No games this weekend? No problem, there is still plenty of news in the SEC and ACC.
MALZAHN’S FIRST WEEK: Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has hired Ellis Johnson as his defensive coordinator. Johnson, who was fired after a winless season at Southern Miss, is a smart hire. He knows the league well. Johnson, who is a better assistant than head coach, held the same position at South Carolina. Malzahn was wise to release most if not all of the previous staff especially Trooper Taylor. Although several recruits have said they will stay with Auburn if Taylor stays, Malzahn cannot afford to deal with the controversy that Taylor brings. Several reports have suggested that the NCAA asked Auburn to take Taylor and Curtis Luper off the road recruiting. No one at Auburn validated the report, but Malzahn cannot afford to have an assistant to be in the spotlight more than he is.
NEW HOG HIRE: The Arkansas hire of Bret Bielema is looking better after digesting it for a few days. He was a winner at Wisconsin with a group of players who are not highly ranked. Wisconsin’s current recruiting class is ranked #28 nationally by Rivals.com. The Badgers ranked No. 56 in 2012 and No. 40 in 2011, which tells you that he and his staff have been good at developing players.
One of the biggest changes for Hog fans will be to see a much improved defense than they did under John L. Smith and Bobby Petrino. On defense, Bielema’s Wisconsin teams ranked in the top 20 nationally in total defense in each of the past four seasons. Perhaps the biggest switch for Hogs fans is adjusting to primarily a rushing attack. The Badgers finished 12th, 11th, and 12th nationally in rushing yardage in the last three years.
OTHER COACHING THOUGHTS: I was hoping Charlie Strong was going to take one of the three jobs in the SEC. He turned down the Tennessee job to stay at Louisville. His loyalty was rewarded with a raise and extension. Strong is a very good coach. He can recruit, develop and discipline players. Maybe one day he will be in the league as a head man.
JONES A VOL: Tennessee made a good hire in Cincinnati’s Butch Jones. Jones, who has 50-27 career record as a head coach, led the Bearcats to first-place finishes in each of the last two seasons. In six seasons as a head coach, he has led his teams to first-place finishes four times. Prior to coaching the Bearcats, Jones led Central Michigan to a pair of Mid-American Conference titles in 2007 and 2009. Give Vol athletic director Dave Hart credit for trying to hire Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and Strong. Contrary to wild rumors, Jon Gruden was never coming to Tennessee. Jones is a better hire because he has won at two schools and understands recruiting in Tennessee’s region.
SOUTHERN MISS POSSIBILITIES: Alabama offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier is expected to interview for the head coaching position at Southern Miss. Nussmeier, who has only been at Alabama one season, leads the SEC in offensive coordinator compensation at $590,000 per year.
Georgia’s Mike Bobo’s name has also surfaced as a head coaching candidate at Southern Miss. According to his agent, he is drawing interest for other jobs as well. Georgia’s offense is on pace to break records for scoring average (currently 37.2 ppg) and total offense (458.3). Bobo currently makes $335,000 a year (not including bonuses), which ranked 10th among SEC offensive coordinators coming into the season.
HEISMAN THOUGHTS: I voted for Texas A & M quarterback Johnny Manziel to win the Heisman Trophy. Manziel, who became the first player to ever win SEC Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season has a real challenge from Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o. After the college football awards Thursday night on ESPN, Te’o might make it closer than many believe. Te’o won the Maxwell Award for the nation’s most outstanding player, the Walter Camp national Player of the Year award, and the Bednarik Award, given to the most outstanding defensive player.
ACC SOLIDARITY: With rumors swirling about conference realignment – including chatter of a 16-team Big Ten conference – the ACC Council of Presidents issued a statement Thursday declaring a unified league. The statement was signed by the 15 current and future members of the ACC – including Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Louisville and Notre Dame, but not Maryland, which is headed to the Big Ten.
The reason for the effort from the ACC Presidents comes from rumors linking Georgia Tech, Virginia and North Carolina to the Big Ten and possible Big 12 interest in Florida State, Louisville and Clemson. More than one report has mentioned the SEC’s interest in ACC schools such as Duke and North Carolina.
The reason for teams switching conferences is of course money. The Big Ten is reported to be paying each school $40 million annually due to increases from The Big Ten Network. If the ACC is going to keep its schools for the long run then conference officials must increase its own annual deal for each school. This statement by school presidents is going to do little in preventing its schools from being poached by other conferences when bigger money is being offered.
BEWARE LYNCH: Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch, who is the MAC’s Offensive Player of the Year, is going to give Florida State’s defense plenty of problems. Lynch is similar to Manziel in that he is a dual-threat quarterback who is capable of rushing for over 100 yards in any game. Compounding the problem for FSU is loss of defensive coordinator Mark Stoops to Kentucky to become the Wildcats head coach.