JessN: Off (week) the top of my head: Notes and musings from behind the desk

JessN · October 28th, 2009, 01:48 AM

Off (week) the top of my head: Notes and musings from behind the desk
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
Oct. 28, 2009

Alabama might get an off-week this week, but I don’t.

The upcoming weekend will afford me to take a closer look at some other teams that I’ve yet to see either only on television, or videotape. And it might actually afford me the opportunity to reintroduce myself to my family.

It also affords me to offer up some notes on recruiting, the bowl picture and the coaching hot seat for next year.

For the full story, click here.

OreBama · October 28th, 2009, 04:45 AM

I enjoyed that. Thanks.

Tradition4ever · October 28th, 2009, 08:49 AM

Jess, I agree with your assessment of Richt and Spurrier possibly being on the hotseat in 2010. I think that next year is going to be a "show me" year for quite a few SEC east coaches, being it is the first "post-Tebow" UF year. I firmly believe that there are a lot of fans, and admins as well, that have given their respective coaching staffs unspoken free passes during this UF-Tebow run with the understanding that after Tebow left, the UGA's, and the USC's, and the UT's would be right back in the thick of the SEC east race. I also believe that a lot of UT fans are banking on Kiffin having UT in the SECCG quickly based on this supposed vacuum left by Tebow. I wonder what UF will look like after Tebow? I was of the mind that UF and Meyer were more than just one player, but after seeing how much they've needed to rely on Tebow's playmaking at times this season, I wonder exactly what they're going to be with Brantley running the show next year....

Nolcbear · October 28th, 2009, 09:03 AM

I did not know that Brooks was once at Oregon or Nutt at Boise - it's interesting to learn that kinda stuff, thank you...

However, I have to disagree with your Sugar Bowl thoughts should Bama be in that game. Whether it's TCU, Boise State, or Cincy, I believe the sting of Utah lingers and we go in angry but focused and take care of business. Much like UGA against Hawaii - no more playing down to the opposition.

We've seen improvement each of the last two years, and to me, losing another Sugar Bowl to a Big-Mid-Mountain-Whatever team would be a step backwards. Losing to UF in the SECCG would really suck, but overcoming that and then winning the Sugar would certainly be an improvement on last year - another rung on the ladder...

Thanks for your time and effort, Jess.

TidePrideGA · October 28th, 2009, 09:59 AM

Thanks Jess, great job, Roll Tide!!!!

CapitalTider · October 28th, 2009, 10:22 AM

Very interesting and informative. I think I agree with everything you said, other than (and maybe this is more of a hope) if we make it to the Sugar Bowl again, I don't think we'll have another let-down like against Utah.

	Quote:
	9. Les Miles, LSU. If Miles wins a second national championship, he’ll have to go up this list. But he basically looks like another Larry Coker or Phil Fulmer, a decent coach who benefited mostly from recruiting, either his own or that of the previous coach. A telling test is to ask LSU fans whether – if they had to hire a new coach tomorrow – they would hire Miles or look elsewhere.

I wish you hadn't posted that, now we'll have to listen to red rant about how great Les Miles is and how LSU fans would choose Miles over Saban.

Hoot30 · October 28th, 2009, 11:10 AM

	Quote:	JessN
	Off (week) the top of my head: Notes and musings from behind the desk By Jess Nicholas TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief Oct. 28, 2009 · Lane Kiffin, Tennessee. Kiffin figures to get more time than Chizik based on the strength of his recruiting reputation and the presence of Monte Kiffin, who is one of the five or ten best defensive minds in the college game. But the 2010 Tennessee team may be the worst Kiffin will have. Depending on how Tennessee finishes up 2009 – UT will have to beat Memphis, Vanderbilt and Kentucky to get bowl-eligible – the 2010 season could be the third straight for the Vols without a trip to the postseason. Were that to happen, 2011 could get unbearable for Kiffin – especially if he were to keep shooting off his mouth in interviews.[/url]

That's what some of the sports radio guys here are saying. I think they lose a good bit of their offensive lineman. And, who will be their QB next year, Nick Stephens or Tyler Bray? Stephens can't beat out Crompton and Bray will be a true freshman next year.

RogueElephant · October 28th, 2009, 11:41 AM

Thanks for the info. I too did not know Nutt was at Boise St.

TommyMac · October 28th, 2009, 02:54 PM

Good read Jess, but I disagree with you on a Penn State/USCe bowl matchup. I think the Gamecocks would give PSU all they want.

I also think Bama would not sleepwalk through their bowl if we don't make the BCSCG. Better not anyway, we're currently tied with USCw for the most all-time bowl wins with 31 each. Surely that would get their attention.

GrayTide · October 28th, 2009, 07:48 PM

Thanks Jess some very interesting commentary. What I do not understand is that Malzahn is a "rising star" and maybe the man to wear the headset. I honestly do not understand why all the love for Gus. He is a proven, successful high school coach but he was only at Arkansas for 1 year, 2 years at Tulsa and is now in his first year at AU. He coaches a fad style offense that works well against less talented teams but so far has looked well "high schoolish" against more talented, more physical type defenses. IMO he may be a cut above Tony Franklin, but not head coaching material at a D-1 program.

TidernAR · October 28th, 2009, 08:11 PM

Thanks Jess, nice read, hard to get good info out of our local area reporters. I too agree with several above that IF we end up in the Sugar, we will approach it differently from last year.

Again, thanks, RTR!!!

USCBAMA · October 28th, 2009, 09:09 PM

Barring a complete collapse in the 2nd half of the season (which is possible given the schedule and the fact that it happened the last 2 seasons), Spurrier will not be on any hot seat in Columbia in 2010.

Fans here want more from the legendary coach, but we are also fully aware that Spurrier, at 18-19 in SEC play, has the best SEC winning percentage of any USC coach since joining the SEC. This isn't a school of championships like Bama (only one conference title ever - ACC in 1969). Spurrier isn't winning like we would like, but he also isn't losing like we are used to. In his 5th year he still has not had a losing season, something not accomplished at USC since the 1930s (yes, you read correctly).

Barring a big slide, Spurrier is safe at USC as long as he wants to be here, and oddly enough he seems really happy coaching college football at USC.

JessN · October 29th, 2009, 04:19 AM

	Quote:	USCBAMA
	Barring a complete collapse in the 2nd half of the season (which is possible given the schedule and the fact that it happened the last 2 seasons), Spurrier will not be on any hot seat in Columbia in 2010. Fans here want more from the legendary coach, but we are also fully aware that Spurrier, at 18-19 in SEC play, has the best SEC winning percentage of any USC coach since joining the SEC. This isn't a school of championships like Bama (only one conference title ever - ACC in 1969). Spurrier isn't winning like we would like, but he also isn't losing like we are used to. In his 5th year he still has not had a losing season, something not accomplished at USC since the 1930s (yes, you read correctly). Barring a big slide, Spurrier is safe at USC as long as he wants to be here, and oddly enough he seems really happy coaching college football at USC.

Agreed, but as you'll note, that was the premise of the entire thing: He only goes on the hotseat if he has that collapse. USC could just as easily close the season undefeated as it could use every game. If USC finishes 6-6, that's when the problems would start for him -- but only in that case.