Ranking SEC and ACC football coaches

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The Post and Courier in Charleston, SC has ranked all head football coaches in both
the SEC and ACC. The criteria was: Mix of accomplishments and projection and this
question: Which coach do you want right now if you're a fan of Hypothetical University?
Some rankings are not bad but others are questionable in my opinion. Take a look.

1. Nick Saban, Alabama
2. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
3. Dan Mullen, Florida
4. Mark Richt, Miami
5. Kirby Smart, Georgia
6. Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech
7. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
8. Dave Clawson, Wake Forest
9. Gus Malzahn, Auburn
10. David Cutcliffe, Duke
11. Bobby Petrino, Louisville
12. Willie Taggart, Florida State
13. Will Muschamp, South Carolina
14. Dave Doren, North Carolina State
15. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
16. Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh
17. Chad Morris, Arkansas
18. Joe Moorhead, Mississippi State
19. Bronco Mendenhall, Virginia
20. Dino Babers, Syracuse
21. Larry Fedora, North Carolina
22. Mark Stoops, Kentucky
23. Matt Luke, Ole Miss
24. Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee
25. Steve Addazio, Boston College
26. Barry Odom, Missouri
27. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt
28. Ed Orgeron, LSU

*Big Ed not getting any love whatsoever.
*Willie Taggart at FSU way overrated.
*Surprised to see Dan Mullen at #3.
*Joe Moorhead will surprise at Mississippi State.
*VT's Justin Fuente belongs in the top five.

Welcome your comments...……………….
 
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The coach i want right NOW is 1) Dabo and 2) Kirby.

We know Saban is #1 but how many more years does he have in him? Once Saban leaves Bama, Dabo and Kirby should be 2 of the finalists for the job. Dabo took over an average Clemson squad 10 years ago and made them an elite program. Kirby went to UGA and has had an incredible 2 seasons. Did he do it with Richts guys or his guys will be the question??

Curious to see if Mullen can revive Florida. I think he needs "his kind" of QB had he had crazy success with Tebow and Dak.

I actually like Taggart. Great recruiter and will continue to bring studs to FSU. Can he X and O? not sure yet

I actually like Dino Babers a lot. Actually wanted him to be the HC of a certain school that you hate 2 years ago
 

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When I first looked at this list, I though that several men were ranked way too high. But the more I read, the worse things got. Here are my pickws, and I think many of them are obvious.

1. Nick Saban, This will end this season.
2. Dabo Sweeney. Will pass Saban this season.
3. Kirby Smart. He may be the best of them all. Got Georgia to the Promised land. Richt could not do that.
4. Dan Mullen. He has done the most with the least talent.
5. Jimbo Fisher. He has won a title. Richt has not.
6. David Cutcliffe. While he has a sub .500 record, he has had to do it with players who actually have a brain. Not many players on the rest of these teams do. None of the above schools are known for their intelligent athletes.
7. Mark Richt. A great recruiter, but he still has not won anything.
8-27. Take your pick. No one else has really distinguished himself.
28. Ed Orgeron. He is a nice guy, but a terrible HC.
 

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I'm glad to see David Cutcliffe getting some recognition. The man is a dang good offensive mind
and has done a nice job at Duke. Most people don't know he turned down the Tennessee job to
stay at Duke. He got shafted in Oxford while coaching Ole Miss.

Orgeron is a really good position coach but I agree...some assistants are not meant to be head
coaches. Just a different world being head man.
 

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Pooh, you are fooling yourself if you think Saban is done.

He will win another NC and retire to Lake Burton.
 

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Pooh, you are fooling yourself if you think Saban is done.

He will win another NC and retire to Lake Burton.
He will NOT win another NC this season, and that will drop him behind Dabo. If he does manage to win another one, then he will jump Dabo, but if you think he will win another NC this season, you are overestimating the talent level he has. Now understand where I am coming from. I fully expect Alabama to go undefeated in the regular season because they play a "meow" schedule. Very soft. However that ends when they go to the Playoffs and have to play teams with a lot more talent than they have. They may not even make it that far, if Georgia can play to it's potential against them in the CC game. Not counting the CC game, the SEC went 4-5 in their bowl games. Not exactly overwhelming like the Big 10's record of 7-1 (where did that come from?) Right now, the Big 10 is the toughest conference around.
 

