By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

With everything that has transpired in Knoxville over the past few weeks, I imagine the inner sanctum of the Athletic Department is reminiscent of something you would see on The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

While Tennessee’s search for a football head coach has made the Cleveland Browns seem like a stable organization, all the attention being paid the Volunteers has overshadowed the possible game changing hire happening in Gainesville, Fla.

I wrote a few weeks ago that Georgia is set up nicely to dominate the SEC East for the next 2-3 years, possibly even longer, depending on who the Gators brought in the lead their football team.

I know there was a lot of chatter about Florida hiring Chip Kelly or Scott Frost, but bringing in either of those two would’ve been a much more riskier move than bringing back former Offensive Coordinator, Dan Mullen.

Don’t get me wrong, Kelly was fantastic at Oregon, but part of me wonders how well his philosophy would work in the SEC. And Frost has exceeded expectations at UCF, but he has no Power 5 experience.

The one thing Florida needs right now is some stability within their program, and they should get that and more with Mullen.

It’s easy to talk about it being a good hire because of Mullen’s familiarity with the Gator program, as well as his success with Mississippi State, which are both valid points and large reasons why he’s a great fit for the Florida program. I want to focus on the whole “stability” aspect of the hire, though.

It’s been well documented Florida’s struggles since Steve Spurrier left- and yes even though he was extremely successful during his tenure, I’m including Urban Meyer since he left after only six seasons.

Including interim coaches, Dan Mullen will be the 8th Florida Gator head football coach since Spurrier left the school in 2001. Just as a frame of reference, Vanderbilt has only had four different coaches during that same period.

As important as is it to get the Florida program back into the National Title conversation on a regular basis, it’s equally important for the program to have a coach that will be there for a while.

That’s not to say Mullen won’t ever leave, but he had plenty of opportunities to leave Starkville, which one can assume is what most people not from Starkville would be more than eager to do. Yet, it took the Florida head coaching job to pry him away.

Besides getting a coach that knows the program, has experience within the SEC, is aware of the fansbase and their expectations and just a good coach; Florida has someone that probably won’t be looking to leave anytime soon.

Mullen may not have been the flashy hire, like Kelly and Frost would’ve been, but he was the right hire.

Look, I’m not saying the Florida will be vying for the SEC East title along with Georgia next year, but there is enough young talent there it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Mullen has them back in contention within the next year or two.

Then again, I’m also the guy who applauded Florida profusely on the McElwain hire, so what the hell do I know.

Hopefully, I’m at least right on this hire. If not, I guess I can always go back to watching The Real Housewives. Or the Tennessee Athletic Department? I can never tell those two apart.