Bishop Media Sports Network
Fields Or Fromm?
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Refer to it however you would like: Armchair Expert, Monday Morning Quarterback.
As fans, it’s easy to look back and judge a coach or an organization on personnel moves or play calls and claim we would’ve done something different.
For one, we’re not held accountable when it goes awry, so we can choose to gamble.
Also, most of these coaches are being paid millions of dollars to correctly make those difficult decisions, so I get the expectations. It doesn’t make those choices any easier though.
When you look back at this past year, I imagine most Georgia fans feel as though their season would’ve been more successful had Justin Fields been under center, rather than Jake Fromm, with most directing their displeasure towards Kirby Smart.
In almost all the major categories we use to gauge the success of a quarterback, Fields out performed Fromm, so it would make sense for fans to feel that way. Like with most things though, it’s not quite that simple.
For one, you have to consider the conference Fields plays in. Most SEC fans, and media for that matter, like to scream from the mountain tops about how difficult the SEC is, and how much more dominant it is over every other conference.
For the record, I’m not disagreeing, but if the criteria we’re going by is based on SEC superiority, then it makes sense that Fields numbers wouldn’t be the same had he stayed in Athens.
If you were to take away one touchdown and add 0.5 interceptions per conference game, something that is realistic if Fields were to have played in the SEC, his numbers aren’t far off from Fromm. And that’s with Fromm having under-achieved this year, compared to last season.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Fromm actually had the better season, just trying to put things into perspective.
The other thing to keep in mind is where the program was at this point last season. Even though Georgia lost to Texas, Fromm had led the Bulldogs to their second consecutive SEC Championship game appearance, while improving on his stats from the year before.
Fields had shown flashes of what he could do in limited playing time, but not enough to make it obvious he should be the starter.
One of the things I hear and read from Georgia fans is how they respect the fact Smart doesn’t promise playing time to any players, they have to earn it.
I don’t claim to know the inner workings of the Georgia program, but I imagine Fields was looking for a guarantee that Smart wouldn’t give.
If he had, and Fields produced similar numbers to what Fromm did during his sophomore campaign, how would the fan base feel?
Would they be ok with that kind of production or would they clamoring for Fromm, upset that Smart went with potential over the proven commodity? Based off his two seasons in Athens, and the expectation Fromm had going into his Junior year, he was the logical choice; at least enough to give him a shot to keep his job.
I know this is all hypothetical, but that’s kind of the point. As fans, we have the luxury of playing in this “what if” world, where we don’t have to commit to any particular decision because we’re not accountable for it.
Coaches, no matter how much money they’re paid, don’t have that option.
A Brave Decade
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The calendar turns over in just a couple of days, as December becomes January and one year becomes the next. This coming New Year’s Day also shifts the passage of time from one decade into another. The 2010s will become the 2020s and children born in the next few years will actually have memories of the decade in which they joined the world; something I, being born in 1988, can’t claim.
The next decade will define itself and be remembered for things we probably can’t even fathom, the way the 1920s is remembered for being the “Roaring Twenties” and the 1960s is remembered for counterculture.
But as the decade ends and we all look to the future, let’s take a moment to look back at the decade that was for the Atlanta Braves.
Looking back on it now, this decade seems clearly divided into 3 distinct periods: endings, rebuilding, and beginnings.
2010 launched with the announcement of Bobby Cox’s retirement after one last season. The stalwart skipper had coached the team for 21 years, (plus another four during the late 80s/early 70s) with 14 straight division championships, 5 National League pennants, and a World Series to his name.
He was legend and the team celebrated his legacy with one final playoff appearance; a Wild Card berth earned after a wild season full of scrappy play and incredible come backs (note: the 2010 squad still holds in my heart the spot of favorite ever team).
Two years later Chipper Jones announced he would be retiring after one final season. The 2012 campaign was another rousing one as the Braves snatched another Wild Card spot, playing in the first-ever Wild Card game, which ended Chipper’s playing career on a sour note with the infamous “Infield Fly” call.
These two retirements, the last two members of the legendary 90s teams, closed the book on an entire era for Atlanta.
