Mike Gottfried Gives SECFans.com His Take on the SEC in 2009
By Mike Gottfried on June 1 2009 9:48 PM
Mike Gottfried is a former college head football coach, ESPN analyst, and commentator. After coaching high school football, Gottfried spent twelve seasons as a head coach with stops at Murray St, Cincinnati, Kansas and Pittsburgh. Mike and his wife Mickey founded "Team Focus" in 2000, an organization dedicated to helping young men without fathers. He also released an autobiography "Coach's Challenge: Faith, Football, and Filling the Father Gap" in September 2007.
2008
was a great year for the SEC. We saw Nick Saban's Tide assert itself back
into the national picture. Florida, yet again, represented the league
in the BCS title game. And other teams like Mississippi proved more
formidable than otherwise expected. Some schools, such as Auburn and
Tennesee, made their waves in the offseason with highly publicized
coaching searches, and subsequent hires.
Not surprisingly, 2009
is poised to be another wild ride in the SEC. Both Alabama and Georgia
will have to traverse their schedules with questions at quarterback.
Georgia could possibly have a bigger uphill battle, as they are
replacing the number 1 draft pick in Matthew Stafford (not to mention
they have a more challenging schedule). Alabama may not be replacing a
top draft pick at QB, but they certainly will only go as far as junior
Greg McElroy will take them. Last season, John Parker Wilson's
contributions may have gone often unheralded, but never underestimate
what a senior signal caller brings in terms of cohesion and leadership
in the SEC.
Florida isn't replacing Tim Tebow, but they are
searching for someone to fill Percy Harvin's shoes. Urban may be
crafting an approach that calls upon a few guys' talents to plug the
hole left by Percy. Fortunately, the Gators have already shown that
they can compete at a high level when a guy like Harvin is out of the
lineup. In the '08 SEC Championship Game, the Gators were able to handle
the Tide with an injured Harvin not even dressing out. As it stands, it
seems the only thing in the way of a repeat in Atlanta for Florida in
2009, are the Gators themselves. Spending an offseason reading favorable
press clippings does funny things to a team's mindset. Entitlement and complacency have a way of permeating a locker room when everyone tells
you how good you are for 8 months.
I'm not ready to christen
Mississippi as the team to beat in the West just yet. Last year they
certainly surprised some folks, and Jevan Snead proved to be quite
talented. However, the Rebels lost some key defensive players from the
08 team that stunned Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. Additionally, Ole
Miss may not have the offensive and defensive lines to last the rigors
of a full SEC season. Look for the West to come down to LSU and
Alabama, with Auburn and Ole Miss possibly a year away from truly
figuring into the final decision.
Here's how I see the SEC shaking out in '09:
East- Florida
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Vanderbilt
West- Alabama
- LSU
- Mississippi
- Auburn
- Arkansas
- Mississippi St
Similar
to 2008, look for Alabama's season to be somewhat defined by how they
handle a tough Virgina Tech opener in the Georgia Dome. The Tide's
defense will be solid, but if McElroy doesn't adjust quickly to SEC
defensive speed, it could be a long season for Bama. LSU's QB situation has to get better if they truly want to compete in the West. Florida will probably best Georgia for another East title, and as long as Tebow stays healthy, the Gators will likely be league champs again in 2009.
Should be another great season, I can't wait!
Wanna talk about it? Check out our forums!
Tags: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt,
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