As we run headlong into conference media days, the men who will have the most microphones and camera lenses pointed in their direction will be the high profile new head coaches. Guys like Urban Meyer, Mike Leach, Kevin Sumlin, Larry Fedora, Rich Rodriguez and John L. Smith.
But while they're sitting in hotel ballrooms surrounded by reporters, the coaches with the hardest jobs will be back on campus, trudging through depth charts and film study. That would be the coordinators, the men charged with ultimately implementing the game plans for which those head coaches will either be cheered or run out of town.
With all due respect to the bosses, it's those recently relocated coordinators who face the steepest learning curves.
Each has his own story and unique challenges. And, as always, they will be the first to take the heat and last to receive the praise as the season plays out.
Returning to familiar surroundings
Coach: Paul Petrino, OC, Arkansas Razorbacks
Biggest challenge: His last name
To read the full blog on the challenges new coordinators will be faced with this fall, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Ryan McGee | email
ESPN The Magazine, NASCAR- ESPN The Magazine senior writer
- 2-time Sports Emmy winner
- 2010 NMPA Writer of the Year
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ryan McGee
Ryan McGee is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. While you may know him for his extensive and very popular NASCAR coverage on this site and television, he's also been a constant in the Mag's coverage of college football. Why? Well, to wit:
• He started working in college athletic departments at 16 (Furman, Tennessee). Got his first sideline pass (UNC @ Virginia) when he was 12 and was totally run over by Tar Heels LB Micah Moon.
• His father was a college football official for 36 years (FBS 1981-2009), working 20 bowl games and two national championships.
• Ryan's a member of the FWAA (Football Writers Association of America).
• He's covered college football for ESPN The Magazine for the last five years.
• He's all over college sports -- Ryan authored "The Road To Omaha: Hits, Hopes and History at the College World Series."
Follow Ryan on Twitter: @ESPNMcGee
