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The team I wanted to see face Alabama last season in the BCS National Championship was Oregon. It's the matchup the entire country wanted to see.

No offense, Notre Dame fans, but seeing that high-octane Oregon offense go up against Alabama's defense would have made for much better theater than what we ended up getting in South Florida in January.

Wouldn't it be great if you could play college football matchmaker and turn some of these dream match-ups into realities during the season?

We've come up with five such matchups and want you to select which one would be the most attractive by voting in our SportsNation poll.

Alabama versus Oregon is one of the choices. Who knows? Maybe we'll finally get to see the Ducks and Tide square off in the final BCS National Championship before we go to a playoff in 2014.

Think Florida versus Ohio State would stir a few emotions with Urban Meyer taking on his old team? It would be the battle of Meyer's two dream jobs. Come to think of it, is it possible to have two dream jobs? In Meyer's world, you can.

I realize that Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, in all of his arrogance, said recently that Texas gets to decide when Texas and Texas A&M play again. Ask anybody in that state, and it can't be soon enough. Surely we'll see those two old rivals playing again sooner rather than later.

Here's one for you: South Carolina and Steve Spurrier going up against Lane Kiffin and the West Coast version of USC. Spurrier's not the biggest Kiffin fan. Then again, who in the SEC is? Something says the buildup to that game could be as entertaining as the game itself.

Finally, LSU and Notre Dame played 10 times between 1970 and 2006 and are all knotted up, 5-5. It's time to break the tie. Talk about two of the best fight songs in all of college sports and two programs steeped in tradition.

Well, you have the rundown. Tell us which matchup you'd most like to see, and we'll go over results next week.

Sports Illustrated recently came out with its list of the 50 most powerful people in sports. Two college conference commissioners made the rundown: the SEC's Mike Slive at No. 17, and the Big Ten's Jim Delany at No. 26. The men who lead the nation's richest and most popular conferences have been rivals throughout the years, and they've both made moves to strengthen their leagues and shape college football.

Bloggers Chris Low (SEC) and Adam Rittenberg (Big Ten) weigh in on Slive, Delany and which commissioner -- in the immortal words of Snap! -- has got the power.

Chris Low on Slive

The easy part would be starting with the rings, although Mike Slive himself doesn’t have a jewelry box overflowing with national championship bling. He’s content to let the SEC schools display their own hardware. And for those not keeping count, it’s up to seven straight national championships now for the SEC.

There's such a thing as power, and then there's the kind of power you command when you're on top.

The SEC is looking down at everybody else in the college football world and has been for a while, and Slive's a big reason why. The administrators and coaches in the league have supreme confidence in him to make the right moves in the ever-changing landscape of college athletics.

They don’t necessarily fear Slive, but they also know better than to cross him. Lane Kiffin and Tennessee got a dose of his wrath.

One of the most obvious examples of Slive's power is the four-team college football playoff, which will begin in 2014. Remember that he was the one who proposed a playoff back in 2008, and not enough other people were on board at the time.

Well, everybody's on board now, and it's a reality. Not only that, but the format is basically what Slive wanted. There aren't any restrictions about having to win your conference championship, and the games will be played at bowl sites ... and not on college campuses.

Slive didn't want the playoff party to be limited to conference champions. The rest of the country moaned and groaned over the all-SEC BCS National Championship Game in 2011 between Alabama and LSU. Slive wanted to make sure the door was open for multiple SEC teams to get into the four-team playoff, because more times than not, at least two SEC teams will be deserving.

Most people would agree that conference expansion is far from over. But with all of the jockeying to this point, did any conference benefit more than the SEC with its addition of Texas A&M, which secured a foothold in the state of Texas?

The value of that move will be front and center when the SEC negotiates its next television contract with CBS and ESPN. You better have a good calculator to tabulate those figures.

And, oh yeah, Slive knows a thing or two about steering clear of serious NCAA trouble.

The SEC is always going to be the SEC. After all, the league's unofficial slogan is, "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying."

Slive's not real fond of that slogan, by the way. But the NCAA has done its share of poking around several different SEC programs over the past several years, and the last school to be hit with a postseason ban in football was Mississippi State in 2004.

Nobody's suggesting that Slive has a direct line to the NCAA enforcement staff.

But he also has clout, and probably more importantly, a keen understanding of how the NCAA process works. He can be a huge asset when SEC schools are trying to navigate choppy waters.

Just ask Auburn and Cam Newton.

Slive, a former district court judge in New Hampshire, jokingly refers to himself as a recovering attorney.

Now a proud grandfather, he looks the part with the white hair, warm smile and stooped-shoulder walk.

He's quick to deflect any talk about his role in making the SEC the juggernaut that it’s become.

Of course, the most powerful people don't have to talk about what they've done. Everybody already knows.

Adam Rittenberg on Delany

This discussion essentially comes down to how much a commissioner's power stems from the number of football national championships that are won in his conference. If crystal footballs are the sole basis for determining which commissioner carries more clout, Slive wins in a landslide. After all, the SEC has won the past seven national titles, the league's total during Slive's tenure as commissioner (2002 to present). Delany has been Big Ten commissioner more than twice as long (1989 to present), but the league has claimed only two football national titles (1997, 2002) during that span, and none in the past decade.

But let me remind everyone that neither of these men plays football or coaches football. They have no direct control over whether their teams hoist the crystal football. They can put their leagues in the best possible positions to compete for championships by increasing revenue and TV exposure, and by shaping the BCS/playoff format, but their work is done outside the lines, not between them.

Although Slive has done some great things as SEC commissioner, his timing also has been impeccable. Was Slive's predecessor, Roy Kramer, a bad commissioner because SEC teams won only three national titles during the 12 football seasons in which he served? Such a notion seems absurd. The Big Ten's lack of championships in the major sports is part of Delany's legacy as commissioner, but can anyone reasonably argue that Delany has put the league in a weaker position to win titles? Also absurd.

If anything, Delany has strengthened the Big Ten's chances to win championships and continued to build the league even when it wasn't winning championships. His teams simply have let him down over and over -- not just in football, but in men's basketball -- while Slive's teams have come through time and again.