The following season saw the Braves take an all or nothing approach, exciting the fan base with the acquisitions of the Upton brothers to go along with Jason Heyward, Dan Uggla, and eventual breakout star Evan Gattis. It was a lineup full of hitters who loved swinging for the fences. It paid off in 2013 with a NL East crown, but diminishing returns the next season jumpstarted the next major era for Atlanta in the 2010s: the rebuilding years.
The next few seasons were lean years, with the Braves finishing dead last in 2016 and seeing Brian Snitker ascend to the position of manager. First, as a mid-season replacement for outgoing skipper Fredi Gonzalez, then getting the full time job the next year.
Snit was followed shortly thereafter by many of the young prospects that Atlanta had been collecting during the rebuild, such as Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies.
Ironically, John Coppolella, the General Manager who had done much of the legwork in stocking the farm system, (Albies was a Frank Wren signing, mind you) would see none of his work bear fruit after baseball handed him a lifetime ban for cheating the international free agent system.
The setbacks wouldn’t stop the march of progress, as the next major era, beginnings started in Atlanta.
Along with Swanson and Albies came Mike Foltynewicz, Mike Soroka, and of course Ronald Acuna, Jr., who helped lead the Braves to consecutive division titles to close out the decade. Those stars give Atlanta a bright future on the horizon for the next ten years.
The start of the 2020s is shaping up to be the opposite of what the start of the 2010s was: the dawning of an era.
And, just because I inexplicably haven’t mentioned him yet, let’s not forget the constant and consistent contributions of the one player who has played for the Braves in every single year of this waning decade: Freddie Freeman.
Freeman has been through a lot with this team over the past ten years, and with the team that surrounds him now, it’s nearly time to cash in.
20 For 2020
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a great 2019.
Here are my 20 sports wishes for 2020.
1.The Brunswick High Pirates win a minimum of 8 regular season games, break that six-game losing streak to Glynn Academy and win a region football championship.
Also, both Frederica and Glynn have fine football seasons in 2020.
Sean Pender’s Pirates are about to go on a nice run over the next 3-4 years.
- Jake Fromm returns for his senior season and leads the Georgia Bulldogs to a 12-0 regular season, a SEC title win over Auburn, and a National Championship win over Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.
- The Atlanta Braves win the World Series in 2020, and pick up a top line starter by the trading deadline.
This team is on the cusp of being really good for a long time.
- Ronald Acuna Jr. wins the National League MVP and hits 50 HR’s in the process.
This kid is a generational type player that will be the face of the franchise for the next decade.
- Local Glynn County High School basketball teams make deep runs in the state playoffs.
Pirate nation, you better appreciate what you have in head coach Chris Turner.
- Deep playoff runs for BHS, Frederica Academy, and Glynn Academy baseball squads next spring.
- The UGA baseball team makes it into a Super Regional in 2020.
- The UGA basketball team earns a bid to the big dance March Madness.
- Georgia Tech football team winning 6-7 games in 2020 and going to a bowl game.
- Clemson, Oklahoma, and Texas join the SEC, while the conference boots Missouri. Then Auburn makes a permanent move to the SEC East and the conference moves to 9 conference games per season to eliminate at least one cupcake game per season.
- UCF and South Florida join the ACC.
- Florida State becomes Florida State again and Florida continues to improve under Dan Mullen.
- The Atlanta Falcons draft Derrick Brown to improve that defense and spend 15 million per season to get Nick Saban as their new head coach.
Falcon press conferences with Saban at the helm would be must see TV.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars trade for Matthew Stafford at QB and bring in an offensive minded head coach.
Stafford with that defense would be a winning combination in Jacksonville and fill the damn stadium.
- Jason Bishop improves his overall sports knowledge. That will be a tough one. I know I’m asking a lot on this wish.
- The Miami Dolphins draft Tua. He can’t wear #13 though because Marino’s number is retired.
- The Atlanta Hawks winning 30 games. The Hawks are bad. Did I say the Hawks are very bad?
- UGA hiring Hugh Freeze as the new Offensive Coordinator but keep a close watch on cell phone usage. The entire SEC would be very afraid.
- Gus Malzahn is given a lifetime contract at Auburn. One could only hope right?
- And finally, Kirby Smart continues to be known as The Gator Daddy!
Have a great 2020 all!
