With a new coach comes a new start. New hope. New ideas.
With a new coach, hopefully there is a new direction, and new energy, and new standards.
With a new coach, the old days are possible all over again.
Just as the Florida Gators, who have returned to their winning ways after hiring Jim McElwain. The Gators are 8-1 and ranked 11th in the nation. They have survived a new quarterback, and then a second new quarterback. They have succeeded despite an difficult schedule.
For McElwain, it will do for a start.
The thing is, however, McElwain is just one of several new coaches who are making their presence known in college football. How about Tom Herman at Houston, who has gone 9-0 and is ranked 16th in the nation. How about Jim Harbaugh of Michigan, who is 7-2 and ranked 15th? How about Paul Chryst of Wisconsin, who is 8-2 and ranked 23rd?
For some new coaches, it happens this way. In his second stint at Stanford, Bill Walsh had a great first year (10-3) but fell off afterward. Steve Spurrier had the best record in the SEC in his first year (although his team was ineligible for the title). Larry Coker won a national title at Miami.
Jimbo Fisher won a division title. So did Les Miles. Urban Meyer was unbeaten at Ohio State. Gus Malzahn of Auburn played in the national title game.
Some of the coaches listed here sustained their success. Some did not.
With McElwain, we’ll see.
