On Tuesday, Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis told a Gator booster club that head coach Will Muschamp was a lot like their old boss Nick Saban in terms of planning.  But that’s where the similarities ended according to Davis:

“Will coached under the devil himself for seven years.  I only did three.  He did seven.”

Asked about that comment on Wednesday, ESPN’s Mark May sacked Davis with this verbal bullrush:

“I don’t know Tim Davis, but my opinion, he’s a classless backstabbing coward.  You’re talking about a guy in Nick Saban that gave you an opportunity to coach.  He gave you an opportunity to move up in the coaching ranks, so you could support your family, put food on the table, clothes on their backs.  Not for one years.  He gave you the opportunity for three years on his staff (two with the Miami Dolphins, one with Alabama).

If you have a problem with Nick Saban, pick up the phone, put you big-boy pants on and man up and say, ‘Coach, I got a problem with you and here’s why.’  You don’t go out in front of some group of friendly fans out there and say that about Nick Saban, a guy that gave you an opportunity to be a coach.”

Fifteen yards, unnecessary roughness.

Look, it was dumb of Davis — kidding or not — to publicly refer to a fellow coach as “the devil himself.”  If for no other reason than the fact that he should know that in this day and age it would become a national story that he, the other coach (Saban) and his current boss (Muschamp) would all get caught up in.  Dumb thing to say.

But to blast him as a coward?  That might be a bit over the top.  For one thing, perhaps Davis has put on his big-boy pants and called Saban.  Perhaps Davis isn’t pleased with the way things ended in Tuscaloosa.  The coach served as Saban’s O-line coach in Miami in 2005 and 2006.  He remained with the Dolphins in 2007 and then joined the Alabama staff as Saban’s director of player personnel in 2008.  In 2009, he left for Minnesota where he became the Gophers’ run game coordinator and offensive line coach.

At the time, Saban said nice things (whether he meant them or not) to the press:

“This is a great opportunity for Tim in terms of his position as offensive line coach and running game coordinator.  We’ve had the chance to work together here at the University of Alabama as well as with the Miami Dolphins, and Tim has been a hard worker and done an excellent job with each and every responsibility he’s had.  I know Tim is looking forward to getting up there in a coaching capacity that puts him back on the field interacting with the players.  He’ll do a great job with Coach (Tim) Brewster and the Minnesota program.  We wish Tim and his family the best.”

When Davis left the feeling was that Joe Pendry was about to retire as Bama’s offensive line coach.  Instead he remained on the job through the 2010 season.  Jeff Stoutland then replaced Pendry and worked with the Tide linemen in 2011 and 2012.  This offseason, Mario Cristobal was hired to replace Stoutland, who left to join the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.

Whether Davis and Saban had a falling out about the assistant’s role at Alabama — director of player personnel versus actual on-field coach — seems to be the big question.  And no one but those inside the program would know just how that situation was handled by both parties.

Either way, Davis goofed by making his comment publicly.  And May went way, way too far in his overreaction.

Watch it below…

It took longer than expected — heck, the Dallas Cowboys jumped the gun and posted the hiring on their own website more than a week ago — but former Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley is returning to the NFL.  Dooley confirmed via Twitter last night that he is indeed heading to Dallas to coach the team’s wide receivers.

Dooley served along with current Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett with the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006.  Alabama coach Nick Saban was that team’s head coach and Dooley handled the tight end duties.

Thanks to his Tennessee buyout, Dooley will likely be making more cash than any other position coach in the NFL next year.  He’ll be paid $5 million in monthly installments of $102,040 through December of 2016.

Dooley will serve on the same staff with new Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.  Kiffin’s son, Lane, opened the door for Dooley to move from Louisiana Tech to Knoxville (after a 4-8 season) when he left the Vols after just one season.  His annihilation of the Volunteer roster, however, also left Dooley in a no-win situation.

