Ranking the current SEC Coaches

12) Bobby Johnson
(Vanderbilt University)

Despite his current ranking, any fellow SEC foe of today will tell you Vanderbilt, under the guidance of Bobby Johnson, isn't a team to overlook.

Since taking over the head coaching duties at Vanderbilt, he has yet to post a winning record in his six year tenure; however, he has transformed this once measly team into a team capable of pulling off the upset when the odds are heavily stacked against them.

Under Johnson, Vanderbilt has become a program opponents can't afford to overlook. Since 2005, the Commodores have upset at least one major program each season there after, including their first win over, heated rival, The University of Tennessee in over 20 years. Even in the aftermath of consecutive losing seasons, they're also renowned for playing major opponents down to the very last second of the ball game.



11) Slyvester Croome
(Mississippi State University)

Despite struggling severely in his first three seasons, Croome's MSU Bulldogs suddenly emerged from the cellar of the SEC West, to finishing third with two monumental victories over fellow SEC foes, The Polytechnic Institute of Alabama and his alma mater, The University of Alabama for the second consecutive year, ultimately leading them to the Liberty Bowl where they defeated The University of Central Florida, landing MSU their first winning season in nearly seven years, previously going 3-8 the year before.

Croome was also the first African-American to be hired by an SEC football team.



10) Rich Brooks
(The University of Kentucky)
There's no doubt Rich Brooks has had an erratic time line of coaching; however, one thing is for certain, with just enough time, his teams can compete with the big boys of college football.

After leading The University of Oregon to a nine win season and a Rose Bowl berth (also winning the prestigious Bear Bryant Award), he carried his success back to the NFL, before being hired by, the struggling University of Kentucky in 2003.

In just three years, he's posted back to back winning seasons, with notable victories over The University of Georgia, Clemson University, The University of Louisville, The University of Arkansas, Florida State University, and Louisiana State University, who went on to become the BCS National Champions of that season.

Under Brooks, Kentucky underwent a drastic transformation from being a pretender to a potential to contender.



9) Houston Nutt
(Ole Miss)
Arguably one of the most underrated coaches on the list and rightfully so. After serving as head coach at The University of Arkansas for ten seasons, in those ten seasons he posted eight winning seasons and only two losing seasons, compiling an overall record of 75-48, with Cotton and Independence Bowl wins.

Taking over the program in 1998, from 1990 until his hiring, Arkansas only had three winning seasons during that time period. In Nutt's first season, he led the Hogs to a nine win season, including a tie for first place in the SEC West.

In 2008, Houston Nutt was announced as head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, which has suffered through consistent losing seasons since 2003. With time, under Nutt, it's inevitable those numbers are soon to change.



8) Bobby Petrino
(The University of Arkansas)
Even though his credentials have yet to be determined in the SEC, his phenomenal success at The University of Louisville can't go unmentioned.

After serving a brief stint as Alabama-Tech's offensive coordinator, he was lured away by The University of Louisville's offer to become their next head coach. In his first year at Louisville, he led the Cardinals to a 9-4 record, with a GMAC Bowl Berth. His success didn't end there as he ultimately compiled a very impressive 41-9 record before leaving for the NFL.

In 2008, he left the Falcons to relieve Houston Nutt at The University of Arkansas, who left for Ole Miss. If his Louisville success is to follow him to Arkansas, a member of a BCS conference, there's no doubt he'll bring home more than just one national title, but many.



7) Tommy Tuberville
(The Alabama Polytechnic Institute)
Some may say his ranking is a wee bit too low, but his ranking is based upon his entire career as an SEC head coach and not just the post 2004 era.

At Ole Miss, Tuberville never managed to post a winning record in the SEC. After leaving Ole Miss for The Alabama Polytechnic Institute, his luck was soon to change. He did encounter rapid waters along the way, but after nearly being fired in the wrongest of ways, immediately after his near-death experience, he's posted 9+ wins per season since then. Some may say his "sudden success" is due in large part to his cross state nemesis suddenly being eliminated from competing equally with him due to sanctions and frequent coaching changes, but regardless of the circumstances, this type of success can't go unnoticed.

In 2004, Tuberville won his first SEC title as an SEC head coach, and also posted an undefeated record that year, with an illustrious victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. He's also the first API head coach to defeat Alabama six consecutive times.



6) Phillip Fulmer
(The University of Tennessee)
Phillip Fulmer took over the University of Tennessee's head coaching duties in 1992, after a controversial decision by the head men, to replace Johnny Majors. Serving as the head coach for over 15 years, Fulmer has only recorded one losing record in his 17 year tenure as Tennessee's head guy.

In 1997, he led the Volunteers to their first SEC Championship title since the conference first received permission from the NCAA to hold an annual conference championship game, where they defeated The Alabama Polytechnic Institute 30-29. The very next year, Fulmer led the Volunteers to their second consecutive SEC Championship game, where they defeated Mississippi State, then followed that victory up with a victory over Florida State University to win the first ever BCS National Championship.

As was aforementioned, Fulmer has only posted one losing season in his entire tenure at Tennessee, and is showing no signs of posting one anytime soon.



