Ranking the SEC, from Bama to Vandy (and Georgia No. 4)
Mark Richt is confident Georgia can rebound from a tough summer and going 4-4 in the SEC.
Twelve head coaches stood at the podium during last week’s SEC media days. Shockingly, not one declared, “Thank goodness for Tums because this season could be an unmitigated disaster.”
There’s nothing like the optimism of July, when nobody has lost a game yet. So how do things really stand in the SEC? Here’s a loose guide. I’ve ranked the 12 schools by a combination of perceived current strength and the program’s direction. Feel free to debate.
Looking Down On The Villagers
♦ 1. ALABAMA: It was funny when Nick Saban lost to Louisiana-Monroe in 2007. There haven’t many opportunities to laugh since. Alabama is 16-0 in the SEC’s regular season in the last two seasons (it only lost to Florida in the 2008 conference title game). The Tide is coming off a BCS title and could repeat. Direction firmly established.
Nick Saban and Urban Meyer have established the SEC's pecking order
♦ 2. FLORIDA: The Gators are 26-2 with a BCS title in the last two seasons. To recruit, they open the front door. The only questions center on the health of their head coach (Urban Meyer) and the success of Tim Tebow’s replacement (John Brantley). But the program is too strong and too deep to expect a significant descent any time soon.
♦
A Step Below
♦ 3. LSU: Almost placed the Tigers fourth but they did win the BCS title only three years ago. The question is: How much of Les Miles’ early success was residual from the Saban era? His SEC records in his first three seasons: 7-1, 6-2, 6-2. In the last two (with most of Saban’s players gone): 3-5, 5-3. Miles is catching as much heat as Mark Richt. This year’s rebuilding effort includes replacing seven defensive starters. LSU fans want to see progress.
♦ 4. GEORGIA: Richt went 4-4 in the SEC in two of the last four years, not catastrophic. But the last four BCS champions came from the SEC. That changes the grading scale. The 2008 Bulldogs underachieved. The 2009 team was bad enough that Richt finally felt compelled to dump three assistants, including defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. This year’s team should fare well, partly because of an easier schedule. But there are questions at quarterback (freshman) and on defense (new scheme). Richt needs to firmly establish direction.
Usually Good For An Upset
Steve Spurrier hasn't cracked the elite at South Carolina like he did when he was at Florida.
♦ 5. SOUTH CAROLINA: Steve Spurrier made his mark on offense. His South Carolina teams have been strong on defense. Even he mused that for the first time in his career, he received a salary bonus for his team’s graduation rate, not a bowl game. South Carolina is a stable and competitive program with a great fan base. But Spurrier can’t recruit talented skill position players to Columbia. It wouldn’t be a shock if he retires after this season.
♦ 6. ARKANSAS: Every season there’s one team that’s overrated by media and fans. This year it’s Arkansas. The Razorbacks have a very good quarterback in Ryan Mallett. But what about the rest of the team? And the coach? Bobby Petrino was a success in Conference USA and the Big East. Big wow. He’s 5-11 in the SEC and, it should be noted, Arkansas wasn’t exactly a train wreck when he took over (Houston Nutt went 11-5 in conference in his last two seasons).
♦ 7. MISSISSIPPI: Almost put Ole Miss ahead of Arkansas. Nutt inherited a team that had four straight losing seasons and is 18-6 in two years. He has done better with Ed Orgeron’s players than Ed Orgeron did. But the Rebels have lost eight starters on offense.
♦ 8. AUBURN: The Tigers were a punch line when they hired Gene Chizik to replace Tommy Tuberville. But just because Auburn didn’t fold up last season (8-5, 3-5), let’s not assume greatness just yet. The Tigers went 2-5 after a 5-0 start before beating Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. This year’s quarterback, Cam Newton, has talent but also some baggage: He started at Florida but was suspended after being arrested and charged with stealing another student’s laptop. Bottom line: It’s too early to judge Chizik.
♦ 9. TENNESSEE: Derek Dooley inherited a mess, on and off the field. Dooley has all the makings to be a great head coach but he might be overmatched at this point of his career. The Volunteers are short on talent and too much of Dooley’s time right now is being occupied by just giving the team structure and discipline.