Happy Anniversary
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Happy Holidays everyone, as we approach 2020, let’s take a sleigh ride down memory lane. 2020 happens to be a huge anniversary year for the University of Georgia.
It is the 40th Anniversary of the Bulldogs last national championship. The 40th Anniversary is the Rudy Anniversary. Wow-it has been that long!
Let’s take a look at the 1980 Georgia Bulldog season. We will look at three key games that led to the National Championship.
Georgia opened the season in Knoxville, this was the Herschel Walker’s coming out party.
After falling behind 15-0, Herschel put the Bulldogs on his back. The key play was a simple pitch play, Walker took the pitch and proceeded to run over Bill Bates on his way to the end zone.
November 8th, according to most, is the most memorable football play in Georgia football history. “Run, Lindsay, Run” as the Bulldogs beat the Gators 26-21.
January 1, 1981, The Bulldogs jumped on Herschel Walker’s back to capture the National Championship. I remember the players carrying Vince Dooley off the field on their shoulders, Georgia fans storming the field and the smiling face of Herschel.
Players like Buck Belue, Lindsay Scott, Amp Arnold, Eddie “Meat Cleaver” Weaver, Tim Crowe Scott Woemer, Freddie Gilbert and many others made the 1980 season a once in a lifetime championship run for the Georgia Bulldogs.
It’s nice to sit back and reminisce about the glory days of Georgia football. That memory has remained once in a lifetime, at least after 40 seasons.
Yes, Georgia has come close a couple times to capturing another National Championship. The most recent was January 8, 2018.
Georgia played Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship game in Atlanta; this game was an instant classic. The Bulldogs dominated the first three quarters of the game and led 20-10 entering the final period.
Alabama forced overtime by scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
Georgia’s offense stalled on their overtime possession and Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 51-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs a 23-20 lead.
On the first play of overtime, Jonathan Ledbetter and Devin Bellamy sacked freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for a 16-yard loss. The Georgia fans were celebrating.
On the next play, Tagovailoa found freshman DeVonta Smith for a 41-yard touchdown. Alabama captured yet another National Championship.
The victory was an Alabama triumph as much as it was a Georgia collapse.
Let’s take a stroll down that 40 year memory lane: Star Wars V; The Empire Strikes Back was the box office smash, Dallas and “who shot JR” was TV’s most popular program, Kenny Rogers “Lady” and Blondie “Call Me” were chart toppers, Jimmy Carter was President and the chants of USA, USA and “do you believe in miracles” rang through home in America as the USA Olympic Hockey team won the gold medal.
Kirby Smart has raised the bar for Georgia and it doesn’t surprise me that Georgia should push for the playoffs every season.
Vince Dooley, Herschel Walker, Buck Belue and company, let’s get together and Celebrate Your 40th Anniversary!
Tis’ The Season
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As we find ourselves in the midst of the holiday season, and with the NFL regular season winding down, I figured I’d put on my giving hat and pass out what I hope each NFC South team is able to treat themselves to this offseason.
And much like the holidays, each team may not be getting exactly what they want, but they need to remember it’s the thought that counts.
For the Carolina Panthers, I bring them a new offensive line. The Panthers history of drafting or signing offensive linemen in free agency is like our experiences in Target or Wal-Mart.
We visit either store with the mindset of buying just one thing, but ultimately leave with our hands full of crap we don’t need. In the case of the Panthers they either don’t buy the one thing they want, or they wind up buying the generic version that’s cheaply made because they spent half their budget on those other items.
It doesn’t matter if they have Cam Newton, Kyle Allen, or Ronnie “Sunshine” Bass from Remember the Titans under center, if they don’t improve their offensive line, they won’t be Super Bowl bound anytime soon.
It may not be the area they need the most improvement in, but there’s a new running back under the tree for the Atlanta Falcons.
Look, I get what they’ve tried to do with Devonta Freeman and he’s had some success, but he’s not the answer in the backfield.
Realistic expectations for Freeman are caught somewhere between Darren Sproles and Christian McCaffrey, which is great when you need a change of pace, but not when he’s your featured back.
Sure, the Falcons could use a new head coach and some help on the defensive side of the ball, but a running back will help take some pressure off Matt Ryan, while possibly helping him extend his career a bit.