Next question: Will quarterback Tyler Bray, receivers Justin Hunter or Cordarrelle Patterson, or ex-receiver Da’Rick Rogers be reunited with their old coach in Big D?  And would they want to be?

Ron Jaworski is a darn good NFL analyst.  He was the first of what’s now a legion of ex-NFL players hired by ESPN to break down game film for viewers.  He did it so well, all those others have followed.

But he’s sounding oh-so sanctimonius these days.

Asked about Alabama coach Nick Saban by WPEN-FM in Philadelphia, Jaworski let the Crimson Tide’s coach have it with both barrels:

“I’m not a Saban guy, because I don’t like liars, and I think he lied.  I think he lied to the Miami Dolphins and to the fans of Miami and he left.  And it’s pretty simple, I think integrity is very important, if you don’t have integrity, I don’t know how you can be successful.  Yeah, I know he’s great at Alabama and he’ll probably win another national championship, but I just don’t like people that don’t have integrity, so it’s pretty easy for me to say I don’t want Nick Saban in town.”

Well, hello.

Look, if Saban misled Dolphins’ ownership about his intentions — and it’s claimed he did — then fine, have at him.  But if this is about Saban’s public denials regarding Alabama’s gig while he was still coaching Miami, give it up.  I’ve yet to hear any coach anywhere come out during a season and say, “Yep, I’m looking to get out of here.”  Good luck to any coach who would say that because his team would up and quit on him seconds after he uttered those words.

Coaches always lie at pressers when asked about other jobs.  They have no choice.  As for lying to their employers, well, that’s a different beast.

Still, Jaworski sounded just a bit too pious when knocking Saban’s integrity.  Are we to believe Jaworski has never lied?  To anyone?  And if he has lied at some point in his 61 years, who decides what size lie renders a man integrity-less?

We told you yesterday that Florida’s Will Muschamp disagreed with Nick Saban’s assessment that the loser of the SEC Championship Game between his Alabama team and Georgia should land in the Sugar Bowl rather than drop down the bowl pecking order to make room for a Gator team that didn’t win its division.

In all honesty, he’s right.  If you win your division, you shouldn’t be punished in the bowl selection process for having to play an extra game.  But Muschamp’s response was as follows:

“Well, I can switch and go to Atlanta if he doesn’t want to go to Atlanta and play the Dawgs.  Be careful what you ask for, Nick.”

Hardly fighting words from the ex-Saban assistant, but the remark made national news just the same.

Meanwhile, Muschamp’s buddy at Florida State and another ex-Saban assistant, Jimbo Fisher, said something yesterday that could be construed as more of a direct shot at Bama’s coach.  Discussing rumors that he might land elsewhere this offseason, Fisher was reminded that his old boss once stated clearly and plainly that he would not leave the Miami Dolphins to become the head coach at Alabama (only to do so shortly thereafter).  The response from FSU’s coach:

“It goes back to your integrity.”

Hmmm.  That sounds like something an Auburn man — or someone headed to Auburn — might say.  (Just funnin’ with that last line, folks.)

Well, at least they didn’t add a black uniform.

Texas A&M unveiled its new set of uniforms yesterday and the changes — while they might appear drastic or Temple-esque to some — actually harken back to Aggie football in the 1970s.  The standout points:

1.  Dual stripes now run down the shoulders of the jerseys.

2.  The “12th Man” logo now appears on the sleeve of the long, fitted undershirt.

3.  The A&M logo inside an outline of the state of Texas — smart branding move — now adorns the pant legs.

4.  An unnecessary silver, fake bevel has been added to the numbers (which is at least better than the “fake shadow” numerals that became trendy in the 1990s and early 2000s).

5.  A white helmet so the school can mix and match uniform combinations like 99.9% of all other schools.

If you’re looking for a 6th standout nugget from yesterday’s fashion show, Lauren Tannehill showed up with her hubby, former Aggie and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

While we’re not in love with the new look, it could’ve been worse.  A lot worse if you consider Oregon’s uniforms.  But the school chose to tie into its traditions instead… and it’s hard to grade it down for doing so.

