It’s late in the offseason, so that means it’s time for newspapers and blogs alike to stir up some manure and/or feces ahead of the start of a new season.
The latest example? The Montgomery Advertiser‘s Josh Moon.
Ahead of the start of SEC Media Days this coming week, Moon posted a ranking of the coaches in that conference based on what’s described as “entertainment value.” His No. 1? South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier.
Based on any metric you could possibly devise, Moon is absolutely correct. Spurrier is easily the most entertaining head coach in the SEC -- and (ever-so-slightly) ahead of Mike Leach in the whole of college football. In fact, he’s so far ahead of the rest of the conference pack, at least No. 2 and possibly No. 3 should’ve been left blank in deference to the Ol’ Ball Coach’s intrinsic ability to entertain fans and foes alike.
For the most part, Moon’s list is what it is: a lot of fun and really well done. I will, though, for the sake of argument (and a weekend post on a slooow day) take exception to the slotting of two of the coaches.
First, Nick Saban is at No. 8 in the 14-team league. Here’s Moon’s rationale:“Whine if you want, Bama fans, but you know it’s true. Watching Alabama football games is slightly less boring than C-SPAN’s coverage of a Congressional hearing on interest rates. I’d rather watch soccer. There’s more scoring.
And then Saban strolls to the mic for interviews and acts as if he’s working towards solving world hunger. Other than the occasional news conference tantrum and two watchable games per year, it’s dreadful. It’s like “Boardwalk Empire": all the pieces are there, and they usually work OK, but it’s so boring your eyes bleed.”
Maybe it’s just me, but I love just about everything about Tuscaloosa Saban. Love watching Saban’s Tide football team play on the field, love listening to Saban any time off of it, love the ofttimes condescending nature of Saban’s tone with the media. His views on fast-paced offenses are self-serving, but nobody’s perfect.
To me, Nick Saban is THE most fascinating person/personality in all of college football -- yes, above Spurrier, Leach, Delany, Slive and the whole lot of them. Does that equate to entertaining? No, especially not if compared to the OBC or The Pirate. With all due respect to the esteemed Mr. Moon, though, No. 8 is just way too low for my tastes.
Even more “indefensible?” Les Miles at No. 4.
OK, this slotting shouldn’t and won’t stand without some (lighthearted) push back.
Behind Spurrier? Absolutely; every other current head coach in the country stands in line behind the OBC. Behind Auburn’s Gus Malzahn (Moon’s No. 2) and Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin (No. 3)? Nope.
Les Miles rappelling down a building... Les Miles butt-tweeting... Les Miles making out with a pig... Les Miles exalting and basking in swatting away the basketball dreams of a child... Les Miles clapping like a seal that got kicked out of the rookery for said clapping... Les Miles just being Les Miles is infinitely more entertaining than anything anyone not named Spurrier could ever hope of putting on the table.
A solid offseason list and good fodder for discussion, but Miles at No. 4? C’mon now Mr. Moon.
(Writer’s note: excellent work, good stuff. Just having a little weekend fun.)