Tag: OC

Finally, Nick Saban appoints his assistants

Nick Saban didn’t have to look hard for his assistants – and there was no real surprise when they were announced. Mike Locksley has been announced as offensive coordinator, replacing Brian Daboll who left to be OC for the Buffalo Bills after the school’s National Championship win over Georgia. Saban has appointed former Penn State wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Josh Gattis as joint offensive-coordinator and wide receivers coach. Gattis has done incredibly well in his time at State College, and Alabama will be fine. Tosh Lupoi will be the school’s defensive coordinator, although Saban also hired UTSA assistant coach Pete Golding to be its co-DC and defensive line coach. Lupoi and Golding will replace Jeremy Pruitt, who

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Atmosphere “horrible” in South Carolina coach chase

A South Carolina source close to the SEC Football Blog said that the atmosphere in Columbia has “been horrible” around the school’s coaching search. S South Carolina’s top target was Houston head coach Tom Herman, but a big pay rise has meant he will stay in place. They also wanted Georgia defensive co-ordinator Jeremy Pruitt, although some boosters are unsure about him thanks to his adventures with the Bulldogs coaching staff, where he apparently caused a lot of disharmony. The chase for the South Carolina head coach job hotted up on Friday as rumors began to swirl that Auburn defensive co-ordinator Will Muschamp was close to being appointed to the role. Muschamp is reported to be supported by former head

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Why Mark Richt’s firing at Georgia was coming

“I don’t know what the world is coming to in our profession. I think when you win nine games, that’s a pretty good season, and especially with the body of work that he’s been able to put together there for however years he’s been there. …I hate to see people that have the character and quality and ability to affect young people in a positive way like Mark Richt not be a part of our profession.” – Nick Saban. Last Sunday, Georgia released a statement that they had decided to end the career of Mark Richt “by mutual consent”. Richt was gone, and the atmosphere around Athens has been like a funeral. There were some fans who went straight outside the

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Rollin’ Tide – Final SEC Power Rankings

It was quite a week in the SEC. And while it was about the football, it kinda was and it kinda wasn’t. We had Cam Newton threatening to slap the s_(& out of a heckler before the Iron Bowl, Les Miles getting chaired off against Texas A&M after he kept his job despite everyone saying that he was out of one, and Mark Richt getting booted from Georgia despite a 9-3 season. Down South, the Florida Gators were wonderfully inept in a 27-2 home loss to Florida State, and Ole Miss won the BATTLE OF THE EGG in CowbellLand. Elsewhere, Kentucky lost to Louisville after being 21-0 up (and their QB Patrick Towles has said he’s transferring) and Missouri didn’t show

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Will Alabama lose both Smart and Kiffin in 2015?

It’s that time in college football where everyone’s getting hired and everyone’s getting fired, but the big news might well be at the University of Alabama, where the Crimson Tide may well be looking an offensive and defensive co-ordinator when all is said and done. It’s obvious to me and any writer out there that offensive co-ordinator Lane Kiffin won’t want to stay long-time in Tuscaloosa. He’s got a 35-21 head coaching record from his days at Tennessee and Southern California (we can’t call ’em USC on a SEC website), has a great offensive mind and is a fantastic recruiter. He’s also as loyal as an arms dealer. His agent, Jimmy Sexton, is very good at finding spots for his clients, and with

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Kentucky 2015 Preview: Better Second Half This Time?

For Kentucky, it was a tale of two seasons in one in 2014. The first half, the Wildcats went 5-1, with the only loss coming in triple overtime to Florida. In the second half of the season, the Big Blue Nation got the blues, losing six straight and failing to get in a bowl game. Some people thought “What a great season going 5-7 and just missing out on a bowl game! 5-7 used to be unimaginable!” and some people – who suddenly are expecting some more of the Kentucky Wildcats – thought “Well, that was a bit of a let-down.” THE OFF-SEASON Mark Stoops hired Shannon Dawson, West Virginia’s former OC and QB coach, to be their offensive co-ordinator

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Lane Kiffin nixes NFL gig to stay as Alabama OC

Lane Kiffin has announced that he will stay as Alabama’s offensive co-ordinator, turning his back on the opportunity to move into the NFL and grab the same position at the San Francisco 49ers. Kiffin, who’s never been known for stability in a job in college football, raised some eyebrows when he first arrived in Alabama in 2014, but had a successful time with his offense last season, helping to take the Crimson Tide to a SEC Championship title and the College Football Play-Off Semi-Final. Kiffin said: “I made a comment at the [Allstate] Sugar Bowl that I would be back this fall at Alabama and that is definitely the plan,” Kiffin said. “This time of year, there are lots of

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Georgia hires new offensive co-ordinator

Georgia has hired Brian Schottenheimer from the St Louis Rams as its new offensive co-ordinator. “I’m excited to have Brian join our coaching staff,” Richt said in a statement. “His NFL experience will be a perfect fit for how we like to play offensive football here at Georgia. He’ll be excellent in developing our players in both the running and passing games, which will benefit them while they are at Georgia and for their future.” Schottenheimer’s hiring comes after long-time offensive co-ordinator Mike Bobo decided to go and take on the head coaching position at Colorado State, after CSU’s head coach Jim McElwain decided to go and be the head coach at Florida. This year St Louis’ offense – not

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Mississippi State beats Texas to 2015 QB

Mississippi State has signed three-star quarterback Chason Virgil. Virgil, who hails from Vesquite, TX, is 6ft-2 and 170lb, and is ranked 23rd in the nation in pro-style quarterbacks and 55th in the State of Texas. “I called Coach (Brian) Johnson and I had already told him two days ago that I wanted to commit but I knew they were so busy earlier in the week. So he already knew why I was calling and he just asked me if I was ready to commit and I said ‘yes’,” he told 24-7Sports.com “Then me and Coach (Dan) Mullen plan to talk tomorrow when he gets back in town. At first, they kinda wanted me to wait until I could talk more

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Mississippi State OC hired by Texas

Mississippi State offensive co-ordinator Les Koenning – fresh from a bowl victory and a win in the Egg Bowl over Ole Miss – is leaving Starkville to be the new wide receivers coach at Texas, according to the Clarion-Ledger. The Clarion-Ledger noted: “Under Koenning’s guidance MSU’s offense set numerous school records, culminating in 13 this season. He also worked with the quarterbacks developing both Tyler Russell and Dak Prescott. Russell leaves the program with a handful of single season passing records. Many analysts are calling Prescott a sleeper for next year’s Heisman.” This season Mississippi State – with Tyler Russell injured for most of the season and Dak Prescott replacing him – was 43rd  in the nation in total rushing

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