DucksReign wrote:

I always enjoy reading how coaches put together winning programs / cultures.

This article made me even more curious because Lanning coached under Smart.

I like Smart's approach of "confront and demand."

While they are the utmost of importance, I think too often recruiting / NIL / Transfer Portal cloud the importance of COACHING i.e. See Smart's "Bloody Tuesday" practices as one example.

It has only been a year but other than recruiting, my PERCEPTION of Lanning is he doesn't coach in the same sphere as Smart... acknowledging of course Smart has been a head coach much longer than Lanning. BUT Smart was also clear from Day One at Georgia, it was going to be uncomfortable for everyone.

I think Cristobal aspires to be like Smart but I don't think he demands of himself what he does everyone else among other issues.

Anyway, a good read / insight if you enjoy this type of article.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35297464/how-kirby-smart-built-georgia-another-alabama

I agree with your assessment...although I am on the fence with Bama, you have to look at all the coaches that came out of Saban's program and have had success. Respect. I've read articles on Cristobal out of Miami...same assessment after one year that we had. He can recruit like hell but has an issue coaching all the talent.
I'm ok with Lanning in year one...I have a hunch he still consults with Kirby. Georgia does not take in a lot of transfers as like Alabama. You have to learn to walk before you can run. I'm pulling for Georgia to win it again so I can harass my good friends who pull for Ohio State! Go Ducks!
 

Jiffy Jeff wrote:

Good read..  Set the standard and tone from the top down, taking names whether a player or coach when necessary.  Having fun and being a fun guy when the opportunity affords itself.  

Regarding Lanning, it comes down to the one fact that he is no longer "one of the guys," anymore.  He is the CEO and has to make the tough calls now, whether with a coach or player.  Think we saw a lot of Smart in his style last year, but with errors that belied his youth and inexperience as a HC.  But getting paid as he is, the honeymoon is over.  I hope that we see some improved football smarts on display from here out...

Cristobal is mentioned here.  After seeing what he has done with FIU, Oregon and at Miami, I think he is pretty much all hat and no cattle as a HC.  He simply does not trust anyone with his "process" outside of himself.  A shame because he really does seem to be a serious guy.  

On a side note, cannot wait to see at ASU if Dillingham is as willing as a HC to be as ballsy in negative territory as he was at UO.  

1) Good post and you have mentioned it a number of times previously about Lanning no longer being "one of the guys" and I think you are spot on with that point.

2) Let's be honest, some games mean more and are more important than others. Every coach preaches "the invisible opponent" or how the team itself is their weekly opponent...but I would gladly trade any 2 wins for the 2 losses to uw and osu.

Now we might have ended up in the exact same place in the Holiday Bowl but I would much prefer to be going for a 10-3 record WITH wins over uw and osu than our current situation. It would feel entirely different if that were the case...at least for me.

3) You are exactly right re Cristobal and trust. That is THE difference between him and Saban or Smart. Those two "confront and demand" all the time with players and coaches BUT the reason they do is because they trust everyone and set the expectations / standards very high. So when someone is being confronted it is not for being an idiot or messing up or an overall lack of trust but rather because they didn't meet the standards they were TRUSTED to execute.

Here is a very interesting article to that point on why Saban doesn't allow DB's to clap their hands after a bad play...

https://www.si.com/college/alabama/bamacentral/nick-saban-reveals-one-thing-his-dbs-are-never-allowed-to-do