the call; after all, the ball would have taken almost as long to reach the uprights as it does to fly from Atlanta to Miami. While we would like for a kick of this distance to have some magnitude as every player and fan held their breath to see if the short par three drive would be good or not, this is not the case. The final score of the game was 17-0.

What is a busy day for your team’s punter? Do you even know his name? If you saw him ten times a game you would probably want the offensive coordinator fired. It was 1939 and Texas Tech played Centenary during a downpour in Shreveport. The game was an event that would cause current Tech coach, Mike Leach, to have a stroke. On that day the Red Raiders Charlie Calhoun punted the ball thirty-six times. THIRTY-SIX! He was credited with 1318 kicking yards that day. Twenty of his attempts were returned, eight went out of bounds while six were downed. For the day the number one was only used twice to describe Calhoun’s efforts. He had one roll into the end zone for a touchback and one blocked. Of his punts that day the most eye opening number is thirty-three. That is how many times he punted the ball on first down. Guess the coaches felt field position was important that day. The outcome? A scoreless tie.

Kicking the ball is easy compared to setting a record the way T.J. Mayer did in a 2003 game when Waldorf played SMSU. Mayer had the privilege of returning thirteen kickoffs before the final gun sounded. How does one guy get into a position to return that many kickoffs in four quarters of football? You lose the game by a score of 84-7. Obviously on a team outmanned in every way, Mayer had to walk the field over and over that day, and run headfirst into a swarm of SMSU players. His blocking could not have been any better than the teams other skill players had that day. And he had a head full of steam every time. Beyond this particular game Mayer was given plenty of other return opportunities that season. Waldorf went 0-11 and gave up seventy or more points in three other games.

This year keep an eye on the record book, and the next time you hear someone asking a superstar how they feel about having their longstanding record broken think of poor A.J. His record might never be broken, and more important there is probably not a player out there that wants his title.

Gary Brown
gary@secmatchups.com

College football top 10...for now

Picking the top 10 for college football for 2009 may sound like a bold, definitive position to be taking, but the first qualifier for these picks is simple. They are subject to change. For now, and just right now, here are the teams we see sitting in the top 10 at the end of the year and why.

1. Florida-18 returning starters and perhaps the best offense and defense in the country.
This was easy.
2. Oklahoma-Someone has to win when they play Texas. Oklahoma gets the nod, the Big 12
title and we get a BCS rematch.
3. USC-They don’t have a QB, but still play in the PAC-10. That alone will keep them near
the top.
4. Virginia Tech-They were young last year and grew up during the season. They win the
ACC and have an outside chance at the BCS Championship Game.
5. Ohio State-Like the talent they have at skill positions and their coaching.
6. Georgia-If Joe Cox steps up they will only lose to Florida.
7. Texas-Lots of talent and on a mission after being kicked out of BCS Championship Game
game last year. They lose to Sooners and Oklahoma State.
8. Boise State-Their schedule and talent level may leave them undefeated when bowl picks
are made.
9. LSU-Tigers win the toughest conference division in college football. Tough enough to keep
them out of BCS title game.
10. Arkansas-The Razorbacks are my pick to be the most improved team in the nation this
year.
Why are teams like Ole Miss, Alabama and Cal missing from this list? They all have a glaring challenge ahead of them that have to be addressed before they can be listed with this group.
While bringing back several defensive starters from last year, Ole Miss played pretty average defense most of the year. They have to play like they did against Texas Tech to become a top 10 team. While Bama’s defense is stout, their offense will have to prove it can get the defense some rest and score points. Cal’s questions start on defense where only three starters return. Their offense can light a scoreboard up.

So, what will the actual results look like? Who knows, but for now this is a place to start the conversation from.

Gary Brown
gary@secmatchups.com

Alabama has been placed on probation again by the NCAA. That news does not seem like anything fresh. Since Antonio Langham signed with an agent in 1993, on the morning after Bama beat the Miami Hurricanes to win the National Championship, run-ins with the NCAA have become as much a part of Alabama football tradition as hounds tooth hats. So, what are the facts regarding the new probation period Bama faces?

