IMHO, none of this decade long orange downturn would have happened if David Cutcliffe had been named coach when Fulmer was fired.

If memory serves, when he left for the Ole Miss position UT's performance suffered. I would imagine Peyton Manning would agree as he thinks so highly of David Cutcliffe, and he and not Fulmer was the main reason Manning ended up in Knoxville and not Oxford. Well, Culcliffe AND Billy Brewer.

BG

Sounds crazy, but he is likely butt hurt at Auburn for the way they treated him.  He was on the hot seat in spite of coming close to winning it all in his first season. 

But interestingly, his record from 2014-2016 is a smidge worse than Butch's...hee hee.

Butch was 25-14, Malzhan 24-15. 

This season was certainly a discriminator though.   

Similar record, but facing a western division schedule which is a big difference.

BG

 

This search has been so interesting I'm temporarily coming out of my self imposed retirement here. Any who...

You may be right on Malzahn, but his agent is Sexton...


BG

I didn't

He of course means he referred his post to you and I shouldn't have responded. While that's certainly not the way internet boards operate as each post can be discussed and opinions  submitted, this is a UT board that probably has no room for my Crimson-laced opinions.

It's difficult at times to not post what I think, but that's not how this board is setup. Therefore, I will refrain from any posts in the future and take a read-only option with the board. I've thought in the past this is probably the action I should take and this is a good opportunity to do so. Know there is no hard feelings at all on my part toward any individual here.

BG

I don't know Phil...have you checked bama's latest offseason championship count?

Yep, silly rumors abound about a recent 26th SEC football championship. That's as silly as when the bammers claimed their football program would be back. What fools as we all knew the Bryant days of dynasty were done. Idiots!

Thank you kind sir! I have been very busy the last couple of years working for a large software concern that has led me to not spend as much time tailgating as I did.   I truly appreciated breaking bread on the quad at Bama and sharing a pint or two of some cherry jubilees from the mountains of east tn!      

I have been working on some new recipes for my next forays into serious tailgating with my crowning achievement being a Cuban/BBQ combination that will be the next EmerilVOL tailgating triumph!

I have wondered where you where.  Yes, I remember those cherries in the east Tennessee finest 'shine! I even even remember who brought them. He was a UT fan who posted on Grid's "Opponents" board with us at Gridscape. He grew up in Tennessee and was a doc. He was a former Texas Tech fullback who still loved the Vols.

Also, the great Celtic Vol brought some 'shine! I always spent most of the time at those tailgates with Celtic, Pirate or CookVol...you were too busy cooking!

We had blast at all of your tailgates and the primary reason I post here. So much fun!

BG

"Money Can't Buy Me Love."
 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uxha1IUsSPI
Paul and John

BG

Emeril lives!

Yes, I know him and have proudly helped him pack those tailgating items up in Knoxville. He is is one of the all-time great tailgaters and food connoisseurs ever to grace the great tailgating scene on the Quad at the University of Alabama.

When it comes to college football history knowledge he knows in his Orange heart who rolls. Seriously, even my wife and family admire his hospitality and cooking expertise so much!

BG

I think ESPN's struggles probably have more to do with consumers cutting the cord on costly cable/satellite subscriptions than anything, but I do agree that their political-tinged approach is doing them no favors. I despite having my sports laced with politics. I almost refuse to watch NBC's Sunday Night Football because Bob Costas is always on a leftist political rant. My two favorite NBA coaches -- Popovich and Kerr -- can't seem to shut up about Trump. I despise Trump myself (and I say that as someone who has decidedly conservative viewpoints) but if I want to watch CNN, I'll watch CNN. If I turn on basketball, I want to watch basketball.

It drives me nuts. I long for the days when sports was sports, politics was politics, and there was no in between.

Likewise with conservative leanings coupled with a strong distaste for our current POTUS. I'm a follower of Jeffersonian ideas on government and will at least consider the Libertarian Party in the future.

It appears the left has no boundary when it comes to media and politics. Any sporting event appears to be fair game for running an agenda down our throats.

BG

[best recruiting cheats]

Post away.  My response will be simple and direct.   I didn't factor in that bammer would be no. 1 in recruiting for 6 years running.  No other team in history has even come close.   So yeah, I was wrong about that.  But let Saban recruit like any other SEC power and my prediction would have been spot on.

Which also easily explains why I don't GAS.  I don't credit bammer with anything but being the best recruiting cheats.

