After the wild 2020 season, we now know anything is possible. Many are expecting Vanderbilt to once again dominate the conference in 2021. Since his arrival in 2011, Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin has built a dominant force not seen in the modern-day Southeastern Conference. Vandy will be competing for their 5th consecutive SEC Championship. Sadly, Vanderbilt did end the SEC’s 14 year run of BCS Championships when they had to forfeit the game because finals were the same day as the bowl game.

Down on the Plains, Auburn is still awaiting word from the NCAA whether the investigation into the recruitment of Cam Newton is over or not. Meanwhile, Coach Chizik has just assembled his 12th consecutive top five recruiting class, and the team is looking to contend for the title again this year, narrowly losing to the Commodores in the inaugural SEC Championship Game played in Orlando in 2020.

Alabama head coach Les Miles is looking to improve on Alabama’s lackluster 12-3 record. Alabama will feature one of the premiere backs in the nation this year, when 2020 signee Mercury Watkins takes the field. Watkins, 6-8, 345 lbs. and with 4.1 speed is expected to contend immediately for playing time at the tailback position.

At Georgia, Head Coach Gus Malzahn is trying to take that next step with the Dogs, and knock off Vanderbilt for the SEC East. Since Malzahn took over the team in 2012, Georgia has been a contender every year, especially once they broke their Gator jinx. Amazingly, this will be the first year since becoming a college coach that Coach Malzahn will have a starter returning at the quarterback position.

Speaking of Florida, everyone is anxiously awaiting the return of former, and new Head Coach Steve Spurrier. After seeing their fortunes decline over the past decade, Spurrier is coming back to try and rekindle the old flame. Everyone is hoping for the return of fun and gun, but some are expecting fade and fizzle.

South Carolina replaced Spurrier with one of his disciples, and a Gamecock legend. After finally living up to his potential in the 2011 season, taking South Carolina to their first ever SEC Championship and BCS Championship, and a short stint with the NFL expansion Birmingham Boll Weevils, Stephen Garcia was added to Coach Spurriers staff in 2016. Pleasing many alumni, he was formally named the new head coach when Spurrier returned to his alma mater.

At Tennessee, fans are anxious for Coach Dooley to finally end their nine game skid to the cross-state Commodores. They’ll be counting heavily on senior quarterback Bucky Prichard to provide the offense to push them to the top of the SEC East. After a stellar season where he passed for 5,436 yards and 63 TDs, the Vols are expecting even more from him this year.

At Ole Miss, the Rebel Black Bears will be looking to finally break out of the SEC cellar. With third year coach Mark Richt calling the shots, the fans finally have something to be excited about. The new Mark Richt era shocked many in this laid back community in 2019 when Colonel Reb ran to midfield before the Mississippi State game, and urinated on the Mississippi State emblem. The Bulldogs have had this game circled ever since.

At Mississippi State, Dan Mullen is once again hoping to live up to the expectations of following up another 9-6 season. A heartbreaking loss to LSU late in the season was soothed somewhat by a bowl win over Penn State. By winning this game, they ascertained that Coach Joe Paterno would be back on the sidelines in his Hoveround for the 2021 season, still seeking that elusive 500th win.

LSU Head Coach Chris Petersen will be looking to rebound from a disappointing 2020 season. After losing four games in 2020, Petersen was heard to say he’d eat the Tiger Stadium grass if he knew that would help his team win more games. Expect LSU to concentrate a lot of their offense behind their twin towers on the offensive line; Samson O’Neal 7-1, 425 lbs. and Stanley Robertson, 6-11, 412 lbs.

At Arkansas, Hog fans are hoping to finally remove the tag of “Only SEC Team Without a Conference Championship”. Their throwback to the golden years of Woody Hayes, known then as “Three yards and a Cloud of Dust” has now been dubbed “Slop and Wallow” in Fayetteville. Though not a very glamorous name, this ball control offense has proven effective in holding many high-scoring offenses to a fraction of their average.

With Joker Phillips surprisingly successful presidential run in 2020, Kentucky was left scrambling for a new coach. Returning to Kentucky as head coach, Andre Woodson is expected to call upon his many years of experience as a journeyman professional player. When accepting the job, Woodson stated that there isn’t much he hasn’t seen, and he has a few things that he thinks will work in this league. We shall see.

