In a day gone by this matchup between Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban would have been a classic showdown between two coaches at the top of their game.
For all intents and purposes, Steve Spurrier was the Nick Saban of the 1990s. He was one of the hottest names in college football, and he and his Florida Gators terrorized the SEC for most of a decade.
When he arrived in Gainesville to take over the reins at the University of Florida, there really wasn't much hoopla from the rest of the SEC. Spurrier was known for running some kinda gadget offense call, Fun and Gun?
It sounded like something from another planet to SEC fans, and everyone was sure the Fun and Gun would just be one and done in the SEC.
It wasn't long before SEC fans realized just how wrong they had been. Within a few years Florida was making the rest of the teams in the SEC look like they were running in slow motion.
| Championships | |
|---|---|
| 1996 National Championship 1989 ACC Championship 1991 SEC Championship 1993 SEC Championship 1994 SEC Championship 1995 SEC Championship 1996 SEC Championship 2000 SEC Championship |
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| Awards | |
| As a Coach 1988 ACC Coach of the Year 1989 ACC Coach of the Year 1990 SEC Coach of the Year 1991 SEC Coach of the Year 1994 SEC Coach of the Year 1995 SEC Coach of the Year 1996 SEC Coach of the Year 2005 SEC Coach of the Year |
|
Spurrier and his Gators won the SEC championship in his second year. He then proceeded to win five out of six SEC Championships.
The Gators actually won the SEC Championship in Spurrier's first year as well, but were ineligible due to NCAA sanctions.
His only miss in the following five years was in 1992 when the soon to be National Champions, Alabama Crimson Tide, edged out the Gators in the inaugural SEC Championship Game that was, at that time, held in Birmingham, Al.
That was just a bump in the road for Spurrier as the Gators went on to win the next four in a row, which culminated with Florida winning its first National Championship in 1996.
Spurrier was arrogant and cocky back then, but he could back up almost everything he said on the football field on Saturday. He was probably the most hated rival coach in NCAA football.
Nick Saban splashed on the SEC scene in much the same way Spurrier did some 10 years earlier.
Saban came to LSU form Michigan State, and pretty much took the SEC by storm the same way Spurrier did at Florida. The only difference was that it only took Saban three years to win his first National Championship, instead of taking six years like Spurrier.
Spurrier and Nick Saban have something else in common, they both left their successful situations to try their hand in the NFL. Both men's formula for success in college football did not translate to success in professional football.
You see, their real talent was in convincing great athletes to come and play for them, and in the NFL your hands are tied and someone else decides who plays on your team, not you.
Spurrier had been one of the hottest names since he returned to NCAA football. He was rumored to be courted by almost every team in the SEC, at one time or another, after he left the Washington Redskins in 2003.
He chose the University of South Carolina for his return to greatness, and after almost five years, he now seems to be only a shadow of his former self.
He was voted the SEC Coach of the Year in 2005, but failed to capitalize on that as the Gamecocks show little sign of improvement in the years to follow.
Spurrier's Gamecocks have lost at least five games every season under Spurrier, and have a less than impressive 15-17 record in SEC play.
The one thing Spurrier has done at USC is upset some pretty good teams.
He has upset almost every decent team in the SEC at one time or another, and now his sites are set on No.2 Alabama.
Nick Saban's story has been completely the opposite of Spurrier's since his return to college football in 2006.
He has taken the Alabama Crimson Tide from the outhouse to the penthouse in three short years, and is now staring straight down his sites at his second possible National Championship.
He also was named National Coach of the Year, and has parlayed that into a back to back No. 1 recruiting classes, and a football program that is now on the verge of greatness.
Saban has acquired the affectionate nickname the "Sabanator" by some Alabama fans, due to his unintentional knack of ending many former SEC coaches coaching careers.
Saban's next obstacle between him and his Alabama team's shot at history is Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks.
