Imagine Sam Pittman in a 100-meter dash against Olympic champion Noah Lyles. I’m thinking Lyles might establish a 70-meter lead on Arkansas’ Head Hog, with about 20 meters remaining to the finish line.
The SEC’s cast of coaches wouldn’t include a gold medalist sprinter, but that doesn’t mean these sideline brainiacs completely lack for athleticism.
Several SEC coaches played ball in college. Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer was a multi-sport college athlete. Tennessee’s Josh Heupel was a Heisman Trophy runner-up.
While the Paris Games wind down, I mused: If the SEC’s coaches were to pursue an Olympic sport, which would be the best fit for each? Here’s what I came up with:
Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss)
Tennis
Kiffin tortured opponents on the pickleball court during the offseason. Pickleball is just tennis for the out-of-shape. If Kiffin committed to conditioning, he might be able to elevate to the grown-up courts of tennis.
Josh Heupel (Tennessee)
Basketball
No football at the Olympics — only fútbol — so we’ve got to apply Heupel’s sweet left-handed toss elsewhere. I bet he could knock down some 3-pointers if given room to shoot. He’s also got the frame to go to work in the low post.
Sam Pittman (Arkansas)
Track and field (shot put)
Pittman, according to ESPN, won the Oklahoma Class 2A shot put state championship in 1980 for Grove High School. I’m thinking he’s still got it. In Pittman’s paw, a shot put probably feels like a gumball.
Hugh Freeze (Auburn)
Golf
Freeze’s swing is a bit unorthodox, but it works. Think Jim Furyk. Put a quality driver in Freeze’s hands, and he can outscore any Sunday hacker. He’s on record as shooting a 79 during a 2015 round at Augusta National.
Kirby Smart (Georgia)
Boxing
One look at Smart tells me he packs a punch. He wouldn’t have the longest reach, but if you let Smart get…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/olympic-sports-sec-football-coaches-100450188.html
Author : The Tennessean
Publish date : 2024-08-09 10:04:50
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