Coaches On A Hot Tin Roof

[Neo]

http://files.aximsite.com/sec/sec2.gifCoaches On The Hot Seat!
For starters, what puts a coach on the hot seat? Is it discipline, winning, motivation or change of pace? Well let's analyze those intangibles and see what we can find out.

Georgia: Mark Richt (37-9-0) Mr. Richt is in no danger whatsoever. Unless UGA's AD gets a scorching case of gange green in the brain. Mr. Richt has brought back UGA's national heritage.

Florida: Ron Zook (20-12-0) MR. Zook is on his way out. Do I feel that it is justified? No way! This man inherited a program that could not ascend any higher. Aside from being compared to "Visor Man" on a regular basis, UF fans as a whole have never given Mr. Zook a fair shake and never will. Exclude the fact that he's an EXCELLENT recruiter and that UF is rebuilding. I feel that if he doesn't beat Georgia and/or USC this year, he will be given his pink slip.

Tennessee: Phillip Fulmer (118-29-0) Mr. Fulmer is not going anywhere. PERIOD!

South Carolina: Lou Holtz (32-34-0) Mr. Holtz is taking some heat down in Columbia. Obviously that shows the mentality of a lot of USC fans. This man is a legend and he has been rebuilding programs for over 30 years. Now all of the sudden, all of the USC "Armchair" coaches are making sure their voice is heard. This man inherited a program that was in total disarray and he has turned it into a consistant SEC competitor. Take the Ole Miss game for instance. A lot of people (USC fans) were complaining about losing the game and he should be fired. Isn't Mr. Holtz that got this university to the competitive side of the field? If you fire a legend, who are you going to hire? Actually, who will take the job?

Kentucky: Rich Brooks (5-13-0) Mr. Brooks can bet his bottom dollar that even with his team's probation, his butt is going to be out of there pretty quick if things don't change. Overall, these last few Kentucky squads have been totally DEAD! I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if he doesn't win against Mississippi St. and Vanderbilt, he's more dead than fried chicken in Lexington.

Vanderbilt: Bobby Johnson (5-25-0) Mr. Johnson is good as gone at the end of this year or first thing next year. With all of the hype concerning all of the lettermen returning this year, it has been a total disaster. I know Vanderbilt is used to being the SEC's doormat in football but Mr. Johnson is dancing with danger. Vandy fans want to win so bad it's not even funny.

Auburn: Tommy Tuberville (45-24-0) Mr. Tuberville isn't going anywhere either. This year he has silenced his dissenters and critics with a knock-out punch from Mike Tyson. This guy has his team prepped to play for the National Championship.

LSU: Nick Saban (43-15-0) Mr. Saban became the highest paid coach in college football after winning the National Championship last year. Considering the NFL draft and graduations, this team is still a fairly decent team. Expect Mr. Saban to be ready for next year with a renewed vengence.

Mississippi State: Sylvester Croom (2-5-0) Considering that this is Mr. Croom's first (1st) season as head coach. He's not on the hot seat per say. I have heard rumors about him and his team being booed during their loss to Maine. If that's true, then the maroon people should be ashamed of themselves. Mr. Croom hasn't had time to be judged yet. Look at what he has inherited? A team that has about a 89% chance of being cited by the NCAA for recruiting violations which was committed by the late Jackie Sherrill. Give the guy at least 4 years before you really grade him on his performance.

Mississippi: David Cutcliffe (43-26-0) Overall this man hasn't done bad on paper. Some people just question his ability as a gameday coach. Currently Miss. is 3-4-0, 2-2-0 with very tough games ahead. Will they let him go? I say no. Is he on the hot seat? I say his seat is a little warm.

Arkansas: Houston Nutt (51-30-0) He's not going anywhere. He already had a discussion about his job earlier this year when he was approached about the Nebraska vacancy. His name was linked to the Nebraska job for about 3 months prior to the story breaking. This man has SEC blood running through his veins and the only reason that he will leave Arkansas is through death.

Alabama: Mike Shula (9-11-0) Mr. Shula had better do some SERIOUS damage control. Most Alabama fans are not used to losing and they will not stand for it at all. Even though most of Bama's problems are not Shula's doing, he will end up being the scapegoat. He needs to have a big year this year even with the injuries this team has faced. One thing that may buy him some time is if he can pull an upset at Tennessee this year. If he can do that, he will be spared for a little while longer.

What do yall think?