If we're basing this on how much a commissioner has done in his role, Delany has built more power than Slive. He fundamentally changed the television landscape by spearheading the Big Ten Network, an idea many thought would crash and burn but instead has flourished. The Big Ten pioneered the use of instant replay, which is a staple around college football these days. Delany expanded the Big Ten with home-run additions, first from the East (Penn State) and then the West (Nebraska). Some blame the Big Ten for launching realignment fever in December 2009, but you can also argue Delany was ahead of the curve in sensing what would come around in college sports. Although Delany's latest expansion moves -- Maryland and Rutgers -- and possible future moves (Georgia Tech, Virginia, North Carolina) aren't overly popular among Big Ten fans, his goal to expand the Big Ten footprint into new markets and create new revenue streams for the league is understandable.

Although Slive is older, Delany has been around longer and has accomplished more. His name resonates throughout the sports world more than Slive's. And while Slive and other conference commissioners have brokered historic television deals, Delany and the Big Ten are the last in line -- the current deal expires in 2016 -- and are poised to cash in really, really big.

The past few years have been tough for the Big Ten, both on and off the field. The scandals at Penn State and, to a much lesser extent, Ohio State, damaged a reputation Delany helped to build. Delany's strong support of the BCS system also didn't help his cause as public opinion shifted sharply toward a playoff. But the notion that Delany "lost" the playoff debate is a farce driven by media members who didn't actually listen to what he said throughout the process (Delany has smartest-guy-in-the-room syndrome and sometimes talks over people rather than to them). He was first to mention using a selection committee, which will be adopted. And while the playoff participants won't all be conference champions, league champions will get preference over non-champions at the 4-5 margin, as Delany wanted.

SI.com's Andy Staples recently wrote the gap between Delany and Slive is thin and gives Slive the edge based on the SEC's championships. That's fair. But if you want to base power on what each commissioner actually has done, Delany gets my vote.

Is there a direct correlation to highly ranked signees and wins in the SEC?

Well, you be the judge.

Over the past four years (2009-12), Alabama and Florida have tied for the most ESPN 150 prospects signed with 41 apiece. During that span, the Crimson Tide have won an SEC-high 49 games and three national championships.

The Gators, meanwhile, have won 10 fewer games (39) than the Crimson Tide and haven’t won any SEC or national titles during that span. In fact, they’ve been shut out of the SEC championship game the last three years.

The most ESPN 150 prospects any SEC school has signed in one year going back to 2009 was Florida in 2010 when the Gators signed 17 ESPN 150 prospects.

For perspective, that’s more than eight SEC schools -- Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt -- have managed to ink in each of their last four signing classes.

Every SEC school has signed at least one ESPN 150 prospect over the past four years, although Kentucky and Vanderbilt have both been limited to one each. The Wildcats’ only ESPN 150 signee during that period was quarterback Morgan Newton in 2009, while the Commodores signed running back Brian Kimbrow last year.

The school doing the least with the most over the last four years has been Tennessee. The Vols have signed 20 ESPN 150 prospects since 2009, which is tied for the fifth most in the SEC. However, the Vols are just 23-27 during that stretch (9-23 in the SEC) and have suffered through three straight losing seasons.

Tennessee signed six ESPN 150 prospects in 2009, Lane Kiffin’s only signing class in Knoxville. But four of those players (Jerod Askew, Janzen Jackson, Darren Myles, Jr., and Nu’Keese Richardson) were kicked off the team, and the other two (Bryce Brown and David Oku) wound up transferring out of the program.

The school doing the most with the least has been South Carolina. The Gamecocks have signed 13 ESPN 150 prospects since 2009, which is seventh in the league. But the Gamecocks have the third-best record over the last four years (38-15) behind only Alabama and LSU. They’re also one of two teams in the league (along with Alabama) to have won 11 or more games each of the last two seasons.

As the Head Ball Coach himself would say, somebody’s coaching ‘em up in Columbia.

Arkansas, prior to its collapse this past season, had managed a nice run despite not reeling in very many highly ranked signees under former coach Bobby Petrino. The Hogs won 11 games in 2011 and 10 games in 2010, including a trip to the Sugar Bowl, and signed just five ESPN 150 prospects between 2009-12.

Below is a breakdown of how many ESPN 150 signees each SEC school has signed over the past four years along with each school’s overall and SEC record during that span. We’ve also included Missouri and Texas A&M even though they’ve just played one season in the SEC.

Of the Aggies’ nine ESPN 150 prospects signed over the past four years, five came last year in Kevin Sumlin’s first signing class.

One other interesting nugget is South Carolina is the only team to have played in the SEC championship game over the past four years that hasn't signed at least 20 ESPN 150 prospects during that span.

Here’s a closer look:

• Alabama: 41 ESPN 150 signees, 49-5 (.907), 27-5 SEC
• Florida: 41 ESPN 150 signees, 39-14 (.736), 22-10 SEC
• LSU: 28 ESPN 150 signees, 43-10 (.811), 25-7 SEC
• Georgia: 26 ESPN 150 signees, 36-18 (.667), 21-11 SEC
• Auburn: 20 ESPN 150 signees, 33-19 (.635), 15-17 SEC
• Tennessee: 20 ESPN 150 signees, 23-27 (.460), 9-23 SEC
• South Carolina: 13 ESPN 150 signees, 38-15 (.717), 20-12 SEC
• Texas A&M: 9 ESPN 150 signees, 33-19 (.635)
• Ole Miss: 6 ESPN 150 signees, 22-28 (.440), 8-24 SEC
• Arkansas: 5 ESPN 150 signees, 33-18 (.647), 17-13 SEC
• Mississippi State: 4 ESPN 150 signees, 29-22 (.569), 13-17 SEC
• Missouri: 3 ESPN 150 signees, 31-20 (.608)
• Kentucky: 1 ESPN 150 signee, 20-30 (.400), 7-25 SEC
• Vanderbilt: 1 ESPN 150 signee, 19-31 (.380), 8-24 SEC

Maybe there's something in the air this time of year.

Recruiting is heading down the home stretch, and national signing day is a week away.

Coaches are jumpy. They're running on overdrive, and most of them are looking to make the kind of splash that will help them close with a bang.

And in doing so, they occasionally say things they probably wish they wouldn't have and things that go viral.

Vanderbilt's James Franklin is the latest example. While speaking Monday in Macon, Ga., at a high school sports banquet, Franklin referred to Alabama coach Nick Saban as "Nicky Satan" and boldly stated that he was going to outwork Saban. There's a video of Franklin's comments making the rounds, which prompted Franklin to apologize Wednesday.