I’m not gifting anything to the Saints team, as much as I am one player; Drew Brees. And for Brees I’m giving him the chalice, and never-ending life, from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.
Tom Brady is receiving a lot of attention for his level of play at 42 years old, but Brees is only 2 years younger, has sustained more injuries, and I’d argue is playing at a higher level.
New Orleans proved they were still one of the NFL’s top teams with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback, but there’s no substitute for what Brees means to that team.
More than likely, Brees only has a few more good years left, and I imagine Saints fans would do anything they could to keep him playing.
As for Tampa Bay, they’ll find a map in their stocking to help them figure out where the hell they’re going as an organization.
The Buccaneers have gone through head coaches this past decade like they’re a top tier, mid-major football program, only they’re firing them instead of losing them to better jobs.
It’s a toss-up as to whether or not their quarterback will throw for 400 yards or 4 interceptions in a game and there’s a distinct possibility both will happen.
The defense is inconsistent and basically, they are a team without an identity. The only downside is that most of the players in the NFL are too young to have ever had to use a map, so it may not quite have the desired result it was originally intended to have.
And like any good present, just in case they don’t like it, I’ll make sure to leave the receipt.
Turn The Page?
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There are really only two things that a fanbase can discuss at the water cooler when their pro football team is having a miserable season: potential upcoming draft picks and whether or not the coach should be able to keep his job.
That’s been the hot topic since it became clear that the Falcons weren’t going to turn their abysmal start into anything noteworthy: should Dan Quinn be fired?
The answer seems to have complicated itself as the Atlanta Falcons have managed to win back-to-back games again, bringing their win total over the past six games up to four (and, consequently, their draft pick slot number is rising). The main hole of the season and, really, of the last several years has been the defense.
They’ve seemingly righted their ship, helping Atlanta score road wins against the two best teams in the NFC in the Saints and the 49ers.
Maybe the players realized that they’d be subjected to a new head coach and coaching staff if they continued to tank for the rest of the season. Quinn has surely been on the hot seat for more than just this past season: his track record post-Super Bowl has been quite a disappointment.
This season may have just been the peak of how bad things could get for the Falcons.
The start of the season saw Matt Ryan get decimated and then culminated in a blocked punt, of all things.
Since then it’s been a parade of sloppy play and stupid penalties and post-game interviews about their rough start.
All of a sudden, the Atlanta Falcons, who have Ryan and Julio Jones and a host of other incredibly talented footballs players, were 1-7 to start the 2019 season. The team knew they weren’t making the playoffs before turkey was served at the end of November.
Is that Dan Quinn’s fault? The beginning of the season saw the both of Atlanta’s first round draft picks go down with injuries and after the defense coordination was reshuffled, they began to play at a significantly higher level.
Offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter and his ineffective and sterile offense can be fixed; and it’s clear enough that the Falcons roster likes playing for their current regime.
Is that enough to justify keeping Quinn around for at least another year – another attempt to recapture that 2017 glory?
The thing is even with the cold start and the hot streak over the past six weeks, things haven’t looked all that different from the previous years of Quinn running the show and calling the shots.
The Falcons have always been streaky under him, dating back to his first season at the helm. The team started off hot as hell (going 4-0 to begin the campaign) but went 4-8 the rest of the way to finish at .500 in 2015.
Even their Super Bowl season in 2016 was streaky. The Falcons didn’t see a win streak longer than 4 games at any point (playoffs, obviously, excluded).
So, while wining 4 out of the last 6 may seem to indicate that things have turned around for the Falcons, it’s really more indicative of the same old, same old and that hasn’t gotten winning results lately.
Dan Quinn and Falcons had to have come into this season knowing that Quinn’s job was on the line.
Frankly, it’s a miracle he wasn’t fired midseason, after that dreadful 1-7 start. But just because he wasn’t doesn’t mean that a chance won’t be made once the season wraps up here shortly. And despite his successes and his reputation in the locker room – maybe it’s time.
Jason Bishop Show w Kipp Branch December 20
The New Recruits
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2020 early signing period started this week with most of the nation’s top prospects signing their letters of intent for the school of their choosing. Let’s take a look at early grades for teams in our geographical region.
Clemson: A+. The Tigers on paper have the best signing class in the country. Dabo dipped into the state of Georgia and signed 6 players.