· Over 201 athletes from 16 sports were involved. Only athletes from the crew team
avoided participation in the textbook scheme.
· Football victories from 2005, 2006 and 2007 are being vacated.
· Track and tennis will have individual records and victories vacated.
· There are no scholarship losses for any team.
· Alabama will remain on probation through 2012.
· The five year offender status will remain in place until 2014.

Now, what are the real implications of the penalties?

· Bobby Bowden and the Seminole faithful may be facing the biggest reality. The NCAA will
have a hard time letting Florida State keep the 14 vacated wins currently under appeal by
FSU. If he does not get those wins back it will be tough for Bowden to pass Joe Paterno of
Penn State on the all-time coaching win list.
· Alabama needs a new AD. Mal Moore has been the man in charge twice now when
Bama was placed on probation. This time the NCAA was light in many people’s eyes. Over
200 athletes involved in a textbook case? That sounds like a lack of institutional control.
· Ozzie Newsome should be hired to replace Moore. The Tide legend has indicated he would
like to come home at some point. Now is the time.
· It is a good thing Saban is a great recruiter. Do you think Auburn, Tennessee, Florida and
all the other schools beating a path to the nation’s best players will whisper anything about
the five year window and possible “death penalty” into the ears of these impressionable
young people?
· Alabama better stay really, really clean until the window is closed, and pray that none of
the schools boosters decide to “help” out in the recruiting process.

Now, that said, Alabama fans need to look closely and not have expectations that are too high for their team this season. Replacing most of the offensive line, breaking in a new quarterback and still not knowing who will get most of the carries in the ground game, while knowing that almost every pass will go to Julio Jones will be the dominating elements of discussion about Alabama football soon.

Gary Brown
gary@secmatchups.com

Kentucky fans: Start packing your bags

It was just a little bit uncomfortable for him, but the Kentucky basketball fan on the other end of the line admitted to googling to see where the NCAA Final Four was going to be played next year. After years in hoop exile, fans of the Big Blue are excitedly following the twitters of John Calipari as his rebuilding pace of Wildcat basketball is making Nick Saban’s jump start of Crimson Tide football look slow by comparison. Calipari came in saying the program would need two years to regain the form “Rupp Retro’s” have been longing for. He was wrong. It has taken less than two months to move from middle of the pack SEC team to a 2000’s version of the Michigan Fab Five.

What the Wildcat staff has done in recruiting since their arrival in Lexington is nothing short of incredible. The freshman class is all in the top forty of Rivals top 150 list. Well, all but one. There is a junior college transfer that was not eligible for the rankings. Oh, and the 40th ranked player is quite a bit behind the rest of the incoming freshman, who are all in the top 30. As a class they bring in an eye popping per game average of 123 points. Here is a look at the nation’s top class:

John Wall is a genuine point guard who can go either direction with the ball, but his best gift is dishing the ball to his running mates. Wall is the top ranked player in the nation and brings a 21 point per game average to the floor.

The second rated player in the nation is DeMarcus Cousins. He is a real presence inside, but is able to step out and make shots from the perimeter. His 23 point per game average is complimented with 14 rebounds and 6 blocks in each contest.

In junior college Darnell Dodson average 16 points per game. He also brings three years of time in a Kentucky uniform with him.

Jon Hood is a 6’7” guard that drops in 29 points in a game. He needs to become a better defensive player, but is heady on the court. He was Mr. Basketball in Kentucky.

Last on the list is a holdover commitment from the Gillespie era. Eric Bledsoe has great instincts to go with his 20 points per game. He also knows how to share the ball with others. The proof is his 11.5 assists per game.

Couple this recruiting class with leadership from Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks (remember him) and you have the nucleus of what will be a basketball team that should make fans of Kentucky basketball not only start wondering where the Final Four is next year, but also start packing their bags. Your destination is Indianapolis by the way.

Gary Brown
gary@secmatchups.com

College football tradition

Arrowhead Stadium is considered unique when the Chiefs play. There is smoke wafting from the parking lot surrounding the stadium and some pretty tasty BBQ and other good eats to be found before the game. It is also not uncommon to hear people comment that the setting is “the closest thing to a college atmosphere as you will find in the NFL.” Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades though. College football is the best because wherever you go they offer up a special serving of tradition that the NFL just can’t match.