Franklin said he was only joking and added that he called Saban personally to apologize.

"(I was) really talking about the work ethic that he has a reputation for and that we’re going to outwork them," Franklin said. "I made a joke, and in today’s society with all the media and social media and people with tape recorders and things like that, it doesn’t come off that way. I know people have tremendous pride in Alabama, and their fans are fanatical. So I understand. But it was a joke, and I didn’t mean to offend anybody."

It's not the first time that an SEC coach has made waves with something he's said in and around the recruiting season.

Go back to some of the things former Tennessee coach (and current USC coach) Lane Kiffin said after wrapping up his first and only signing class with the Vols. He accused then-Florida coach Urban Meyer of trying to cheat by calling eventual Tennessee signee Nu'Keese Richardson while Richardson was on his visit to Tennessee.

The only problem was that it's not an NCAA violation to call recruits while they're on visits to other schools.

Kiffin said a few more bone-headed things, too, around that same time and has since admitted that he made some mistakes at Tennessee with some of the things he did and said.

In Franklin's case, he's naturally a little brash and has an edge about him that has been good for Vanderbilt's program. He's completely changed the culture there, which is reflected in the Commodores' back-to-back bowl appearances and their first nine-win season this past year since 1915. But he's also said a few things that have caused him to back-pedal.

Remember the line last May about hiring assistant coaches based on how hot their wives were?

Franklin apologized for that one, too.

A lot of us in the media complain about coaches who are boring and would rather spend two hours in the dentist's chair than to say anything that might end up on another team's bulletin board.

In that sense, Franklin is refreshing.

Come on, the guy's winning at Vanderbilt and talking a little smack. When did you ever think you would see that?

But there's also the matter of talking the talk and walking the walk ... and doing it over time. That's a slippery slope in this league, especially at a place like Vanderbilt, which had suffered through 28 losing seasons in the last 29 years prior to the 9-4 breakthrough this past season.

Franklin has raised the stakes. He's certainly raised expectations in Nashville, and he's raising a little ruckus, too.

Something says that's exactly the way he wants it.

The best theater of all will be seeing where he takes it from here. We all know it won't be dull. That's a given.

Here's another given: Nobody's going to overlook the Commodores any time soon, at least not with Franklin running the show.

And one other thing, just for the record. Vanderbilt doesn't face Alabama next season.

New Tennessee coach Butch Jones made his best pitch to bring one of the Vols' most famous players back home, but Tee Martin decided Tuesday to stay put at USC.

Martin, who quarterbacked Tennessee to the 1998 national championship, turned down an offer to return to his alma mater and coach wide receivers. He flew to Knoxville on Monday to meet with Jones, but decided he wouldn't pull a "Lane Kiffin" and bolt after one year despite a deal that would have paid him as much as $400,000 per year. Of course, the irony there is that Kiffin is Martin's boss at USC and spent 14 tumultuous months as Tennessee's head coach in 2009.

Just recently, Tennessee had two years added to its NCAA probation stemming from violations that occurred on Kiffin's watch. And, now, he's able to keep Martin on the West Coast.

Something says Kiffin will receive even fewer Christmas cards from Tennessee fans this year.

As for Martin, he told Volquest.com that USC had a bright future and the timing simply wasn't right for him to leave.

"It was great to get an offer and have the chance to return to my alma mater," said Martin, whose flirtation with Tennessee is expected to get him a raise at USC. "I wanted to see what the feeling would feel like and look in coach Jones' eyes and see what he had planned for Tennessee. That's why I came across the country. In the end, I just couldn't leave my situation at USC."

Even three years later, Lane Kiffin's brief tenure at Tennessee remains the “gift” that keeps on giving to the Vols.

On Friday, the NCAA announced that additional penalties had been levied against Tennessee's football program stemming from a major infractions case involving former assistant coach Willie Mack Garza, who was on Kiffin’s staff at Tennessee during the 2009 season.

The additional penalties include a two-year addition of the probation levied during the 2011 infractions case, a reduction in the official visits from 51 to 47 during the 2012-13 academic year, a reduction in the evaluation days during the spring 2012 evaluation period (already completed) and the elimination of complimentary tickets for the first two conference games during the 2013 season for prospects making unofficial visits.

Officials at Tennessee met with the NCAA's Committee on Infractions on Oct. 13 for an expedited penalty hearing on an agreed upon summary disposition report submitted in June of 2012. The facts of the case -- that Garza funded a prospect's unofficial visit to Tennessee in 2009 and subsequently lied to the NCAA enforcement staff when interviewed as an assistant at USC -- were not in dispute. Resolution between the Committee on Infractions and Tennessee regarding the penalties could not be reached, and an expedited penalty hearing was held.

"We will finally close the chapter on the prior actions of members of a previous football coaching staff," Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart said. "We have significantly strengthened our culture of compliance at Tennessee and will continue to do so. We disagree with additional penalties for a matter we believed should have been part of the previous case. We will now move forward."

At issue in the penalty hearing was whether the penalty in the 2011 case would have substantially differed had the facts of this case been known at that time, whether Tennessee should be punished for unethical conduct by a former staff member working at another institution, and whether the penalties were grounded in precedent and substantially related to the violation committed. The Committee on Infractions made it clear that it is establishing new precedent with this case and others moving forward.

Garza, a defensive backs coach, went with Kiffin from Tennessee to USC following the 2009 season, but Garza resigned from the USC staff just prior to the start of the 2011 season. His resignation came amid reports that USC officials were notified that he had been named during an interview NCAA investigators had with former Texas-based scout Willie Lyles.

While at Tennessee, Garza reimbursed Lyles, an individual associated with prospect Lache Seastrunk, during the summer of 2009 for airfare and hotel expenses associated with an unofficial visit for Seastrunk and his mother to Tennessee, according to the NCAA's report. Because Lyles arranged the trip for Seastrunk, the NCAA classified him as a Tennessee booster.