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He will NOT win another NC this season, and that will drop him behind Dabo. If he does manage to win another one, then he will jump Dabo, but if you think he will win another NC this season, you are overestimating the talent level he has. Now understand where I am coming from. I fully expect Alabama to go undefeated in the regular season because they play a "meow" schedule. Very soft. However that ends when they go to the Playoffs and have to play teams with a lot more talent than they have. They may not even make it that far, if Georgia can play to it's potential against them in the CC game. Not counting the CC game, the SEC went 4-5 in their bowl games. Not exactly overwhelming like the Big 10's record of 7-1 (where did that come from?) Right now, the Big 10 is the toughest conference around.

Who has “a lot more” talent than Alabama? They have the highest 4 year recruiting average in the country and will be well represented in draft day again.
 

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I think Dabo is a GREAT recruiter but he has to stop losing that one awful game each year (Pitt 2016, Syr 2017) before I put him #2

I'm not a Dan Mullen fan at all....I'd take Taggart over Mullen...hell I'd take Narduzzi over Mullen

I'd have Kirby #2 and Moorehead in top 10. What Moorehead did with a marginally skilled QB at state penn was tremendous...if Fitzgerald stays healthy he will put up some gaudy numbers.

Eddie O is 28th but Chad Morris should be 27th.
 

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Who has “a lot more” talent than Alabama? They have the highest 4 year recruiting average in the country and will be well represented in draft day again.
IMO, the Clemson Defense has much more talent than the Alabama defense has this season. Alabama is going to give up points. Clemson, not so much. If the Alabama QB's cannot live up to their hype, Clemson will defeat them, and rather easily. Again, it is a long season and a lot can happen between now and then.
 

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On paper the Clemson defense looks Strong...that I agree. Also on paper the Alabama defense looks strong.
During Dabo's time as a player and assistant coach at Bama he learned one thing...Defense wins championships.

Scoring defense is the most important stat most people don't recognize for teams they look at. When you
consider Alabama's defense under Saban...look where they rank in scoring defense the past ten years. I have
it in front of me but would rather someone look it up.
 

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some SEC writer's all-conference preseason teams ...

Connor O’Gara, senior national columnist

First-team offense
QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
RB: Benny Snell, Kentucky
RB: D’Andre Swift, Georgia
WR: A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
WR: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
TE: Albert Okwuegbunam, Mizzou
C: Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
OL: Paul Adams, Mizzou
OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia
OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama
OL: Trey Smith, Tennessee
AP: Aeris Williams, Mississippi State

First-team defense
DL: Cece Jefferson, Florida
DL: Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
DL: Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
DL: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
LB: Mack Wilson, Alabama
LB: Devin White, LSU
LB: Deshaun Davis, Auburn
CB: Deandre Baker, Georgia
CB: Greedy Williams, LSU
S: Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State
S: J.R. Reed, Georgia

First-team special teams
K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P: Tommy Townsend, Florida
Returner: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina



Adam Spencer, SEC reporter


First-team offense
QB: Drew Lock, Mizzou
RB: D’Andre Swift, Georgia
RB: Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
WR: A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
WR: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
TE: Albert Okwuegbunam, Mizzou
C: Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
OL: Greg Little, Ole Miss
OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama
OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia
OL: Martez Ivey, Florida
AP: Mecole Hardman, Georgia

First-team defense
DL: Terry Beckner Jr., Mizzou
DL: Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
DL: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DL: Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
LB: D’Andre Walker, Georgia
LB: Devin White, LSU
LB: Mack Wilson, Alabama
CB: Greedy Williams, LSU
CB: Deandre Baker, Georgia
S: J.R. Reed, Georgia
S: Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State

First-team special teams
K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P: Corey Fatony, Mizzou
Returner: Mecole Hardman, Georgia