With any uniform change, three things are key.  First, will recruits like them?  Second, will fans by replicas of them, putting money into a school’s coffers?  Third, will the players like them?  As far as question three goes, new coach Kevin Sumlin says his team is A-OK with the switch:

“Our team is really excited about the new uniforms for the upcoming season.  adidas has don a great job of developing a uniform that blends our great history and tradition with a modern look that our players and recruits will really like.  We are looking forward to wearing them this inaugural season in the SEC.”

You only need look at the correct — yet silly — uncapitalized spelling of adidas to know that Sumlin’s comment came in press release form.

The best news in all this: Fashion season is over and A&M, Missouri, Arkansas and Vanderbilt have all had their day on the runway.  Now — unless there’s a uni change I’m unaware of — it’s time to start talking football again.

A full gallery of photos from yesterday’s fashion show can be found here.  A video can be viewed here.

This weekend’s Florida-Tennessee game in The Swamp figures to be the first of several showdowns between friends and former co-workers Will Muschamp and Derek Dooley.

The two ex-Nick Saban aides who worked together at LSU and then with the Miami Dolphins have both said they don’t talk as much now as they used to.  Obviously.  And when it comes to Saturday’s contest, both men seem to be coming from the same place…

Dooley:  “He is going to want to whip me pretty good, and I’m going ot want to whip him pretty good.  That’s how it goes.”

Muschamp:  “You’d rather not (play against a friend).  The bottom line on Saturday is that he’s going to do the best job he can for his team and I am for mine.

Today, Saban was asked about the Dooley/Muschamp matchup during the SEC’s weekly teleconference:

“Both guys are really, really, really good coaches, good teachers, good motivators, understand people well and certainly have a real good knowledge of football.  And they’re well-organized guys.  They’re systematic in their approach.

Derek was just a young guy who had just coached for a year or two at SMU (when Saban hired him at LSU).  I was looking for kind of  ayoung guy to be the special teams/recruiting coordinator/tight end coach.  He was just very impressive as a person and never really disappointed.  Very organized.

Will, I met at a bowl game.  We were playing in Atlanta the first year I was at LSU.  I just talked to him a few minutes and said, ‘You know, that’s a guy I’d be interested in hiring someday.’  The next year we had an opening and hired him and he did as good a job as any assistant coach we’ve ever had.

They coached together for five or six or seven years.  We’ve always had good relationships with the coaches on our staff.  People get along well together.  Derek got along well with everybody on the staff and certainly with Will.  They both had Georgia ties.  Will played there and Derek didn’t play there, but he grew up there.  His dad was the coach there for a long time.  They had a good relationship.”

Both coaches are trying to rebuild their current programs, though Dooley’s job is considerably tougher than Muschamp’s.  For all the talk of these two teams needing to prove themselves on Saturday — and they do — Florida’s “struggles” consisted of one 8-5 season.  Tennessee has had four seasons of six or more losses in the last six years.

If Dooley can get the best of Muschamp on Saturday, it could signal the beginning of a more competitive UF-UT rivalry.  After all, the Gators have won six straight against the Vols.  But if Muschamp is able to win on Saturday, it might not bode well for Tennessee.  Based in the Sunshine State, Muschamp is going to have a year-in, year-out recruiting advantage against his old buddy.

That’s why Saturday’s game is more than just a friend versus friend battle.  And it’s more than a “prove it” game for two programs trying to win over pollsters.  Saturday’s game in The Swamp could be a trendsetter and a sign of things to come.

At SEC Media Days, Will Muschamp and Nick Saban were asked about one another and asked about their relationship.  Rumor had it that their mentor-pupil bond had turned frosty.  But both Florida’s new coach and his ex-employer who’s now at Alabama had only positive things to say.