The Head Ball Coach will square off with the "Sabanator" at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Oct. 17 at 6:30 CST in a nationally televised game on ESPN.
It will be Spurrier's offense against Saban's defense.
It will be Spurrier's knack for being a giant killer, against Saban's ability keep his team focused and on an even keel.
South Carolina is 5-1 with their only loss to Georgia coming in the last minutes of the game.
Alabama is 6-0 but hasn't faced a team with a better defense than South Carolina's.
The key to this game, in my opinion, is whether Alabama's defense can hold the Gamecocks offense under 20 points.
This will be key, because I expect the Gamecocks to try and limit Alabama's offense to less than 30 points.
Turnovers will be important, and the winner of the turnover battle should win this game.
Touchdowns will be hard to come by due to both teams great defenses.
South Carolina's passing defense is ranked No. 6 in the country, and Alabama's defense in ranked No. 2 in the nation in total defense.
To give you an idea of just how good the Gamecocks' passing defense is, they are ranked ahead of Alabama's passing defense, and the Crimson Tides' pass defense ain't bad!
With all that said:
I know Alabama must be getting tired, but they have to find a way to dig deep enough to beat the Gamecocks if they intend to continue their march to Atlanta and play in the SECCG.
No.2 Alabama 30
South Carolina 20
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Gone is running back Glen Coffee and his 2,458 yards and 16 touchdowns. Gone is quarterback J.P. Wilson, the record holder in almost every single University of Alabama passing category. Gone is left tackle Andre Smith, the All-American, Outland Trophy winner.
The Alabama offense has some huge holes to fill in 2009 if the team has any hopes of a repeat trip to Atlanta to play in the SEC championship game.
Quarterback
Redshirt junior Greg McElroy surprised many when he grabbed the starting job and didn't look back. McElroy has been solid through the spring and in the beginning of fall camp.
McElroy showed flashes of his potential last season. His 34-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Maze in the annual Iron Bowl game against Auburn ignited the excitement of Alabama fans everywhere.
In McElroy's first season as a starter at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas, he threw for 4,636 yards and 56 touchdowns. Clearly, he knows how to pass the football.
McElroy is a very accurate passer and a student of the game. He's a very smart player who has put in extra work in the film room.
Redshirt freshman Star Jackson, blue chip freshman A.J. McCarron, and walk-on Thomas Darrah have battled for the No. 2 position on the team.
Jackson, an athletic, mobile player, has struggled to completely pick up on some aspects of the offensive schemes. Still, coach Nick Saban has praised the quarterback in recent days for his leadership, effort, and athletic ability.
McCarron, a true freshman with a strong arm, is a bit undersized and needs to bulk up to take the pounding of a full SEC schedule. Reports out of spring and fall camp have indicated McCarron has been very impressive in his passing ability. He's displayed a strong arm and nice accuracy.
Darrah, a walk-on player, has a really strong arm, but has struggled with consistency.
Jackson appears to be the leader for the number two position, while coaches hope McCarron can have a redshirt year to learn the offense and have a year under the strength and conditioning program to add some size to his 6'4" frame.
Running Back
Freshman All-American Mark Ingram returns for his sophomore season as the starting running back. Last season, Ingram gained 728 yards with 12 touchdowns as Coffee's back up. Ingram is a 230-pound bruising runner who can run quite effectively between the tackles.
Senior Roy Upchurch, a quick, shifty runner, has shown the potential of game-breaking ability in the past. Last season, Upchurch battled with a neck injury but appears to be healthy now. In limited action, Upchurch tallied 350 yards and four touchdowns.
Junior Terry Grant, a fast scatback, has re-established himself this fall as a potential playmaker in 'Bama's offense.
Grant rushed for 890 yards with eight touchdowns in 2007. In 2008, nagging injuries and some inconsistency kept him off the field. Now Grant has returned healthy and been impressive in practice.
Heralded incoming freshmen Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy are both big, powerful backs. Both have shown ability and impressed in fall camp, but both will need to fight hard for playing time with the three veterans in front of them playing well.