Quick, name me an NFL tradition that gives you goose bumps? There is no way you can say the traditional Thanksgiving Day games produce a strong emotional reaction, unless you find spending time with your family difficult, and if watching Detroit and Dallas play is your escape, then the problem with your family relations might just be you and not them. 

Ahhhh, but college football is a goose bump per minute producing parade of pomp, ceremony and tradition. Many a commentator has attempted to define the top traditions in college football, but that is the most subjective evaluation there can be. You can come closer to compiling a list of top running backs than defining the best traditions. When it comes to tradition, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and just imagine how much would be missing from the game if we did not have all of the great customs to participate in.

If you are in Death Valley how can you not be thrilled to see the Clemson Tigers come roaring down the hill as the cannon fires and the players all touch Howard’s Rock. How many times would you tell your friends, children and grand kids about the time you were chosen to “Dot the I” for the Buckeyes marching band? After all those years of losing to Auburn in the Iron Bowl Bama fans roared one of the most passionate “Rammers Jammers” ever after they defeated the team from the Loveliest Village on the Plains, where a big victory is just another reason to roll Toomer’s Corner.

Further west you better be able to move quickly to avoid the rush of Ralphie onto the field in advance of the Colorado Buffalos, and to this day my mother-in-law has a soft spot for the Oklahoma Sooners because she still remembers the day in 1993 when the Schooner toppled over sending the Ruf/Neks and their queen rolling across the field. Is there any more recognized symbol than the traditional “Hook ‘em Horns” hand sign?

Tradition is not something just for the biggest and best in college ball. Grambling’s band is an institution to itself.  When we say “the helmet” college fans think about Michigan, but the original design was given birth at Princeton, and did you know the largest trophy given in college football is exchanged between the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State University? It is a 7’6” tall carving of an Indian named Chief Caddo. Northwestern currently has the trophy.

Time and space will not allow here for all the great traditions, but who does not appreciate the painting of helmets, with gold flakes mixed in for luck, that occurs each game week in South Bend? Tailgating at Ole Miss in The Grove has given rise to an art form that is unmatched anywhere else in college football.  We have the Trojan band at USC and the annual battle between the Ducks and Beavers in Oregon.

Ahhhh, tradition. It is what makes college football the special game it is. You have to get goose bumps just thinking about it.