After a wild Saturday in the SEC, here’s a look at what we learned in Week 11:

1. SEC’s streak in jeopardy: The SEC’s national championship streak is in serious jeopardy. Texas A&M’s 29-24 victory over Alabama means the league’s going to need some help to even make it to the Discover BCS National Championship Game this season. With everybody in the SEC now saddled with at least one loss, the only way for Alabama to climb back into one of those top two spots in the final BCS standings is for two of the three unbeaten teams (Kansas State, Notre Dame and Oregon) to lose. It will be interesting to see how far Alabama falls in the polls and whether Georgia passes the Crimson Tide. Alabama’s loss Saturday didn’t help the Bulldogs’ chances of playing their way into the BCS National Championship Game, either. Georgia, with an ugly 35-7 loss to South Carolina earlier this season, needed to have Alabama unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the SEC championship game, and then a win over the Tide would have carried more weight with the voters. The other ironic thing to consider is that the SEC’s chances of making it seven straight national championships could now rest in the hands of Lane Kiffin, who made a few enemies in the SEC during 14 turbulent months at Tennessee before bolting to USC. Kiffin’s Trojans face Notre Dame in the regular-season finale and could also get a second shot at Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game.

2. Props to the Aggies: There’s sure to be a lot of people around the country trumpeting how overrated Alabama was in the aftermath of the Crimson Tide’s home loss to Texas A&M on Saturday. And no, Alabama’s not ready to line up and beat any NFL teams anytime soon, as Steve Spurrier suggested a few weeks ago. But the real story here is Texas A&M and what a fabulous job Kevin Sumlin has done in his first season as coach and the Aggies’ first season in the SEC. Everybody wondered how they would hold up in the SEC. It’s safe to say that they’re going to hold up just fine, and a better question might be: Once Sumlin gets a few more recruiting classes under his belt, especially in that talent-laden state, how is the rest of the SEC going to hold up against the Aggies? Johnny Manziel is absolutely worthy of Heisman Trophy consideration, and he’s playing behind an offensive line that made a pretty convincing statement Saturday that it’s in a league of its own. And finally, that same Texas A&M defense that was shredded last month in a 59-57 win against Louisiana Tech made one key stop after another Saturday and has improved by leaps and bounds.

3. Muddled bowl picture: Good luck in figuring out the SEC bowl picture. It’s a given that the SEC will still get two teams into BCS bowls even if the league is shut out of the Discover BCS National Championship Game. The intrigue will revolve around which two teams. As many as six SEC teams could stake a claim. If nobody makes it into the national title game, the winner of the SEC championship game would go to the Sugar Bowl. So right now, that looks like it will be the Alabama-Georgia winner. The loser of that game would still be in play, but so would an 11-1 Florida team as well as LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M if they all win out and finish 10-2. Florida still has to go to Florida State in the regular-season finale, while South Carolina plays at Clemson to close the regular season. Both the Gators and Gamecocks could help their cases with wins over top-10 teams. The AT&T Cotton Bowl would love to get its hands on the Aggies, but they could also get snatched up by a BCS bowl, especially with Manziel putting up Heisman Trophy numbers.

4. Don’t sleep on the Dawgs: Granted, Auburn is terrible. But it looks like Georgia is starting to play its best football at just the right time. The Bulldogs are closing in on the eighth 10-win season in Mark Richt’s 12 years at the school and clinched their second consecutive trip to the SEC championship game with their 38-0 rout of the Tigers. Richt has had his share of critics, and he’ll continue to have them. But he’s done an excellent job each of the past two seasons of keeping his team focused despite bad early-season losses. The schedule has been a factor, no question. But Richt didn’t make it out, nor did any of his players. Florida had its shot against Georgia and lost, and the Bulldogs have proved that they don’t roll over and play dead just because they lose a game early.

5. Dooley’s days are numbered: It’s not a matter of “if,” but rather “when” for Tennessee coach Derek Dooley. The Vols’ 51-48 loss to Missouri in four overtimes Saturday was almost certainly the knockout blow for Dooley, who’s now lost 13 of his past 14 SEC games. The Vols blew a 14-point lead in the third quarter at home, and Dooley made some questionable decisions down the stretch. But over and above what happened in Saturday’s game, it’s a Tennessee program that is hemorrhaging on several different fronts. If fan apathy hadn’t already set in, it has now, and there’s just not a lot of hope on Rocky Top that Dooley will ever be able to stop the bleeding. He walked into a mess in 2010 when he took the job and has done an admirable job of strengthening the roster. But Tennessee has gone from a top-tier program that had obviously dipped toward the end of Phillip Fulmer’s tenure to a program now that’s totally irrelevant. There really is no decision now for Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart. The only question is if he’ll announce that he’s making a coaching change this week or the next.

We’re about two weeks away from the 50-year anniversary of one of the most famous quotes in American political history.

Former President Richard Nixon, upon losing the California gubernatorial race in 1962, defiantly told reporters, “You don’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.”

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley, himself an avid history buff, borrowed Nixon’s famous line back in July.

Only Dooley wasn’t so much speaking to the media as he was to the rest of the SEC when he proclaimed, “You won’t have Tennessee to kick around anymore.”

Well, the Vols have played four SEC games in what is Dooley’s third season, and it’s safe to say they’re still getting kicked around. They’re winless in the SEC and have yielded a staggering 173 points in four games.

In their past 12 SEC games going back to last season, they’re 1-11.

For perspective, Vanderbilt is 3-9 in its past 12 SEC games. Kentucky is 2-10 in its past 12 SEC games, and one of the Wildcats’ two wins came over Tennessee to end last season and snap the Vols’ 26-game winning streak in the series.

To say the fan base on Rocky Top is reaching the point of unrest is putting it mildly.

Finding staunch Dooley supporters at this point is about as easy as finding beachfront property in Knoxville.

The 44-13 blowout loss to Alabama last week was ugly, although the Crimson Tide have made a living of doing that to teams. Still, the scene in Neyland Stadium those last four or five minutes Saturday was reminiscent of Phillip Fulmer’s last game against Alabama in 2008.

A sea of crimson was about all that remained to see the Vols kick a garbage-time field goal from the 3-yard line with just under four minutes to play.

That’s sort of where Tennessee’s program is right now. The Vols aren’t relevant nationally, and haven’t been relevant for some time now going back to the end of Fulmer’s tenure.

About the only time they really were came during Lane Kiffin’s turbulent 14 months on the job when he would pop off about something and get Urban Meyer all stirred up.

Some would argue that Dooley was fighting a losing battle the day he walked onto campus. The roster had been severely depleted thanks to some poor signing classes under Fulmer his last year or two, and all the attrition that took place in the transition from Fulmer to Kiffin to Dooley.

