Program Pulse
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It is now June and College Football is on the horizon. Time to start speculating about the SEC for 2020, but to do so let’s take a look at SEC won/loss records since 2015.
1.Alabama: 79-6 (.929): Alabama just does not lose many football games that is the bottom line. Nick Saban is the best in the business.
The defending national champions will be the team to beat again in 2021, and should be the team to beat as long as Saban is roaming the sidelines.
Alabama lost some skill people from 2020 so we will see who steps up this fall for the Tide.
- Georgia: 62-17 (.785): A friend calls yesterday and says it is now or never for Kirby and UGA. Really?
UGA is a team that has been winning a lot of football games. They just haven’t beaten Alabama when it matters most.
Does that mean UGA is a program that under produces? Nope it means that Kirby continues to build a monster in Athens.
Opposing fans insert your 1980 comebacks here. Critics say Kirby is not a good game coach and folks like Dan Mullen are better.
I know many Florida fans that would trade Mullen for Kirby if the opportunity arose. I don’t know a single UGA fan that would trade Kirby for Mullen. Think about that for a second.
- LSU: 56-19 (.747): 2019 National Champs. It feels like the Tigers are on the decline now under Coach O, doesn’t it? This program will always have elite talent, but 2021 is an unknown for LSU.
- Florida: 52-24 (.684): No championships since 2008. Try this on for size Florida fans:
2011 – With zero HC experience, Florida hires Will Muschamp for $2.7m/year.
2012 – Florida extends Will Muschamp (picked up option year) after going 7-6.
2014 – Florida buys out Will Muschamp for $6m and fires him.
2014 – Florida pays $7m to Colorado State to buy out and hire Jim McElwain for $3.5m/year.
June 2017 – After zero championships and one 10+ win season, Florida agrees to an extension and raise for Jim McElwain.
October 2017 – Florida buys out Jim McElwain for $7.5m and fires him.
2017 – Florida pays Mississippi State $500k to buy out and hire Dan Mullen (who had zero championships in Starkville) for around $6m/year
2021 – Still after zero championships, Florida agrees to an extension and raise for Dan Mullen to $7.6m per season after giving up 55 points in his last game coached against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. Florida fans wonder out loud why their ticket prices are going thru the roof.
- Texas A&M: 49-26 (.653): $75 million dollar question is can Jimbo beat Alabama? So far, the answer is no.
- Auburn: 48-29 (.623): The Gus Bus has been retired, and now Auburn is starting over once again. Sound familiar Auburn fans?
- Kentucky: 42-33 (.560): This is a program that has exceeded expectations recently. Could surprise in 2021.
- Mississippi State: 42-34 (.553): Better than expected for this bottom feeder. In fishing circles, a Catfish is known as a bottom feeder. If you pulled a nice cat from the bottom of the Mississippi River today it may have a State logo stamped on it.
- Tennessee: 38-35 (.520): UT football is a dumpster fire. It may take years for this proud program to recover and the NCAA has not even dropped the hammer yet.
- Ole Miss: 35-36 (.493): Program on the rise. This could be an elite SEC program in a short period of time. Keep an eye on Ole Miss.
- Missouri: 35-37 (.486): Another program on the rise.
- South Carolina: 31-42 (.425): Carolina stays up at night obsessing over Clemson. Until they clear that hurdle, they will never be a factor in SEC Football.
- Arkansas: 26-46 (.361): The Pit Boss has Arkansas on the rise. This is a proud football program that is on the road to recovery.
- Vanderbilt: 24-47 (.338): Baseball school. Come on Vandy make another trip to Omaha in a couple of weeks.