In closing, let me say that it’s hard not to pick Vanderbilt to win it all again this year. It has even been suggested that the BCS would reschedule their game if Vanderbilt wins a bid again, and there is once again a conflict between school exams and the bowl.

Go ahead and call in your bets now. Nostradamus ain’t got nothing on me.

By now, you know it’s not Bob Stoops nor Chris Petersen nor Dan Mullen. Gator fans, meet your new head coach Will Muschamp. Muschamp comes from being the head coach in waiting and defensive coordinator at Texas to returning to where he spent some of his youth in Gainesville, Florida. He is known for his relentless ability to fire up a football team, being a great recruiter and his excellent defenses he has put on the field over his short career.

Muschamp started his collegiate football career on the gridiron at the University of Georgia, where he walked on and played safety from 1991-1994 for Ray Goff.

Muschamp’s coaching career is as follows:

• 1995-1996 Auburn (GA)
• 1998 West Georgia (DB)
• 1999 Eastern Kentucky (DB)
• 2000 Valdosta State (DC)
• 2001-2004 Louisiana State (LB/DC)
• 2005 Miami Dolphins (AHC/DC)
• 2006-2007 Auburn (DC)
• 2008-2010 Texas (HCIW/LB/DC)

His most noteworthy tenure, aside from Texas, is where he coached under Nick Saban and was the defensive coordinator at LSU. His LSU defenses led the nation in both scoring defense (11.0 points per game) and total defense (252.0 yards per game) in 2003. Not to mention, they won the National Title that year.

When he resigned from Auburn in 2007, Muschamp signed with Texas and quickly became the highest paid assistant in the Big 12, making $425,000 per year. Texas announced that Muschamp would succeed Mack Brown when he decided to retire, but there was no timetable on Brown’s decision. Texas then increased Muschamp’s salary after the announcement to $900,000 per year and guaranteed he would get a five-year deal upon Brown’s retirement. Obviously, that never happened.

What is Florida Getting?

The Gators Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said Will Muschamp was and has been their guy from the get-go. Whether or not that is true, I’ll let you determine that. However, Florida is getting a brilliant, young defensive mind who is a relentless recruiter and has produced great defenses during his short career. Muschamp is a Saban protégé, so it’s safe to say he learned from one of the best.

Florida might not come out like gangbusters next year, but you can bet they will be in it to win it with this young innovator. Unlike the 2010 season, Muschamp will have this team showing fire and signs of life, and Gator fans will be proud of the package that is put on the field in 2011.

Chris Petersen was also mentioned as to being the possible head coach if Stoops turned the job down. Contingency plans were thought to run through Boise, Idaho.

Yesterday afternoon, there was a report from TulsaWorld.com about Bob Stoops denying the contract negotiations with Florida via text.

“Not true, whatsoever,” Stoops replied in a text to the Tulsa World when informed of the online story that originated in Florida. “Wow, they have a bad informant.”

There was another report that Chris Petersen and Boise had shot down rumors about accepting the job at Florida.

So, Florida’s top two coaches were out, it seemed.

Enter Will Muschamp – the Gators made things interesting with the hire. Debating whether he’s qualified or not, that will be for a different time. However, Foley said Muschamp was the targeted guy the whole time, and the guy he wanted from the beginning.

I will bet my boots that Gator AD Jeremy Foley made his first call to Stoops to gauge interest. Stoops either said he wasn’t interested in the job right off or he mulled over it a day or two. Either way, Stoops garnered all the attention in Norman – and on “Gator insider” message boards – taking the pressure and the nation’s eyes off Florida and Jeremy Foley. Then, Stoops, when appropriate, shot down the rumors via text to TulsaWorld.com that he is not coming to Florida. Was it strategic timing? Was Stoops creating a smoke screen for the country and his archenemy Texas, allowing Florida to steal their coach in waiting inconspicuously and create a massive meltdown in Austin? I think so – talk about kicking them while down!

No one saw this coming, not even Texas. The Gators just messed with Texas and won!

