Agree MC, much of these rankings are like this. Muschamp is now a HC, how is he doing? Remember this, he had been a DC for one year before coming to LSU, yep one year at Valdosta St. If Lanes name wasn't Kiffin, he wouldn't have had these jobs. Chief has spent 25 years coaching in the SEC, most of those as a DC. Check Cams resume, not many can match it in college or Pro's.
Yes, after his failures, he certainly does have something to prove and a lot to gain if successful at Alabama as OC. Unfortunately for us LSU fans, a humbled and motivated Kiffin along with the fact that "he had a good 3 years as an OC once"* might just prove to a recipe for success. * Note: If Red says it, I'll consider it a "fact."
A program slammed with sanctions and it's called a talent stockpile? Top third in the nation in total offense (top 25 twice IIRC) in the years he was at USC says something about his effectiveness, does it not? The improvements in Tennessee's offense when he took over make another statement, don't they? The mud in those waters you refer to come from where? Him acting like a pompous, entitled guy who was clearly over his head? Most definitely. I laughed at that myself. His results should give anyone pause when asserting his inability as an offensive coordinator. By no means do I claim he deserves this high of a ranking. But there's reason to suspect he'll be able to do well in that position.
So what? Mettenberger had been here two years and couldn't take the job away from Jefferson and Lee. Cameron transformed him.
Four straight years of top-5 recruiting. More 5-star players than anybody. Alabama had to vacate a bunch of games for sanctions but it didn't keep them from winning. I haven't challenged his credentials for the job. I'm saying that he has a lot to prove in the position he is in before getting anointed in a ranking like this. Cameron's credentials blow Kiffen's away and he's actually proved he can be an OC in the today's SEC. Do you think he will stick around very long? I can't imagine him being the kind of subservient assistant that Nick demands for very long. Like you say, a pompous, entitled guy. A head coach job somewhere will call him soon, I expect.
Mett was considered to be the front runner for the starting job ahead of Murray at UGA. He wasn't "transformed."
The talent was always there with Mett, but if talent alone were enough, he would have run Jefferson straight to the bench his first year. Instead, he sat a year, then had a season where he only occasionally lived up to expectations. But 8 months of coaching from Cam turned him into a QB that easily would have been at least a 2nd round pick if not for the knee injury.
We discussed what was wrong at USC, here. It was their depth on defense that was the main talking point. That's what caused them problems especially when the injury bug hit. I'm a bit lost on vacating games and its comparison to lost scholarships. Those lost scholarships resulted (along with inept coaching) in that stretch we saw with Shula. I believe I've said the same thing. I know I've tried. I don't know how long Kiffin remains. I'm not greatly concerned about that point. The offense hasn't changed with McElwain, Nuss, and won't with Kiffen. It'll be interesting to see how he does. I'm cautiously optimistic he may have realized it's time to rethink his self-elevation. Time will only tell.