♦ 10. MISSISSIPPI STATE: Dan Mullen, a former Florida and Utah assistant, still needs to separate himself from Urban Meyer’s shadow. But he did a solid job in year one and made a terrific hire in defensive coordinator Manny Diaz (Middle Tennessee State). These Dogs may be moving up.
No Place To Go But Up
♦ 11. KENTUCKY: Joker Phillips usually had great offenses as an assistant, but this is a program that went 16-39 in the SEC under Rich Brooks. Three months to basketball practice.
♦ 12. VANDERBILT: New coach Robbie Caldwell has a lot of one-liners. He’ll need them.
♦
A look back at SEC media days
♦ Dooley calmly moving from one fire to next at Tennessee
♦ SEC media days: Tennessee and Dooley take center stage
♦ Spurrier’s lament: Team is better academically than on field
♦ Richt’s words, actions haven’t changed ugliness at Georgia
♦ SEC media days: Waiting on Richt as NCAA hovers at Georgia
♦ NCAA inquiry is the last thing Georgia and Mark Richt need
♦ It’s no coincidence Saban suddenly is concerned about agents
♦ SEC media days: Hey, who let the BCS in here?
♦ We’re LIVE at SEC media days (with no shortage of storylines)
♦ NCAA reportedly investigating Florida (but temper excitement)
♦ Can Dogs end Alabama-Florida monopoly in SEC title game?
♦
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358 comments Add your comment
17 of 20
July 25th, 2010
8:02 pm
This season Georgia will win 9 games and finish in second place in the east. This is the same place they are destined for years and years to come.
Delbert D.
July 25th, 2010
8:03 pm
From a post by Lee at 4:22 pm
“The last 2 times richt had a bad year, 2001 & 2006, he finished in the top 3 in the country in 2002 & 2007, so I expect ANOTHER top 3 finish, like Richt awalys does after a bad season.”
There’s not clear cause and effect there, and the correlation is based on only 2 selected prior occurrences. I would not use that as a basis for projection (nor would I bet money on it, if I were a betting man.)
Steve "The King" Spurrier
July 25th, 2010
8:03 pm
The Dawgs will reign as state champions once again. Keep your sights high!! I believe the dogs will EASILY win at least 4 SEC games to preserve their non-losing conference record. The SEC is the toughest conference in the land. My prediction is the Peach Bowl!
Watch for those red panties waving when you go between the hedges. The dogs mean business this year!
Big Dogs Bark
July 25th, 2010
8:06 pm
Got a laugh when Jeff wrote Richt needs to establish a clear direction. Hilarious. Let’s re-cap ast few years:
2005 #23 ranking
2006 #10
2007 #2
2008 #10
Yeah Jeff, really some tough years for Richt lately. Too funny.
Big Dogs Bark
July 25th, 2010
8:12 pm
If I was a betting man, I woudn’t bet against Richt, who’s never had 2 seasons in a row where he finished out of the top 10 since 1986. Might be fun to write that, but it just doens’t reflect any kind of rational thinking. Youd’ really have to have a mindless moment to not think Richt will finish in the top 10 in 2010. Again, NEVER happened, since 1986. Ever.
Big Dogs Bark
July 25th, 2010
8:20 pm
Going back 3 years, Richt finished in the top 6 every year:
2002 #3
2003 #6
2004 #6
2005 #10
2006 #23
2007 #2
2008 #10
Yeah Jeff, Richt really has some problems in direction. I guess he can’t go much higher than #2 or #3, I guess that’s no different than what Saban has done, have two top 3 years. It’s just Richt finishes in the top 10 almost every other year, where Saban’s RARELY been there.