Neil Blackmon, Florida beat reporter


First-team offense
QB: Drew Lock, Missouri
RB: Damien Harris, Alabama
RB: Aeris Williams, Mississippi State
WR: Emanuel Hall, Missouri
WR: AJ Brown, Ole Miss
TE: CJ Conrad, Kentucky
C: Lamont Gaillard, Georgia
OL: Trey Smith, Tennessee
OL: Darryl Williams, Mississippi State
OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama
OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia
AP: Jonathan Giles, LSU

First-team defense
DL: Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
DL: Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri
DL: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DL: Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
LB: Cece Jefferson, Florida
LB: Devin White, LSU
LB: Charles Wright, Vanderbilt
CB: Deandre Baker, Georgia
CB: Marco Wilson, Florida
S: Mike Edwards, Kentucky
S: J.R. Reed, Georgia

First-team special teams
K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P: Joseph Charlton, South Carolina
Returner: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

Chris Marler, co-host The SDS Podcast

First-team offense
QB: Drew Lock, Mizzou
RB: Damien Harris, Bama
RB: D’Andre Swift, Georgia
WR: AJ Brown, Ole Miss
WR: Emanuel Hall, Mizzou
TE: Albert Okwuegbunam, Mizzou
C: Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
OL: Greg Little, Ole Miss
OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia
OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama
OL: Trey Smith, Tennessee
AP: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

First-team defense
DL: Landis Durham, Texas A&M
DL: Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
DL: Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
DL: Marlon Davidson, Auburn
LB: Mack Wilson, Alabama
LB: Devin White, LSU
LB: D’Andre Walker, Georgia
DB: Deandre Baker, Georgia
DB: Greedy Williams, LSU
DB: Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State
DB: Saivion Smith, Alabama

First-team special teams
K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P: Corey Fatony, Mizzou
Returner: Richaud Floyd, Mizzou



Joe Cox, SEC columnist


First-team offense
QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
RB: Benny Snell, Kentucky
RB: Damien Harris, Alabama
WR: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
WR: AJ Brown, Ole Miss
TE: C.J. Conrad, Kentucky
C: Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
OL: Martez Ivey, Florida
OL: Trey Smith, Tennessee
OL: Greg Little, Ole Miss
OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama
AP: Mecole Hardman, Georgia

First-team defense
DL: Jeffery Simmons, Miss State
DL: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DL: Marlon Davidson, Auburn
DL: Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri
LB: Devin White, LSU
LB: D’Andre Walker, Georgia
LB: Charles Wright, Vanderbilt
DB: Greedy Williams, LSU
DB: Mike Edwards, Kentucky
DB: Deandre Baker, Georgia
DB: Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State

First-team special teams
K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P: Corey Fatony, Missouri
Returner: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

Michael Bratton, news editor

First-team offense
QB: Jake Fromm, Georgia
RB: Benny Snell, Kentucky
RB: Aeris Williams, Miss State
TE: Dawson Knox, Ole Miss
WR: AJ Brown, Ole Miss
WR: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
C: Ross Piershbacher, Alabama
OL: Trey Smith, Tennessee
OL: Greg Little, Ole Miss
OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia
OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama
AP: Mecole Hardman, Georgia

First-team defense
DL: Jeffery Simmons, Miss State
DL: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DL: Derrick Brown, Auburn
DL: Benito Jones, Ole Miss
LB: Devin White, LSU
LB: Tyrel Dodson, Texas A&M
LB: Mack Wilson, Alabama
LB: Josh Allen, Kentucky
CB: Deandre Baker, Georgia
CB: Marco Wilson, Florida
S: Mike Edwards, Kentucky
S: Santos Ramirez, Arkansas

First-team special teams
K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P: Corey Fatoney, Missouri
Returner: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina

Chris Wright, executive editor

First-team offense
QB: Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
RB: Damien Harris, Alabama
RB: Benny Snell, Kentucky
WR: AJ Brown, Ole Miss
WR: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
TE: Albert Okwuegbunam, Mizzou
C: Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
OL: Greg Little, Ole Miss
OL: Jonah Williams, Alabama
OL: Andrew Thomas, Georgia
OL: Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
AP: Kadarius Toney, Florida

First-team defense
DL: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
DL: Montez Sweat, Miss State
DL: Jeffery Simmons, Miss State
DL: Derrick Brown, Auburn
LB: Devin White, LSU
LB: Mack Wilson, Alabama
LB: Josh Allen, Kentucky
CB: Greedy Williams, LSU
CB: Deandre Baker, Georgia
S: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
S: Deionte Thompson, Alabama

First-team special teams
K: Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia
P: Corey Fatony, Missouri
Returner: Mecole Hardman, Georgia
 

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If Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa is the best in the Conference, the SEC is in MAJOR trouble. IMO there are at least 10 QB's better than him in the nation.
 

