Agree Red, to me this is a huge season for Kirby. To date, he has proven that he is an elite recruiter on a level far beyond any coach we have had. BUT, the fact still remains, 1980 was a LONG TIME ago, I am thankful that I am old enough to have watched that game as a kid and know what it is like to actually win it all, but we have been so close too many times. You have to finish the drill, you have to complete the task and I personally think this collection of talent on the roster this year, coupled with the schedule we have (not going to say our schedule is easy because it is not), to me spells playoff or bust. That is how last season was for our players as well, and that is why we saw the result in the Texas game I believe. I think or hope that our players realized one thing last year-we MUST take away doubt from the playoff committee which means we have to win all our regular season games so that the SEC title game doesn't pretty much eliminate us if we lose. We beat LSU last year, we get in even with the loss. Auburn the year before, we won the SEC to get in-that was the only way we were in-and as it turned out last year, because of the loss, that was our only way in despite the fact so many said we were a top 4 team.
So, this year is crucial for Kirby and his staff. Two years ago, we had Bama beat and let them convert the 2nd and 26, despite the refs totally helping out Bama, we still had that game-our players lost it but our coaches did too-why not call a timeout there to go over all possible situations for the next 3 plays-you can always second guess but a timeout likely focuses our defense because I feel sure they felt like most of us, we got this. Last year, the fake punt, and before that the fake FG against LSU. Very questionable decisions that should have had options off of it-meaning against Bama, if Fields sees that Bama took the WR we felt would be wide open, he pooches a kick there. It is easy to second guess of course but Kirby is still getting labeled as a great recruiter and not a great coach. Sometimes you need something to just go your way, just like Saban inserting his backup QB two years in a row and having that player make play after play for him.
To me, there simply is NOT a team in the SECe that is close to us in talent, and I don't think close to us in coaching, As much credit as Mullen gets, I don't believe he is a great coach, I think he is a pretty good coach that has trouble recruiting. In the SECw, you have Saban and Jimbo, to me those are the best two coaches in the league, Saban goes without saying but Jimbo did win a title at FSU so you must give him props. Now that Urban is gone, I think you could say Saban, Dabo, Fisher, and maybe Riley at OU are higher than Kirby-Riley only because he did make the playoffs two years and has coached back to back Heisman winners. It is just a matter of time for Kirby you would have to think but with a JR QB, the best OL in the country, one of the best RB's in the country, a defense that has been recruited/built with incredible talent and speed, to me this is our year. Time will tell.