AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSEC West is best—in story lines
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some updated thoughts on the coaching carousel:
1. SEC West now best—at least when it comes to story lines: Since the SEC split into divisions in 1992 the Eastern Division with Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee has always been the glamour division. Now the SEC West, with Bobby Petrino going to Arkansas and Houston Nutt going to Ole Miss, has a wonderful new set of rivalries. You already know about LSU-Alabama and next season Nick Saban has to go to Baton Rouge. Now we have Nutt against Arkansas and Petrino against the guy (Tommy Tuberville of Auburn) whose job he tried to take four years ago. This is assuming, of course, that Les Miles remains at LSU which brings us to…..
2. Will Les Miles have a Merry Christmas? I think we’ll know about Dec. 21. That’s a week from Friday and the day that everybody is basically going to start shutting down to celebrate Christmas. If Michigan does not have a new coach in place by then, Miles may to have to live with the rumors of his departure until January and preparations for the BCS championship game. It won’t matter how many times he says “I’m not going to be the head coach at Michigan.” Nick Saban rendered that statement meaningless. Until Michigan hires a coach, this story will not go away and nobody is going to buy Miles’ protests.
3. Good move at Auburn: Tommy Tuberville is an old defensive coordinator. He knows what drives defensive coaches crazy. And today, it is some form of the spread offense with a mobile quarterback. He saw that his current offense just wasn’t getting it done with a drop back quarterback. He saw that Troy had rolled up yards on Georgia and Florida State, just to name a few. So he hired Tony Franklin, the OC at Troy, who knows this offense as well as any one. Now Kodi Burns has to learn the offense. Coaches tell me that you don’t have to commit completely to this offense but that in the future they’ll have to have some of it in their package.
4. Timing is everything: In today’s coaching search, which has to take place in a hyper-active media environment, it is not enough to have a good job and a good financial package if you want to land a sitting head coach. The timing must be absolutely perfect so that the sitting coach does not spend a lot of time twisting in the 24-hour news cycle. Arkansas found that out in its discussions with Tommy Bowden and Jim Grobe. When the school found out that Bobby Petrino was going to resign on Tuesday, AD Jeff Long did not wait for the official announcement. He flew to Atlanta immediately with a university attorney and a deal. As soon as Petrino resigned, he was on a plane headed back to Arkansas for the press conference.
5. Glad Bobby Johnson didn’t go to Duke: Vanderbilt’s Johnson is a very good football coach who has the Commodores competing at a very high level. I know he’s frustrated because his teams still lose too many close games in the fourth quarter. That is usually a function of depth, which will always be a problem at Vanderbilt. But he would have been equally frustrated at Duke, where they are talking a good game about being competitive in football, but really haven’t stepped up to plate to really give somebody a chance to win.
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Comments
By baloney
December 13, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this
I agree.
By blake
December 13, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
Is everyone going to switch to the spread offense? I still have a funny feelign about the Miles/Michigan situation. Have they even interviewed anybody? Vandy has a good thing going. Not only are they competing but give them a couple of breaks this year and they down both GA and Tennessee in the same year.
By baloney
December 13, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this
Now we know why ole sneaky snake Petrino let Redman be his QB. He let him have a chance in the NFL when he would not have had one otherwise.It happened to be at the expense of Harrington.I think Petrino basically said “Chris, you’re on your on now big guy.” I think Chris at least owes sneaky snake a bj. I also am starting to pull for Harrington, true he is limited in overall ability, but man is he a company guy or what?
By GT Fan
December 13, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Hey Tony, have you heard anything coming out the Tech program about what assistant coaches Paul Johnson will keep. FOr instnace Tenuta and Giff?
By TDone
December 13, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
It is readily apparent to even the most casual obeserver, that the way DRad handled the Tech situation at Tech was top notch and spot on.
By Eric1
December 13, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
I hope lezzy miles, satan and p** don’t win more than 3 games between them next season.
By GT
December 13, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
The guy on the radio calls Atlanta a college town as an insult to it not being a NFL town. Of course the guy in from Las Vegas which is a mafia town not a church town. The local guys this morning talk about how the NFL will look twice at college coaches coming “up” to the pros after Petrino, as if the look doesn’t go both ways. Isn’t it a little eye opening that when given a choice most family men opt out for college jobs while the loners who have left family in the dust for ego opt out for the NFL? I think the pros have ruin college sports with their money dictating the supply and effort of college players, which is earned by whoring the NFL out, which is then covered up by PR firms. It is definitely an adult game; Vick is not the only criminal that plays the sport, and by no means the weakest character playing or involved in it. The press acts as if it is Disney World they are promoting, yet I don’t think Disney keeps spin misters on the payroll in case Mickey escapes to a strip joint or decides a little cocaine might make his Christmas. College football is not perfect but I don’t mind my children watching it or immolating its players. You don’t see guys dress in multi thousand dollar suits with thin mustaches, and huge egos that pay the press through PR firms, to applaud what otherwise should make them throw up. The NFL is a sewer protected by the money it generates. Good for Petrino for realizing the smell and getting the hell out. Maybe the press could learn something from Petrino.
