What We’ve Learned This Summer

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With the summer winding down and football talk heating up, it’s as good a time as any to take inventory of all we’ve learned about the SEC’s football programs this summer:


ALABAMA
What We’ve Learned:  The Crimson Tide will not be trying to repeat as national champions.  Who says?  Nick Saban.  In the coach’s view, this year’s Tide team is totally different — including all those new faces on defense — from last year’s squad.  Nice try, Nick, but that won’t stop every media outlet in the country from discussing Bama’s “repeat chances” all season long.

ARKANSAS
What We’ve Learned:  Ryan Mallett and Bobby Petrino have made Arkansas the sexy dark horse pick in the SEC for 2010.  Last year, Ole Miss was given that dark horse mantle.  Though the Rebels had a good year, they couldn’t quite make the jump to actual title contender.  To avoid a similar fate — which would disappoint thousands of pumped-up Hog-callers — the Razorbacks’ questionable defense really needs to prove itself.

AUBURN
What We’ve Learned:  All is super-duper on The Plains.  Gus Malzahn is an offensive genius.  Cam Newton gives the Tigers the athletic QB they’ve lacked the last two years.  Gene Chizik was the perfect hire after all.  Heck, he even put a scare into Bama last November.  Nevermind last year’s 1-5 finish against SEC teams.  That “we’ve now seen some tape of your offense” swoon is all but forgotten.

FLORIDA
What We’ve Learned:  While Florida will have a lot of fresh faces on the field and in the coaches’ box this fall, Urban Meyer will still be the man at the steering wheel.  That should be enough to calm any Gator fans’ worries.  “Meyer is back.  Meyer is back.  Serenity now.”

GEORGIA
What We’ve Learned:  With numerous players getting into trouble and Georgia’s AD being arrested and forced to resign amidst scandal… Dawg fans should be glad that Mark Richt is still the face of the UGA football program.  If anything, the bad press around Georgia — especially Evans’ issues — have made the squeaky clean Richt more secure in his position.

KENTUCKY
What We’ve Learned:  UK is preparing for war.  Joker Phillips is bringing a new military mentality to Lexington.  He’s also ousted some longtime Brooks’ assistants, changed practice habits, and put his own stamp on the Wildcat program.  Now we’ll see if he’s drawn up a good battle plan as part of his self-titled “Operation: Win” campaign.

LSU
What We’ve Learned:  No one is rushing to Les Miles defense on the Bayou.  Magazines, websites, talking heads… everyone is saying that Miles is on the SEC’s hottest seat heading into 2010.  The response from most Tiger fans?  “Yeah, so?”  Miles may not be fired if he his team has a bad season, but failing to win 10 games and/or beat Nick Saban could result in some very uncomfortable days for Miles.

MISSISSIPPI STATE
What We’ve Learned:  New athletic director.  New defensive coordinator.  New fan enthusiasm.  All that takes a backseat to this: The old cowbells can stay. 

OLE MISS
What We’ve Learned:  While Ole Miss fans try to find a new on-field mascot, the team is looking for a new identity.  The Rebels will be playing without their leading passer, rusher and receiver from a year ago.  Key members of the defense need to be replaced also.  Maybe that’s why there seems to be more positivity emanating from cross-state MSU’s program these days.  Which isn’t good if you’re Houston Nutt.

SOUTH CAROLINA
What We’ve Learned:  2010 will be the year of Stephen Garcia’s head.  Steve Spurrier has spent the offseason getting into his quarterback’s noggin and now we’ll find out if that was a smart move or not.  The Cocks had one of the league’s few established, experienced QBs.  If Spurrier pushes the wrong buttons with Garcia and Carolina’s offense looks just as trifling as it has the past five seasons, the coach’s fan support could erode to dangerous levels.

TENNESSEE
What We’ve Learned:  One of the nation’s traditional powers is in a full-fledged rebuilding process.  The Vols will have a new quarterback behind a totally new offensive line handing the ball to a new running back.  Multi-player arrests involving guns, robberies and beatings continue to make news as well.  And the man hired to fix “the culture” and rebuild the team had a 4-8 record at Louisiana Tech last year.  If he can keep this season from becoming a trainwreck, Derek Dooley should get a raise.

VANDERBILT
What We’ve Learned:  If it’s true that Bobby Johnson got out of Dodge before a posse of powerful boosters could grab a rope, it proves that all of college football has gone freakin’ mad.  Johnson was a year removed from winning Vandy’s first bowl game since 1955.  If VU boosters were truly applying pressure to the man (as some suggest) — to the point that he up and quit without warning — then it proves that no coach is safe.  Ever.  At any school.  One bad year can lead powerbrokers to close their wallets and force change.  For that reason, men like Miles, Richt, Nutt and all the rest had better win… win big… and win often.