Clemson restocked along the offensive and defensive lines with 10 of their 23 signees coming into those position groups.
Headliner: Bryan Bresee: The DT from Maryland is the top-rated player in the country and comes into a position group at Clemson that has become an NFL pipeline.
Sleeper: Sergio Allen LB Fort Valley, GA: Allen is a baller and will be an All ACC player at Clemson. Great pickup by the Tigers.
Alabama: A. Another top 3 class by Nick Saban. Alabama just continues to reload year after year. Alabama restocked at defensive line by signing 6 players.
Headliner: Bryce Young: Young is the number one rated dual threat QB in the country and looks to be in line to replace Tua at QB.
Sleeper: Brian Branch S from Sandy Creek, GA looks to be another in the long line of great Alabama players at the safety position.
Auburn: A-. Gus recruited like a rock star during this cycle building off the momentum of the huge Iron Bowl victory.
Headliner: Tank Bigsby RB. Tank was the best running back in the state of Georgia this past season and when AU can run the football, championships follow close behind.
Sleeper: Marco Domio CB: AU needed help at corner and dipped into the JUCO ranks and found their man.
Georgia: B+. Kirby restocked the receiver room at UGA with some much-needed playmakers at the position by signing four, including flipping Jermaine Burton from LSU on signing day and dipped into Lakeland, Florida for burner Arian Smith.
If Kelee Ringo and Darnell Washington end up at UGA then this class becomes an A+.
Headliner: Kendall Milton the big RB from California is expected to come in and be the man if Swift goes pro.
Sleeper: Marcus Rosemy WR: This kid can take over games and just makes plays. That was something UGA was missing during key times in 2019.
Florida: C. The Gators should be a top 5 class every season due to being the flagship school in talent rich Florida.
Lakeland used to be a Florida stronghold but Clemson pulled 5-star RB Demarkus Bowman and UGA pulled 4-star burner Arian Smith right out of Florida’s backyard. The Gators did not address the RB position, which was much needed.
Headliner: Gervon Dexter DT: The Gators lost two key contributors on the DL and Dexter was a huge get for UF.
Sleeper: Joshua Braun OT: Huge pickup for UF flipping Braun from UGA after Sam Pittman took the Arkansas job. Braun will be a 3-4 year starter for Florida.
FSU: I for Incomplete. The Seminoles got a late jump into the pond after hiring Mike Norvell from Memphis to continue to fix the mess Jimbo left that gets blamed on Willie Taggart.
Norvell will get it done in Tallahassee but needs a couple of cycles to get FSU back on track.
Headliner: Demorie Tate CB: Tate is a cover corner at the place that produced Primetime and T-Buck. Tate will be a solid CB for FSU.
Sleeper: Lawrance Toafili RB: The Largo product will be a solid RB for FSU in the next three years. FSU has to get back to being more physical on offense.
Georgia Tech: B: The Jackets continue the process of rebuilding the roster away from the Paul Johnson dinosaur offense. It is still going to take time, but give Geoff Collins credit for pulling in a top 25 class.
Headliner: Jeff Simms QB. Simms is a dual threat QB from Sandalwood in Jacksonville and is just what the doctor ordered for GT. You can’t win without a good QB and GT found their man.
Sleeper: Bryce Gowdy WR. The Jackets signed 5 WR’s and Gowdy looks to be the leader of the position group that needs to transition the most while GT completes the roster overhaul.
Gateway Open
By: Mike Anthony
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Over the last year, ardent followers of college football were introduced to the transfer portal.
The creative name served to describe a new and more liberal process in which the NCAA facilitated student-athletes wishing to leave a school in which they are currently enrolled in hopes of landing at another school and playing the same sport.
Transfers are nothing new. While especially prominent in football and basketball, it’s never been world-shattering news for a player to begin his or her collegiate playing career at one school, only to move on to another. But the emergence of the transfer portal seems to have kicked the process into overdrive.
Whereas the process of transferring was previously a secretive method that involved third and fourth-party conversations that were rarely known by the public, the portal ostensibly makes the process of moving from one high-profile program to another akin to the offseason free agent frenzy of professional sports.