By shane #1
December 13, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
1-as the sec west turns?all of these prima donnas can’t win,so who will be the first to bail?in my opion the sec west is full of overpaid,overhyped coaches.i would not trade mark richt for two of these birds! 2-according to espn radio there was a long phone conversation between miles and michigan,i would not be suprised if miles left after the nc game. 3-good hire,but i am not sold on the spread as a system.then again i am not into”system”coaching.it will be great for a while,but the dcs are no dummys,they will figure out any”system”.i would rather have a head coach that is flexible and can make adjustments,rather than a coach that relies on a system. 4-great timing,unless you are arthur blank,or a player that took petrino at his word. 5-i would not leave vandy for duke.vandy has the academics,the reputation,and all the good points of duke.plus a fan base and the chance to win some games.who wants to coach football at a school whose highest rated qb recruit in years is playing point guard?
By azcat225
December 13, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
IMHO, Auburn just got a whole lot scarier for the rest of the SEC. They’ve now got an offense to go with that defense. Auburn fans, if not ecstatic, should be very, very pleased—-early Christmas gift from the Tubster.
By Merculf
December 13, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
CAn’t wait to see what Auburn is going to do with all that talent and Franklin at the wheel! Auburn should dominate Bama for another 6 years! War Eagle!
By KR
December 13, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
This Auburn fan is happy and cautiously optimistic. The OC can only teach and direct; the players still have to execute. I hope they do a lot of studying and practicing in the off-season.
I don’t fault Petrino for what he did; just how he did it. Same goes for when Saban went to ‘Bama and Tuberville came to AU.
Unfortunately, the press puts these guys in the position of choosing between dropping a bomb on your current program or lying about your next career move. Some choice…
I’d like to see the NCAA mandate that no coaching changes can be announced until after the final bowl game is played. (I’d also like to see a Ferrari in my driveway, but I don’t think that’s going to happen either…)
WAR EAGLE!
By Observer
December 13, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
Franklin is not going to have much to work with. It occured to me this season that as bad as Brandon Cox played at times during his career we never heard a word about his backup. Usually when there are problems at QB the most popular guy on campus is the backup. I don’t know, just seems fishy to me. If this Burns kid had any skills we would have heard of him by now.
By Joe Mac
December 13, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this
Quick-strike spread offense at Auburn? Can’t help but wonder how defensive coordinator Will Muschamp feels about having his guys on the field for much of the game after AU scores in six plays or punts in four, or how he feels about practicing against a suddenly finesse offensive scheme. Reminds me of how AU relied on Craig in the mid 1990s, how the defense began to sag and how the running game became non-existent. Is this the Spread Eagle offense? We’ll see.
By braveswin
December 13, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this
Good hire by Coach TT.I think AU has just done what all schools will do in the near future,jump on the spread offense.Now whether it is a full time spread or just a change-up we’ll have to wait and see but after Stafford leaves I think Ga will use the spread more w/ Logan Gray or another running type athlete at QB.Until someone schemes up a defense to shut it down… get used to the spread
By Richard T
December 13, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this
Not every coach is a liar like Nick Saban. Les Miles is not going to Michigan. He is a man of integrity at a level Saban and Petrino can only dream about.
By reservoirDawg(formally noyellowinthisblood)
December 13, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
This just in, Petrino dumps Ar-Kansas for Texas A&M.
By Jim Dunn
December 13, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
Come on, Tony. Saban lied, but it’s not like he was the first coach to do so. Remember Tuberville’s “pine box” statement? Saying Saban “rendered that statement useless” is a wee bit over-the-top.
By B-Rad
December 13, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Great move on Petrino’s part. Now the falcons can get Vick’s warden to coach and let him play just like the longest yard! The Falcons don’t need a coach they need a warden to take care of all of the thugs on the team. So who is going to be the next coach for the players to run out? Blank’s babies need to quit whining and play the game!
