Conference has NFL look

HOOVER - Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin said he took notice of one thing as he was preparing to interview for the Vols' job: Some of the top teams in the top conferences across the country were led by former NFL coaches.

"I was looking at the USA Today on the airplane … looking at the conferences, and Pete Carroll and USC was first in the Pac 10, Nick Saban and Alabama was first in the SEC and Butch Davis was first in North Carolina. I don't think that's a coincidence that those are all NFL head coaches."

The SEC is tops in the nation in terms of former NFL guys now heading up teams throughout the league. In addition to Kiffin, who was the head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders, there's Saban (Miami Dolphins), Steve Spurrier (Washington Redskins), Rich Brooks (L.A. Rams) and Bobby Petrino (Atlanta Falcons).

It's no sure-fire thing that coaching in the NFL will lead to success in the college ranks, but there's definitely no doubt that it has helped.

Kiffin attributes much of the success to what he calls the "X's and O's" of the NFL.

"The NFL is the highest level of X's and O's," Kiffin said. "I don't think anybody can disagree with that. That's what you do all year long there. You don't go on the road recruiting. You do football."

NFL coaches typically eat, breathe and sleep football without the worries of NCAA regulations, recruiting and academics. Game planning and organization are two of the top things mentioned by these coaches in terms of what helps them on the collegiage level.

"I coached for four years with Bill Belichick. He was an outstanding coach," Saban said. "I probably learned as much from him in terms of organization, football management, defining roles so that people understand what's expected from them, as anybody that I've ever been around."

Brooks said preparation was probably the biggest carry-over from the NFL.

"Probably a lot of game preparation stuff that you have more time to do in the NFL than in college," he said.

On the flip side, college success hasn't always equated to big-time NFL success. None of the five

former NFL coaches now in the SEC experienced major sustained success.

"You see college guys go to the NFL, and they struggle X- and O-wise when they get there," Kiffin said.

Spurrier was fired from Washington, going 12-20 during his two years. Kiffin (5-15) lasted just a few games into his second season. Saban went 15-17 in two years at Miami, numbers which seem more respectable when compared to Miami's year before (4-12) and after (1-15) he left.

Petrino skipped out of Atlanta without completing the season, going 3-10. While with the Rams in 1995 and 1996, Brooks' teams went 13-19.

NFL experience isn't a sure-fire way to success. Just check out Florida' Urban Meyer, who has spent all his time in the collegiate ranks, yet has two national championships in the past three years.

Players say they typically like playing for a coach - be it a head coach or an assistant - who has that connection to the NFL.

"College and the NFL is different but with a guy who has already been where you want to be, it makes you a better person -- a better player," Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain said.

Kentucky tackle Zipp Duncan said he thinks the success of coaches has more to do with personality, but that having a coach with NFL experience is a big thing.

"Coach Brooks, he's honest with you, and he'll sit down and tell you things from an NFL standpoint, 'This is where I think you're at. I know these people, and we can get their opinion,' " Duncan said. "I think anytime you're fortunate to be in a situation where you're thinking about the NFL, having those instant connections (to the NFL) is huge for the program."

Arkansas defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard said he thinks expectations are higher for the players.

"(Coach Petrino) expects a lot more out of players," Sheppard said. "In the NFL, those guys have to take it upon themselves to get better. He expects us to do the same in the classroom and on the practice field, to handle our own business."

Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams called Petrino really "intense" and that it was just his personality. He said his biggest asset is developing players.

"NFL guys, they're getting millions, and they're already developed," Williams said. "Coach Petrino does a great job of developing players, and that's what the college game is about. I think it's a perfect place for him."

Still, Petrino definitely has some traits that stand out from his brief stint in the NFL.

"He's hard-nosed," Williams said. "If someone gets hurt, he's like 'Get up, rub some dirt on it and keep going.' He's a tough guy and that's how he's always been."

Likewise, South Carolina players say there is nothing about Spurrier which they can totally attribute to his time in the NFL.

"I guess it's more experience for him, but for us, he's coach Spurrier," receiver Moe Brown said. "He's going to be coach Spurrier if he's in Canada, on the moon or in church. I don't see too much difference in him."

In the long run, that might be the most crucial thing for success.

Christa Turner is the assistant sports editor for the Anniston Star.