Six SEC coaches facing the most pressure this spring

#1

spudvol

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#1
1. Butch Jones, Tennessee: Jones knows that his relationship with fans took lumps in 2016. The overwhelming favorites to win the SEC East last year (whether they deserved to be or not) lost four conference games. Last year was a major disappointment at Tennessee, and Vols fans want -- and deserve -- more. Injuries and locker room issues derailed this team in 2016, but Jones did himself no favors with his "Champions of Life" comment or transforming fans eagerness for five-star prospects into being happy with "five-star hearts."

It's just too much for Vols fans at times, and they want real results.

In Jones' defense, Tennessee has been to three straight bowl wins for the first time since the 1994-96 seasons and had three straight nine-win seasons. However, with so many solid departures on his roster and an almost complete offensive overhaul, the deck is stacked against Tennessee. But being overlooked could be a good thing for Jones and the Vols.

3 straight 9 win seasons?

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#3
#3
Why would such a great coach be under pressure since this season was solely due to injuries. Who is the author of this nonsense, so we can rip him to shreds?

On a serious note, how is Hugh Freeze not number one?
he's built up some credibilty beating Bama twice, and getting to that sugar bowl. plus i think Ole Miss knows, that in the landscape of things, they're way better off competitively speaking now, than they have been in a very long time.
 
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#4
#4
Why would such a great coach be under pressure since this season was solely due to injuries. Who is the author of this nonsense, so we can rip him to shreds?

On a serious note, how is Hugh Freeze not number one?

The talking sports media heads have had CBJ on the hot seat for the past two years and it's hurt our recruiting. UTAD needs to publicly push back on this.
 
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#5
#5
Why would such a great coach be under pressure since this season was solely due to injuries. Who is the author of this nonsense, so we can rip him to shreds?

On a serious note, how is Hugh Freeze not number one?

I'd keep Freeze at 3 just because he's in Mississippi, which makes any coach's job that much harder. Sumlin should be at 1 IMHO, he's not produced better than 4-4 in conference play since 2012, and even dipped to 3-5 in 2014. I'm surprised he survived 2016 with his job.
 
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#6
#6
I'd keep Freeze at 3 just because he's in Mississippi, which makes any coach's job that much harder. Sumlin should be at 1 IMHO, he's not produced better than 4-4 in conference play since 2012, and even dipped to 3-5 in 2014. I'm surprised he survived 2016 with his job.

he is kind of in the same boat at CBJ.

the big giant difference...Sumlin is in the West, CBJ is in the pathetic East. so he gets a little benefit of the doubt.

i'd bet if polled, "do you think Sumlin could win the East with TN's roster either of the last 2 years?" the answered would be yes.
 
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#7
#7
The talking sports media heads have had CBJ on the hot seat for the past two years and it's hurt our recruiting. UTAD needs to publicly push back on this.
really? our lame duck AD needs to give CBJ a vote of confidence? yeah, that'd help.
 
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#8
#8
he's built up some credibilty beating Bama twice, and getting to that sugar bowl. plus i think Ole Miss knows, that in the landscape of things, they're way better off competitively speaking now, than they have been in a very long time.

I mean from off the field stuff though? No expect on Ole Miss but from what i have read it looks pretty bad there, as if they will have no choice but to fire him.
 
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#9
#9
The talking sports media heads have had CBJ on the hot seat for the past two years and it's hurt our recruiting. UTAD needs to publicly push back on this.

The admin could, if CBJ would give them a reason. The on the field issue have hurt recruiting far more than anyone media speculation will ever do.
 
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#10
#10
Why would such a great coach be under pressure since this season was solely due to injuries. Who is the author of this nonsense, so we can rip him to shreds?

On a serious note, how is Hugh Freeze not number one?

also, the only reason he's on the list at all is because of the NCAA issues. otherwise, he and Dan Mullen can do whatever they want down there imo. both of those programs are completely different competitively than what they're used to being.
 