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If Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa is the best in the Conference, the SEC is in MAJOR trouble. IMO there are at least 10 QB's better than him in the nation.

You may be right suggesting that Tagovailoa might not be a top ten quarterback in the Nation but could you explain why the Southeastern Conference will be"in MAJOR trouble" because of this.
 

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Because if he is the best, the SEC has a bunch of average to poor QB's. They would take a huge perception hit, and as we all know, perception is what gets teams into the playoffs. Don't kid yourself. This is STILL a popularity contest, no matter how the NCAA wants to spin it.
 

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Because if he is the best, the SEC has a bunch of average to poor QB's. They would take a huge perception hit, and as we all know, perception is what gets teams into the playoffs. Don't kid yourself. This is STILL a popularity contest, no matter how the NCAA wants to spin it.

So, you are suggesting that the teams that get into the College football play-offs are there by winning "popularity contests"; Gosh, I always thought that winning and NOT losing football games had a little to do with it. I guess this reinforces my suggestion that an (8) team play-off would keep the infamous (spin-oriented) NCAA out of the process.

Back to "Popularity Contests": Long live the Miss America Pageant and those "Itsy, Bity, Teenie Weenie, Polka Dot Bikini Swimming suits that the contestants wear, now that is what i call a real Popularity Contest.
 

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Here are my changes:

Mullen is not #3
Fuente too high (hasn't done shit yet)
Jimbo should be higher with 2 title games and one win
Petrino should be higher. (He's won at 3 different schools)
Paul Johnsno should be higher
Mendenhall had some nice seasons at BYU and should be 4-5 spots higher
 

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Alabama may not have the same "talent" as years past but the reason Saban is the best coach is because he gets the most out of his talent and by January the team is ready to go. Dabo is great too but even with a National Championship this year he would still be behind Saban in my opinion. Saban gets the most out of his talent and trusts his players. The game winning td in the national championship game was a freshman to a freshman and he had another freshman getting carries in the second half. He makes sure his players are ready to go when the time comes, thats why he is the best coach.
 

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You may be right suggesting that Tagovailoa might not be a top ten quarterback in the Nation but could you explain why the Southeastern Conference will be"in MAJOR trouble" because of this.
funny part is that in this "weak" division resides two QB that unanimously ranked inside the top 10 QB....Stidham and Lock...PLUS you have Tua...so potentially 3 of the top 10 QB in the nation in this, ahemm, weak division. And who knows what Fitzgerald will do under Moorehead but could be a stats machine in Starkville.

pooh another no-nothing SEC hater who's contribution to the forum this far has been 1) recruiting doesn't matter, it's throwing darts....2) no QB that has ever transferred was successful at their next D1 school....3) SEC sucks, especially Alabama. Only fan(tasy)boy from Orlando knows less about college football around here

at least he gave himself a very accurate name...pooh
 

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funny part is that in this "weak" division resides two QB that unanimously ranked inside the top 10 QB....Stidham and Lock...PLUS you have Tua...so potentially 3 of the top 10 QB in the nation in this, ahemm, weak division. And who knows what Fitzgerald will do under Moorehead but could be a stats machine in Starkville.

pooh another no-nothing SEC hater who's contribution to the forum this far has been 1) recruiting doesn't matter, it's throwing darts....2) no QB that has ever transferred was successful at their next D1 school....3) SEC sucks, especially Alabama. Only fan(tasy)boy from Orlando knows less about college football around here

at least he gave himself a very accurate name...pooh

It’s good to have ole Junky back!
 

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Petrino should be a few spots higher.
 

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