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Spurrier at Florida vs. Saban at Bama
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:00 pm
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:00 pm
For years, I've thought that what Spurrier did at Florida (averaging only one conference loss per year over 12 years) was off the charts but I'm starting to second guess that.
Let's review the stats:
Spurrier was 87-12 in conference regular season games (one loss per year times 12 years) season over and 5-2 in the SEC Championship game (all but 2 of them vs. Alabama). A very impressive 86.8% winning percentage if you include the SECCG.
I'll give Bama a mulligan for 2007. Starting in 2008, that gives Saban a 42-6 (also one loss per year) conference record in the regular season plus a 2-1 record in the SECCG. That gives you a winning percentage of 86.3% or virtually identical to Spurrier's conference winning percentage at Florida.
But was the league really that good in the 90s? Florida and Tennessee dominated a weak East. LSU (Florida's permanent opponent) was awful for much of the decade and managed to beat Spurrier's Florida teams only once (1997). Nebraska demolished an unbeaten Florida team in the Fiesta Bowl. One national title in 12 years vs. 3 for Saban in 6 years. Spurrier's bowl record at Florida was 6-5 -- not very impressive against other conferences when you consider how much they dominated the SEC at the time. 3 of those losses were in the Sugar Bowl when nothing was on the line for Florida (sound familiar Bama fans?) and they played like it.
I'm coming around to the reluctant conclusion that Saban is better than Spurrier was when he dominated the conference in the 90s. We'll see what the next 6 years bring but so far I think the evidence is pretty clear. The SEC is much tougher now (too lazy to "prove" this via stats) and Saban is winning at the same rate as Spurrier was in his heyday. It may not be the Fun n' Gun and he isn't nearly as entertaining as HBC but it is what it is.
Also, :neveragain:
Let's review the stats:
Spurrier was 87-12 in conference regular season games (one loss per year times 12 years) season over and 5-2 in the SEC Championship game (all but 2 of them vs. Alabama). A very impressive 86.8% winning percentage if you include the SECCG.
I'll give Bama a mulligan for 2007. Starting in 2008, that gives Saban a 42-6 (also one loss per year) conference record in the regular season plus a 2-1 record in the SECCG. That gives you a winning percentage of 86.3% or virtually identical to Spurrier's conference winning percentage at Florida.
But was the league really that good in the 90s? Florida and Tennessee dominated a weak East. LSU (Florida's permanent opponent) was awful for much of the decade and managed to beat Spurrier's Florida teams only once (1997). Nebraska demolished an unbeaten Florida team in the Fiesta Bowl. One national title in 12 years vs. 3 for Saban in 6 years. Spurrier's bowl record at Florida was 6-5 -- not very impressive against other conferences when you consider how much they dominated the SEC at the time. 3 of those losses were in the Sugar Bowl when nothing was on the line for Florida (sound familiar Bama fans?) and they played like it.
I'm coming around to the reluctant conclusion that Saban is better than Spurrier was when he dominated the conference in the 90s. We'll see what the next 6 years bring but so far I think the evidence is pretty clear. The SEC is much tougher now (too lazy to "prove" this via stats) and Saban is winning at the same rate as Spurrier was in his heyday. It may not be the Fun n' Gun and he isn't nearly as entertaining as HBC but it is what it is.
Also, :neveragain:
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:25 pm to BrerTiger
Also in 1989 I believe Florida was 7-1 and would have won the SEC but was on probation. So Spurrier inherited more talent than Saban did.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:27 pm to BrerTiger
Saban's run easily more impressive, more national titles, and the SEC is much tougher top to bottom than in the 90's.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:28 pm to Othello
SOS didn't just win in the SEC. He demolished teams and changed the conference and college football with his offenses.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:30 pm to Othello
quote:
Also in 1989 I believe Florida was 7-1 and would have won the SEC but was on probation. So Spurrier inherited more talent than Saban did.
I already gave y'all a mulligan for 2007 while giving Spurrier no such mulligan for any year.
