re: Better Offensive Mind: Bobby Petrino or Gary Crowton?

We're a little off topic, but I wanted to talk about what GP said.

Gatorprincess is right when it comes to Spurrier changing the SEC, and making it what it is today.

Turning back to 1990, the SEC had just emerged from a decade of running backs like Herschel Walker, Dalton Hillard, Emmitt Smith and Bo Jackson. Defenses, and defensive schemes were so run oriented it took YEARS to make enough adjustments to compete with the Evil Genius.

Not only did the coached have to evolve, the players had to evolve and the players did to.

LBs became much more athletic. Safeties more
athletic. DE's had to rush and cover. Tackles had to learn to two gap.

SEC Defenses and their overall defensive speed evolved as a result. While it took a 25 game winning streak to catch up with the Gators, when teams were able to stop UF, they were able to win championships. Like UT in 1998, and LSU in 2003 and 2007.

I credit Steve Spurrier with getting the SEC where it is now. He owned everyone, including cajun's Lord Saban, like rag dolls.


With all that said, you can't compare the schemes, like the West Coast offense the 49ers ran was different than the Run and Shoot.

Crowton and Petrino have different approaches than the Fun and Gun, which didn't actually utilize a mobile QB. The weapons of today's offenses are more diverse.

Spurrier changed the game ever so much more than Bear Bryant. We all know that the wishbone Bear run would never work in today's era. But the offense Spurrier team of 1996 ran would still work today.

And that's why Spurrier, not Bryant, is the greatest coach in SEC history.

Steve Spurrier was the most brillant offensive mind in the history of college football. But in this subject, I'm quite happy with GC.