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re: Curt Cignetti or Kirby Smart
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:53 pm to tBrand
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:53 pm to tBrand
quote:
Ain’t no way Kirby wins a title at Indiana
And what would the odds have been that Cignetti could have taken his team through the SEC unscathed?
The comparison here can be explained in a historical context.
If Napoleon had been able to field the same army in Belgium that he had taken into Russia, he would have been able to have beat the living tar out of Wellington at Waterloo.
1
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:59 pm to FlyingTigerBo
I would think Kirby is number 1 coach in CFB now considered by most people. But Curt is not bad for 2nd..also be considered 2nd best is not bad at all.
Nick Saban was considered the best coach in the last era, but Urban Meyer was 2nd..he won 3 Natties.
So being 2nd is not an insult at all.
Nick Saban was considered the best coach in the last era, but Urban Meyer was 2nd..he won 3 Natties.
So being 2nd is not an insult at all.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 9:17 pm to Chip82
He would go undefeated in the SEC last year.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 7:04 am to Diamondawg
quote:
What was the average age, 22-23?
This is the answer. Not diminishing the natty in any way but 23 is significantly different than 19 in terms of physicality but more importantly maturity. Kirby Smart benefitted from the same thing with Stetson Bennett. Its been anecdotally across college sports since 2020.
In the current era of CFB Cignetti has a more impressive resume than Smart. Smart won back to back natty's in the last era, he has not won a playoff game yet in the new era. Time will tell but in July 2026 Cignettie has the more impressive resume operating in the current CFB environment. Hell as far as that goes I ain't sure Smart is in the top 5 best coaches working in the current era. CFB has changed significantly
Posted on 7/14/26 at 10:20 am to FlyingTigerBo
Bum Phillips once said about Chuck Noll. He can take hisn and beat yoursn and he can take yoursn and beat hisn. That would be the ultimate litmus test. Give them equal teams and make them play. Then swap teams and make them play. Who's winning between the two?
This post was edited on 7/14/26 at 10:36 am
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:09 am to Gatorbait2008
quote:
I mean he is the best coach in CFB without a doubt.
I, for one, have plenty of doubt about that.
If he’s so clearly that much ahead of everybody else, and he is in the middle of the richest recruiting region in the country, then why has he not even played for a natty since 2022?
He’s done really well, but there’s an argument to be made that he’s on a Dabo glide path.
This post was edited on 7/14/26 at 11:11 am
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:13 am to AwgustaDawg
quote:
Smart won back to back natty's in the last era, he has not won a playoff game yet in the new era. Time will tell but in July 2026 Cignettie has the more impressive resume operating in the current CFB environment.
I think having had a lot of success prior to the NIL / TP era - like Dabo and Smart - works against more established coaches mentally and frustrates them. They now have to work harder to achieve the same success they used to enjoy. Less established coaches who are a little hungrier for the big payday and reaching coaching immortality are more eager to adapt.
Plus, the dictatorships just don’t work anymore. The players have more power. You need more of an NFL approach to player relationships. The skill set of being a successful college HC hasn’t completely changed but certainly has been modified.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:14 am to Diamondawg
quote:
No way Cignetti puts together that team last year without tons of money. What was the average age, 22-23?
Money is a factor, but the transfer portal is the big issue.
Cignetti may have provided the blueprint for finding really solid and mature players that can do really well in college (both physically and maturity-wise), but are not NFL bets (yet).
Money may become the way to excel with that model, but (right now) there is an argument that finding overlooked and older players has more upside than throwing cash at guys with only high school data.
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