Started By
Message
Most Pivotal Win/Loss for each SEC HC
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:08 pm
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:08 pm
I was thinking.... to date, what is the most pivotal win and also loss for each SEC HC during his current tenure with his school. Here are the top few coaches IMO:
Nick Saban:
Most Pivotal Win: 2009 Florida
To me, this set the tone for the Saban era. Had Florida won, Urban Meyer would have likely won his 3rd National Title in four seasons in Gainesville. There is a good chance Urban would never have left Florida. And Saban would have been playing from behind as long as Meyer was still at Florida.
Move Pivotal Loss: 2013 Auburn
You could make the claim that the 2016 loss to Clemson in the National Title Game was the most costly because it would have guaranteed Bama another National Title. But I think the Kick6 was more costly. It certainly cost Alabama an SEC Title.... likely cost them a National Title... but it will also hang over Bama's head for eternity considering the manner in which the game was lost. We'll be seeing that replay for as long as we live.
Kirby Smart
Most Pivotal Win: 2017 Auburn
You could make a claim that it was Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl... and I wouldn't argue it. But winning the SEC nowadays is a very big deal. Getting that W in Atlanta and adding an SEC Championship to Kirby's resume in Year 2 is a big deal.
Most Pivotal Loss: 2017 Alabama
Obviously. It was costly.
Gus Malzahn
Most Pivotal Win: 2013 Alabama
It paved the way for Gus to claim an SEC Championship and the play that won it for them will forever live in Auburn lore. It also likely kept Bama from winning another National Title.
Most Pivotal Loss: 2013 Florida State
Much like Kirby's loss above, it was very costly. If Gus had a National Title Trophy on his resume, he'd certainly be held in higher regard than he is now.... not that he's not highly regarded. But having a National Title and not having one is quite a big difference.
Ed Orgeron
Most Pivotal Win: 2017 Auburn
Let's face it, LSU probably shouldn't have won this game. It is certainly Ed O's biggest win of his career and had he not won this one last, the season would have been an absolute disaster.
Most Pivotal Loss: 2017 Notre Dame
It's a toss-up between this one and the loss to Troy. Troy was far more embarrassing, but I think it could have been somewhat excused had LSU finished the season on a high note. Losing to Notre Dame certainly left a bad taste in everyone's mouth about how well Ed O will do in Baton Rouge. Had LSU won this game.... and they were close to winning.... they would have gone 8-1 down the stretch after losing to Troy. Their only loss would have been a hard fought (closer than what people would have though) game against Bama in Tuscaloosa. Other than the Bama loss, they would have closed out the year with wins over Florida, Auburn, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame.... that would have been quite the finish.
Had Ed O defeated Notre Dame, LSU would have finished either #9 or #10 in the final poll, and we'd all be talking about what a finish LSU had to end the year to finish in the Top 10.
Instead we're all talking about how LSU may only win 7 games next year.
Nick Saban:
Most Pivotal Win: 2009 Florida
To me, this set the tone for the Saban era. Had Florida won, Urban Meyer would have likely won his 3rd National Title in four seasons in Gainesville. There is a good chance Urban would never have left Florida. And Saban would have been playing from behind as long as Meyer was still at Florida.
Move Pivotal Loss: 2013 Auburn
You could make the claim that the 2016 loss to Clemson in the National Title Game was the most costly because it would have guaranteed Bama another National Title. But I think the Kick6 was more costly. It certainly cost Alabama an SEC Title.... likely cost them a National Title... but it will also hang over Bama's head for eternity considering the manner in which the game was lost. We'll be seeing that replay for as long as we live.
Kirby Smart
Most Pivotal Win: 2017 Auburn
You could make a claim that it was Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl... and I wouldn't argue it. But winning the SEC nowadays is a very big deal. Getting that W in Atlanta and adding an SEC Championship to Kirby's resume in Year 2 is a big deal.
Most Pivotal Loss: 2017 Alabama
Obviously. It was costly.
Gus Malzahn
Most Pivotal Win: 2013 Alabama
It paved the way for Gus to claim an SEC Championship and the play that won it for them will forever live in Auburn lore. It also likely kept Bama from winning another National Title.
Most Pivotal Loss: 2013 Florida State
Much like Kirby's loss above, it was very costly. If Gus had a National Title Trophy on his resume, he'd certainly be held in higher regard than he is now.... not that he's not highly regarded. But having a National Title and not having one is quite a big difference.
Ed Orgeron
Most Pivotal Win: 2017 Auburn
Let's face it, LSU probably shouldn't have won this game. It is certainly Ed O's biggest win of his career and had he not won this one last, the season would have been an absolute disaster.
Most Pivotal Loss: 2017 Notre Dame
It's a toss-up between this one and the loss to Troy. Troy was far more embarrassing, but I think it could have been somewhat excused had LSU finished the season on a high note. Losing to Notre Dame certainly left a bad taste in everyone's mouth about how well Ed O will do in Baton Rouge. Had LSU won this game.... and they were close to winning.... they would have gone 8-1 down the stretch after losing to Troy. Their only loss would have been a hard fought (closer than what people would have though) game against Bama in Tuscaloosa. Other than the Bama loss, they would have closed out the year with wins over Florida, Auburn, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame.... that would have been quite the finish.
Had Ed O defeated Notre Dame, LSU would have finished either #9 or #10 in the final poll, and we'd all be talking about what a finish LSU had to end the year to finish in the Top 10.
Instead we're all talking about how LSU may only win 7 games next year.