Gary Brown

gary@secmatchups.com

7th Heaven

Seventh Heaven
SECMatchups.com Original Content
April 25, 2009
Every draft site you visit has their “mock draft” posted, and almost all of them have one thing in common: They all pick the first three rounds of the draft and ignore the seventh round. It is easy to figure out who is going where in the top ten or so. It takes real courage to pick the last round, because there is not tons of reason you can apply to your selection process. However, we believe the lucky seventh round is the most fun. It is where we find Mr. Irrelevant, who will once again attend a day in his honor in sunny Newport Beach, California. Not a bad gig. The seventh round is also where you find the players who are hanging on to a dream…a dream of playing in the NFL. All they want is just a chance to suit up. It is in their honor that we produce our first annual “Seventh Round Mock Draft.” Look for the surprises. Dream their dreams. Some of these guys will become real impact players.
Overall Pick
Team
Name
School
Position
210
Dallas (from Detroit)
Nathan Brown
Arkansas St.
QB
211
St. Louis
Rs'Shon Harris
Oregon
DT
212
Kansas City
Garrett Reynolds
North Carolina
OT
213
Seattle
Ashlee Palmer
Ole Miss
LB
214
Miami (from Cleveland)
Will Johnson
Michigan
DE
215
Cincinnati
Jamarko Simmons
Western Michigan
WR
216
Oakland
Jerrad Powers
Auburn
CB
217
Tampa Bay (from Jacksonville)
Al Alfalava
Oregon State
SS
218
Green Bay
Terrence Knighton
Temple
DT
219
San Francisco
Blake Schluter
TCU
CB
220
Buffalo
Harry Melton
Texas
DE
221
Minnesota (from Washington)
Don Carey
Norfolk State
CB
222
New Orleans
Quinten Lawrence
McNeese State
WR
223
Houston
Graham Harrell
Texas Tech
QB
224
San Diego
Gary Brown
Alabama(former cheerleader)
???
225
Denver
Sammie Stroughter
Oregon State
WR
226
Pittsburgh (from Tambay Bay)
Nate Ness
Arizona
FS
227
Dallas
Jacob Lacey
Oklahoma State
CB
228
N.Y. Jets
Ryan Moulton
Hawaii
CB
229
Tampa Bay (from Chicago)
Tony Carter
Florida State
CB
230
Philadelphia
Jason Cherry
La-Lafayette
WR
231
Minnesota
Brandon Walker
Oklahoma
G
232
Miami
Andrew Means
Indiana
WR
233
Tampa Bay (from Baltimore)
Brandon Gibson
Washington State
WR
234
New England
Nate Davis
Ball State
QB
235
Denver (from Atlanta)
Alex Boone
Ohio State
OT
236
Indianapolis
Bear Pescoe
Fresno State
TE
237
Miami (from Carolina)
Captain Munnerlyn
South Carolina
CB
238
N.Y. Giants
Stephen Hodge
TCU
OLB
239
Tennessee
Everette Pendescleau
Northen Iowa
DE
240
Arizona
Jared Bronson
Central Washington
TE
241
Pittsburgh
Robert Francois
Boston College
OLB
242
Tennessee (Compensatory Selection)
Frank Peterson
Idaho State
WR
243
Washington (Compensatory Selection)
Jeremiah Johnson
Oregon
RB
244
San Francisco (Compensatory Selection)
Ramon Foster
Tennessee
OT
245
Seattle (Compensatory Selection)
Reshard Langford
Vanderbilt
SS
246
Chicago (Compensatory Selection)
Ray Felinger
Brigham Young
OG
247
Seattle (Compensatory Selection)
Derek Pegues
Miss. State
FS
248
Seattle (Compensatory Selection)
Greg Isddan
West Virginia
OG
249
Cincinnati (Compensatory Selection)
Marcus McClinton
Kentucky
FS
250
Jacksonville (Compensatory Selection)
Devine Moore
Wyoming
RB
251
Chicago (Compensatory Selection)
Quar Cosby
Texas
WR
252
Cincinnati (Compensatory Selection)
Augustus Parnish
Kent State
OT
253
Jacksonville (Compensatory Selection)
Corey Irvin
Georgia
DT
254
Arizona (Compensatory Selection)
Deon Butler
Penn State
WR
255
Detroit (Compensatory Selection)
Domonique Johnson
Jackson State
CB
256
Kansas City (Compensatory Selection)
Eron Riley
Duke
WR

Don't overlook these guys

There is no need to find the easy button when it comes to making a decision to select Matthew Stafford or Knowshon Moreno. These guys will perform. You can think hard about Percy Harvin given concerns over drug use, or worry about just how good Andre Smith might be. Go ahead, but these players have shown they can get it done on a football field at the highest levels. It is a given that Robert Ayers and Derek Pegeus can play defense, and should be good in the NFL. These are not the kind of guys that general managers and coaches struggle with taking. They will, and should, be drafted by an NFL team. The real surprise will come if they last until day two.

What is hard? Trying to make a decision about a guy that may seem a step too slow or an inch short. It is more difficult to decide if the one year starter is really just a one year wonder or a late bloomer. There are players in every draft who make a significant impact coming from the later rounds of the draft or free agency. Despite all the evaluations, energy and discussion that goes into a prospect picking players from the available pool is not an exact science. Ever hear of a guy named Kurt Warner? Well, what names that you hear later, instead of earlier should you be listening for this weekend? Guys that might just be a little overlooked. Here are a few from the SEC.

Cornelius Ingram is a tight end from Florida who explodes off the line and get away from man-to-man coverage. His blocking skills cause some NFL teams concern, and so does the ACL injury he is coming off of.

Glenn Coffee ran the ball hard for Alabama last year from his running back position. He is a straight ahead runner and catches the ball pretty well. It is his breakaway speed that gives pause to teams in the pro ranks.