Alabama is extremely deep at the running back position, and early playing time there will be hard to come by barring injuries.
Wide Receiver/Tight Ends
Freshman All-American Julio Jones returns for his sophomore season as the biggest play threat on the Tide offense.
In his first season at 'Bama, Jones caught 58 passes for 924 yards with four touchdowns and displayed the ability to make big catches at critical times.
This season, Saban has indicated that Jones will be moved around to make covering him more difficult for opposing defenses.
Coaches have hoped someone else would step up opposite Jones to take some pressure off of him. The leading candidate through fall camp seems to be redshirt sophomore Marquis Maze.
Maze showed flashes of his potential last year. The speedster has the ability to stretch the field and be the perfect complement to Jones' more physical receiving style. Maze was very impressive during the spring and has received praise from Saban in fall camp as a player who can be a playmaker for the Tide.
Senior Mike McCoy, sophomore Darius Hanks, junior Earl Alexander and true freshman Kevin Norwood have been battling for playing time as well.
Norwood has been impressive and caught three passes for 60 yards in the most recent scrimmage. Hanks has had an impressive fall camp and showed flashes of potential last season.
McCoy has been inconsistent in the past, and has worked hard to improve this summer. Alexander has battled some injuries that have prevented him from contributing as much as he would like, but appears healthy now.
Senior transfer Colin Peek, a former Georgia Tech tight end, was very impressive last season in fall camp. Peek unsuccessfully petitioned the NCAA to not have to sit the 2008 season out.
Peek is a receiving threat and should excel in a Jim McElwain offense. At 6'6", 260 pounds, Peek has the size to take advantage of certain personnel groupings he will face on defense. Peek has battled a fracture on his foot but expects to be ready by the opening game. Peek has emerged as the No. 1 tight end.
About midway through the 2008 season, freshman Brad Smelley worked his way into the playing rotation at tight end. He went on to catch seven passes for 98 yards in limited action.
Smelley had a knack for big catches on third down. At 6'3", 218 pounds, Smelley will likely be utilized as he was last season, as a situational player on passing downs.
Junior Preston Dial, a 6'3", 245-pound tight end, notched one catch last season. Like Smelley, Dial is thought more of as a hybrid, situational player.
Redshirt freshman Michael Williams, a 6'6", 270-pound tight end, emerges as the most likely blocking tight end to replace Travis McCall. Williams is a very strong player with the size to be quite effective as a run blocker.
Offensive Line
Juco transfer James Carpenter steps into the LT position formerly held by Outland trophy winner Andre Smith. Carpenter has been solid through spring and fall camp and impressed coaches through both. Alabama DC Kirby Smart stated that Carpenter was a solid, SEC caliber lineman.
Carpenter has been impressive enough that heralded freshman DJ Fluker has been working with the second administrative grouping at RT.
Fluker reported to fall camp in less than excellent condition. Coaches weren't pleased by his offseason efforts in that department and have since had him in a strict conditioning program. Fluker has shown the potential that he was recruited for, but needs time in the program to mature and get to the proper conditioning levels.
Junior William Vlachos, a weight room warrior, has taken over the starting position at center. Vlachos has performed well in camp and has a solid hold on the position.
Right guard is the position that is still unsettled on the line. Redshirt freshman Barrett Jones has now emerged as the leader for the RG spot. Jones manned the spot in the Tide's first scrimmage of fall camp and held onto to it after the coaches analyzed the film.
In a press conference held after the scrimmage, Saban was asked about Jones by media representatives from al.com and responded:
"He has been doing the best job today, to this point," Saban said of Jones after the scrimmage, "but we've got a lot of competition at a lot of positions."
Sophomore Alfred McCullough had also been battling for the position and spent some time with the first grouping, but was inconsistent.
LG Mike Johnson returns as does RT Drew Davis. Both are solid, SEC linemen.
