Roy Exum: Saban, Bo & Mallet

Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Roy Exum

Roy Exum

When the latest issue of The Sporting News hit my mailbox on Monday, it wasn't much of a surprise to that see that a blue-chip committee of former Southeastern Conference football players had picked Nick Saban, the genius who guided Alabama to last season's national championship, as the top coach in the nation's toughest conference.

But what did raise my eyebrows was that South Carolina's Steve Spurrier, whose Gamecocks will open against Southern Miss this Thursday night, was picked as runner-up instead of the highly-successful Urban Meyer of Florida as the second choice in the category, "If you had one game to win, which SEC coach would you want on your side?"

Oh, don't be deceived; Saban's 22 votes was twice as many as Spurrier got (Meyer had 7), but it did whet my appetite for the start of the season this weekend. "(Spurrier) put it on us year after year," said former Georgia standout Andre Hastings, while LSU grad Kevin Faulk added, "You know Spurrier is going to get the ball in the playmaker's hands."

There were 46 former players who were invited to take part in the magazine's survey and, curiously, they were asked, "If you could have one running back, would you take Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson or Mark Ingram?" All three won the Heisman Trophy - Herschel at Georgia (1982), Bo at Auburn (1985) and Ingram last year at Alabama.

Bo was the run-away pick, getting 33 votes to Herschel's 11 and Ingram's 2. "Bo could have been the best ever," opined former Arkansas All-American Lance Alworth, while Charles Alexander, one of the best ever at LSU, said pointedly, "Bo was Jim Brown with a lot of speed." Auburn's Kevin Greene agreed, "Never seen anything like him since."

The glittering panel was asked which upcoming SEC team "should win more games than it has recently" and the balloting was widespread, LSU coming in first with 10 points, and Georgia second with 7. Tennessee edged out South Carolina for third and Auburn was fifth. "What is going on at LSU?" former Tennessee player Will Overstreet asked, "They have all the talent in the world, but no real big wins the last few years."

Musa Smith, who played at Georgia, said, "Spurrier will rise again," but Fred McCrary, who played at Mississippi State, wondered, "Georgia always has an abundance of talent but doesn't always get it done." Heath Evans, an Auburn grad, predicted, "If LSU has another average season, you'll see the firing of (Les) Miles and the hiring of Tommy Tuberville."

Asked who is the best quarterback, Arkansas' Ryan Mallett was a heavy favorite, his 23 votes out-numbering Alabama's Greg McElroy (15) and Florida's John Brantley (8). Bradie James, who played at LSU, explained why. "Malett is more of a pure passer, but it's tough to pick against the national champ, Greg McElroy, because he will have a legitimate shot at winning another one."

Eric Moulds of Miss. State fame likes Mallett, saying that "Big Tex," as the 6-foot-7, 238-pounder is called, "reminds me of a more athletic Drew Bledsoe ... he can throw it through a rainstorm and not get the ball wet," and Dernard Walker, who played at LSU, added, "Mallett reminds me of a young Tom Brady. I mean young."

But the best question was this one: "If you were Lane Kiffin, would you have left Tennessee for USC after just one season?" There were 29 "no" answers and 17 "yes's." Said Kevin Greene of Auburn: "He sold out. Where's the commitment anymore? Coaches are always preaching desire, dedication, commitment, then he bails on everyone. Can't respect that."

Brad Culpepper, who played at Florida, was even more succinct. "That $4 million will need to carry him when he's a high school coach in two years," and Eric Hill, whose fame at LSU is still strong, said, "The question should be asked - did you leave because the SEC was too challenging and competitive?" Will Overstreet, the UT player, topped all the comments when he added, "Who would have ever guessed Al Davis was right?"

The last question in the Sporting News survey was "Whose division dominance will end first - Florida's (East) or Alabama's (West)?" and Florida slightly edged the Tide, 24-21 with one panelist checking "neither." Denard Walker of LSU reasoned, "You cannot lose (Tim) Tebow, (Brandon) Spikes, (Aaron) and a great line and expect another title."

Hunter Hillenmeyer, a former Vanderbilt player, said he believed "the Nicktator is not as good as advertised" and, in another surprise, Dan Hampton of Arkansas lore agreed, saying, "Saban is pretty much a one-hit wonder. He wins, he basks, he's done." Anthony McFarland of LSU disagreed. "Alabama's dominance is based on defense, which is always easier to sustain that offense."

At any rate, the survey was a perfect prelude to this weekend's first games and here's the official SEC schedule for the first week, including last season's records:

THURSDAY, SEPT. 2

Southern Miss (7-6) at South Carolina, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

SATURDAY SEPT. 4

Miami of Ohio (1-11) at Florida, 12 Noon (ESPN)

Louisiana-LaFayette (6-6) at Georgia (8-5), 12:21 p.m. (SEC Network)

Kentucky (7-6) at Louisville (4-8), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Jacksonville State (8-3) at Ole Miss (9-4), 3:30 p.m. (CCS/ESPN3)

San Jose State (2-10) at Alabama (14-0), 7:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Tennessee Tech (6-5) at Arkansas (8-5), 7:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Tennessee Martin (5-6) at Tennessee (7-6), 7:00 p.m. (ESPN3)

Memphis (2-10) at Miss. State, 7:00 p.m. (ESPNU)

Arkansas State (4-8) at Auburn (8-5) 7:00 p.m. (ESPN3)