The chatter
For those who wondered when Nick Saban hired Lane Kiffin as his offensive coordinator whether it was a good move, here’s your answer:
Kiffin was selected as one of five finalists for the Broyles Award, which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach. The winner will be announced next Tuesday.
Kiffin has Alabama ranked in the top three in the SEC in scoring offense (third, 36.7 points per game), passing offense (second, 282.6 yards per game) and total offense (second, 489.3 ypg).
Said Alabama quarterback Blake Sims of Gainesville of Kiffin: “My first impression of him was a guy that was ready to come and make Alabama the best team in the nation. He’s got a great personality with everybody, and he got along with everybody and had to do what he had to do. He’s been doing a great job coaching. He’s on top of it and making sure I go in the game very prepared.”
Recalling Georgia
Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk passed for only 97 yards against Georgia and was intercepted four times in the 34-0 loss at midseason. The game proved to be a turning point.
“It was tough, it was rough,” Mauk said. “Personally, I’d never shut out in my life, and I know a lot of other people hadn’t either. How we bounced back, that’s how you want it to be.”
Coach Gary Pinkel let players know he believed in them, but also put his foot down hard. Committing five turnovers had him really riled.
Since then Mauk has thrown for eight touchdowns with only three interceptions.
“If you look at him in high school and here a little bit, you see he has the ability to make big plays,” Pinkel said. “He’s showing that right now when it comes to crunch time.”
Predictions
Here are the past 10 preseason predicted SEC champions, where those teams finished (2-E means 2nd in the East) and who the actual SEC Championship game winner was (Alabama was the 2014 projected SEC winner in the preseason):
Year; Projection; Finish; Champ;
2004; Georgia; 2-E; Auburn;
2005; Tenn.; T4-E; Georgia;
2006; Auburn; T2-W; Florida;
2007; LSU; Won SEC; LSU;
2008; Florida; Won SEC; Florida;
2009; Florida; 1-E; Alabama;
2010; Bama; T3-W; Auburn;
2011; Bama; 2-W; LSU;
2012; LSU; T2-W; Alabama;
2013; Bama; T1-W; Auburn;
By the numbers
16 Average winning margin in 22 SEC title games
34 Average point scored by winning SEC champs in the game
10 National champs that have come from SEC title games (Alabama, 1992, 2009, 2012; Auburn, 2011; Florida, 1996, 2006, 2008; Tennessee, 1998; LSU, 2003, 2007)
Coaching carousel
There were several reports Tuesday that Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley was to meet with Colorado State coach Jim McIlwain, the former Alabama offensive coordinator, about the Gators’ head coach opening.
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