The keys for the Alabama offense this season clearly rest upon how effective Greg McElroy and the new starters are on the offensive line.
With the exception of RG, most of those positions have been solid in fall camp and coaches hope Jones will be the final piece to the puzzle on the offensive line.
Alabama will continue to try and establish the running game and utilize a short to mid-range passing attack. If Alabama is able to receive serviceable play at quarterback and the offensive line gels, look for the Tide to contend for an SEC title and be a player in the national title hunt as well.
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This will be my first-ever post on Virtual Sports Network. Most of my work is posted on Bleacher Report, another great site of devoted sport fans.
I would like to start by saying that I love college football more than I do anything else! I also have a wide range of knowledge about a ton of college football teams.
I currently play high school football and basketball; football is my true love though.
So now I just want to touch on a few thoughts that came to mind today when I was thinking about the highly anticipated arrival of college football.
Being an Alabama fan, I can't wait for Sept. 5, when the Tide play their first game against VT in the Georgia Dome.
So since we are talking about Alabama, that is where I will start.
Alabama: Fill the holes in the O—line please.
With the biggest loss in Antonie Caldwell, the Tide has a major gap to replace. Caldwell, who played center, guard and tackle in his three years as a starter, leaves a major hole in the Alabama O-line.
Mike Johnson pretty much has a position locked in somewhere on the O-line most likely at Left guard.
Senior Drew Davis is another; he will almost for sure be the starter at right tackle on Sept. 5 against Virginia Tech.
Last season, the O-line was a great focus point for the Tide, they would pound the rock right down the opponent's throat and almost always scored points their first possession.
In '09, the Tide will need to grow at this position and mature to be able to sustain long drives and run the ball successfully.
Ole Miss: Jevan Snead?
Ole Miss, I can't think of a team in the SEC besides Florida that has got more hype in the offseason. Don't get me wrong, I think they SHOULD be a good team.
Jevan Snead, without second-guessing, is a awesome quarterback. He proved to be a reliable and efficient QB for Ole Miss, just look at the Texas Tech game, he was awesome. He completed 18-of-29 attempts for 292 yards and three touchdowns...
But ask yourself one question: Does this guy have the raw athletic ability like Tim Tebow or the great precision that Bradford has to be a Heisman candidate next season?
I compare this guy to Graham Harrell and look what he did last season, but somehow he came up a little short of even being at the ceremony?
I think overall this team will settle with a 9-3 or a 9-2 record losing to these teams: LSU, Alabama and maybe even Tennessee.
So with all this hype, I look for Ole Miss to be a bust in '09. Jevan Snead needs to have a great great year to land a prestige Heisman trophy as well.
South Carolina: Play as a team!
Need I say more? No, I'm just kidding.
In '08, I think they had free admission for the fans just so they would come.
But on a more serious note, they did have a ton of trouble at the QB position before Spurrier found his man at the end of the season, Stephen Garcia.
Garcia, still not named the starting QB, showed some promising ability last season with limited play.
He also has not lived up to expectations once he arrived at SC. He has been in trouble a few times and was part of the leading team in interceptions last season (27).
This position is not the only concern for SC fans, the big O-line was not a tremendous help last season either.
This is a great group of very good SEC talent but they must learn not one player can carry this team. Garcia can't do it without the line and the line can't do anything with out a good QB.
If the big uglies don't improve it will not matter who is running this team, Garcia or not.
So overall I think the Gamecocks will settle for another down season and look to rebuild, at least we will get to see Steve throw his hat a few more times.
Auburn: QB battle
With the arrival of their new head coach, Gene Chizik, the Tigers will be on the hunt this year for some of the spotlight in the SEC.
The Tigers have some great talent in Kodi Burns, although he did have a major struggle throwing the ball last season, only completing two touchdowns through the air.
Burns did show his great ability to run the ball; he will be a threat, if he has improved his passing game this offseason.