17 of 20
July 25th, 2010
8:21 pm
Big Dog Bark
Mark Richt has been a head coach for 9 years. The keepers of all the records only keep the win/loss records of the school and the head coach.
boots
July 25th, 2010
8:22 pm
Jeff, thanks for the clarification on the coach’s status. There is no question that our coach is respected and loved by the fans. He and his family made a very pronounced effort to become part of the Georgia culture and he also delievered results. Yes, we had a down year last year, but under Goff and even Donnan, those years were the norm. Coach Richt has earned our patience, and the respect of both fans and writers. I know you are doing your job, and you are not one to be afraid to call it like it is, but there are other journalist out there who are just whipping up controversy. Frankly, the AJC and its headlines for some non-stories is just that. Sure, the Evans thing was big, but these other issues are not worthy of front-page headlines.
SECFan
July 25th, 2010
8:23 pm
UGA is #6 at best but probably #7. Auburn definitely deserves to be ahead of them and probably Arkansas too.
Tao
July 25th, 2010
8:25 pm
I thought the DAWGS were ranked #64 by the Orlando paper.
Jim
July 25th, 2010
8:25 pm
A lot of journalists are going to be eating some humble pie after 2010 & 2011 when it comes ot Mark Richt.
Richt’s going on a run, he’s not going to lose a game, for a long, long time.
DOO DOO LEE
July 25th, 2010
8:33 pm
without having to play lsu and bama ranked higher, some joke of a season..sisters of the idaho and lafayette of the poor , big whoopty doo doo
ugag is irrelevant
July 25th, 2010
8:46 pm
un-puff yourselves folks …. nobody cares
MS. State Bulldog
July 25th, 2010
8:49 pm
State will be better this year but look out for next year. The recruits are beginning to come to Starkville and Mullen is about to find a QB that fits his game plan.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 25th, 2010
8:52 pm
TUCK where are you SEASON TICKETS? I am WAITING YOU crybaby walmart UGA fan. SHOW some proff you red panty holding JOKE. PROVE ME WRONE you buttlicker.
Jeff Schultz
July 25th, 2010
8:54 pm
Jack Bull: Auburn 10-0 going into the Georgia game? Dude, put down the pipe.
Jeff Schultz
July 25th, 2010
8:56 pm
Boots — Thanks, no problem.
Tao
July 25th, 2010
9:00 pm
If UGA is irrelevant then I would hate to be a tech fan.
Funny
July 25th, 2010
9:00 pm
Wow you really went out on a limb to make this. When it’s all said and done, 1-2 picks will be correct.
Tyler S
July 25th, 2010
9:04 pm
Here are my rankings:
1. Bama
2. Georgia
3. LSU
4. Florida
… and the rest really doesnt matter lol. But that is what i believe the rankings are due to toughness and such things that football teams are measured by.
Delbert D.
July 25th, 2010
9:04 pm
The 2 missing years?
Pi$$onaDawg
July 25th, 2010
9:07 pm
Jeff are you sure yo should have stopped your vacation with you Wife and Kids? I hope you got some great French reciepts from your mom. Kiss the child and hug the wife. All this Football crap is all in fun. If we get a chane I would love to do Cheese and BREAD with 2 hours of enjoying some wine.
jack bull
July 25th, 2010
9:10 pm
have you not seen Auburn’s schedule?? they leave the state only to go to Mississippi(twice) and Kentucky. They’ll take care of Clemson, USC, LSU and everybody else at home. With that said, they have to beat Ole Miss, Miss ST, and UK on the road..I’m not an Auburn fan, just saying, it’s going to play out nice for them for a while..care to wager???
Gratefuldawghead
July 25th, 2010
9:13 pm
Pi$$onaDawg….Grown folks trying to talk SEC football here! Now please go to bed dum@ss!
GO DAWGS!
Pope UGA XXIII
July 25th, 2010
9:15 pm
Usually, I look at a Schultz article and come away with a
feeling of wanting to go outside and break something. Jeff
doesn’t write like Terrence Moore who I felt was little more
than a professional agitator. This time, I feel this article is
pretty decent. Personally, I think UGA is a potential killer
of a team – just need some luck with minimal injuries & no
more problems with the law. Hopefully, CMR has picked up
what Herschel & Vince have both said. The rushing game is
crucial and look no further than what happened at Grant Field
last November.
