Which New Sec Head Coach Worries You The Most

There are many ways in which Georgia is fortunate to have Kirby Smart as its head football coach. One of them is seen currently at six other SEC schools.

As this season begins, LSU, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida and Arkansas have new head football coaches. For Auburn, Florida and Arkansas, they get a handful of a the cruelest of measuring sticks since each of them draw Georgia on their schedule.

Did any of these teams get these hires right? Clearly time will tell. But that’s not the utmost concern for Georgia fans. That worry, on the other hand, should be which new coaching staff should cause fans from the Classic City point of view the most concern.

Which should worry Dawg fans the most? Here’s a ranking, at least for the current time before the season.

Ole Miss: Pete Golding

Look, this team came within a break or two of playing for a national title, and Georgia fans saw first-hand what kind of group that the Rebels have. There’s no adjusting as a program to a new regime since Pete Golding took over as interim last year…and having a Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy in an offense does not hurt…neither those a defense with a core group that’s a year more experienced.

LSU: Lane Kiffin

It’s hard to discredit Lane Kiffin. Toss aside of thoughts about how he flung himself at the feet of multiple suitors in front of the world not just last year, but in his entire coaching career. He’s coveted for a good reason. If his offensive mind alongside OC Charlie Weis, Jr. and embarrasing load of transfers can accelerate an adjustment curb, the Tigers could quickly slingshot back near the top of the SEC. Having all key contests aside from Ole Miss at home does not hurt, either.

Auburn: Alex Golesh

Auburn University is to be commended for ensuring the program is stuck in ditch with the recent head-coaching hires of Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze.

At some point, the Tigers will get back to a point of respectability. Is Alex Golesh the one to do that? There’s an obvious desire to see if what he was able to do as South Florida can be replicated. He took a Bulls team from a three-year, 4-49 mark to three winning seasons in a row, so it’s not a shock that of Auburn’s 60 new players, 13 are from USF. That’s all well and good…but at some point, you have to consider that these players were at an American Athletic Conference school for a reason. Golesh may very well get results that the YellaWood Mafia desires..but it may not happen this year, not with an October From Hell with games at Tennessee, Georgia and Ole Miss with LSU at home.

Florida: Jon Sumrall

If there’s one thing Georgia fans have an easy way of doing, it’s making fun of the University of Florida. Look, when you consider Jorts as high-quality fashion and count Corrine Brown as an alumna, it’s kind of low-hanging fruit. New Gator boss Jon Sumrall made it easy with his recent personal-care habits being revealed. To quote Lewis Grizzard, “Damn, Brother. I don’t believe I’d of that.”

One thing that is no laughing matter is that Sumrall looks to be counting on Buster Faulkner to replicate what he was able to do with Haynes King at Georgia Tech at Florida…with Tech transfer Aaron Philo under center. The Gators may have been shaky last year in a four-win season, but their upset of Texas likely kept the Longhorns out of the postseason, and they gave both Georgia and Ole Miss a handful in late-season losses. If this new coaching staff can sew up some weak spots on both sides of the ball, this is easily a top-25 team.

Arkansas: Ryan Silverfield

Congrats, Ryan Silverfield. You get to feel like General Custer at Little Big Horn.

Coming over from Memphis, he’ll take on one of the nation’s toughest schedules. Before the schedule gets deep into October, the Hawgs draw Utah, Texas A&M and Georgia, and the season wraps up against Texas and LSU. That Utah game is on the road the week before hosting Georgia, for those who missed those offseason airings of grievances.

While there should be solace in being just -11 in turnover margin last year amid an 0-8 SEC mark, they’re one of the conferences least experienced. As this year goes on, it may be more obvious that Sam Pittman got more out of this team than he had any business doing.

Kentucky: Will Stein

After Mark Stoops publicly tried to leave town, it was a matter of time for the Wildcats to make a move at head coach. Enter Will Stein, whose roster and coaching staff are full of energy. With just five starters back from last year, this new staff was done few favors. Facing Alabama and Texas A&M in September may very well have fans asking when basketball practice is earlier than usual.