Article: Ranking the Coaches of the SEC

Butch jones too high

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5. Butch Jones

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9. Ed Orgeron

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10. Derek Mason

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11. Will Muschamp

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12. Kirby Smart

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The top 8 aren't terrible although justifying Bert, Butch and McElwain over Gus would be a challenge.

I actually think it's fine to *believe* one or all of those coaches are better than Gus, I just don't think you can support it very well.

Agreed

Too much HC processing going on. Oh well, ces't le vie.

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1. Nick Saban — Alabama
2. Hugh Freeze — Ole Miss
3. Kevin Sumlin — Texas AM
4. Bret Bielema — Arkansas
5. Butch Jones — Tennessee
6. Jim McElwain — Florida
7. Gus Malzahn — Auburn
8. Dan Mullen — Mississippi State
9. Ed Orgeron — LSU
10. Derek Mason — Vanderbilt
11. Will Muschamp — South Carolina
12. Kirby Smart — Georgia
13. Barry Odom — Missouri
14. Mark Stoops — Kentucky

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This list really drives home what has left the conference in the last handful of years. Spurrier, Miles, Richt, and Meyer all probably would have landed that #2 spot if they were still around

eta: Hell James Franklin would probably be top 3

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And to think there were rumblings of Sumlin being on the hot seat before the season started. Crazy how things can change so quickly.

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Just as an FYI:

LSU entered 2015 with an uneasy feeling. We were ranked #14, squeaked by Miss St on the road, crushed Auburn...and jumped into the playoff picture with a victory over Florida in late October.

On Saturday, November 4, 2015, Les Miles led the #2 (CFP) ranked 7-0 LSU Tigers against #4 (CFP) 7-1 Alabama and lost 30-16. LSU was the clear front-runner in the SEC at kickoff.

By Saturday, November 25, 2015, Les Miles was literally coaching for his job and beat Texas A&M 19-7.

Between 11/4, when it was clear to everyone on earth that Les Miles was going to stay for a while longer at LSU, LSU went 4-5 and Les Miles lost his job.

All that to say -- the #3 coach in the SEC according to this list was 0-4 against Les Miles. Don't be so sure that seat doesn't get hot again.

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I know it's pretty slim pickens from teh 10-14 spots on teh list, btu it just seems odd for someone with that resume to be 9th.

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As an LSU fan that appreciates what he has done to date, I can only surmise that they are ignoring his Ole Miss stent...

This should really just read:

1. Nick Saban





Others Receiving Votes: (null)

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1. Nick Saban — Alabama
2. Hugh Freeze — Ole Miss
3. Kevin Sumlin — Texas AM
4. Bret Bielema — Arkansas
5. Butch Jones — Tennessee
6. Jim McElwain — Florida
7. Gus Malzahn — Auburn
8. Dan Mullen — Mississippi State
9. Ed Orgeron — LSU
10. Derek Mason — Vanderbilt
11. Will Muschamp — South Carolina
12. Kirby Smart — Georgia
13. Barry Odom — Missouri
14. Mark Stoops — Kentucky

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For comparative purposes, here's a list of SEC HCs going into the 2008 season, ranked as objectively as I can:

1. Urban Meyer — Florida
2. Nick Saban — Alabama
3. Steve Spurrier — South Carolina
4. Les Miles — LSU
5. Phillip Fulmer — Tennessee
6. Mark Richt — Georgia
7. Tommy Tuberville — Auburn
8. Houston Nutt — Ole Miss
9. Rich Brooks — Kentucky
10. Bobby Petrino — Arkansas
11. Sylvester Croom — Mississippi State
12. Bobby Johnson — Vanderbilt

This is based primarily on their record/reputation at the time, not their potential - otherwise Saban would have been a clear #1, and Petrino would have been higher.

But the larger point is, eliminating the only name on both the '09 and '16 lists, any of the top 7 would rank above #2-14 in the OP. And seeing what he's accomplished at the 'Ville, Petrino would likely be a solid #2 in the SEC right now as well.

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Looking at that list laid out like that

Man there are not many even good coaches in the SEC

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I concur.