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In sports today, especially in college football it seems, fans are so quick to appoint new head coaches saviors of programs desperately in need of redemption and unlikely teams Cinderellas at the beginning of each new season.
Just three weeks into the 2007 season there are a slew of names and teams I could choose from which are seemingly perfect examples, but here are just a few of both coaches and teams who fall into these categories that I wish to mention.
Let’s start with coaches:
Charlie Weis, Notre Dame – Ah, the football genius, the offensive mastermind and the supreme architect. Or is he? Weis could be considered the second coming of Quasimodo on the campus of Notre Dame University, but it seems the Irish faithful are willing to look past his hideousness and instead consider what it is he could do for their program and their legacy.
Now in his third season at the helm, and after two successful BCS-type teams over the span of two years, Weis finds himself guiding what can be considered one of the worst Notre Dame teams of all-time. The Irish are 0-3 and have yet to score an offensive touchdown in 2007.
With programs like Notre Dame you aren’t expected to rebuild. They simply reload. Weis better find some ammunition fast that can win him some games in a hurry, or the Fighting Irish will go looking for a saint somewhere else.
Nick Saban, Alabama – At the University of Alabama they don’t roll out the red carpet for just anybody. But it appears that since new Head Football Coach Nick Saban arrived he walks on it just about anywhere he goes. If ever there was a coach appointed to do great things, Saban takes the cake.
Alabama football is steeped in tradition. Legendary football Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant led that program for more than three decades and few coaches have been able to fill the gaping void since his departure some 20 years ago.
If you’re wondering just how excited the Alabama faithful are to have Saban in town, look no further than the team’s first open scrimmage a month ago. More than 90,000 fans filled the stadium – just to watch a scrimmage. Need I say more?
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina – The ‘Ol Ball coach knows how to win football games. Who would have thought the former coach of the Gators would return back to the SEC? But he did and the Gamecocks are more than happy to have him in town. South Carolina is 3-0 so far this season and if Spurrier has his way, his Gamecocks will be in contention for the SEC title come November.
Now let’s take a quick look at four teams that could fit into Cinderella’s slipper this season:
Alabama – Boise State’s Chris Petersen had the most successful season for any first-year head coach in over one hundred years, but Alabama could come in a close second this season. The Crimson Tide are 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the SEC after knocking off No. 16 Arkansas last Saturday 41-38. There schedule won’t get any easier though. Next up is No. 23 Georgia and then Florida State. But I expect Alabama to be 7-1 when it meets up with No. 2 LSU at home on Nov. 3.
Hawaii – I hate to say it, but it looks like the Warriors might be the best overall team in the Western Athletic Conference this season from top to bottom. With TCU and Boise State now out of the BCS picture, Hawaii remains the lone contender at 3-0 for any chance at a perfect season. Look for the WAC Championship to be decided in Honolulu between the Warriors and Broncos, however.
Penn State – I love 80-year old Joe Paterno. I expect the Nittany Lions to win the Big Ten Championship and be a very tough BCS contender. I guess Paterno just gets better
with age.
What would college football be without saviors and Cinderellas? I guess only time will tell who is worthy of redemption and who’s feet fit the glass slipper.
Harsh Mantri
