SEC Subplots for the 2011 College Football Season

What’s a football season without predictions, storylines, and subplots? The 2011 SEC college football season should provide everything needed for a Hollywood movie. The SEC has new coaches, new players hoping for new results, and old coaches, old players with some hoping for the same old results while others praying for new results.

Here are a few storylines that might be worth taking note of over the next five months.

I am Genius See Me Fail or Succeed?

Can Charlie Weis consistently run a productive/winning offense in college football? In 2005 Weis told the world that Notre Dame would have a “decided schematic advantage” over the teams they play due to his offensive prowess in the NFL. Weis won with Tyrone Willingham’s players in 2005 and 2006 (9-2 and 10-3) then faltered his next three years (3-9, 7-6, 6-6). Luckily Weis has Muschamp and other to recruit for him at Florida. He may sneak in a few new plays during 2011 to help UF earn a victory here or there. If he does well this year hold the praise until years two and three. SEC defenses will eventually catch up to him, like they did with Urban Meyer’s spread option.

Payback is… fun

Gus Malzahn is considered the hottest head coaching prospect in Division-1 football after leading Auburn to a title last season. With all of the talent depleted from their roster, how competitive can Malzahn make Auburn? His stock either rises or falls after this season.

If the Ole Miss job opens up… Auburn can wave goodbye to Gus. The deeper story is Houston Nutt gave Malzahn his first shot at college coaching while at Arkansas, and rumors are Nutt wasn’t the nicest guy to Malzahn then. This would be another personal victory for the former Arkansas high school football coach over Nutt, if he wants the job.

On the hot seat: Mark Richt and Houston Nutt.

Both coaches will feel the heat after week one if they lose their tough non-conference openers; Boise State and BYU respectively.

Prediction:

Richt finishes the 2011 season but no one knows after that?

Nutt’s week three loss to Vanderbilt begins the collection of buyout money. The Egg Bowl loss gives Nutt his walking papers.  

SEC Dark Horses

Mississippi State is more of a dark horse for a SEC Title run than Arkansas, but both teams have programs on the rise and teams that can make some noise. Which team if either can knock off traditional powerhouse schools Alabama and LSU?

A Tiger Slaughter?

Will Les Miles sacrificial lamb offering of Gary Crowton last year be enough to keep LSU alumni, boosters, and fans off of him if LSU’s offense sputters again this season? Miles’ future was in the hands of the offensive head of Steve Kragthrope; Kragthrope recently stepped down as offensive coordinator upon learning that he has Parkinson’s disease but he will remain on staff. Miles is still responsible for the arm and production of Jordan Jefferson.

Any good to decent coach will be able to recruit top talent for the Bayou Bengals. Selling hope off of recruiting stars year after year won’t keep the passionate and knowledgeable fan base in Baton Rouge happy for long. The mantra in Baton Rouge of “Lose Les, Win More” could put another winning coach on the hot seat.

Gamecock Nation Getting Antsy

Spurrier finally gave USC fans a taste of what they’ve been waiting for over the past 19 years, a chance to play in the SEC Title Game. Anytime a coach takes a program to the next level, the expectations of the fans raise a level above the last achievement. Winning the SEC Title Game is expected; a BCS Bowl game is demanded.

An Eye on Lattimore

During the early part of the 2010 season true freshman running back Marcus Lattimore got all the opportunities he could handle to prove he was an All-SEC type of running back. By the end of his second game against Georgia, 37 rushes 182 yards and 1 touchdown, he appeared to be worn out. Lattimore was held to under 100 yards rushing in each of the next four games (Furman 97 yards rushing, at Auburn 33 yards rushing, Alabama 93 yards, and at Kentucky 79 yards rushing).

He sat out his would be 7^th game versus Vanderbilt and by the end of his eighth game versus Tennessee he was banged up again after a 29 carry effort for 184 yards and 1 touchdown. Against Arkansas, the ninth game of the Gamecocks season, Lattimore was largely ineffective only rushing for 30 yards; his lowest individual rushing total of the 2010 season. One can argue that Spurrier held Lattimore out once the Razorbacks were ahead so he would be fresh for the Florida Gators showdown the following week, which yielded 40 rushing attempts and 212 yards rushing with 3 touchdowns.

Lattimore ended up with 1,197 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. He only crossed the 100 yard mark four times in 2010 with one of those efforts going for 212 yards. Will Lattimore be able to take the pounding game in and game out during his sophomore season?

SEC Players Strike a Pose

Three of the past four Heisman Trophy winners have been from a SEC school; Tim Teabow 2007, Mark Ingram 2009, and Cam Newton 2010. Will a SEC player make it 4 out of 5?

You’re My Alma Mater!

Will Muschamp graduated from University of Georgia and was a captain on their football team his senior season (1994). If the Gators are up by 14 in the 4^th quarter does he try to run the clock out or let Weis keep chucking it down field?

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