Burns might have a good challenge for the starting spot in the fall with Neil Caudle not to far behind. Neil had a very solid spring game and turned some heads in during that practice.
Look for Chizik to instill some great values in this team, and if they buy into what he is motivating them with, then this team could be on the verge of exploding in '09.
Arkansas: Where to now?
Last season was an...ah...okay year for Razorback fans, I guess you could say; not a rebuilding season but not a great one either.
With Bobby Petrino in charge came a lot of change for this team. When you think Petrino you might think offense and that's what he brought to this team in '08. But unlike Nutt, Petrino brought the whole 90 yards from run game to pass game.
Nutt, being a run-first type coach, he based the Arkansas offense off of their ability to run the ball. When Petrino arrived this all changed and Casey Dick and the Razorbacks finished second in the SEC behind Georgia in passing.
They also found a great speedy back who was not afraid to take a lick in Michael Smith. Smith will be hang around for '09 and probably carry the rock more than he did in '08.
The Pigs also have Michigan State transfer Ryan Mallet, who is said to have all the great tools of a well-rounded quarterback in the SEC. Ryan also has the potential to be one of the best signal callers in the SEC.
The only question I have for this guy is, are you ready for the aggressive, physical style of defense the SEC has to offer?
Vanderbilt: Should they even be in the NCAA?
I have pondered this question my entire life as a college sports fan...I often find my self asking other people what do you think about that team Vanderbilt? Most of the time the time they reply with "Well, they are a okay team."
This tells me one of two things. They either don't know they are even a college football team or either they amount to nothing in the college football world.
I myself think Vanderbilt is a great team, because when Alabama plays them I go ahead and put down a big W beside that game.
But for real, do they even recruit the kind of talent you HAVE to have in order to make a serious run for a SEC title, or do they just have a team for looks?
I know, I know they did beat Auburn last season but what does that tell you? I personally think that if you are not in the game to win it all, then you might as well sit back down.
I mean come on Vanderbilt get with the program, either play the game or hang it up. This is a topic I would like to hear some feedback on, does this team even amount to JSU or Tulane?
Well that will wrap it up for the all of a sudden random thoughts for Thursday.
Keep checking out my page I have a few more topics I look to include in my next article on a few more interesting subjects and teams next week some time.
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Until now, I haven't posted any article on Bleacher Report in three weeks.
Why, you may wonder (or, most likely, probably not)?
I haven't been lazy. I Haven't lost interest. I Haven't had any tragedies occur, thank God.
I've just been busy. That's all.
During the summer, I work out in the heat for nearly 50 hours per week. Then, when I get home, I write for this site, as well as a couple others.
And that's where the plot of this story goes.
I used to blog pretty regularly at this site about mostly Alabama football and basketball. Good experience, and I did use quotes from press releases and pressers to make it more professional. I currently write a weekly column here, titled "Mouth of the South," in which I cover anything and everything sports.
I write like a typical Southerner talks, which makes for a good 'ol time. See what I mean?
I also keep in touch with one specific Journalism professor at The University of Alabama, who taught my Intro to Journalism course. He's already written a recommendation letter for me and talks to me regularly, and I greatly appreciated an e-mail I received from him a few weeks ago.
It was a forwarded e-mail from a guy that runs Crimson Confidential, an affiliate of ESPN. He was looking for a student writer to help with football practices and press conferences in the fall.
Well, now I'm that student writer. I'll be going to those practices and pressers, and hopefully basketball practices, games and pressers later in the fall. Writing four or five stories a week after going to class and these events will take up most of my time, so my production here will probably be about what it has been the last month or so - not much.
You can find the link to all the ESPN-affiliated sites here. Scroll down a bit on the right side, and you'll see the links to the current sites.
This is just another step in my sports writing direction that I wanted and needed to take. It's more involved with the actual profession, and I can't wait to start.
I just hope the man in the picture doesn't go off on me.
