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What are you hoping to find underneath your Christmas tree on Dec. 25? A new iPad, perhaps? Or maybe some (more) apparel for you to rep your favorite team? Or maybe an SEC-themed couch?
You can bet all the teams in the SEC have their own Christmas lists too, at least according to us. Instead of the newest gadget or gizmo, everything that they want from Santa has to do with making their football program the best it can be. They want the things that will get them more wins or, in some cases, things they don’t have but desperately need.
So what tops the wish list for every team in the SEC? Read on to find out.
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
A College Football Playoff win:
When you’re the best team from the best conference playing in your first-ever playoff game, losing is not an option to be considered. That’s why last year was so tough for the Crimson Tide, and all of the SEC, for that matter. Losing to Ohio State was a blow to the ego, for sure. It made the offseason horrible for all of us who have spent time assuring others that the SEC would still dominate in a playoff setting. Alabama is poised to redeem themselves this year. Their road to another national championship starts with Michigan State on Dec. 31, a win is at the very top of everyone’s wish list to Santa.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
A new offensive line coach who is equally as good as Sam Pittman
Santa has made miracles happen before. He could make one happen for the Razorbacks, right? Losing Pittman was one of the biggest blows to this Arkansas team, and could cause more harm than losing both RBs Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams combined. Bret Bielema will need to find a stellar replacement quickly or his offense will suffer the consequences in the long run.
AUBURN TIGERS
A defensive coordinator who sticks
Could Will Muschamp have had a plan to revive Auburn’s defense from the ashes? We’ll never know because, just as most of Auburn’s defensive coordinators have in the past six years, Muschamp left after just one season. Unfortunately, it comes at a time when this struggling squad needs guidance and leadership the most. Gus Malzahn is hoping that his next hire will be the one that sticks and stays.
FLORIDA GATORS
A functional offense, with new quarterback included
It’s no secret that the Gators’ offense has been struggle city, but many fans had the attitude that it was a temporary thing. QB Will Grier would come back next year and Florida would return to productivity like they did in the first half of 2015. Well, surprise! Grier has decided to transfer and RB Kelvin Taylor and WR Demarcus Robinson are also likely declaring early for the NFL draft. If Santa could spare Florida some top-quality skill position players to replenish their diminished roster, that would be wonderful.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Kirby Smart to make smart decisions
The SEC East saw firsthand in 2015 how a first-year head coach can come into a program, make swift and necessary changes, take the program from struggling to the SEC Championship Game and win SEC Coach of the Year. Bulldog fans are fervently hoping that new head coach Kirby Smart is capable of doing the exact same thing. Smart has a lot on his to-do list, from fleshing out his coaching staff to securing Georgia’s future quarterback. May all his choices be not just smart, but wise.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
A six-win season in 2016, at least
About that 2015 bowl game, well, it didn’t happen. So it’s time to try again next year. It’s likely that Mark Stoops will be out of a job in 2016 if he can’t secure at least a six-win season come next year. And more importantly, having a bowl game drought of any more than five years just plain looks bad. Maybe Santa has some extra wins in his sack of toys for Kentucky. You know, just in case the Wildcats come up short again.
LSU TIGERS
A bowl game win
With over 40 bowl games, being invited to one no longer seems like anything special. However, the power of extending the season and getting an extra game to play should not be underestimated, especially for a team trying to get the sour taste of a bad finish out of its mouth. A bowl game win often gives the winning team a boost in recruiting and also simply changes the mood and the mindset around a program. If there’s any team in the SEC who needs a change of tune, it’s LSU. The first step to regaining the spark they had during the first two-thirds of the season starts with a win over Texas Tech.
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
A new Dak Prescott
Prescott was a quarterback and player who defined the Bulldogs as a team and program for the duration of his college career. Now that he is graduating, there’s both a gaping hole and large shoes that need filling. As we have seen with Florida post-Tim Tebow, finding the right person with an equal level of talent may take time and patience. Mississippi State would love it if Santa could point them in the right direction.
MISSOURI TIGERS
More productivity at quarterback
Many changes will be happening in Missouri this offseason, with a new coaching staff changing the direction of things after Gary Pinkel’s retirement. And one of the biggest problems that coaching staff will have to address is the quarterback position, which was in turmoil for almost all of 2015. QB Maty Mauk was suspended earlier this season, and his backup, freshman Drew Lock, went 2-6 in his starts and looked overwhelmed at times. Mauk has been reinstated to the team and his father has announced that Mauk plans to finish his year at Missouri, but that’s no guarantee that we’ll see Mauk back on the field as Missouri’s starting quarterback.
OLE MISS REBELS
New starters that can deliver an even better level of play
The Rebels will be losing a veritable army of talented players after 2015. Fans shouldn’t be too worried though, because Hugh Freeze has done an excellent job of making sure that his talent pool is stacked and stays that way. Now all that’s needed is for the new starters to play at a level which will not only maintain the success Ole Miss had this year, but build on it. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
A matching set of productive quarterbacks and wide receivers
Will Muschamp has a bevy of quarterbacks on his roster that he will be able to choose from as South Carolina’s new head coach, but does he have one good enough to lead a resurgence? Muschamp will need make the best decision possible with what he is has been given. With WR Pharoh Cooper leaving for the NFL, the Gamecocks will also need a new leading wide receiver to set up their quarterback for success. And if that’s too much to ask of Santa, a gift of some noise-cancelling Gamecocks earmuffs may become a necessity.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
The SEC East title in 2016
The Volunteers were upstaged by the surprising Florida Gators in 2015, but on paper, Tennessee doesn’t appear to be heading in that same direction for 2016. Not only will they have an excellent returning quarterback to lead them in Joshua Dobbs, but the team itself will feature as many as 17 returning starters. While divisional counterparts are scrambling to fill key positions, the Volunteers are all set. Maybe Santa has some sort of device which can prevent them from messing it all up.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
A new quarterback who will stick around
When an SEC team loses quarterbacks, it’s usually just one at a time. But the Aggies upstaged everyone this year by having two quarterbacks transfer away. This leaves QB Jake Hubenak to be the default starting quarterback for Texas A&M in their bowl game. Whether Hubenak turns out to be the long-term starter or not, the Aggies would love to have the 2016 season as one without any complications at the quarterback position. Pick a good one from the start and stick with him.
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
A device that matures quarterbacks quickly
When looking at Florida and Vanderbilt from the most general of viewpoints, the teams actually have a lot in common. Defense is both teams’ strong suits, and the offense is where both teams find most of their problems. Quarterback play is also an issue for the Commodores, who really need freshman Kyle Shurmer to grow up fast. He has plenty of potential, but looked like a wide-eyed youngster in his first year. Any improvement to their offense next year will start with better QB play.
Christine Wang is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. She covers Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