5) Mark Richt
(The University of Georgia)
Not only has Mark Richt proven himself to be one of the most classiest coaches in all of college football, he's also established a winning name for himself, and reestablished a winning name for his UGA Bulldogs.

Mark Richt took over in 2001, and has averaged 10 wins per season since then, compiling an overall record of 72-19 as of the end of the 2007 season. He's also led the Dawgs to two conference titles and four division titles since taking the job back in 2001.

Even though he's mostly known for his on the field success, the fact that he always displays an enormous amount of impeccable class and character both on and off the field is what defines him as a head coach.



4) Urban Meyer
(The University of Florida)
No matter where he goes, success always seems to follow. After serving as a head coach for seven seasons at three different schools, Meyer has yet to record a losing season. His most notable accomplishment as a head coach came in 2004 when he led the Utah Utes to a perfect record and a major victory over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. What's even more impressive than that is the fact that he led the Florida Gators to their first championship season since 1996, only in his second season there.

In his first three seasons at The University of Florida, he's compiled an overall record of 31-8 with an amazing conference record of 18-7, with many more victories to follow.



3) Les Miles
(Louisiana State University)
After taking over a program loaded with high expectations due to his predecessor, Les Miles has exceeded those expectations by posting three consecutive 11+ win seasons, finishing each of those seasons in the top 10 and going posting one-sided victories in three consecutive BCS bowl games. Under Miles' leadership, LSU has compiled an overall record of 35-6.

In only his third season, he led the Bayou Bengals to their second BCS National Championship this decade, and their third SEC title this decade as well.

Miles has reinvented the winning tradition at LSU in a way that no other SEC coach has equaled since he's taken over the job down in Baton Rogue.



2) Nick Saban
(The University of Alabama)
Whether you love him, or you hate him, there's no denying the fact that the man knows how to build a championship caliber football program from the ground up.

In the year 2000, he took over an LSU program that had endured 7 losing seasons out of the ten years prior to his hiring. His plan to rebuild the football program seemed ahead of schedule as he led LSU to their first SEC Championship victory since 1988. In his fourth season, he led the once mediocre program to their first national championship victory in nearly fifty years. He left LSU for the NFL in 2005, leaving the program in near perfect condition.

After serving two seasons with the Miami Dolphins organization, he returned to the college football world, accepting the head coaching position at Alabama in 2007, which was their first official season while not participating under the NCAA's chains of oppression since 2001. In his first season at UA, he compiled a 7-6 record, however he also led the Tide to their first come from behind victory in the 4th quarter since 2001. In addition to that, he annihilated SEC Eastern Division champion, and heated rival, Tennessee, and all six of his losses were only by seven points or less. He done so with a team full of upper-classmen that were ranked behind Ole Miss and Mississippi State in past recruiting rankings.

If Saban can equal what he did at LSU, the Alabama program can rest at ease knowing it's not long before their program returns to national prominence.



1) Steve Spurrier
(The University of South Carolina)
Spurrier, without a shadow of a doubt, is the SECs' only modern day version of Bear Bryant, Shug Jordan, Robert Neyland, and John Vaught.

Spurrier took over a Florida program in 1990 that had endured primarily more mediocre seasons than winning seasons in the 1980s. In his very first year, he led the Gators to a 9-2 season, finishing in first place in the SEC, but was ineligible to claim a conference victory or perform in a bowl game due to NCAA sanctions. However, his program rebounded in 1991, going 10-2, and 7-0 conference play, winning the SEC title that year. After 1991, the SEC received permission to establish a conference championship game from then on out, and for the next five years, Spurrier's Gators won the division title crown each of those years, winning four SEC titles as well, and compiling an overall record of 36-4 during that time span.

In only his sixth year as the Florida coach, he led the Gators to their first ever national championship victory since the football program was officially established in 1906.

Spurrier left Florida for the NFL in 2002, never winning less than 9 games in his 12 tenure as the Florida head coach. He compiled an amazing 122-27-1 record as the Florida head coach, winning six SEC titles, which to this day is incomparable to any other modern day SEC coach.

Spurrier returned to the college football world in 2005, taking over a South Carolina program that suffered through three consecutive losing seasons in the three years prior to his arrival. Despite having below average success thus far, the program is still a work in progress and judging by his track record, no one can afford to overlook the Gamecocks, or exclude them from any sort of competition whatsoever.

Top 10 Reasons API is Almost Back!

After reading a somewhat humorous blog entitled "Top 10 Reasons 'Bama IS NOT Back" containing a detailed list of delusional reasons Alabama is far from any sort of relevant contentions this year, created by -- you guessed it -- none other than a Barnie, I thought I'd retaliate with a blog of my very own. Enjoy...


Top 10 Reasons Alabama Polytechnic Institute is almost back!



1) The playing field: API’s dominance over Alabama came during a time of which Alabama underwent nearly half a dozen coaching changes in eight seasons, and lost nearly thirty scholarships over a five year period. That prompted high quality talent to choose API over Alabama, which led to their sudden success. Not to mention half of our roster was apart of recruiting classes that finished ranked behind Ole Miss and Mississippi State, no disrespect to them.