It also didn’t help that Kiffin’s only signing class, ranked in the top 10 by some analysts in 2009, ended up being a huge bust. Only seven players remain on the Vols’ roster from that class, and all of the big names from that class -- Bryce Brown, Janzen Jackson, Nu’Keese Richardson, Darren Myles Jr. and David Oku -- either left the program early or got into trouble off the field and were kicked off the team.

The other killer for Dooley was that Kiffin’s 2009 class and Fulmer’s last class in 2008 were both scarcely thin in the offensive and defensive lines.

So when you look at Tennessee’s current roster, it’s unfair to say that Dooley hasn’t made significant progress in upgrading the talent from where he found it in 2010.

The problem is that he hasn’t done much with it.

His first two seasons were throwaways. They didn’t really count, although the Kentucky loss to end last season and the way Dooley lost his team there at the end were more damaging than anybody will ever know.

This was the season that he needed to show real progress, and while the Vols have been competitive for parts of games, they don’t have anything to show for it where it counts -- their record.

Has Dooley had enough time to show those results in what is the best conference in college football? It depends on who you ask.

It’s almost eerie when you think about it, but John Majors and Fulmer were both fired after losses to South Carolina.

Sure enough, the Vols have South Carolina this weekend in Columbia, S.C.

Dooley could certainly help himself with a win against the Gamecocks, but it’s unlikely that a win against anybody Tennessee plays in November (Troy, Missouri, Vanderbilt and Kentucky) would help his cause.

Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart didn’t hire Dooley, and that’s never ideal for the coach. But Hart’s also shrewd enough and seasoned enough that he’s not going to be influenced solely by an angry fan base.

Hart knows what a championship football program looks like. He was at Alabama before he came to Tennessee, and Florida State before that.

Sure, Dooley would be owed $5 million if the Vols were to fire him after this season, but Hart understands the bigger picture well enough to know that it’s going to cost Tennessee a lot more money down the road if Dooley remains and the hemorrhaging continues.

It’s also telling that Tennessee still had tickets remaining for the Alabama game … in the weeks leading up to the game.

Ultimately, Hart’s decision boils down to one two-part question: Does he think Dooley is the right guy to elevate Tennessee’s program back among the SEC’s elite, and would a fourth season under Dooley get the Vols closer to that goal?

One thing’s for sure, though. The Vols are still getting kicked around.

When Nixon uttered his famous line 50 years ago, it was thought that his political career was over. He fooled everybody by bouncing back and winning the Presidency.

Perhaps Dooley has the same kind of comeback in him. But right now, he’s way behind in all of the polls.

When it comes to scheduling nonconference foes, the SEC doesn't get much credit. Like, none. But Alabama has done pretty good job of stepping out of the SEC's comfort zone every once in a while.

There was the Michigan game this year, which was just ... yeah. Alabama played Penn State in 2011 and 1010, Virginia Tech in 2009 and Clemson in 2008. Alabama is also set to play Michigan State in a home-and-home in 2016 and 2017. Alabama will also meet West Virginia in the 2014 Chick-fil-A Kickoff inside the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Nick Saban has done a good job of getting at least one signature nonconference game a year.

And the Tide could be on the verge of yet another one, as it sounds like talks between Alabama and Wisconsin are going on to have a game between the two schools in 2015.

During a speaking engagement in Mobile, Ala., Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said that there are discussions between the two schools about a future game.

"I can't announce anything, but we're still talking about playing the game," Alvarez said. "We haven't signed anything, but we are in discussion."

There was speculation about this game earlier this year, but it appeared as though the idea was dead after Saban reportedly declined the game. Well, maybe things have changed.

And that's a good thing. For starters, with a playoff finally coming to college football, schedule strength will finally be important again. That means the SEC has to step up its schedule game because it might hurt some teams when it comes to deciding on that fourth playoff team.

So that got me to thinking (I know, rare occurrence): What other nonconference matchups would I like to see now that a playoff is coming?

Here are five nonconference matchups I'd like to see in the very near future. Your move head coaches and athletic directors:

1. Alabama vs. USC: Cali speed versus southern speed. All that flash against all that grit. Two historic programs going at it, and both are really talented. Please, sign me up. Lane Kiffin would get another shot at the SEC, and Alabama would get a chance to show off again on the national stage.

2. LSU vs. Texas: These two national powers already do battle in the recruiting world, so why not the real world? This would be a perfect matchup inside Jerry's World and that place would be rocking. Gumbo and brisket anyone? Yeah, that's a tough sell.

3. Florida vs. Oregon: So. Much. Speed! I'm sure this was one of the matchups many people thought about when Urban Meyer was still at Florida, but it's not like the Gators won't be able to recruit a ton of speed now that he's gone. A home-and-home would be great because of the venues, but neither team would have issues filling seats at a neutral site.

4. Georgia vs. Florida State: Mark Richt gets a shot at his old place of employment. Both do plenty of battles when it comes to recruiting and aren't too far away from each other. You could go home-and-home or play this at numerous neutral sites. Just imagine these two fan bases mingling with each other.

5. South Carolina vs. Ohio State: The Head Ball Coach taking on Meyer again? That storyline alone has me very intrigued. Plus, both of these teams are only going up from here. And Steve Spurrier is 2-0 against Meyer when Tim Tebow isn't his quarterback. I'm pretty sure Tebow's worn out his eligibility ...

I'm sure you guys have plenty more you'd like to see. What are yours?

Looking forward to the start of the SEC media days. But, first, a few links to munch on:

• Jon Solomon of The Birmingham News takes a look at some memorable quotes from past SEC media days.
• The big names that won't be at SEC media days.
• The Sporting News' Matt Hayes offers an SEC primer for Missouri and Texas A&M.
• John Copeland says he was joking about Auburn outbidding Alabama for top prospect Reuben Foster.
• Alabama's AJ McCarron looks to build on his 2011 success.
• USC's Lane Kiffin comes back to Tennessee and gets the state's top prospect -- cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
• A Texas A&M introduction to the SEC family.
• Tennessee's Justin Hunter is back to 100 percent, according to teammate Prentiss Waggner.
• Do-it-all Richard Samuel is coming through for Georgia again.
• James Franklin brings a new Vanderbilt to SEC media days.