Alabama tight end Travis McCall is not tall enough for the NFL. That is the book, but he has excellent hands, can find the open spot and is a proven blocker. Maybe the biggest surprise in this group if given a chance.

Keith Fitzhugh stands in the shadows of his higher profile secondary mate, Derek Pegues, but he is a talent in his own right. He is physical enough to play in the box, but what is causing concern among the scouts is his ability to cover people in a man.

Kentucky’s Johnny Williams was surrounded by higher profile defensive players in his senior year, most of them juniors, but he was still the leader in sacks for the Cats. He is big enough to make plays, but his speed is the barrier between him and the NFL.

The best, first NFL draft pick, ever from the SEC

Matthew Stafford may move the number up one from thirteen. That is the number of SEC football players who were taken with the overall first pack of the NFL draft, an honor that Stafford hopes to have this year. The oldest player to receive this distinction dates back to 1940. George Cafego was taken out of Tennessee by the Cardinals, and you can be pretty sure it was not with the pomp and circumstance of the last number one, JaMarcus Russell from LSU.
How do these number one players stack up compared to each other? Who can really say, but here is one listing to start the conversation rolling. Write back with your opinion. Going from best to worst…

Year Player School Drafted By
1965 Joe Namath Alabama Jets
Reinvented the way quarterback is played in the NFL. I guarantee it.

1998 Peyton Manning Tennessee Colts
The last SEC quarterback to revolutionize the game.

1986 Bo Jackson Auburn Raiders
What might have been if not for injury. Think “Bo Knows?”

1960 Billy Cannon LSU Rams
A rare combination of speed and strength for his time.

1948 Harry Gilmer Alabama Redskins
Played eight years in the NFL with the redskins and Lions.

2004 Eli Manning Ole Miss Giants
He has achieved his success with a considerably less talented supporting cast than Peyton.

1943 Frank Sinkwich Georgia Lions
Quick, who is the first SEC player to win the Heisman? Did you guess Sinkwich?

1940 George Cafego Tennessee Cardinals
After one season he was called to duty by a greater calling. His country needed him to serve in WWII.

1952 Billy Wade Vanderbilt Rams
Was he the Rams first round pick or a “bonus pick?” He has an opinion on this.

1961 Tucker Frederickson Auburn Giants
Auburn coach, Shug Jordan, once called him the most complete football player ever.

1953 Harry Babcock Georgia 49’ers
From New York, this wide receiver was one of the first to be able to go up and get the ball.

1999 Tim Couch Kentucky Browns
Is one of the all-time leaders for passing in Brown’s history. That does not speak well of Cleveland.

2007 JaMarcus Russell LSU Raiders
So far it has not been really easy. Might have had a better chance with a different team.

So, if Stafford is the first name called this Saturday, where do you think he will wind up on the list? Time will tell.

Who from the SEC will be drafted? Part two: Defense

Speed kills and the pace of the defensive game in the SEC is what sets it apart from other conferences. While the Big 12 and Pac 10 may boast great scoring offenses, they can’t make that claim very often when they step on the field to play their peers from the SEC. The players listed below are waiting to hear their name called this weekend in the NFL draft. These are the players other schools have game planned for on offense and will be glad to see go on to pro ball.

First Round

Peria Jerry, Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss Rebels
Can get into the backfield, disrupt a play, and get to a quarterback.

D.J. Moore, Cornerback, Vanderbilt Commodores
Some see him slipping into later rounds because of his slow 40 times. He has shown over time the ability to cover great receivers and be physical.

Second Round

Robert Ayers, Defensive End, Tennessee Volunteers
Given his instincts and strength we think someone will take a chance early on this fast player.

Ashlee Palmer, Outside Linebacker, Ole Miss Rebels
Not as big as some people want, but is an ideal player for teams that run a 4-3 defense.

Asher Allen, Cornerback, Georgia Bulldogs
Reads plays very well and is explosive to the ball.

Derek Pegues, Safety, Mississippi State Bulldogs
His size will cause teams to pass in the first round, but he has the skills to be there. He will make some team a great player.

