- Sep 8, 2014
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Following a discussion from the "Top 4 play callers" thread yesterday....
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/s...g-talent-dead-last-among-power-5-conferences/
Stewart Mandel ranks SEC coaching talent dead last among Power 5 conferences
Following a tough season for the Southeastern Conference, one in which only Alabama ended the year with fewer than four losses, some are questioning the league’s status as the premier conference in the nation. Much of that doubt likely stems from the SEC’s current crop of coaches — which is certainly lacking star power these days.
The coaching issue in the league started following the departure of coaching icons Steve Spurrier, Gary Pinkel, Les Miles, and Mark Richt in recent seasons. With Georgia, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky all being led by coaches in their first head jobs combined with some doubting the futures of the coaches at Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, and Tennessee, it’s easy to see why many view the league as having only one elite coach.
FOX Sports writer Stewart Mandel came to that very conclusion recently in his latest mailbag column. When asked to rank the Power 5 conferences by its coaching talent, Mandel listed the SEC dead last. Here’s what he had to say about the current state of coaching in the league:
So you’ve got the king in Nick Saban, and maybe he counts twice. Then you’ve got some guys like Gus Malzahn and Kevin Sumlin, who’ve achieved brief high points but haven’t demonstrated they can sustain it. And beyond that, it’s a whole lot of inexperience (Kirby Smart) or retreads (Will Muschamp, Ed Orgeron). Dan Mullen is currently the league’s second-best coach, which pretty much says all you need to know.
What the SEC likely needs to help change this viewpoint is for more schools to begin to challenge and eventually defeat Alabama, otherwise, the league will continue to be viewed as the Crimson Tide and everyone else. Getting some strong consistency from the league’s historically great programs combined with a mix of some young coaches earning some upset victories would also go a long way in changing this narrative.
As it stands heading into 2017, the SEC appears to have a real issue on its hands regarding public perception of its coaches. That narrative isn’t something that can be improved until the fall when success is achieved on the field or changes are made via new hires.
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/s...g-talent-dead-last-among-power-5-conferences/
Stewart Mandel ranks SEC coaching talent dead last among Power 5 conferences
Following a tough season for the Southeastern Conference, one in which only Alabama ended the year with fewer than four losses, some are questioning the league’s status as the premier conference in the nation. Much of that doubt likely stems from the SEC’s current crop of coaches — which is certainly lacking star power these days.
The coaching issue in the league started following the departure of coaching icons Steve Spurrier, Gary Pinkel, Les Miles, and Mark Richt in recent seasons. With Georgia, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky all being led by coaches in their first head jobs combined with some doubting the futures of the coaches at Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, and Tennessee, it’s easy to see why many view the league as having only one elite coach.
FOX Sports writer Stewart Mandel came to that very conclusion recently in his latest mailbag column. When asked to rank the Power 5 conferences by its coaching talent, Mandel listed the SEC dead last. Here’s what he had to say about the current state of coaching in the league:
So you’ve got the king in Nick Saban, and maybe he counts twice. Then you’ve got some guys like Gus Malzahn and Kevin Sumlin, who’ve achieved brief high points but haven’t demonstrated they can sustain it. And beyond that, it’s a whole lot of inexperience (Kirby Smart) or retreads (Will Muschamp, Ed Orgeron). Dan Mullen is currently the league’s second-best coach, which pretty much says all you need to know.
What the SEC likely needs to help change this viewpoint is for more schools to begin to challenge and eventually defeat Alabama, otherwise, the league will continue to be viewed as the Crimson Tide and everyone else. Getting some strong consistency from the league’s historically great programs combined with a mix of some young coaches earning some upset victories would also go a long way in changing this narrative.
As it stands heading into 2017, the SEC appears to have a real issue on its hands regarding public perception of its coaches. That narrative isn’t something that can be improved until the fall when success is achieved on the field or changes are made via new hires.