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#11
#11
I'd keep Freeze at 3 just because he's in Mississippi, which makes any coach's job that much harder. Sumlin should be at 1 IMHO, he's not produced better than 4-4 in conference play since 2012, and even dipped to 3-5 in 2014. I'm surprised he survived 2016 with his job.

Yeah, I can see that. Funny, I was mad when we didn't get Sumlin.
 
#12
#12
I mean from off the field stuff though? No expect on Ole Miss but from what i have read it looks pretty bad there, as if they will have no choice but to fire him.
depends on what else they may find as a result of the investigation.

he could definitely wind up fired as a result.

but, and i say this knowing it's bigger than this statement, the only reason he's on the list is the NCAA issues.
 
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#13
#13
i'm not a EA fan, he's a gator, and his pieces just come off, well, snobby. but, in general, i don't disagree with this list, as far as CBJ being #1.

the East being what it is, was there for us the last 2 years and we didn't get it done.

just the fact we're in the East, and the talent has been upgraded to be competitive with FL and GA, if not a little better than the last two years, is reason enough.

if we were in the West, or had we won the EAst either of hte past two seasons, and he'd keep his mouth shut at times, he wouldn't be on the list at all.
 
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#16
#16
Yeah, I can see that. Funny, I was mad when we didn't get Sumlin.

Well, neither Sumlin nor Butch can beat Alabama, and both of them lose games every season that they should win; I'd say the deciding factor would be that the east is has been easier, but Sumlin managed to lose to 2016 Mississippi State, and 2015 Missouri, which were pretty bad. Maybe not Vandy, USCe, but still bad.
 
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#17
#17
Well, neither Sumlin nor Butch can beat Alabama, and both of them lose games every season that they should win; I'd say the deciding factor would be that the east is has been easier, but Sumlin managed to lose to 2016 Mississippi State, and 2015 Missouri, which were pretty bad. Maybe not Vandy, USCe, but still bad.

they did beat Bama in, what, 2013? and he's had a heisman winner. and sent plenty to the NFL over the last few years, recruiting still at a high level.

and aTm had similar issues with injury, not quite the volume, but you go w/out Garrett, two starting WR's and you lose your qB late in the season.

and he's had attrition at an elite level too.

there's definitely similarites to draw from, but i like you, think the benefit of the doubt goes to the fact he's in the West, not the East.
 
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#18
#18
BS article. None of the listed coaches are on the hot seat except maybe Freeze for cheating. Butch is safe for at least two years. New AD will back him IMO.
 
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#21
#21
The talking sports media heads have had CBJ on the hot seat for the past two years and it's hurt our recruiting. UTAD needs to publicly push back on this.

You think its the media's fault Butch's recruiting is starting to fade? It has nothing to do with on the field results? Let's be honest about Butch's recruiting, he's actually on par with Dooley in terms of average ranking. Also he took advantage of 2 classes filled with legacy players and now the majority of those players have moved on.
 
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#22
#22
BS article. None of the listed coaches are on the hot seat except maybe Freeze for cheating. Butch is safe for at least two years. New AD will back him IMO.
except that it didn't say "hot seat", it said 6 coaches feeling the most pressure. take it however you want, but it didn't specifically say any of these guys were on the verge of getting fired at the end of the season.

i think CBJ will be here thru 2018 as well. doesn't mean there's not pressure this season, considering how the last two have gone, and we're in the East, and that #6 on this list is a guy that won the east both of hte last two years.

what it really says is "the east is bad, someone needs to step up, and not have the appearance of backing in, or letting it slip away"
 
#25
#25
Well, neither Sumlin nor Butch can beat Alabama, and both of them lose games every season that they should win; I'd say the deciding factor would be that the east is has been easier, but Sumlin managed to lose to 2016 Mississippi State, and 2015 Missouri, which were pretty bad. Maybe not Vandy, USCe, but still bad.

Sumlin has at least one win against Saban.

I wonder if SECW fans cry about it not being fair that they have to play Alabama every year? Lol
 
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