Third Round

Dannell Ellerbe, Inside Linebacker, Georgia Bulldogs
Has demonstrated the ability to track plays down and make a big hit when he arrives.

Darry Beckwith, Inside Linebacker, LSU Tigers
Good tackling skills and a solid athlete. Some may question his size.

Emmanuel Cook, Safety, South Carolina Gamecocks
Can make plays in the passing or running game. Gets from sideline to sideline well.

Rashad Johnson, Safety, Alabama Crimson Tide
The former walk-on is a tough, physical player, but his coverage skills are not proven.

Tyson Jackson, Defensive End, LSU Tigers
Is a versatile enough to play tackle or end, which will increase his values to many teams.

Second Day Picks

Defensive Ends
Kirston Pittman, LSU Tigers

Defensive Tackles
Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn Tigers
Rickey Jean-Francois, LSU Tigers
Corey Irvin, Georgia Bulldogs
Myron Pryor, Kentucky Wildcats
Marlon Favorite, LSU Tigers

Outside Linebacker
Merrill Johnson, Auburn Tigers
Defensive Backs
Captain Munnerlyn

Which SEC players will be drafted and why? Part one: Offense

Every few years lines are drawn that determine which football players will get the opportunity to continue playing the game and which ones will find themselves watching from the stands. The first major leap comes during the transition from junior high school to senior high. The first major elimination of talent occurs when national letters of intent to play college ball are signed by about one of every seventeen high school players. For this small group the next round of cuts is even more significant. To be one of the names chosen by an NFL team to play not for Old State any longer, but major greenbacks. Only one in fifty college players will have this honor, and draft day will hold significantly more anxiety than national signing day. Why? This time the teams choose the players.

Which SEC players should have the excitement of hearing their name called when the NFL draft is held April 25-26? Below are some of the offensive players from the nation’s best conference who have their hopes up for the big day, when a phone call means the dream gets to move to the next level.

First Round

Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Georgia Bulldogs
Stafford has wowed the scouts with his strong arm and poise through the screening process. It will be a real surprise if the longsuffering Detroit Lions take anyone other than him with the first overall pick.
Pa
Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver, Florida Gators
Speed, ability to take the ball to the house and great hands make Harvin a sure first rounder. Questions are now arising about potential drug use but this should only cause him to slide further into the first round than original forecasts.

Andre Smith, Offensive Tackle, Alabama Crimson Tide
It was just a few months ago that Smith was thought to be a potential top three overall pick. That won’t happen after the last few months. In the end his athleticism and college success will cause some team to call his name in the first round.

Michael Oher, Offensive Tackle, Ole Miss Rebels
Oher has been the subject of a bestselling book and seen his life turn from a very different outcome that was awaiting him before football. NFL teams are concerned about his strength and intelligence to grasp the game. Like Smith, someone will watch the tape and realize he can play.

Second Round

Knowshon Moreno, Running Back, Georgia Bulldogs
A great player, playing a position that has a short NFL shelf life. It is also easy to find talent in later rounds.

Cornelius Ingram, Tight End, Florida Gators
Ingram runs good routes and has reliable hands, but needs to become a better blocker.

Jason Watkins, Offensive Tackle, Florida Gators
Gets off the ball quickly and is physical when playing with passion.

Third Round

Mohamed Massaquoi, Wide Receiver, Georgia Bulldogs
Will go into traffic for the ball and is explosive.

Brannan Southerland, Fullback, Georgia Bulldogs
His ability to catch the ball and the success of Peyton Hillis in Denver last year moves Southerland into day one.

Jared Cook, Tight End, South Carolina Gamecocks
Has the speed to run away from defensive players after catching the ball in a crowd.

Antoine Caldwell, Center, Alabama Crimson Tide
Versatile, strong and the among the best run blockers in the draft.

Jonathan Luigs, Center, Arkansas
Has been the best blocker, for one of the best running teams in college football over the last for years.

Here is a quick look at the offensive players who will hear their name on the second day of the draft barring something unforeseen.