Anyone not in full blown denial can easily see that's what's going on.  Roughly half the 2-3 dozen folks that are bammer fans I have discussed this with face to face actually say that to me.    And they don't care either, they are happy to admit it, all that matters to them is winning.

But I actually am getting more like TRO in general.  This shizzle just doesn't seem to matter like it used to, and I think that's a good thing.  I sure don't want to be like those idiot Raider fans that beat a guy to death, or the bammer fan that shot her sister, or the dipshizzle that poisoned the trees (one Raider example and two bammer examples!)  See what I mean?  Bat. shizzle. Crazy  )

You've got to admit it's funny. The more you seem to laugh, the better it seems to be for the Tide.

Oh yeah, blah.

BG

How many edits do you need to get it right BG???

.

Six?!? I have large fingers!

Hey, I'm being good. Why, I even deleted the part about his predictions for Bama back in 2010. I've been holding that trump card in my hip pocket for years! Those predictions about future national championships were so 'good' I have NEVER forgot them!

Regarding this post: only 1 edit!

BG

Yes, he is quite an innovator at finding creative ways to buy the best talent.

But these days I tend to agree with TRO.  Who gives a fizzle anyway?  It's just a sport.

My team may have lost to yours, but your fanbase is still the most bat shizzle crazy group of loosers that has ever existed in the entire history of this planet.  

I see. Have a losing streak and some bad seasons and now it doesn't matter. OK.

I see when it comes to Bama you're laughing again, huh. You thus get my vote as the one most likely to whistle past the graveyard!


BG

Brian Daboll.

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2017/02/what_you_need_to_know_about_br.html#incart_2box

In all seriousness, Saban is willing to learn something new. He often points out he likes young coaches who bring fresh ideas to the staff. That being said, he's also not afraid to line up in a very conservative formation and attempt to run the ball down the defense's throat.

BG

I'm still LMAO off at Sark bolting.  Lane Kiffin I am sure is difficult to work with, but Saban  is probably worse, and I wonder if that factored into Sarks' decions.

This guy doesn't seem very impressive.  Good luck with that bammer! 

I'll mention to Nick your concerns. When it comes to you, he is always willing to learn.

BG

So in an attempt to elevate the conversation, here's a Finnish Bluegrass band peforming "Thunderstruck".  You're welcome.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/e4Ao-iNPPUc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/v/e4Ao-iNPPUc</a>

Any band that can rock while performing with such instruments as spoons and accordion have my vote as one talented group of musicians!

BG

Yeah, that Kiffin hype video was awful! He really seemed excited to be there! 

BG

Stars are an indicator of perceived talent and skill. Winning consistently is a product of coaching. Saban at Alabama succeeds due to coaching up a large crop of highly skilled players. It is the coaching they receive that results in success. Even then, a team loaded with stars can lose. Clemson won this year over Bama because they exploited there weakness on defense: lack of pass rush and small CBs. When Bama's only RB went down, they forced the QB to beat them and he could not. Until the SEC teams line up against Bama and think they can win, they will keep losing. As soon as LSU develops an offense, look for them to win the SEC West.

Bama doesnt have short corners---all are at least 6 feet and Humphrey is 6'1. You mentioned another weakness was the Bama defense doesn't have a pass rush---Alabama finished third in the nation in sacks. There was a lack of a pass rush in the fourth quarter as Clemson wore down that rush by forcing so many three and outs so perhaps that's what you're referring to.


BG

Borrowing from mathematics, recruiting is essential but not sufficient.  It also takes coaching. Plenty of examples of recruiting not panning out.

Having said that, when the gap is as large as it is at bammer, coaching is less important.  I think even Dooley could go 10-2 with Saban's players, and with a little luck 11-1 and make the playoffs.

Maybe Dooley could do that for one lone season but not year end and year out.

BG

 

I don't see domination in the SEC except bama.  And I attribute that to Saban, not stars.  Like the Bear said, He'll take his'n and beat your'n, or your'n and beat his'n.  

Now I fully realize you gotta have the horses, but talent evaluation and coaching are huge, and there are many teams that prove that year in and year out.  Unfortunately, CBJ has yet to impress in those two categories.  Jury is still out in my opinion, but not yet.  

Actually it was Clemson's coach Frank Howard who said that about Bryant.

BG

Edited to say we were both wrong. I double checked and it was a quote from Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips about Bryant.