We're always looking for the next best thing. The coaching world isn't any different.

Who's the next Urban Meyer? The next Chris Petersen? What about another Brady Hoke?

Who's that next great assistant who rises up the ranks and takes over a major program ... and succeeds?

I'm not completely sure, but I have a few ideas. Here are some coaches lurking in the SEC who could be on their way to bigger and better things or are ready to take the next step with their current teams:

Head coaches

• James Franklin, Vanderbilt: Franklin became the only first-year coach in Vandy history to guide the Commodores to a bowl game. He surpassed the program's win totals in each of its previous two seasons and signed arguably the school's best recruiting class in 2012. He brought attitude, confidence and a bit of swagger to the program. He could have left after one year but is really looking to turn things around at Vanderbilt.
• Dan Mullen, Mississippi State: Bulldogs fans probably don't like hearing this, but Mullen is becoming a hot name among the coaching ranks. In his three seasons in Starkville, he has guided Mississippi State to two straight bowl wins. In 2010, he led the Bulldogs to nine wins for the first time since 1999. Mullen says he is happy in Starkville, but if he continues to win, bigger schools won't hesitate to go after him.

Assistants

• Shawn Elliott, South Carolina offensive line coach/running game coordinator: Steve Spurrier has raved about Elliott's impact on offense and bringing in the zone read package. Elliott has done wonders for South Carolina's offensive line, which was a continual sore spot in Spurrier's early years at the school. Elliott is also a dogged recruiter. Having grown up in Camden, S.C., Elliott is somebody to watch when Spurrier hangs it up. If he doesn't get that job, somebody is going to snap him up.
• Rodney Garner, Georgia defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator: He has been at Georgia for a while and has been wooed several times by other schools. LSU went after him several years ago, and Lane Kiffin was interested in bringing him to Tennessee. In the past 12 years, he has coached plenty of NFL talent, including four first-round draft picks. He has consistently been one of the league's best recruiters as well.
• Todd Grantham, Georgia defensive coordinator/associate head coach: He could start getting more looks for head-coaching gigs. He has vast NFL experience, including being a defensive coordinator at that level, and more schools are looking for coaches with NFL experience. Grantham has proven himself as a recruiter and worked under two of the best in the college ranks -- Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech and Nick Saban at Michigan State. He has made a tremendous difference in turning around Georgia's defense and has an edge about him that successful head coaches possess.
• Chris Kiffin, Ole Miss defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator for defense: He is one of the bright young names among the assistant ranks. As the defensive line coach at Arkansas State, he coached up Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Brandon Joiner, who tied for third in the nation in sacks and 10th in tackles for loss. Arkansas State also led the conference and ranked eighth nationally in tackles for loss (7.62 per game) and tied for 15th in sacks (2.69 per game). He is a tremendous recruiter and helped bring in a solid defensive class in a short amount of time this spring.
• Kliff Kingsbury, Texas A&M offensive coordinator: After being a standout quarterback at Texas Tech, he is considered one of the top young assistants in college football. He came over with Kevin Sumlin from Houston, where he helped guide the Cougars' offense to its record-setting year in 2011. Houston led the nation in total offense, passing offense and scoring in 2011 behind quarterback Case Keenum. The Cougars averaged 599.1 total yards per game, including 450.1 through the air, while scoring more than 49 points per game.
• Paul Petrino, Arkansas offensive coordinator: He came over to help run Arkansas' offense with his brother, but after Bobby Petrino was fired this spring, Paul Petrino assumed the role as primary playcaller. In 2010, he guided an Illinois offense that broke school records for total points (423) and points per game (32.54). The Illini averaged 42.1 points and 448.9 total yards over the final seven games of the season. If he can keep Arkansas' offense going this year, his phone might start ringing a little more.
• Bob Shoop, Vanderbilt defensive coordinator/safeties coach: He has been a head coach at Columbia and is innovative on defense, playing the kind of attacking style that attracts great players. He helped orchestrate one of the most impressive defensive turnarounds in the country last year, as Vanderbilt ranked ninth nationally in pass defense efficiency and 18th in total defense. Vandy's defense also ranked among the nation's top units in interceptions, points allowed and rush defense.
• Kirby Smart, Alabama defensive coordinator: He is one of the best defensive coordinators around, and it seems like only a matter of time before he is a head coach somewhere. Smart has already passed on a few head-coaching opportunities. He is making $950,000 a year and is in a position to be picky with coaching jobs.
• Trooper Taylor, Auburn wide receivers coach/assistant head coach: He is one of the hottest and most successful recruiters in the SEC. He brought in and trained some elite receivers at Oklahoma State and Tennessee before making his way to Auburn. He is continuing that trend and has turned Emory Blake into one of the SEC's best pass-catchers. He was co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, and if Auburn's receivers make another jump, Taylor could be waving his towel elsewhere soon.
• Frank Wilson, LSU running backs coach/recruiting coordinator: He has emerged as one of the sport's top recruiters. As a running backs coach, he has done a tremendous job with the Tigers. Last season, LSU averaged 202.6 rushing yards per game and tied a school record with 35 rushing touchdowns. Three backs eclipsed the 500-yard rushing mark. Wilson commands tremendous respect from his players.
• David Yost, Missouri offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator: He has been at Missouri for 11 years, but he has to start getting more attention as an exceptional playcaller. He has a great eye for talent and pointing out mismatches in his spread scheme. In 2011, Mizzou ranked ninth nationally in rushing (244 yards per game) and had one of the most balanced offenses, as Mizzou was one of only two schools in the country to average at least 230 yards rushing and passing in each game.

Things are clearly heating up in Knoxville, Tenn., and it's not a good thing.

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley's name has almost become synonymous with the phrase "hot seat" this year. On Monday, CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd released his hot-seat rankings for 2012 and Dooley was one of just two coaches (the other being Arkansas interim coach John L. Smith) given a rating of 5.0 with a "Hot seat! Win or be fired" label.

There's no question that 2012 is a crucial year for Dooley, but while he has an unsatisfactory 11-14 record in his two years as the Vols' coach and is coming off a year that ended with Tennessee's first lost to Kentucky since 1984 instead of a bowl berth, he wasn't exactly dealt much of a hand when he arrived in 2010.