I feel they will end up third with a very legitimate chance
to beat Florida.
poopdawg
July 25th, 2010
9:21 pm
Bama , SC ,ARK, UGA ,UF, AU, LSU, Miss, UT,Kent, Miss ST, Vandy. Just a gut feeling. If UGA can get past SC and ARK it could get interesting. Need the MO! GO DAWGS!
bamaguy
July 25th, 2010
9:23 pm
It will be the TIde and the Gators in Atlanta in December once again. It all comes down to who your head coach is.
SEC FAN>
July 25th, 2010
9:30 pm
Alabama is by far the best…I think UGA beats UF this year..I think Auburn is second best team in SEC West..they have 4 senior OL starters that are very good…Bama vs. UGA in title game…
Hairy Dawg
July 25th, 2010
9:39 pm
Richt wins cause he is Christain and better than others coachs who he is unloading whooping can on. Les Nessman Miles at LUSer is a pathetc coach and arrogants Urban has nervous breaking down now with Teablows goning pro. Dooley boy couldnt win at LA LA Tech chump program and Cheese Wiz of Auburn is a laughing stocker. Visor boy Stevie with the big mouth can’t coach now in Columbia and went from fun n gun to worse than Zook. The only better team is Bammer and that would not be either if’s Adams stop sabbataging when Sabans gets supports from Bama for recruiting.
Richt is clearly best at coaching and recruiting before he Christianizing players that play with SEC talent and speed. Dawgs is running tables all the way to GA domes. Dawgs fixes problem of Wet Willie defense and the dominants on defense is what wins in a mens league like SEC. We just have QB that needs experiences and he has development time early in season before mashing Gaytors and Vols on way to Atlanta. I don’t expect no problems from midnight escape artist Peturdo or Joker at round ball U. The only one who unknown is the interem at Vandy but Vandy is a pointy heads school that know nothing about playing of the football.
Go Dawgs! Sick Em! Can’t spell Sugar withoit UGA!
harold
July 25th, 2010
9:40 pm
SHOCKING NEWS:DOOLEY NUMBER 54 IN RECRUITING AT SCOUT! NO 4 STARS! TENNESSEE IS DONE!
Red&Black
July 25th, 2010
9:42 pm
Arkansas and South Carolina should be above the Dawgs this year. Why? They each possess better head coaches which normally would not level the field to our superior talent…but this year each of them will be only a little lower talent wise due to key experience at QB early in the season (when we play each) and this will more than level our overall talent advantage. Hopefully if we lose to each the leash will be cut and we will send Richt on to the pound to be euthanized humanitarily and we can get top notch coaching to augment the talent on hand.
Dawg Whisperer
July 25th, 2010
9:42 pm
The Gators are overrated. Tim Tebow willed them to a few extra wins that otherwise they lose during his career at Gatorland. The Gators will miss his leadership as much if not more than his skill set. Gators lose three this year including one in Jax.
Stu
July 25th, 2010
9:43 pm
That’s really going out on a limb. Bama UF Lsu Uga. Haven’t those been in the top 4 3 of the past 4 seasons?
I don’t get the love affair with a no experience no sec starts qb for uga. I think they will have a so so year. 4-4 conference.
Jackson
July 25th, 2010
9:45 pm
Excuse me Dog Whisperer but if anyone is overrated it would be UGA, year in year out.
Jesse James
July 25th, 2010
9:51 pm
Red and Black – Where are you from Louisville? I know they wear red and black.
poopdawg
July 25th, 2010
9:55 pm
Stu , i said the same thing last year about Bama.
Black Toenail
July 25th, 2010
9:56 pm
South Carolina and Arkansas will both be better than the Mutts. UGA in Shreveport again, coming in at #6.
Tao
July 25th, 2010
10:04 pm
Well, since it’s not worth UGA playing the season, might as well have a FISH FRY and slap a NERD upside his head.
Gratefuldawghead
July 25th, 2010
10:13 pm
Black Toenail.. The Shreveport Bowl game is now for ACC (All Coast Clear) Teams and the Gator Bowl is now SEC!
