Gus Malzahn still remembers the 2006 season, his first in college football. He remembers the "wow" moment when he stood across the sideline from Steve Spurrier, one of his coaching heroes. Malzahn wore a visor that game, a look that began when he was a high school coach and continued until just recently, because he wanted to emulate Spurrier's trademark look.
That same season, Malzahn called plays against Monte Kiffin, one of the best defensive minds in football. Kiffin, the veteran NFL defensive coordinator, was running the defense at Tennessee where his son, Lane, was the head coach at the time.