BG

Great song. Keith Emerson was another one of many musical greats that passed away last year. Tough year for music.

Yes, and ironically ELP lead-singer Greg Lake passed away in December.

BG

Nick Saban the recruiter is the best that college football has ever seen. He has a tremendous network behind him that knows how to push the envelope without stepping far enough over the line to draw the heavy hand of the NCAA, and they're very good in their roles. College football may never see another recruiting juggernaut like the one Saban has developed at Alabama. The only thing close to it in any college sport is Geno Auriemma at UConn, and he doesn't have much in the way of competition.

Nick Saban the coach is a fantastic coach, but I don't agree with those who say he's the best in NCAAF history. Alabama has had a great run, but with the talent that program has stockpiled, Saban is simply meeting expectations.

I have always admired the discipline and execution that Saban's teams have played with, and I also admire him for having the fortitude to admit his own shortcomings and hire coaches who can help him overcome them. Our coach in Knoxville could learn from that character trait. I will say, though, that this year's Alabama team seemed different. Dominant in the SEC, obviously, but Saban's discipline grip seemed to be slipping a bit. This year's team had a punk-ish attitude that teams past haven't had.

Also, you mention the great talent he's accumulated and that he's therefore just meeting expectations. You didn't mention how such a winning coach has to battle complacency every single day, and how difficult that task is. Also, Bama is everyone's top rival, week-in and week-out.

You guys can try to minimize his accomplishments, but the man has done a great job, period.


BG


And, BTW. I came back over here to edit this post---as some may note editing posts is my favorite pastime---so instead of "a great job" by Nick Saban, make it the "greatest job a coach has done this side of Paul Bear Bryant.   


Which is the greatest? Like a ref does before one of both coaches' numerous national championship games, let's flip a coin.


Boy, I hope Bandit reads this! 


BG

Nick Saban the recruiter is the best that college football has ever seen. He has a tremendous network behind him that knows how to push the envelope without stepping far enough over the line to draw the heavy hand of the NCAA, and they're very good in their roles. College football may never see another recruiting juggernaut like the one Saban has developed at Alabama. The only thing close to it in any college sport is Geno Auriemma at UConn, and he doesn't have much in the way of competition.

Nick Saban the coach is a fantastic coach, but I don't agree with those who say he's the best in NCAAF history. Alabama has had a great run, but with the talent that program has stockpiled, Saban is simply meeting expectations.

I have always admired the discipline and execution that Saban's teams have played with, and I also admire him for having the fortitude to admit his own shortcomings and hire coaches who can help him overcome them. Our coach in Knoxville could learn from that character trait. I will say, though, that this year's Alabama team seemed different. Dominant in the SEC, obviously, but Saban's discipline grip seemed to be slipping a bit. This year's team had a punk-ish attitude that teams past haven't had.

Of course I disagree with that "punk-ish" comment in general, but unfortunately I concede a couple of incidents I didn't like either. I could point out things in the past about virtually all teams.

BG

[still]

It's not "comparable".  Bama has been no. 1 in recruiting 6 years in a row.  None of those other teams you mention has even been in the top 5 more than twice in the last 4 years.  Furthermore, you can literally take the no. 2 and 3 teams in recruiting in the SEC in a given year, combine their top 25 players, re-calculate their recruiting score and they still are not better than Bama.

What exactly is "comparable" about that? 

Give any coach in the league the talent of the next two most talented teams combined, and see how well he does. 

I corrected my "comparable" comment. I still think LSU is comparable, not as good ,but comparable. Their drafts picks verify that. See their numbers  on NFL rosters.

BG

Granted, I admittedly overstated "comparable." There is an exception though and that's LSU. While not producing no.1 classes as Alabama has achieved, in recent seasons they were nearly all highly ranked classes, and produced both high NFL draft picks and numerous players selected. To a lesser degree Georgia has mostly recruited very well, and will now especially do so.

The last list I recall showed Bama and LSU with the most current NFL players. With the exception being the QB position, quality of talent was not Les Miles problem.

BG

He literally has as much talent as any other two SEC teams put together.  

Not if you're LSU, Auburn and Georgia. Yes, Bama has more overall talent than these teams, but the talent level is comparable, especially with LSU which has excellent players.

Kirby Smart inherited excellent talent in Athens, and is in the process of bringing that talent level much more closely in line with that of Alabama's level.

BG