Adams: Meyer's stock is soaring

In Sunday's column, I ranked the SEC football coaches based on what they have accomplished. That was the easy part.

Now comes the tougher part: estimating their worth on the open market and ranking them accordingly. For example, if Program X could have any SEC coach for the next five years whom would it take? And then, whom would it take next?

But first, a quick review of Sunday's rankings just in case you missed them (What's wrong with you?).

Based on accomplishments, South Carolina's Steve Spurrier was No. 1, followed by Florida's Urban Meyer, Alabama's Nick Saban, Auburn's Tommy Tuberville, LSU's Les Miles, Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer, Georgia's Mark Richt, Arkansas' Bobby Petrino, Ole Miss' Houston Nutt, Kentucky's Rich Brooks, Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom and Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson.

1. Urban Meyer: The only possible negative with Meyer is that he hasn't sustained success anywhere. Give him time.

His success at three different schools has been spectacular. In three years at Florida, he has shown how well he can recruit; in winning a national championship, he has proved he could fit somebody else's players into his offensive system.

As good as his overall winning percentage has been, his success in big games is even more impressive. And his biggest game was his best. The 2006 Florida team improved significantly from the end of the regular season to its national championship-game rout of Ohio State.

2. Nick Saban: It took him four years to build a national championship team at LSU. The way he's recruiting, he's apt to do the same thing at Alabama.

Never mind how fast he goes through assistant coaches. The coming-and-going of assistants doesn't seem to affect the Saban system.

3. Tommy Tuberville: He has proved himself as both a recruiter and game-day coach at two SEC schools. It's unfortunate that his unbeaten 2004 Auburn team didn't get a chance to play for the national title, because that likely would have brought out the best in a Tuberville team.

The talent level might change, but Tuberville's teams consistently play hard. He's not afraid to take chances, as evidenced by his fourth-down gambles or last year's decision to change offensive coordinators and offensive systems between the end of the regular season and the bowl.

4. Mark Richt: He learned something about maintaining a program in his years as an offensive coordinator under Bobby Bowden at Florida State. Richt has never lost more than four games in seven seasons at Georgia and has won 10 or more games in five of the last six seasons.

He has more than consistency going for him. Last season, when his team was struggling early, the normally cool and calm Richt sensed the Bulldogs needed a boost. He became more emotional, and his team responded similarly on the field en route to a No. 2 national ranking.

5. Steve Spurrier: Obviously, he ranks this low only because of his age, 63. No coach other than Alabama's Bear Bryant has had a greater impact on the SEC.

Maybe you couldn't count on him coaching another five years. But right now, whom else would you rather have on your sideline on game day? Moreover, if you had a championship-caliber team returning and needed a new coach for one season, how many coaches would you take over Spurrier?

6. Les Miles: Sure, Saban's recruits have had an impact on Miles winning 11 or more games in three successive seasons at LSU. But Miles also is bringing in top-10 recruiting classes.

He has made questionable decisions on game day - some worked; some didn't - but you can't ignore the bottom line, especially after last season's national championship.

Something else you can't ignore: Miles' teams have been dominant in three consecutive bowl games.

7. Bobby Petrino: He was a huge success in four seasons at Louisville, but that program already had become a proven winner. Still, there was a reason the Atlanta Falcons hired him as their head coach last year.

Petrino is an outstanding offensive coach and quarterbacks coach, which should serve him well in recruiting skill players to Arkansas. Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett could have transferred anywhere in the country but chose Arkansas because of Petrino.

8. Phillip Fulmer: He has never been a head coach anywhere other than UT, so it's hard to imagine him on the open market. Also, he never has had to rebuild a program.

However, you can't deny his recruiting success, particularly on a national level. A school that's dependent on national recruiting might consider him.

9. Houston Nutt: He proved he could recruit big-time players while at Arkansas. He just couldn't recruit quite enough of them to win a conference championship.

Nutt's strength is as a motivator, and he's at his best in an underdog role. He probably would be a better head coach if he would let someone else run the offense, rather than call the plays himself.

10. Sylvester Croom: He had no head-coaching experience prior to taking the job at Mississippi State, and he's only had one good year. But last year's eight-win season was significant in a league as loaded as the SEC, especially if you realize how low Mississippi State was when Croom became head coach.

If he can put together a couple of more winning seasons in succession, he could become an attractive candidate at more prominent schools.

11. Bobby Johnson: He has clearly upgraded Vanderbilt's talent level, but apparently that's not enough to get the attention of athletic directors at better programs.

Although he hasn't had a winning season at Vanderbilt, other coaches in the league will be the first to tell you Vanderbilt is much tougher to beat now than before Johnson took over.

One break-even season at Vanderbilt would do wonders for Johnson on the open market.

12. Rich Brooks: Another ranking based on age. He's on the verge of handing Kentucky's coaching reins to assistant coach Joker Phillips.

But age is the only reason you wouldn't consider him if your program were in need of an extreme makeover. Brooks rebuilt both Oregon and Kentucky.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.