Originally Posted by Raisor
Go Jim Tressel!!!
"I tried to play golf, but I found out I wasn't very good." -Joey Votto on his offseason hobby search
An MLB.com reporter asked what one thing Votto couldn’t do. “I can’t skate or play hockey,” Votto said. “Well, I can skate ... but I can’t stop.”
#9: Tommy Tuberville
I'm not going any further. Who's #1? Saban?
When all is said and done more is said than done.
Jim Grobe's defense this year will be scary good.
Where is Charlie Weis?
He's certainly not tough to spot.
Right here.
http://cfn.scout.com/2/734689.htmlCoaches who need to win big this year are ...
Some of these big-name coaches will be gone next year if they don't have big seasons, some will be on double-secret probation in 2009 without a strong 2008, and some just need to turn things around and make their already good teams special again.
Three Big-Name Coaches Who'll Be Gone Without A Big Year
Chuck Long, San Diego State
This isn't exactly how things were supposed to work out. This was Chuck Long, a college football legend and rising offensive mastermind who helped keep the Oklahoma offense booming, coming to San Diego State, a supposed sleeping lion of a program that just needed a few breaks and a little head coaching star power to become a major Mountain West player. This was supposed to be a stepping-stone for Long as he swooped in for a few years and made the Aztecs strong before inevitably leaving for a bigger-name school. Even with loads of offensive experience returning last year, and a NFL-caliber quarterback in Kevin O'Connell to carry things, the offense didn't exactly take off, and the defense continued to be lousy giving Long a 7-17 record in two years. Injuries have been a problem, and Long likely won't be canned even with a third straight lousy season, but there had better be some positive signs or 2009 will be a make-or-break season for his coaching career.
Greg Robinson, Syracuse
How in the name of Skaneateles is Greg Robinson still the head football coach at the University of Syracuse? Who would've ever thought Orange fans would be pining for the Paul Pasqualoni era? In three years his teams have produced a 7-28 record with two of those wins coming against Buffalo, one against a 2006 Miami University squad that went 2-10, and one against a 2006 Illinois team that went 2-10. Worse yet, the attendance isn't there, and very soon, it's going to be a straight money issue if the fan base doesn't start coming back. Robinson has said he's going to start doing more with the defense, he has a few fantastic offensive pieces to build around, but the time to let the program grow it over. There has to be a major sign of improvement, or else things will change ... and quickly.
Mike Stoops, Arizona
In four years, Stoops has gone 17-29 without a bowl appearance. It seems like every season that Arizona is the Breakthrough Program To Watch, but it hasn't happened yet while that other team up the road in Tempe appears to be on the verge of really, really big things. The team always teases with big wins, like last year's victory over Oregon and the 24-20 win over Cal two years ago, but it's never consistent. Considering UA hasn't been to a bowl game since the 1998 Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska to close out a 12-1 season, the fan base isn't going to be patient for too much longer.
Four Big-Name Coaches Who'll Get One More Chance If They Don't Rock in 2008. One More.
Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville
How do you have Brian Brohm, a dizzying array of offensive weapons, and the nation's sixth best offense and still go 6-6? Oh yeah, the defense. While changes are being made in Louisville, there are living, breathing expectations for a program that won the Orange Bowl two years ago and could realistically put the words national and championship in its dreams. Considering the success of John L. Smith and Bobby Petrino, Kragthrorpe, one of the nation's hot coaches after an excellent stint at Tulsa, didn't keep the train rolling as expected. No, 2007 wasn't a total disaster, four of the six losses came by seven points or fewer, but losing to arch-rival Kentucky and to a woeful Syracuse made the fans grouchy. This is a place that considers itself a football power now, and anything else than being in the hunt for the Big East title will do.
Mike Price, UTEP
It's not that Price hasn't made UTEP a consistent Conference USA power, it's that his teams have gone into the tank late in the last few seasons despite having some of the best talent in the league. Remember, before Price, UTEP had won two games in three straight seasons, and he set the bar way high with a stunning 8-4 turnaround. However, even in that big 2004 campaign, the Miners lost their final two games including a 33-28 loss to Colorado in the Houston Bowl. That started a horrible trend of closing out seasons going 0-3 in the final three games of 2005 while blowing the Conference USA title and getting blasted by Toledo in the GMAC Bowl. He went 1-5 in the final six games of 2006 and 0-6 to finish 200, and now the program has been lapped by Houston, Tulsa, and UCF, while East Carolina and SMU have been strong.