But according to The Palm Beach Post, things didn’t end on a high note for the two coaches.  Saban has a reputation for not being easy on his assistants.  Also, the Tide’s coach decided not to give Muschamp the defensive coordinator’s job while both were with the Miami Dolphins.

The Post picks up the story there with the help of Muschamp’s father:

“One example of the deterioration between the two was Saban reprimanding Muschamp’s mother over the phone during the offseason.

While Will Muschamp and his wife were on vacation in the Bahamas, his parents, Larry and Sally Muschamp, were babysitting their children in Coral Springs when an angry Saban called the house.  He needed a particular document from Muschamp, and ordered Sally to fax it to him.

Not finding a fax machine in her son’s home, Sally drove to an office supply store to send it.  Thirty minutes later, Saban had not received it and called again.  He had given her the wrong number, Sally said.

‘Where’s that fax?’ Saban barked.  ‘Get it to me now.’

Larry, by far the more easygoing of Muschamp’s parents, was irate.

‘That son of a b***h,’ he said.  ‘I’m surprised she didn’t say, ‘When it gets there, put it where the sun don’t shine.’  She didn’t.  But that’s Saban.  he and Will got crosswise in Miami for whatever reason.’”

Here’s guessing Muschamp will soon have a little talk with his parents to explain what is and what isn’t for public consumption.

Either way, Muschamp and “that SOB” Saban will meet up in Gainesville on October 1st.  The postgame handshake may prove to be downright Belichickian.

The University of Mississippi announced today the hiring of Kansas State’s Keith Burns as the Rebels’ new safeties coach.  Burns is a former defensive coordinator at Southern Cal and Arkansas (1998-99 with Houston Nutt) and a former head coach at Tulsa.

“Keith brings a wealth of knowledge to our secondary,” Nutt said.  “He has coached a lot of great college players to reach the NFL level.  He has coordinated defenses at several schools and been successful at every stop.  Keith will provide a lot of energy and experience for our coaching staff.”

Burns replaces Kim Dameron on the Ole Miss staff.

For those who believe Nutt is feeling pressure in Oxford, it doesn’t appear that coaches in the profession agree.  Things change fast in the SEC, but for now let’s do a little reading between the lines:

Auburn — The Tigers have held on to all of their coaches this offseason.  If aides were worried about possible NCAA sanctions wouldn’t they have left?

Georgia — Stacy Searels is a Georgia native who’s turned down job offers in the past.  Wouldn’t he have turned down a lateral move to Texas if he still believed Mark Richt standing was on solid ground?

Ole Miss — The Rebels have added Gunter Brewer from Oklahoma State, Keith Burns from Kansas State and David Lee from the Miami Dolphins.  Wouldn’t those first two aides (from solid, secure college jobs) and Lee (from the NFL) have turned down Nutt if they thought they were going from a safe zone into a danger zone?

You can add another pro fanbase that will be cursing the name “Will Muschamp” today.  The new Florida coach — fresh off hiring Charlie Weis from the Kansas City Chiefs as his offensive coordinator — has given UF’s defensive coordinator job to Dan Quinn.

Quinn is the defensive line coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

“Dan and I worked on the Miami Dolphins’ staff together and is one of the best I’ve been around in terms of teaching fundamentals,” Muschamp said.  “He understands how defenses will need to be multiple and how to put players in a position to be successful.  The Seattle organization has been great in coordinating the hiring of Dan to our staff and we wish them the best of luck in the playoffs.”

Weis and Quinn will remain with their pro clubs through the playoffs.  The Chiefs lost badly at home to the Raiders yesterday and KC officials have had to shoot down speculation that the Weis situation hurt the team’s preparations in Week 17.  Now the Seahawks will also have to deal with the distraction of a coach leaving.

Muschamp might not be making a lot of friends in NFL circles, but he is putting together a pretty impressive coaching staff.