Initial reaction to the portal was pretty predictable. The multi-billion-dollar college sports industry is propped up by universities, boosters and media corporations that all have huge investments and stand to make even bigger profits off the success of 18-22 year old kids, who never see a cent of the money.
So, of course, those controlling entities have thrown plenty of negative opinions at a process that throws their assumed profits into flux.
All around the country, there have been cries of how there is no loyalty to schools on the part of athletes despite them accepting full scholarships.
There is also the widespread opinion that athletes aren’t showing any toughness or accountability, quickly leaving for another school if they don’t get their playing time right away.
Those complaints won’t stop anytime soon, but they are also the talking points of a side that is going to lose this battle.
Legislation has already passed paving the way for future collegiate athletes to financially benefit off of the use of their likeness, when their schools do the same.
The creation of the transfer portal is likely to be a similarly huge step forward for athletes, as it creates a sort of free agency for them despite several courts squashing attempts of college athletes to form any sort of alliance that could act in the same manner as players’ unions in professional leagues.
The transfer portal isn’t going to cool down anytime soon and for good reason.
Long gone are the days where someone has to be well into their professional career before society thinks he or she should be able to control the terms of their employment.
It’s plainly evident that millions of dollars of sales, marketing and promotion are firmly anchored to, and dependent upon, college kids.
And due to current regulations, those college kids are still smuggling extra food out of the campus cafeteria and depending on mom and dad for gas money to get home for the holidays, even if their face is flashing across your television screen on a College Football Playoff promo a dozen times each night.
The transfer portal isn’t an out for college athletes. It’s a long-overdue taste of just a little bit of sovereignty in a system that has never allowed it before.
Coaching Carousel
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When I realized earlier this year the SEC had no turnover within their head coaching ranks after last season, I reacted like you do when you get a perfect pump at the gas stations- I was caught by surprise, immediately told anyone around me what had transpired, and knew that it would be a while before it happened again.
So, while it was a nice story that no head coach lost their job, you knew a few wouldn’t be so lucky this time around.
Of the three coaching changes that have taken place, one you could see coming before the season even started (Arkansas), one made sense even though it wasn’t a foregone conclusion (Missouri), and the other seemed to take place in part due to a poorly timed, even though well executed, end zone celebration (Ole Miss).
Regardless of why any of the changes were made, the only thing that matters is “will their respective replacements be an upgrade?” That’s where things get a little more interesting.
If the adage about not hiring the same type of coach you just fired was ever engraved on a plaque, I imagine you’d see it placed sporadically throughout the hallways of the Ole Miss athletic facility.
In the span of three years the Rebels football team will have been coached by Hugh Freeze, Matt Luke, and now Lane Kiffin, who is basically Hugh Freeze on a steady diet of Red Bull, Jägermeister, and Birthday Cake Oreos.
As far as what Ole Miss can expect to see on the field, it’s a good hire. I think Kiffin is an above average coach, who will recruit well for the program.
The problem is you have no idea what’s going to happen off the field. It’s like driving 120 in a 35mph zone- it’s a great thrill ride, if you make it to the end, but more than likely you’re going to run off the road, drive head first into a tree, and die in a spectacular explosion. Welcome to the Lane Kiffin era, Oxford, I hope you have good airbags.
I can’t blame Eliah Drinkwitz for leaving App. State to go to Missouri- you can’t pass up a 400% raise in salary- but I do question why the Tigers are paying him that much ($4 million) to come to Columbia.
Drinkwitz was in the precarious situation in Boone where he inherited a very talented team and was able to lead them to a very successful season.
Was he the reason for the success, or just in the right place at the right time? Like most things, the answer is a mixture of the two, but that’s still an awful lot of money to pay a coach with one year of head coaching experience, especially when it didn’t seem like there was much competition for his services, outside of Missouri.
As for Arkansas, I don’t know much about Sam Pittman, except he seems to be popular among his peers and was an impactful recruiter at Georgia.
Pittman was the backup plan to the backup plan on the Razorbacks list of coaches, but it doesn’t matter how or why he got the job, only what he does with it now that he has it.
There may still be another coaching casualty after the bowl games, but for right now this is the new crop of SEC head coaches.
It may be a while before the conference goes a year without having any turnover; my bet is at least two of these coaches will be contributors as to why.