Tennessee's program had plenty of cracks in it. Longtime coach Phillip Fulmer was fired, showing just how far Tennessee's football program had fallen, and Lane Kiffin left Tennessee with NCAA clouds hanging over it and a paper tiger recruiting class that Kiffin heralded as a true gem.

(That class left Tennessee with more headaches than wins.)

Dooley dealt with issues he could barely control, but still sent the Vols to a bowl game in his first season. During this year's SEC meetings in Destin, Fla., Dooley expressed his feelings about the short-handed roster he had during his first year.

"I knew there were some challenges internally," Dooley told reporters last month. "I knew there were challenges with our culture. But probably the one thing that surprised me the most was the state of our roster. When we were in my first spring practice, I knew that this was going to be a much tougher road to plow than what I expected when I got here. Because I think I was probably no different than most typical fans who see the Power T and you expect a pretty deep and talented roster. And we didn't have that.

"Certainly the attrition had a big impact on it because of the changes. I knew that it was not something we could solve right away."

And Tennessee didn't. There were growing pains expected in 2011 with a young defense returning, but there was hope with offensive playmakers Tyler Bray, Da'Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter returning. Unfortunately for the Vols, injuries to Bray and Hunter stunted Tennessee's growth. Add an inconsistent offensive line and a nonexistent running game and Tennessee limped through 2011.

Dooley then had to replace seven assistant coaches before the spring, leaving even more questions about his job security. It's as if Dooley just can't catch a break. He returns nearly 20 starters in 2012, but loses seven assistants.

But those challenges haven’t prevented his name from appearing at the top of the college football hot-seat boards. Dooley could have done a lot more complaining about his situation but he didn't.

The problem Dooley finds himself in is that in this profession -- and especially in this league -- it's all about what you've done lately, and Dooley hasn't done a lot in the wins department. This year, that could change. Though there will be some adjustments made with players and new coaches, especially on defense with new defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri looking to run out of a 3-4 base, this is Dooley's best team. The offense might have one of the best passing games in the league, and the running game should benefit from what is expected to be an improved offensive line.

The schedule is also more favorable with Florida and Alabama at home and no LSU or Arkansas. The Vols could actually win eight games without beating Florida, Alabama, Georgia or South Carolina. That's good news, but it could also dump even more pressure on Dooley. Eight wins almost becomes a must for Dooley.

So if Dooley fails to reach the eight-win mark for the third consecutive year, will that be his undoing? It's hard to say what new athletic director Dave Hart will do in that situation. He's been adamant that he wants to see improvement, but won't put a number on wins Dooley needs.

But does he want to be the new guy who dismisses a coach who appears to finally have the numbers and talent needed to get Tennessee going again?

There's no question that Tennessee has to make strides in the right direction this fall. Whether its winning eight or more games, making a bowl or just being more competitive, the Vols have to be better than last year. Anything less could have Dooley out of a job, which is a sad reality in a league as competitive as the SEC.

We asked you on Tuesday to vote for the most hated coach in SEC history -- past or present.

We're all about the love here on the SEC blog, but this is after all "Hate Week" at ESPN.com. Seriously, this is all done in fun, and some of your responses were priceless.

Here's a sampling:

Drew in Greenville, S.C., writes: I don't think there is any doubt that Lane Kiffin is the clear winner (loser). The two glaring differences between Kiffin and all the other candidates is that he left the program in shambles and he didn't win anything. All the other coaches had success at their respective schools and Kiffin never sniffed success. With Kiffin at the helm, if felt like I was always having to defend my school's decision to hire that clown. Currently, Dooley may not be winning much, but at least I don't have to defend him for his lack of honor.

Darth Tripous writes: The most hated SEC coach has to be Lane Kiffin. My hope is that one day Alshon Jeffery will say to Kiffin, "Fill 'er up please."

Mike in Mandeville, La., writes: I'm down on Nick Saban, but not for the reasons most LSU dislike him. I just need to look at the last play of his tenure at LSU, the Iowa "Hail Mary." Saban was DB coach and that garbage could happen? Nicky was always pulling boneheaded stunts, only saved by the awesome talent he recruited. Anyone remember his annual inability to pick a starting QB? How about UAB 13 LSU 10? The 2000 Arkansas game he failed to use a time out to punt with the wind and ended up with a 3-yarder to start the 2nd quarter? How about 4th & inches at his own 27 during the 2001 SEC title game? The dog show from 2002 that started in Auburn and culminated in the Cotton Bowl loss to Texas? 2003 Florida? UGa 2004? Nick seems to have learned a great deal from the NFL, but the poor in-game calls that cost LSU from 2000-2004 will always have Lil' Nicky No. 1 on my dog list!

R.J. in Portland, Ore., writes: The biggest SEC villain is no doubt Nick (the dictator) Saban. He oversigns, ruthlessly cuts players, has hissy fits in front of the media and undermines them. Not to mention he compares losses to horrific tragedies such as Pearl Harbor and has a terrible personality. The guy is everything that is wrong with college football.

Jason in Athens, Ga., writes: By far, it's the "Evil Genius" now at South Carolina. Being a lifelong DAWG fan, I despised him when he was at Florida, when we could only pull out one win in the 90's (1997: behind Bobo and Edwards running the show). And now he has gotten the best of us the past few years for sure. But as much as I wish he would leave, I have respect for him because he is without a question one of the best college football coaches in history. Anyone who can win an ACC championship with Duke is a helluva ball coach.

Sam in Athens, Ga., writes: Spurrier is still the most hated coach in the SEC for his snide comments. Saban may be despised by Auburn fans, but the rest of the league recognizes he is simply the best coach in college football today.

Byrd in Houston, Texas writes: How can anyone beat out Tommy Tuberville for the most hated coach? Ole Miss hates him for leaving. Bama hates him for beating them more often than not. Auburn hates him for "losing" toward the end of his tenure. The rest of the SEC hates him. Close second: Jackie Sherrill.

Chris in Tampa, Fla., writes: It's Gene Chizik. He has a terrible record and a bought national title. But, somehow, he has the puppet Auburn fans dancing on his string.

Barry in Charleston, Tenn., writes: James Franklin is the coach I despise most. Dirty on the field and talks too much off it, especially for a program that has always been awful. I hope Candy's fans realize he won't be there once he gets a better offer from somewhere else.

Brian in Washington, D.C., writes: Saban. Period. Petrino would make the discussion if he still met the employment requirement. Without him, there is no argument.

