Best Situation for New SEC Coach

[TKE226]

Interesting topic I heard debated on the radio this morning....

Of the four new hires in SEC football (Malzahn - Auburn, Bielema - Arky, Jones - UT, and Stoops - UK) which has the best situation TODAY. Not in 3 years, not who will do the best job, but who has the most to work with today?

I dont think any of these teams will be very good this year. Maybe Arkansas or Auburn has the best shot at being decent, but none will compete. UK may easily be in the worst spot. I saw UK's schedule...yikes (Florida, @SC, Alabama...)

Hell, why not add who do you think will be the best of the bunch in 5 years. If he stays, my answer is Butch Jones.

[I Bleed Garnet]

Jones or Gus.

Even for me

[markymark550]

Right now - Bielema
5 years - think Jones and Bielema will be at about the same place

[Legalman72]

Auburn is loaded with a ton of talent, according to recruiting rank.

[SR4-AJ1]

IMO if Auburn can find a qb I would pick them

[GarnetLaw]

Malzahn- there are still a ton of kids that are already there recruited to play in his system so he's not starting from scratch. Plus he has Ellis Johnson at DC so thats a plus. If they can find a qb they have a good chance to knock off at least one powerhouse team on their schedule this year.

[Ericvol2096]

Auburn has most talent on roster, but in a tougher division.
Arkansas has a long way to go to be right for Bielema so I wouldn't say him.
Kentucky will always suck.
Tennessee has a lot of Sr's and a little talent but a TERRIBLE schedule.

I would go with Gus right now.

[Gamecock Rob]

Malzahn, he was recruiting their QB when he was in middle school. Plus, Chizik was the rich man's Dabo in recruiting and the homeless man's Dabo in coaching.

[NJGCfan]

Auburn has the most talent, but have had no one to develop it and translate the ability into wins. Malzahn can do that and if he solves his problems at QB they could be a formidable opponent next season. Maybe that 4* QB Johnson will solve their problems

[uscfreek88]

Auburn by far

[JohnnyB21]

I'm saying Auburn. I'm sure Malzahns wife is still keeping the stars of the team happy.

[Cockykevin]

Def auburn. Doesn't matter recruits and stuff simply enough the UT coach has to win and win now, arky will be given a leash and uk expects to suck. Malzahn has an NC to fall back on and will be given every opp to succeed. Jones has to start winning games and fans alike starting next season

[Acockolypse Now]

Gus.

They'll make some noise this year.

Jones a close second.

[TerryP]

Originally Posted by Legalman72

Auburn is loaded with a ton of talent, according to recruiting rank.

I've seen several mention Auburn in this thread voicing the assumption they are loaded with talent.

While it's true their classes have been highly ranked over the last five years the problem is over half of those classes are no longer on campus.

Setting aside the class signed in February and simply looking at 2010 - 2012 just under 50% of those that signed with the Tigers are no longer on campus. Grades, off the field issues, a little attrition due to normal situations like injuries, and some who never qualified have left that roster resembling one you'd find in Lexington.

Yes, literally, Lexington, KY.

I mean this in all seriousness. They are fortunate not to play Vandy this season or they'd be looking at back-to-back losses to the 'Dores and would find themselves two games behind in the all time series.

[CockyMBA]

Originally Posted by TKE226

Interesting topic I heard debated on the radio this morning....

Of the four new hires in SEC football (Malzahn - Auburn, Bielema - Arky, Jones - UT, and Stoops - UK) which has the best situation TODAY. Not in 3 years, not who will do the best job, but who has the most to work with today?

I dont think any of these teams will be very good this year. Maybe Arkansas or Auburn has the best shot at being decent, but none will compete. UK may easily be in the worst spot. I saw UK's schedule...yikes (Florida, @SC, Alabama...)

Hell, why not add who do you think will be the best of the bunch in 5 years. If he stays, my answer is Butch Jones.

Administratively, Kentucky. (I know...slightly off topic). But I think they're tired of the coaching carousel, so Stoops leash will be extremely long. I think he has the easiest path to be here in 5 years. They'll let him install his program because ANY success is good. Win 3 SEC games, and thats progressive. All the other teams THINK they belong in the upper echelon of the college football world.

[TerryP]

Originally Posted by CockyMBA

Administratively, Kentucky. (I know...slightly off topic). But I think they're tired of the coaching carousel, so Stoops leash will be extremely long. I think he has the easiest path to be here in 5 years. They'll let him install his program because ANY success is good. Win 3 SEC games, and thats progressive. All the other teams THINK they belong in the upper echelon of the college football world.

That's a good turn of the conversation.

Consider the situation Jeff Long is in at Arkansas. As AD, he's seen the donations rise in the last two years of Petrino and with continuing facility improvements he's been able to maintain the flow of money coming in at Arkansas.

There was a fan base that defined split.

I can see a lot of fan frustration if they aren't at an eight or nine win mark in three years. But, I can also see Long as one who thinks long term more so than a lot of their fan base.

And, as a small side note with your suggestion of Kentucky. Honestly, when have they ever really cared about football?

By the end of October TN fans will likely be question—loudly I'm sure—the hiring of Jones. Realistically, they should be looking at five losses by the end of October and with a good chance of being out of the bowl picture completely.

Auburn, on the other hand, will fault the attrition (also spelled Chizik) and give grace to Gus because of 2010.

[GoldenSpur7]

Auburn ftw - much easier to recruit there. As much of a jerk as Petrino was, he was a good coach who did a lot with what he had.

[garnet_black215]

Gus at Auburn.

Frankly, I don't think any of the four will be too competitive (and I think UK will flat out suck), but given that Gus was at Auburn before and has players who know his system better than Loeffler's I wouldn't be surprised to see them win six games.