Also, Florida went 7-5 (4-3) in 1989 and got demolished by Washington in the Freedom Bowl so I have no eye dear what you are talking about.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:33 pm to BrerTiger
Both good runs. Edge to Saban for tougher conference, an unbeaten season, and more NCs.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:34 pm to BrerTiger
My bad Florida was
9-2-1 in 1983
9-1-1 in 1984
9-1-1 in 1985
So I got my years mixed up.
9-2-1 in 1983
9-1-1 in 1984
9-1-1 in 1985
So I got my years mixed up.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:34 pm to STUPIDFACE
quote:
SOS didn't just win in the SEC. He demolished teams and changed the conference and college football with his offenses.
That's my recollection having come of age during that time period.
But now (the point of the OP) I'm rethinking that in light of what Saban has done and how much tougher the conference appears to be now.
With 20/20 hindsight, I'm no longer as impressed by what Florida did in the 90s but will freely admit that at the time they were straight up killing it and nobody wanted to play them.
Interdasting stat:
Spurrier was 5-8-1 against Bobby Bowden's FSU teams.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:35 pm to BrerTiger
fwiw:
Spurrier's and Saban's time at UF/LSU/UA is 23 years. 5 NC's and 10 CC's. Bryant in a 19 year span (61-79) 6 NC's and 12 CC's.
To the OP, Saban is a much better recruiter..I think this is the biggest difference.
Spurrier's and Saban's time at UF/LSU/UA is 23 years. 5 NC's and 10 CC's. Bryant in a 19 year span (61-79) 6 NC's and 12 CC's.
To the OP, Saban is a much better recruiter..I think this is the biggest difference.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:38 pm to Othello
quote:
So I got my years mixed up.
Ya think?
quote:
My bad Florida was
9-2-1 in 1983
9-1-1 in 1984
9-1-1 in 1985
From 1986 to 1989, Galen Hall lost no fewer than 5 games each season, including 3 conference losses or more each year.
Gators were bowl ineligible in 1984 and 1985.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:38 pm to IAmReality
quote:
Saban's run easily more impressive, more national titles, and the SEC is much tougher top to bottom than in the 90's.
Do not agree on the MNC. OBC did not benefit from the BCS love of SEC. The weak SEC East was offset by playing FSU during their prime.
These 2 guys are the same. Won in the SEC, sucked in the NFL and return to the SEC to win again. Turning USCe into a powerhouse is more impressive than doing it at Bama though. He also made Florida a power as well, look at their records in the 80s. The 70s were scarry, like Miss State scarry.
This post was edited on 1/15/14 at 1:41 pm
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:40 pm to BrerTiger
Sorry I wasn't born until 1988. I just knew they had some badass teams in the 1980s but I thought was the late 80's.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:41 pm to DarthRebel
UF's first CC (that counted) was in 91.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:41 pm to DarthRebel
I've been calling Ole Miss this for years. Glad to see y'all embracing it.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:42 pm to Othello
quote:
Sorry I wasn't born until 1988. I just knew they had some badass teams in the 1980s but I thought was the late 80's.
That's why these offseason threads are necessary so us older folks can educate you youngins.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:43 pm to Othello
UF had great teams in the 80's....if you can get past the 90 thousand infractions.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:43 pm to IAmReality
quote:
Saban's run easily more impressive, more national titles, and the SEC is much tougher top to bottom than in the 90's.
Disagree. Even though the SEC wasn't as dominant , Tennessee was still an elite program at the time.
And lets not forget about how Spurrier had to play Florida State every year.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:45 pm to DarthRebel
quote:
The weak SEC East was offset by playing FSU during their prime.
No doubt Florida would have played for a lot more national titles without FSU on the schedule at a time when FSU had an insane streak of top 5/10 AP finishes in a row.
Spurrier was an early and often proponent of a playoff -- in large part because it gave his team the best chance of having something to play for at year's end.
Posted on 1/15/14 at 1:47 pm to BrerTiger
Saban has only won the SEC twice.
Twice. For someone thats being billed as the best coach ever thats pretty meh
Twice. For someone thats being billed as the best coach ever thats pretty meh
This post was edited on 1/15/14 at 1:48 pm
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