Trevor writes: Gotta be Derek Dooley. He makes horrible remarks about Vanderbilt, has no originality, and let's face it, who really does like the orange pants? Even Johnny Majors still cringes at the thought of orange pants. Spurrier would be a close second.

Michael in Eden Prairie, Minn., writes: Pat Dye for sure. He was the one who turned my Gators into the NCAA in the early 1980s for paying players while the whole time doing it himself. Remember Eric Ramsey?

Realdawgsnocowbell writes: Does it have to be a head coach? How about Willie Martinez?

John in Baton Rouge, La., writes: There have been many coaches in the SEC that are so much fun to hate. For me, though it's none other than Phil Fulmer. Of all his accomplishments and successes, the first thing that comes to my mind is a particular game played Sept. 26, 2005. It was an extremely hot Monday night after Hurricane Rita. It was my freshman year at LSU and my first time in the student section. With the community recently rocked by two hurricanes, everyone was excited to have a game to watch in Tiger Stadium. Sadly, we squandered a 21-point lead and fell in overtime. I remember clearly the sight of Gerald Riggs scoring the winning touchdown and the moment of dead silence that came over the crowd as we realized what had just happened. Tennessee then planted their flag at midfield and Coach Fulmer in his post game interview said that Rick Clausen was now the greatest story in America . It wasn't the greatest story in America. The greatest story in America at the moment had just been ruined. Ever since, Fulmer has been the coach that I loved to root against!

Jordan in Birmingham, Ala., writes: Without a doubt, the most hated coach to ever come through the SEC is Phillip Fulmer! Roll Tide!

Leaving one's job can be pretty awkward. For college football coaches, it usually is. Rarely do we see an amiable mutual parting in these situations.

As we continue to take a look at the coaches we love to hate this week, we're looking at SEC coaches who have left their respective schools in a lurch.

We already discussed Bobby Petrino's more than awkward departure at Arkansas, so we're going with three other recent departures that happened unexpectedly.

Let the bad memories return:

Lane Kiffin, Tennessee: He left for USC in 2010 after one season at Tennessee. Kiffin replaced longtime Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer in 2009 and was immediately confrontational with other SEC coaches, and that sort of arrogance was something that had to be a little attractive to Tennessee's fan base. However, his lack of production on the field made his pompous attitude laughable. Through all the chirping, he delivered a 7-6 season, which might go down as the most celebrated 7-6 season in SEC history. He talked so much about all the good things he'd do at Tennessee, but whined about not having enough talent. Then he built up his first signing class, but it eventually turned into nothing more than a paper tiger. Kiffin suddenly left Tennessee for USC just three weeks before national signing day in 2010. During his uncomfortable news conference, in which he announced his departure, Tennessee fans showed up in droves to wish him a not-so-safe trip to Cali. Kiffin left under the protection of police and left Tennessee with an NCAA cloud hanging over its head, which got the school a visit from the NCAA infractions committee. Kiffin and his staff's recruiting practices prompted an investigation that resulted in two years of probation for Tennessee. The NCAA found that Kiffin and his staff had committed 12 secondary violations, but Kiffin wasn't penalized. Derek Dooley took over for Kiffin in 2010 and has dealt with a laundry list of player and attrition issues. He has gone 11-14 in his two years.

Urban Meyer, Florida: He announced that he'd be stepping away from coaching in 2010, but is now coaching at Ohio State. There was no question that Meyer was one of the best coaches to swing through Gainesville. During his six-year tenure, he won two national championships and took the Gators to three SEC championship games. But it was the way he left that sent Gator Nation into a frenzy. First, he announced his retirement for health reasons a couple of weeks after the loss to Alabama in the 2009 SEC championship game. His retirement barely lasted 24 hours, but Meyer and Florida were never the same. The 2010 season was a major step back, as Florida went 8-5, and Meyer stepped away again after the regular season concluded. Meyer said he was taking time off because of his health and his desire to spend more time with his family. Then, he took over at Ohio State (one of his dream jobs) for the fired Jim Tressel. But it wasn't just leaving Florida for a Big Ten school barely a year later that upset Florida fans. It was the fact that he left new coach Will Muschamp with what Meyer himself deemed a broken program. Muschamp dealt with discipline and attrition issues during his first season, in which he went 7-6. While Meyer was the king of winning the recruiting ranking game, he too often missed on character.

Tommy Tuberville, Ole Miss: He left Ole Miss after the 1998 season for Auburn. Tuberville took over a struggling Ole Miss program in 1995 and helped the Rebels to three winning seasons in four years. But four years wasn't what the Ole Miss faithful expected to get from Tuberville; he made it seem that he would be there for much longer when he uttered those now-infamous words: "They’ll have to carry me out of here in a pine box." That pine box apparently had to be filled with money, as just a couple days after he emphatically stated that he wanted to stay in Oxford and be the Rebels' coach, he took a pay raise that doubled his salary and headed off to Auburn. Soon after Tuberville left without so much as telling his players, Ole Miss fans donned T-shirts inspired by the movie "Liar, Liar" with Tuberville's face on them instead of Jim Carrey's. Tuberville went 7-3 against his old team during his time at Auburn. David Cutcliffe, Tuberville's replacement, guided Ole Miss to five winning seasons in his six years, including a 10-win season that ended with a Cotton Bowl victory.

When you start selecting coaching villains, so much of it gets back to who's doing the selecting.

For instance, in the realm of the Alabama Football Nation, good luck in finding somebody who doesn't revere Nick Saban. Of course, the folks in and around the 334 area code in that state probably haven't spent a lot of time posing for pictures with Saban's statue at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Steve Spurrier is one of the most refreshing and funny figures in all of college football. That is, unless your team has been on the wrong end of one of his zingers after he's beaten you a bunch of times in a row.

Something says Urban Meyer isn't as popular these days in Florida as he was in 2008 when he was putting the finishing touches on the Gators' second national championship in three years.

And would anybody in the SEC stop to lend a hand to Lane Kiffin if he were broken down on the side of the road? Alshon Jeffery might pump his gas for him, but that's a story for another day.

Anyway, you get the idea.

Now it's on you, the fans, to tell us via our SportsNation poll who gets the top prize as the SEC's most hated coach -- past or present.

We've come up with five choices.

We'll review the results later this week.