[volimhtown]

Great post, DeLorean.
I will disagree with only one of your points. I know that you wrote this BEFORE the debacle in Starksville, but Zook WITHOUT QUESTION has earned his ticket out of Gainesville. This guy frankly CAN'T COACH!! He may be a good recruiter, but that's only a fraction of the job. You are being too nice to him. If Florida's rebuilding, then Tennessee hasn't even poured a foundation. Florida has tons of talent on it's team, too much to be losing with such regularity. They had the Vols reeling and couldn't deliver the knockout, they had LSU down big early and lost it, and now they lose to Miss St??? This is the same team who lost at home to Div 1-AA Maine?? They gave up 38 points to that team??? Not to mention reports released this week by the Florida Athletic Department concerning Zook's involvement in a "scurmish" between a school fraternity and his foorball players which Zook reportedly started. If this guy hasn't earned his ticket out of town, then you've got a REALLY long wrope!!

[Neo]

Great post, DeLorean.
I will disagree with only one of your points. I know that you wrote this BEFORE the debacle in Starksville, but Zook WITHOUT QUESTION has earned his ticket out of Gainesville. This guy frankly CAN'T COACH!! He may be a good recruiter, but that's only a fraction of the job. You are being too nice to him. If Florida's rebuilding, then Tennessee hasn't even poured a foundation. Florida has tons of talent on it's team, too much to be losing with such regularity. They had the Vols reeling and couldn't deliver the knockout, they had LSU down big early and lost it, and now they lose to Miss St??? This is the same team who lost at home to Div 1-AA Maine?? They gave up 38 points to that team??? Not to mention reports released this week by the Florida Athletic Department concerning Zook's involvement in a "scurmish" between a school fraternity and his foorball players which Zook reportedly started. If this guy hasn't earned his ticket out of town, then you've got a REALLY long wrope!!

Don't get me wrong, Zook is no Spurrier but can you honestly tell me that UF fans have given Zook a chance? From day one, Zook has been compared to "visor man" and people jumped on him because he didn't win the SEC in his first year. Gimmie a break! If you crunch the numbers, Zook's first (1st) two years at UF were better statistically (including W/L records) than Spurrier's. Even though I wrote this prior to the UF/MSU game, do I feel that he should get his walking papers yet? The answer is no. I would give him one last year. I am a firm believer that you give your coaches the time to build their program. It's common practice that you give your coach a minium of five (5) years before you grade the program isn't it? Another thing that people have forgotten was that when Spurrier left, he left the talent pool fairly empty and that cannot be disputed. I cannot comment on the "frat" fight because I don't know anything about it. Other than that, isn't it true that one of the last games Spurrier coached was against MSU (2000) and he lost 47-35?

[Jordan]

Regarding Shula in the original post, I agree that most Bama fans aren't used to losing and blame the coach everytime. I hope that our athletic administration does the right thing and keeps him through his contract though. Rome wasn't built in a day, and you can't expect a new coach (one of 4 coaches in 5 years) to come in during a probationary period and turn the entire program around and have a winning record. As the probation continues to wear off, we'll be able to sign more of the players that fit Shula's type of playing.... especially on the offensive side of the ball. Especially with much of our offense in their Freshman and Sophomore years, I think we can plan on seeing a lot of improvement over the next few seasons. Just have to give the guy a chance to do his work, build the team the way he wants it, and then see what happens after a few more years. If we keep getting new coaches every 1 or 2 years, we'll be lucky to have a winning season in the next 2 decades.

[Tidetalk]

Regarding Shula in the original post, I agree that most Bama fans aren't used to losing and blame the coach everytime. I hope that our athletic administration does the right thing and keeps him through his contract though. Rome wasn't built in a day, and you can't expect a new coach (one of 4 coaches in 5 years) to come in during a probationary period and turn the entire program around and have a winning record. As the probation continues to wear off, we'll be able to sign more of the players that fit Shula's type of playing.... especially on the offensive side of the ball. Especially with much of our offense in their Freshman and Sophomore years, I think we can plan on seeing a lot of improvement over the next few seasons. Just have to give the guy a chance to do his work, build the team the way he wants it, and then see what happens after a few more years. If we keep getting new coaches every 1 or 2 years, we'll be lucky to have a winning season in the next 2 decades.

I agree 100%. Shula has done a fine job with the hand he has been dealt. Bama only loses 8 of 44 players on the 2 deep roster after this year, so they will be a little more experienced and deeper next year. He just needs to recruit his tail off after this season.

[Hardie]

Considering what Shula has had to deal with in his first 2 seasons with Bama , I think he is doing a fine job. First year with what 90 days to prep and facin the toughest schedule in the nation, Alabama was in most of them ballgames and in a position to win them. Second year started off really good and with high hopes but losing ya Starting Qb , the leading rusher in the SEC and your starting FB , considerin all that and we only lost 3 games and was in every one of them... I think all the BAMA NATION needs to have a lil patience and give Shula a couple more years cuz we are comin off probation and injuries and dept have really slowed us down but we are headin in the right di rection. I think Alabama will be in a bowl game this year and that next year we will have a legit shot at the SEC west title and possible SEC crown. Just have a lil patients