6. Houston Nutt - Ole Miss Rebels - The Right Reverend has slowly climbed up these types of rankings put out by various members of the media over the years mainly due to longevity. While Nutt has had moderate sustained success, he has never gotten a team over the hump having never been to a BCS game in 12 seasons as a BCS coach. The closed he came was in '06 at Arkansas when the Hogs climbed as high as #4 in the polls the week before Thanksgiving. That team, in typical Nutt fashion, lost its last 3 games of the season once expectations were raised to finish 10-4. Nutt has always fared well as an underdog and tends to go against the grain with whatever the national media thinks his team will do. Luckily for the Rebels, Ole Miss was picked 5th in the West by the coaches and dead last by the media.5. Mark Richt - Georgia Bulldogs - Before Richt was hired to coach the Bulldogs in '01, only Tennessee and Florida had represented the SEC's Eastern Division in the annual Conference Championship game. Since then UGA has played for the SEC title in Atlanta 3 times, winning twice, and losing a divisional tiebreaker to UT once more. Richt has averaged 10, yes 10, wins a years over 9 seasons since taking over for Jim Donnan. So why is he #5 on this list? Every coach above him has at least 1 National Championship to their credit. Those speak volumes. Maybe that's why there have been some grumblings out of Athens that have Richt on the proverbial "hot seat". Personally, I think they would be nuts to can him, but UGA folks are spoiled.
4. Steve Spurrier - South Carolina Gamecocks - The Old Ball Coach would've found himself at or near the top of this list a decade ago. However, after stops in Washington, DC, with the Redskins, and now South Carolina, Spurrier seems to have lost some of his magic from his days in Gainesville when he won the '96 National Championship and 6 SEC Championships. Some believe, as I do myself, that the game has simply evolved from the years when Spurrier's fun 'n gun offenses were considered unstoppable. While Spurrier has yet to have a losing season in Columbia, he has yet to win more than 8 games. He has, what most consider, his most talented Gamecock team this season, but will he finally relive the glory days?3. Les Miles - LSU Tigers - Yeah. Yeah. I know. Les Miles at #3? What about his 8-8 SEC record over the past 2 seasons? Or the Ole Miss game last year? Or that he never answers a question with a straight answer? Or that he can't even wear a hat correctly, instead just places it gently on top of his head? Laugh all you want, but let the number speak for themselves. In 5 seasons at LSU, Miles has won 1 National Championship, 1 SEC Championship in 2 appearances, won 2 BCS games, 4 top 10 recruiting classes, and 1 SportsCenter commercial. Love him or hate him, the man has had success.
1b. Urban Meyer - Florida Gators - Success seems to follow Meyer around, and it's no coincedence. Meyer led the Utah Utes to their first undefeated season in '05, and they became the first BCS-Buster with a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and upset of Pittsburgh. Upon replacing the much maligned Ron Zook at Florida, Meyer has only gone 57-10, won 2 National and SEC Championships, 3 BCS victories, and coached Tim Tebow. And he did all of that even with serious health issues that sidelined him during the offseason!
1a. Nick Saban - Alabama Crimson Tide - Lil' Nicky may not be liked anywhere but Tuscaloosa, but it's because he's one hell of a coach. And because LSU fans feel like they're entitled to everything and everyone. Regardless, Saban is known for his swarming defenses, smashmouth running games, white, game managing QBs, and for being an all-around prick. Sounds like the makings of a great coach. And Satan, I mean, Saban lives up to the billing. He's won 2 National Championships, 3 SEC Championships in 4 appearances, and ranks a top of my list.
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