Running Back
Arian Foster-Tennessee Volunteers
Glen Coffee-Alabama Crimson Tide

Wide Receiver
Louis Murphy-Florida Gators
Kenny McKinley-South Carolina Gamecocks
Demetrius Byrd-Mississippi State Bulldogs

Offensive Lineman
Ramon Foster-Tennessee Volunteers
Maurice Miller-LSU Tigers
Marlon Davis-Alabama Crimson Tide
Tyronne Green-Auburn Tigers
Tomorrow we will take a look at the players on the other side of the ball who are anxiously waiting for draft day. For each of these young men, the dream lives on for a while longer.

Sneaky touchdowns

It was during a game in Starkville on the home field of Mississippi State when I stepped in front of the pass and took it 100 yards for a touchdown. The crowd was rocking and I raised my arms crossing the goal line and tossed the ball to the official. The first touchdown still stands out the most in my memory though. Taking a handoff from Fred at the goal line, jumping into the air over the offensive line, and with a slight twist of my body found the open seam between the linebackers crashing through the lines. I saw Chip’s arms shoot straight up, and in the days before replay I knew my touchdown in “The Swamp” was secure.

The former was the last one and the latter was the first time. No, not to really score a touchdown in a big SEC game, but the first and last time I managed to sneak into a college stadium completely void of all the pageantry of Saturday. No people in the stands anticipating their team running into the stadium. No band marching into formation while playing their fight song. Not even a security guard keeping a dreamer from scoring a touchdown on the playing field. In my travels it has become a valued way to fill time between meetings or end a day. To date there has not been a single one that could not be conquered. There are also a few rules. First, no fence climbing (not at my age). Second, respect the playing surface. If the school is trying to grow a new stand of grass, stay off of it. All touchdowns come near the sidelines, not the middle of the field. Third, try hard to get a picture.

In the years since the mid-80’s when we made our way into the swamp at about 5:30 in the morning while on a road trip with best friends there have probably been at least 40 stadiums it has been a privilege to observe in quiet. At Clemson Howard’s Rock was available to touch and the home of the Washington Huskies has the most beautiful view outside the stadium there is…it must be comforting when you are getting drilled badly.  At Georgia Tech my “uniform” consisted of worn Asics running shoes, shorts and a sweaty t-shirt, while at Stanford my jacket came off, but the tie stayed on for a long kickoff return to score.

Is there a retirement on the horizon from this absurd hobby? Nope. Which stadium is the most impressive? They are all special in their own way. Who are you playing for? Do those who know me really have to ask? Do your children approve of this? They have come to understand the eccentric nature of their father. Does your wife ever go with you? No, she has much more common sense. Which stadium is next? Not about to give some school a heads up to lock their gates.

Which college stadium do you find to be the best and why? Send a note and let me know. Meanwhile enjoy the rest of spring practice from around country, because football news will soon be hard to find. But we will have all of it for you at SECMatchups.com

Gary

gary@secmatchups.com

Questions on my mind

Football and basketball are overlapping once again, o.k., o.k.….football never really ends in the SEC, and here are a few random items that cause me to stop and think.

What has happened to the mystique of Vanderbilt’s home court advantage in basketball?
Why does Ole Miss Coach Houston Nutt always seem to sign so many more players than he needs? Is it a reflection of the quality of people he goes after?
Can new Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen find an outfit that will look good on game day?
Why would Mike Anderson leave Missouri and head to Alabama to coach basketball?
Is South Carolina a good basketball team?
Is Lane Kiffin a spoiled brat or Steve Spurrier 2.0?
Will the Vols find a QB for next season among the three who could not get it done last year?
Is Les Miles a genius or the luckiest guy in the coaching business?
Why do Mark Richt’s assistant coaches stick around when there is more money at other schools?
What would Urban Meyer’s record at Florida be without Tim Tebow?
Is Kentucky underachieving or just not all that talented in basketball this year?
Where does Kentucky football go from the end of December until the first of September?
Just how good is the LSU basketball team this year?
Is Starkville aptly named?
Can Alabama generate a running game without Andre Smith?
Is it possible everyone has underestimated Wayne Chizik?
How many days until we kick football off again?

What is on your mind? E-mail us at gary@secmatchups.com and share your thoughts.