2) History of domination: Alabama has a strong history of dominating API when their program isn’t in ruins. API only won 3 Iron Bowls in the 90s, and 4 out of 12 up until the year 2002, which was the year Alabama’s downfall began, the pieces are slowly picking themselves up, and before long, Alabama will pick back up where they left off BEFORE their program fell apart.

3) Tommy Tuberville: Tuberville has been a head coach in the SEC for 14 years. He posted losing records in the SEC in his first six seasons. He won his first and only SEC title, with a senior led offense, in his TENTH year of coaching. He NEVER FOUND THE KEY TO SUCCESS until he cleverly managed to fill Alabama’s void courtesy of the NCAA and a myriad of coaching changes, which also saved him from being canned at The Alabama Polytechnic Institute. After his and API’s cross state superior was eliminated from competition, that’s when he and the API Cowgirls elevated to the top. When Alabama arises from the pits of mediocrity, they’ll slap Tuberville and the API Cowgirls back into their rightful rank in the state and in the SEC.

4) Nick Saban: LSU endured seven losing seasons in the 1990s. When he took over at LSU, they immediately became the dominator of the SEC West, and because of Nick Saban to this day, they’re still the division’s top team. In five years, Nick Saban won 2 SEC titles and 1 BCS title. He took over an Alabama program in a similar, but slightly worse condition, so expect him to do the same here.

5) History of coaching: When Bear Bryant took over in the 1950s, API had a four game winning streak going over Alabama. In his first season, he posted a mediocre 5-4 record and lost to API, which was the fifth straight win over Alabama. Bear Bryant retired from Alabama with a record not worth mentioning over API, just to save them the humiliation. In 1990, Gene Stallings took over during a time of which API had four consecutive wins over Alabama. Though he did post a mediocre 7-5 record in his first season, he also ended the streak, and retired from Alabama having owned API 5-2. Now, Nick Saban’s in a similar position, and just as Barnies ran their mouth about Stallings and Bryant, they’re doing the same with Saban. With time, he’ll ultimately put Tubby back in his place, and silence the Barnies who AUbsess daily over Alabama and Nick Saban.

6) Coordinators: When Tubby realizes Tony "The Innovator of controversy" Franklin is just as worthless as Al Borges it’ll be seven. And when Paul Rhoads realizes there are better opportunities elsewhere in college towns that don’t center around woods and trailer parks, and provide more entertainment than just rodeos for the students, he’ll abandon API and that will make eight.

7) Recruiting: Tuberville’s marvelous recruiting during the time of which Alabama was unable to recruit at full force has suddenly turned in Alabama’s favor, and now Tuberville is stealing worthless recruits away from East Popcorn State, Montgomery Institute for the blind, and Opelika Middle School. If he couldn’t win with this kind of talent at Ole Miss, and at API before our downfall occurred, he won’t win with this type of talent today.

8) Close calls: Throughout API’s remarkable six* game win streak over the Tide during their time of sorrow, they’re only defeating Alabama by an average of 7 points or less. With that being said, they’ve one upped Alabama in recruiting all throughout their period of decline, yet they’re only defeating them by an average of 7 points or less?!?! Now that Alabama is not just one upping them, but flat out owning them, API will have to find a new method of winning that doesn’t consist of heavily relying on one or two crucial in game mishaps on Alabama’s behalf to win the game by a hair.

9) Karma: Karma is a bitch. Everyone with more than half a brain realizes that to be true. Holding up fingers, taunting the losers of the game is sheerly classless. Stomping your opposition’s logo after a victory is sheerly classless. Not punishing your players for being bullies and knocking down members of Alabama’s yell crew is sheerly classless. Running amok 24/7, 365 days a year, insisting on rubbing it in Alabama fan’s faces that you’ve consecutively won during the worst period in Alabama’s modern history, while every other fan base treats the win with class and moves on, is classless. Karma will catch up, and when it does, it’s going to devastate the Barnies in an unbearable fashion.

10) Equilibrium: It is comical for Barnies to talk about the Louisiana-Monroe game, but little do they realize they’re L-M’s equal at the current moment. L-M defeated Alabama 21-14 where as API defeated Alabama 17-10. While the jaws are moving, L-M aka API’s equal is going to walk into Opelika and snap those jaws shut after API realizes their equal is also their superior as well.

Don’t worry though. This may not be the year, but next year definitely is! War Damn Eagle Hey!

Remembering John Mark Stallings

"Of all things Alabama fans still love about Stallings, the 1992 National Championship may finish second behind his love for his son, John Mark Stallings."

This accurate quote was taken from an article Kevin Scarbinsky dedicated to the life of Mr. John Mark Stallings, who unfortunately left the world at the young age of 46, this past Saturday.

To me, finding out about the untimely passing of Mr. John Mark Stallings was almost the same as hearing a close family member had passed on to the next life. He was an avid Alabama fan, with an untainted heart and a strong passion and love for everyone in his surroundings.

R.I.P. John Mark. You will deeply be missed! Roll Tide!