Ty Willingham, Washington
Willingham was going to show all those Notre Damers who made a big push for change in South Bend, one many thought was unwarranted, by turning around a once-giant of a Washington program. While the recruiting hasn't been bad, it hasn't exactly been lucky. For example, J.R. Hasty was one of the nation's top running backs and the jewel of Willingham's first recruiting class, but instead of being the star to build around, he was never eligible and never got a chance. Forget that Jake Locker is one of the nation's premier young stars. Pay no attention to a brutal schedule that wasn't exactly conducive to rebuilding. This is Washington, a national powerhouse that was competing for Rose Bowls and national titles not all that long ago, and going 11-25 in three seasons isn't going to get it done. Starting out this year at Oregon, against a loaded BYU, and against Oklahoma isn't exactly a way to get things back on track.
Charlie Weis, Notre Dame
Thanks to one of the nation's best recruiting classes, Weis has bought himself at least one more lousy season with 2009 looking like something special if all the talent shines through as expected, but another 3-9 season will make things very, very ugly. Weis proved he could coach Ty Willingham's players, but when it came time to reload, he came up with the worst season in Notre Dame history complete with a loss to Navy. Worse yet, for supposedly being an offensive mastermind, his attack was the worst in America, and that simply can't happen again with a QB like Jimmy Clausen to work with. Don't think Weis's fat contact will be a deterrent for anything; Notre Dame could buy out the head man with the loose change in its pocket.
Three Big-Name Coaches Who Won't Ever Be Fired, But Need To Get Their Mojo Back
Mack Brown, Texas
Remember, we're talking about elite of the elite of the elite expectations here. Brown went 10-3 last year with a Holiday Bowl win, and has gone 20-6 in the last two seasons, but as everyone knows, you can't lose rivalry games. Forget that the Longhorns have won ten or more games in seven straight seasons, compared to six straight seasons at USC, three straight at Ohio State, and two straight at Oklahoma, but they lost last year to the Sooners and lost two years in a row to Texas A&M. The rich alumni will only take guff from their Aggie and Sooner co-workers for so long.
Almost every other program would take Texas's record over the last several years in a heartbeat, but with the national title the goal every year, the grumbling has started again that Brown is a guy who can get the ball on the green, but can't putt. Was 2005 an aberration because of an all-timer of a season from a college football legend? Did Vince Young overcome the coaching? It's not fair; remember, only three current head coaches, Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden and Dennis Erickson have two D-I national championships (sorry Pete Carroll fans, we live in a BCS world now ... you get 1.5), so the pressure on Brown is unfair. But again, this is Texas.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
A few years ago, Ferentz was one of the nation's hottest coaches, rumored for just about every open NFL job, or at the very least, certain to bolt to one of the elite of the elite powerhouse programs after taking his talent-challenged Iowa teams to 31 wins in three seasons. Injuries and inconsistencies were the theme from 2005 to 2007 going 7-5, 6-7 and 6-6 in three disappointing campaigns. While that's hardly falling off the map, the team gagged late in 2006 and completely choked last year in the regular season finale against Western Michigan to stay home for the bowl season for the first time since 2000. Oh yeah, and Michigan and Ohio State weren't on last season's schedule. Ferentz isn't going to be fired, he's still doing a decent job, but the window has slammed shut on his shot at bolting for a bigger job, and now there's a question of whether or not the program is going stale. He's going into his tenth year as the head man. This is when Iowa should be rocking and rolling, not regrouping.
