Fall is (briefly) here again, and it’s one of the best times of the year. From the changing leaves to the non-oppressive heat to football all weekend, it’s a great time to be alive.

Winter will be here before you know it, so make sure you’re spending plenty of time outside (except when your favorite teams are playing) in the coming weeks.

Here are your questions for this week’s SDS Mailbag:

@MagicLoren:

So, when will Butch Jones graduate from Nick Saban U?

Alabama coach Nick Saban has a history of helping coaches revitalize their careers. He’s done it for guys like Steve Sarkisian, Mike Locksley and Lane Kiffin just in the past few years alone.

Former Tennessee coach Butch Jones is entering his second year as an Alabama analyst/intern. So, how long will it be before he moves on to bigger and better things?

Well, the issue here is that Jones is in Year 2 with Saban and still isn’t in an on-field role. Considering the staff turnover Alabama had this offseason, it’s pretty significant that Jones didn’t land one of those spots.

FootballScoop.com made a case recently that Jones should be a head coach again soon. I agree, but I think it depends on your definition of “soon.” Let’s have Jones move into an on-field role at Alabama or elsewhere next year and then look to land a Group of 5 head coaching gig. He did do really well at Central Michigan before landing the Tennessee job, after all.

Trent:

Across Arkansas message boards, a lot of fans are calling for Chad Morris to be fired if he goes winless in the SEC again this year. Do you agree with that take? Also, do you think firing a coach that soon into their tenure helps or hurts a program? I can see how it establishes a culture where losing isn’t accepted, but it also ruins any chances of continuity, which is important in college football, right?

It certainly would be disappointing if the Razorbacks went 0-8 in SEC play again this year. They missed a good chance for a win in Week 2 when they lost at Ole Miss.

And the rest of the SEC schedule doesn’t do them any favors. A Week 7 matchup at Kentucky might be their best chance at winning, since Kentucky is without starting QB Terry Wilson for the season. However, even that game won’t be easy.

You’re right, Trent — firing a coach after 2 seasons isn’t always a great idea, but 0-16 in the SEC isn’t an easy pill to swallow. If that happens, the Hogs would be the first team since 2012-13 Kentucky to finish 0-8 in SEC play in back-to-back seasons.

Morris, to his credit, is doing a good job on the recruiting trails. He brought in 11 4-star players in 2019 — Arkansas’s most 4- and 5-star signees since at least 2000 (when 247Sports’ recruiting service came around).

Recruiting is the name of the game. Since he’s doing a great job there, I’d be willing to give him a Year 3 even if he goes 0-8 this year. However, if he didn’t make a significant jump in 2020, it would be time to cut ties. Three years is enough to get a good read on a coach, in my opinion.

@SChinni12:

Since Mizzou won 50-0 in the 500th game at Faurot Field, what are some other cool scores or statistics that you remember that have had cool coincidences like that?

That’s a really tough question to research. However, two such situations in recent memory stand out to me.

First, I’ll go with one my friend Robert sent. Just last week, on the 18th anniversary of 9/11, the New York Mets scored 9 runs on 11 hits in a 9-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. That’s enough to give you chills. Especially when you consider that Mike Piazza’s home run in the first game after 9/11 back in 2001 was a huge moment for the grieving city.

The other is Maryland’s Week 1 victory this year. The Terrapins took down Howard 79-0. That number is significant because it’s the same jersey number former Maryland OL Jordan McNair wore before he died following a Terp practice last year.

It was Mike Locksley’s first game at the helm of the Maryland program after taking over for DJ Durkin. What a great coincidence and an incidental tribute to mark a new era in the Maryland program.

@Dobbe8:

What are the worst household chores?

I can only speak to my own experience. Chores that I enjoy doing are mowing lawns and doing dishes. My wife loves to cook, and makes delicious meals several times a week, so it’s only fair that I do the dishes to give her the tools she needs to continue making great dinners, right?

I used to hate doing the dishes when I lived alone, but now that a clean sink = good food, I’ve become conditioned to not mind it so much.

But that’s not what you’re asking here. The worst household dishes are, in order:

  1. Folding laundry — A job that is seemingly never done.
  2. Changing the cat litter — Litter-ally (get it?) the only bad part about owning a cat.
  3. Changing the bed sheets — Why is it so freaking hard to put a fitted sheet on a bed?
  4. Watering the plants — I didn’t even want these stupid plants in the first place.
  5. Vacuuming — Why do my dog, cat and wife all shed so much?

There you have it. Those are the chores I’ll put off as long as possible, especially the second one. I won’t do it until the cat can’t stand to look at me anymore.

BONUS: Dobbe’s Locks of the Week went 0-3 last week, making him 0-for-7 in Weeks 2 and 3 of the season. If you aren’t fading these picks, you’re doing something wrong! Here are his sure-to-be-wrong choices for Week 4 action:

  • Tennessee at Florida (-14) — I didn’t believe in the Gators until last week when Kyle Trask strutted onto the field. They should be significantly better on offense without Franks.
  • Kentucky at Mississippi State (Over 48.5) — I’ll ride this Kentucky over streak forever. They’re 3-0 this year and have gone over in 5 straight games going back to last year.
  • Washington at BYU (+6.5) — When will Vegas respect BYU? I’ve loved their confidence this year, even in the loss to Utah.

Dobbe’s Locks of the Week season record: 3-9

Have a question for next week’s Mailbag? Tweet at us using #SDSMailbag or email me at ASpencer@SaturdayDownSouth.