By Nashville Dawg
December 13, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this
As a huge Georgia fan, I’m terrified of Auburn’s new OC. The good news is, with Florida right before Auburn, we’ll at least have some extra practice time against the spread. But still, going against Tebow and Burns (I think that’s his name). That young Auburn QB could give the Dawgs some trouble, especially since we’ve struggled against the true spread recently. The good news we have all summer to prepare for the spread, which seems to be creeping into the SEC. Regardless, good hire by Auburn. Go Dawgs
By SECisFootball
December 13, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this
I find it comical that Miles is “helping” michigan in their coaching search but he has yet to find a defensive coordinator for his team that is playing the the BCS NCG! That guy is going to Michigan after the game.
By Woodstock Dawg
December 13, 2007 7:20 PM | Link to this
I’ve spent the last two days listening to Birmingham sports talk, and I wouldn’t be counting my chickens if I was an Auburn fan. I know they’ve brought in a spread guy as OC, but I’ll believe they run that offense full time when I see it. Tuberville is an old school, run the ball and stop the run kind of coach. I just don’t see him changing his ways completely to the spread. I bet he’ll choke back the offense in a tight game just like he did to Borges. The Auburn fans over here believe it too.
By Ga
December 13, 2007 7:56 PM | Link to this
I know you get tired of hearing, but I have been watching College Football a long time, especially GA. I am with GA, win or lose. If you look at the Coaches and Players in the SEC, there is going to be some of both of it for GA the next few years. Check Ga’s schedule for next yr. & tell me how you are going to run the table in the regular season, win the SEC Championship Game & then play for the NC & win it. We might play for the NC, but it will be with one or 2 losses. There could be 3 or 4 loses. Just look at the schedule & you can see where a lot of things could happen, good and bad. So, I think it is a little early to be predicting a NC for GA at this point. Same as trying to predict ANYONE who will win the NC next year. Think about it. Takes a few breaks. We got a break & beat Vandy. We couldn’t get a break to beat SC. We would have needed a lot of breaks to have beaten TN. That is just this year. Now we have to deal with Hawaii, no one knows how that will come out and that is just this year. Next year looks a little tougher.
By THEcolumbiadawg
December 13, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this
Auburn?! A threat?! Maybe to themselves. How many inexperienced QB’s have led their teams to ANYTHING in the SEC except disappointment? And in Tebow’s case a Heisman trophy to go with the Gators 3rd place SEC East finish! Auburn will be the EASIEST SEC win on UGA’s schedule next year. Jim Donnan was an offensive GENIUS at Marshall-how’d that translate in Athens? Beuller?…Anyone??? C’mon!! Everybody stop with the hand wringing about Troy’s OC…it’s embarrasing…cease and desist with the Dooley act…
By War Eagle
December 13, 2007 8:42 PM | Link to this
THEcolumbiadawg, nice confidents on Auburn. You need to watch Class AAA finals Friday night and watch Carver, Columbus, spread QB(Furr). He is Auburn future with Kodi Burns doing very good until…Happy Holidays
By Obnoxiuos Georgia Fan
December 13, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this
I don’t know what’s going to happen next year. Whatever happens I won’t be crying like a sissy little nancy boy about the tough schedule like some of you. All I heard all off season was how tough our schedule is this year. Well, we’re 10-2 and have a shot a finishing with 11 wins. Florida and LSU both overcome freakishly tough schedules to win their recent titles. It can be done. I’m glad some of you pansies aren’t on our football team. If you were we really wouldn’t have a chance in hell.
By War Eagle
December 13, 2007 10:29 PM | Link to this
SEC West 2008- LSU, Auburn,(tie breaker)) Arkansas, Miss State Ole Miss, Bama.. East-UGA, Florida, South Carolina, Tenn, Vandy, KY.My preseason 2007 picks were: West, LSU, Auburn, Ark. Miss State, Bama, Ole Miss.East- Tenn, Florida,UGA SC, Ky Vandy….Pre season Top 5, 2008- Oklahoma, Florida, USC, West Va, UGA…NC game UGA vs Oklahoma… Heisman- Tebow again and again.. Merry Christmas
By George
December 13, 2007 11:02 PM | Link to this
Observer you are a moron and must have been asleep for the entire fall. Auburn will have a national championship before you can say 1980.
By FLA DAWG
December 13, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this
The West is The Best Tony? While I have great respect for Auburn, Alabama and Arkansas, the only recent great Western Division SEC team is LSU. Granted the west won the SEC - and congratulations to them. But to extrapolate Ole Miss and Arkansas to conference leaders just due to coaching changes is premature.