7
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:10 pm to BHMKyle
quote:
top few coaches
quote:
Ed Orgeron
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:11 pm to BHMKyle
I think you got it right on all. IMO 
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:13 pm to CNB
2016 > 2013 Auburn without question
If Auburn has won the 2013 Natty then I'd agree, but they didn't. Then we followed it up with 2 more national titles. And, I don't think we beat FSU that year anyway. I think today the 2010 loss is worse than 2013 because Auburn then won a natty. We had a chance to stop it, were up 3 scores and lost. That one is worse.
2016 Clemson was one stop (or offensive first down) away from arguably the greatest season of all time and what would have become a 3 peat. It was nauseating, and actually has become worse and worse as time passes.
If Auburn has won the 2013 Natty then I'd agree, but they didn't. Then we followed it up with 2 more national titles. And, I don't think we beat FSU that year anyway. I think today the 2010 loss is worse than 2013 because Auburn then won a natty. We had a chance to stop it, were up 3 scores and lost. That one is worse.
2016 Clemson was one stop (or offensive first down) away from arguably the greatest season of all time and what would have become a 3 peat. It was nauseating, and actually has become worse and worse as time passes.
This post was edited on 7/17/18 at 1:15 pm
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:33 pm to CNB
With so many new coaches, there aren't many to evaluate.... and no one cares about Stoops or Mason.
This post was edited on 7/17/18 at 1:35 pm
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:33 pm to BHMKyle
I'd say Saban's most pivitoal win was the blackout game against UGA in 2008.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:42 pm to BHMKyle
quote:
Most Pivotal Win: 2009 Florida To me, this set the tone for the Saban era. Had Florida won, Urban Meyer would have likely won his 3rd National Title in four seasons in Gainesville. There is a good chance Urban would never have left Florida. And Saban would have been playing from behind as long as Meyer was still at Florida.
Even if Florida wins that game I think Saban still overtakes Meyer the next year.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:46 pm to BHMKyle
Dan Mullen:
Most pivotal Loss: Alabama 2017. Somehow, losing this game made him an attractive option as a head coach at at least 2 larger programs, even though the 4th quarter of that game exposed his most glaring weaknesses.
Most pivotal Win: Arkansas 2017. Won on a last second TD toss that had to be reviewed. Lose that game, and those 2 larger programs probably lose interest.
Most pivotal Loss: Alabama 2017. Somehow, losing this game made him an attractive option as a head coach at at least 2 larger programs, even though the 4th quarter of that game exposed his most glaring weaknesses.
Most pivotal Win: Arkansas 2017. Won on a last second TD toss that had to be reviewed. Lose that game, and those 2 larger programs probably lose interest.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:52 pm to Rex Feral
quote:
I'd say Saban's most pivitoal win was the blackout game against UGA in 2008.
I mean it was certainly his first huge win. But had he lost that game, it wouldn't have really had any effect on their season. They still would have won the West and then lost to Florida in the SEC CG.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:57 pm to Globetrotter747
quote:
Even if Florida wins that game I think Saban still overtakes Meyer the next year.
Bama finished 3rd in the West the next year. So that's unlikely.
Had Florida won the SEC CG in 2009, Saban would have entered the 2011 season having been at Bama for four full seasons and he would have had just two SEC West Championships... zero SEC Championships... and zero National Championships.
I'm not sure recruits would have bought into the system like they ultimately did if Saban was yet to even play for a National Title in four full seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 2:06 pm to BHMKyle
quote:
We'll be seeing that replay for as long as we live.
During the Iron Bowl and on SEC Network, probably. Otherwise, it'll eventually reach "Punt, Bama, Punt" status - in other words, Auburn fans constantly reminding us it happened 35 years after the fact.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 2:13 pm to skrayper
quote:
During the Iron Bowl and on SEC Network, probably. Otherwise, it'll eventually reach "Punt, Bama, Punt" status - in other words, Auburn fans constantly reminding us it happened 35 years after the fact.
I don't know. Media and technology in the 1970s weren't wnat they are now. I feel like if you watch college football religiously, there is either a reference to or a replay shown of the Kick6 nearly every week of the season.... and we're already 5 years removed. You are correct, it will eventually start to fade a bit, but I would say it probably ranks as the #1 all-time most talked about play in college football history. You've got Flutie's Hail Mary and the Cal TD with the Stanford band on the field right up there, but those games didn't have as much on the line.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 2:14 pm to BHMKyle
quote:
Nick Saban:
Most Pivotal Win: 2009 Florida
A couple of other possible games:
2007 Arkansas - beating a ranked team, even during our worst season under Saban, and in amazing fashion, put a few teams on alert that Alabama wasn't slipping any more.
2008 Clemson - Clemson came into the game with two Heisman hopefuls (James Davis and CJ Spiller) and a top 10 ranking; Alabama was just barely breaking into the top 25. Run defense trounced Clemson's running game (0 yards total) and gave up no TDs to what was supposed to be a great offense, and served notice on what was going to be a pretty impressive season.
2008 Georgia - Blackout game. Beat #3 Georgia, up 31-0 at the half.
All 3 games, to some extent, built on the Alabama brand being back.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 2:16 pm to BHMKyle
quote:
You are correct, it will eventually start to fade a bit, but I would say it probably ranks as the #1 all-time most talked about play in college football history.
Presuming that Tua's throw doesn't surpass it, as that had even more on the line that the Kick 6 play did, was in OT, and was done by a freshman who led his team back from losing 13-0 and 20-7.
Kick 6 is a great play, no doubt about it - Tua's was better.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 3:22 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
2016 was one stop (or one offensive first down or one penalty) away
FIFY
People need to accept what a travesty the biased Big XII officiating was in that game and what it cost Alabama. There's no telling when Bama may face another Big XII crew in a big game.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News