Once again, the most attractive head coaching job in America is available.  The new Head Coach at Florida will walk into $4 million a year, the most feared stadium in football, and recruiting backyard more fertile than Kate Gosselin loaded up on pregnancy hormones.

University of Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley will have no shortage of willing replacements.  Here is the short list as I see it…

#1 – Chip Kelly

Kelly is the head coach of Oregon.   The offensive genius has made Oregon the top program in the Pac-10 after only 2 seasons.  His record as a head coach is 22-3. He’s currently prepping the Ducks for the BCS National Championship game.

Why he should: He’ll get to leave Oregon, which will always have built in difficulties when it comes to recruiting.  He’ll get a chance to run his offense with the best athletes in the best conference in college football.

Why he won’t: Timing is a big hurdle.  Will Florida be willing to wait mid-January for Kelly?  Will the other names on Florida’s list be willing to wait?

#2 – Jon Gruden

This guy has won a Super Bowl in the state of Florida.  He has been close with Urban Meyer and the University of Florida since he left Bucs.  His name was floated after Meyer’s initial retirement.  He brings a large variety of scowls and a surfer’s haircut from 1993.  It was rumored that he accepted the Head Coach position at The U, and the other state school immediately got really nervous.  He’d be deadly on the recruiting trail.

Why he should: He wouldn’t have to kill himself like he would in the NFL.  There is plenty of stress at the college level, ask Meyer, but it’s not like NFL stress.  Gruden would do very well at the college level and Florida would be the perfect fit.

Why he won’t: The Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, and Carolina Panthers will likely all be interested in Gruden.  The NFL might be where his heart is and he’d have his pick of some nice jobs.

#3 – Chris Petersen

Chris Petersen has been winning games at Boise St, which I think is in Narnia.  No coach has done so much with so little since… Urban Meyer.  Peterson feels like Urban Meyer, and the rumor is Meyer himself recommended Peterson to Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley.

Why he should: Like Kelly, it’s a chance to play with the big boys.  He’s proven not to be a fluke by consistently beating more talented teams in bowl games.  The idea of Peterson with Florida’s caliber of talent is exciting.  It’s also a chance to escape the mythical land of Boise.

Why he won’t: He hasn’t left Boise yet, despite being targeted for other great jobs.  Maybe he’s comfortable being the guy on the outside?

#4 – Dan Mullen

Mullen is the current head coach at Mississippi State and the former offensive coordinator at Florida under Meyer.   He’s done a great job at arguably the worst job in the SEC including beating Meyer at the Swamp on October 16^th.  Even if he doesn’t get the Florida job, he won’t be at Mississippi State for long.

Why he should: He’d take the job if offered.  He would be the fastest and smoothest transition.

Why he won’t: Somebody higher on the list accepts the job.  Mullen would swim across the Gulf of Mexico for this job.

#5 – Bob Stoops

Stoops is the current head coach at Oklahoma and was the defensive coordinator for Florida’s first national championship team in 1996.  He’s 128-31 as a head coach including the 2000 National Championship.

Why he should: He was at the top of Florida’s list in 2001 after Steve Spurrier went to the Washington Redskins and again after Ron Zook was fired, so Florida has shown plenty interest in the past.  Each time Stoops got a raise from Oklahoma.

Why he won’t: He’s past his prime.  I don’t think he’s still the top name on the Florida list.

Others Possible Candidates

Former Florida Head Coach Steve Spurrier, Stanford Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, New York Jets Offensive Coordinator and former Florida QB Brian Shottenheimer, Former Defensive Coordinator Charlie Strong, Jacksonville Head Coach and former Florida QB Kerwin Bell and absolute disaster Ron Zook (I’m totally kidding).

What do you think Gator fans?  Who do you want to replace Meyer?

Here is a list of coaches Saturday Down South thinks Florida will target to be their next head coach:

• Dan Mullen
• Bob Stoops
• Chris Petersen
• Chip Kelly
• Jon Gruden
• Bobby Petrino

There is probably more on the list, but this is a quick summation of possible targets for the Gators.

Be sure to see the full analysis over replacing Urban Meyer here and who the next coach should be.