By Sir Stealth
December 14, 2007 12:42 AM | Link to this
David Cutcliffe’s goin’ to Duke. I’d say that’s a pretty solid move as far as stepping up to the plate. Not good news for the Vols.
By Correction@ajc
December 14, 2007 2:39 AM | Link to this
George meant to say 1957.
By DawgsDawgsDawgs
December 14, 2007 2:43 AM | Link to this
I agree with Obnoxious Georgia Fan. GO!!! DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By george
December 14, 2007 6:29 AM | Link to this
correction@ajc how bout 2004. Unlike you freaking dolts what did we do that year?????????? How many times have you MORONS gone undefeated since 1980. 000000000000000000000000 Auburn has accomplished the feat twice in the last 15 years.
By Mike
December 14, 2007 8:00 AM | Link to this
Seems to me that the SEC manages to attract the college coaches with the least character…Saban, Petrino, Tuberville, Spurrier, Nutt….and we will see if we need to add Miles to that list or not. I would guess it goes along with the “win at any cost” mentality that pervades much of the SEC….rules be damned, academics be damned, ethics be damned…just win baby!
It is what happens when too much money starts sloshing around the system.I love college football, but I am glad I am no fan of the SEC. It’s values are semi-pro.
By 3volpaul
December 14, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this
Sir stealth - dead on. This move by Cutcliff just stripped the sails from phillapotamus’s ship. Vols offense will be adrift if big Phil insists on hiring from within as usual. He has NO ONE capable. Good news for rest of SEC east.
By jack
December 14, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this
Tuberville has no character?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? He has more character than ANY OTHER COACH in the entire SEC. Please give me one just one example of why tubs lacks character. PLEASE GET A CLUE.
By Mike
December 14, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Tony, the West has always been best. The West has sent 5 of its 6 teams to the SEC Champ game. The East has only sent 3. And I can say, with no dought, that Vandy, Ky and USC will NEVER get to the dome. Ga. would have nerver gotten to the dome without Miss, Auburn and LSU beating Florida. Ga. cant beat Florida so the west has too.
By JOhn
December 14, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
Has anyone seen Kodi Burns throw the football? Exactly, he can’t. Hougabook was/is an excellent passer. I look forward to seeing the Auburn offense struggle in 2008.
By John
December 14, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
Has anyone seen Kodi Burns throw the football? Exactly, he can’t. Hougabook was/is an excellent passer. I look forward to seeing the Auburn offense struggle in 2008.
By John
December 14, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this
Has anyone see Kodi Burns throw the football? Exactly, he can’t. Omar Hougabook was/is a great passer and that is the main reason Troy’s offense was so potent. Auburn’s offense will struggle again in 2008.
By gdawginkalamazoo
December 14, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
3volpaul, new QB, new OC? It will be very interesting in Knoxville next year. Who do you guys have coming up for QB next year?
By bdawg
December 14, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
George, remind me what the score was of the Ga-Auburn game this past year (or last year for that matter)…Whaaaa, 2004, 2004. Crybaby.
By Comin' Down Tha Tracks
December 14, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
jack Tubs lied to Ole Miss moments before going to Auburn very much like Petrino just did to the Falcons. Questionable, eh? He has far less character than Richt, Meyer (hurts to say it), Johnson, Brooks and (Heaven help me) Spurrier. Mike Defending this guy goes against almost everything I feel about football, but here goes. Spurrier might be a pompous jerk and a smart alec, but he does not lie. I believe he humbly turned away money from the Redskins when he left them and he did leave honourably though beaten. Furthermore, if you despise the SEC so much, what are you doing here? Much Love, CDTT
By ga dog
December 14, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
tony,i respect your views on just about all topics, but couple days ago you cut on the sec having to rehab coaches like spurrior and petrino etc, well sec football is 100 times better than the nfl, pro game sucks,petrino took a upgrade taking the ark job, yeah he loses a million a year pay, i ve played the game at a high level and pros cockiness and disrespect for the game is costing the nfl fans by the millions, the sec is entertainment
By War Eagle
December 14, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
John, we get your point…you want Auburn`s offense too struggle, if you a dawg fan I can see your scare, imagine Troy scoring 30 plus points on the dawgs and the same offensive coordinator will be at Auburn with much more talent to generate.
By ForsythCoRebel
December 16, 2007 2:07 AM | Link to this
As a student at Ole Miss I am very excited that we’ll finally have something worth watching before I graduate. Meanwhile, I see someone feels Tubs has character. “pine box.” nuff said.
He’ll screw you over like he did us, wait til Miles goes to Michigan.