Southeastern Conference football teams have wrapped up their spring football practices and coaches discussed themes and trends Thursday in a teleconference.
Alabama won last year’s national championship largely on the shoulders of its stout defense.
Gone from that national championship defense are six NFL draft players.
If the Crimson Tide want to repeat that feat, coach Nick Saban said they are going to need some effort from younger players.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Saban said in the teleconference. “We’ve got some good young players who made a lot of progress, and we’re pleased.”
The team is working hard to ensure it will continue to be successful in the future, Saban said.
“One of the biggest challenges is how do you come back or what’s your attitude going to be after you have success?” he said. “I’ve been pleased with the way our guys haven’t become complacent.”
Another hot topic in college sports is conference expansion.
It’s been rumored for months that the Big Ten is looking to expand to 12 teams.
When asked about the SEC expanding, Saban said he would be supportive of it in the future.
“We did expansion years ago so we could come to 12 teams and a conference championship game,” Saban said. “That format is great for college football. It’s great for the fans. Our SEC championship game is a great venue for teams to play in.”
Two SEC teams will have new head coaches when the season begins.
Tennessee hired coach Derek Dooley in January to replace former coach Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin left the Volunteers to take the vacant head coaching job at USC after only one season.
“The very first team meeting I had when I was introduced to them as their coach, I told them I was never going to ask them to trust me,” Dooley said. “[Trust] is something you have to earn in time.”
Tennessee is Dooley’s second head coaching stop on the collegiate level. He coached at Louisiana Tech from 2007-09 prior to being hired by the Volunteers.
Joker Phillips will enter his first season as head coach when he takes the reins at Kentucky. Phillips has been a coach with the Wildcats in some capacity since 2003.
Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was one of the most decorated collegiate football players ever, but now he is in the NFL. Many fans are curious to see how the Gators will replace such an integral part of their success.
Florida will try to replace him with junior John Brantley.
Florida assistant coach Steve Addazio said Brantley is fitting in nicely.
“Johnny had a great spring, which is really no surprise at all,” Addazio said in a teleconference. “Our team has a great deal of respect for him. He’s really paid his dues, and he has a great work ethic here, and when he walks in, they have tremendous confidence.”