Study some more and than come back if you want to Talk with the Big DAWGS!
Army of the GATORS
July 25th, 2010
10:20 pm
I see the Tide will have problems in their schedule.They still will be in Atlanta with Florida, but…they will be punched in the mouth more often than not. FLORIDA-ALABAMA….SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
Georgia….outlook…..Outback Bowl…..congrats puppies
MikeP
July 25th, 2010
10:56 pm
By Jeff Schultz: “Newton wasn’t found innocent. Charges were dropped after he completed a pretrial intervention program for first-time offenders.”
Newton didn’t steal the laptop. Anybody familiar with the situation knows this, and you probably do too.
Improperly disposing of a laptop he bought and later learned was stolen; those charges were dropped after the intervention. He was never even officially accused of stealing the laptop. Why not include that tiny bit of info in your story? It doesn’t sell as well?
Bull
July 25th, 2010
11:21 pm
Hey Jeff Schultz why don’t you let GA fans rank you and Mark Bradley among other columnists! That would be great! Or better yet…how bout a poll measuring how many people wish you guys would leave and never comment on a sport you never played, a state you moved too and a school and football program you’re completely in the dark on
coach smith
July 25th, 2010
11:42 pm
JEFF,
just wear your Tech jersey and wave yellow and gold pom poms in your AJC picture and save us all some time!!!!!!!!
Your over-eager critiques, wild overestating of issues, gross misrepresentation of FACTS, giddiness over the slightest of problems and thinly vailed dislike ARE OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE
We get it! You don’t like UGA! You enjoy when they lose, fail, or have troubles. But this PERSONAL and constant downrunning of a great college program hidden behind “journalism” has gotten old!!!!!!!!
coach smith
July 25th, 2010
11:45 pm
Stu
you mean the SAME “love affair” everyone has with a no experience QB at Florida? At least Murray has a 10 returning starters with him FLORIDA IS REPLACING 14 STARTERS!!!!!!!!!
Tech Top
July 25th, 2010
11:51 pm
richt will lose 3-4 games again, including another blowout to florida—but, because he is so “nice” he will keep his job and get a big raise and some more benefits. Tech beats UGa in 2010—book it!
Red Dog 77
July 25th, 2010
11:52 pm
Jeff Shultz…….. Important reminder !……Time for yet another story about how coach Mark Richt is on the “hot seat “. With warmest Best Regards, RED
TUCK FECH
July 26th, 2010
12:20 am
Tech Top …Tech doesn’t fill its stadium, doesn’t beat GEORGIA, and doesn’t win its Bowl game…AS USUAL!
tiger7_88
July 26th, 2010
1:47 am
You have as severe a case of Cranal-Rectal Inversion Disease as I have ever seen, Schultz.
Seek treatment soonest… for your own good.
polskidawg
July 26th, 2010
2:23 am
Jeff – one stands on a podium (a small platform for the conductor of an orchestra, for a public speaker, etc.). A lectern (a stand with a slanted top, used to hold a book, speech, manuscript, etc., at the proper height for a reader or speaker.) is generally what one stands behind or up to.
Sadly, the two are often interchanged in modern American English, yet their etymology is distinct.
I wouldn’t be surprised if AU and UM have ahead of ARK – poor defense.
12-2
July 26th, 2010
5:00 am
4-4 two of the last 4 years vs The SEC.
Coach Richt’s lousy coaching staff all 9 years to-date LOST 10 of 20 games vs The SEC East.
Coach Richt needs to firmly establish direction. Just how is he to do that losing 15 seniors off this team this time next year and another 4-5 juniors.
What he needs to firmly establish, is discipline on and off the field by knowing what the plays are by practicing them not getting penalties every time they line up for the last 4 years averaging # 96 NCAA rank in penalties, and off the field by being # 3 in Fulmer Cup Standings for the last 4 years as well. These 14 interceptions a year the last 4 years average and 21 fumbles a year every year of the last 4 years also has to end.
I see nothing to indicate that ANY of these are ending, and after this season, what I see is yet another goal of 10-win season in 14-game seasons.