Interesting ? that got a good debate going with friends:

[rebsgoingdown]

Can a nice guy make it and be successful in the SEC as head coach?
Or does he need to be a turd like Saban or others that you see that use fear to motivate?
Croom was a guy that players loved...he was like a father to some of them.
Saban runs his show with fear and respect. There is no doubt who the boss is over there.
The players from all accounts love JoMo. I love everything I hear him say and his humility..Something our previous regime seemed to lack.

Was trying to think of the last really nice coach who was extremely successful....Maybe Petersen with Boise. Dabo with Clemson?
Anyway...we had fun with the argument..

 

[PineGroveBully]

Probably about like a nice guy making it in national politics these days. Possible but not very likely.

 

[DAWG61]

It's not about being nice or a dick it's about taking control of your team and the game. Gus Malzahn isn't a dick neither is Dabo Swinney. Urban Meyer isn't really a dick on the field (off the field is a different story maybe). Jimbo Fisher isn't really a jerk but all of these guys can take control of their team and the game. Moorhead wasn't making an impression on the game or his team. He was a witness to the action instead of party to it basically. This can fly during games vs SFA and ULL but when it comes time for SEC games the head coaches are very much in a battle vs their opponent just like the teams are. Mullen struggled with this too and he would revert to his "introvert" ways during big games still all the way till his last game as head coach here. He did however for the most part get a lot better at it by year 9.

 

[FQDawg]

Saban doesn't win because he's a jackass. He wins because he gets the best players.

And Croom didn't lose because he was a father-figure to his players. He lost because he had an offensive system that didn't fit his team/this league and was too stubborn to change it.

 

[Shmuley]

Smart doesn’t seem to be a douche nozzle hardass.

 

[maroonmania]

Smart doesn’t seem to be a douche nozzle hardass.

Did you see the Mizzou game this past weekend? Thought Smart was going to blow a gasket and he was all up in the face of several of his players. There is not a coach in the SEC that is more subdued in games than Joe is at the moment. Heck, Tom Landry has nothing on Moorhead for being stoic on the sideline based on what we've seen so far.

 

[shotgunDawg]

Teams reflect their coach.

People confuse yelling and screaming for intensity and being cut throat.

It's the intensity/ killer instinct that you want. It's just many times people that have that are also externally intense and extroverted.

Belichick isn't a yeller and screamer but he is extremely intense. Same thing for Dabo, Urban, Dantonio, etc.

It's intensity that you're looking for. Not a yelling and screamer.

 

[maroonmania]

I think the subdued approach does work well in the NFL because for those players it IS a job. For college, there really aren't a whole lot of stoic coaches that do well. There certain are some but they are in the minority. And so far our team has not reflected the coach, if they were then we would not have had umpteen unsportsmanlike conduct penalties last week.

 

[thatsbaseball]

I don't agree with you on a lot of things but this is very well put

 

[msu86]

It's all X's and O's and its certainly not Jimmy's and Joe's.... but it is a healthy balance of the 2. Example: Callaway high school....if your a Jimmy's and Joe's guy, they should compete for a state title every year. They are loaded with talent but just can not seem to get a coach that can put it together.
If you are an X's and O's guy look at Neshoba Central a few years ago when they had Luker as the head football coach. He was won everywhere he has ever been except Neshoba because he did not have the Jimmy's and Joe's.

Saban is a brilliant coach that demands respect and has a high standard for the actions and personality of his players. He also gets the top talent and this = National Titles

 

[$altyDawg]

Saban doesn't win because he's a jackass. He wins because he gets the best players.

And Croom didn't lose because he was a father-figure to his players. He lost because he had an offensive system that didn't fit his team/this league and was too stubborn to change it.

Saban does get the best players, but he also gets the most out of them.

 

[HumpDawgy]

I liked JoMo's comment during his intro press conference where he said he wanted to be "demanding without being demeaning". That said, I hope he is demanding some major improvement beginning this weekend.