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
Wasn't the Ol' Ball Coach supposed to be able to just show up and make any SEC team an instant contender? Unfortunately, the rest of the league just got really, really, really loaded with top-shelf coaches like Nick Saban, Les Miles, Urban Meyer, and Bobby Petrino, to go along with established A listers like Tommy Tuberville, Mark Richt and Houston Nutt. In other words, Spurrier is just another great coach in a league full of them. He worked a little bit of magic in his first two years, and injuries took their toll on last year's squad, but now it's year four and this is his program; the buck stops under the visor. The SEC is a cruel, heartless place, and while Spurrier will never be fired, the five-game losing streak to close out last year means he has to produce now and show the Gamecock faithful that yes, you really can win in Columbia.
I guess it would be arguing semantics, but I think Tressel or Carroll could be interchangable at #1. I think they are both great coaches, and I would give the edge slightly to Pete Carroll, but I think Jim Tressel gets more out of less from his players. It definitely seems to me that Carroll has better players each year, while perhaps maybe Tressel is benefitting from a weak Big X?
The only thing that frustrates me about each coach is that Carroll seems to routinely look past weaker opponents and sometimes gets tripped up by them, while Tressel will get a 3 or 7 point lead, and attempt to sit on it. I'd rather see Tressel go for the jugular and get at least a 2 score lead before he hands the ball off to the RB du jour, and settles for 3 and out series before putting a lot of stress on his D to hold the lead.
Regardless, both great coaches.
You should have put a warning on that link for those of us who don't like to look at Mack Brown any more than we have to.
On another note, given the rumors swirling around USC, I wonder if Pete Carroll will be as highly-esteemed this time next year.
/r/reds
That's a pretty good list.
I noticed that no one named Dusty was on it.
Give it a couple years and you will see Brian Kelly on there.
http://cfn.scout.com/2/735080.htmlTen coaches on the verge of being superstars
Five Non-BCS Head Coaches Who Will Soon Be Off To Bigger Things
5. Todd Dodge, North Texas
A Texas high school coaching legend, or at least as much of one as a coach can be after being at a place for six years and winning a few national titles, the former Southlake Carroll head man and Texas quarterback is about to make North Texas explode. Oh sure, his first season wasn't exactly productive, leading North Texas to a 2-10 record complete with a loss to lowly Florida International, but the seeds were planted for what should be one of the most exciting passing attacks in the country. He's the ultimate quarterback coach with three of his Carroll passers, including Missouri's Chase Daniel, ranking among the six most productive quarterbacks in Texas high school history, and he's about to do the same for the Mean Green. It'll take two more years in Denton before he's ready to move on.
The Next Logical Step: Oklahoma offensive coordinator
4. Al Golden, Temple
Golden is doing the impossible in taking Temple from non-existence to respectability in just two years. Talk all you want about what Greg Schiano did at Rutgers as a top east coast reclamation project, but he had a Big East team to recruit for. Golden took over a program coming off a winless season and booted by the Big East, a conference that had a hard time hanging on to its star teams. All he's done is come up with two straight excellent recruiting classes to put the Owls on the verge of being a real, live MAC power. Turning 39 this summer, he might need one more head coaching gig at a mid-level BCS program, sort of like Brian Kelly going from Central Michigan to Cincinnati, before getting his shot at a big-time gig. However, considering where he played his college ball as a tight end ...
The Next Logical Step: Penn State assistant coach with the succession plan making him the head man when Joe Paterno retires in 2010
3. Troy Calhoun, Air Force
Remember when Air Force was just an also-ran of a football program? After going stale under Fisher DeBerry, it seemed like the time had come and gone when the Falcons could run their quirky offense and scare the heck out of everyone. Recruiting limitations appeared to have caught up to the program, as DeBerry pointed out so tastelessly, and then came Calhoun and his breakthrough 9-4 season. With his NFL background, the meteoric rise isn't going to end in Colorado Springs. An Air Force graduate, he'll be sure to stick around for a few more seasons, but you don't rise as quickly as he did without planning for something big coming just around the corner. He won't leave for an assistant NFL job at this point, and with a few more good seasons, he'll have his choice of decent BCS jobs.
The Next Logical Step: A mid-level ACC program, like Virginia
2. Todd Graham, Tulsa
The former defensive back started out as a hot defensive assistant, including two years at West Virginia, and now, strangely enough, his teams have struggled defensively and been unstoppable offensively. After one year at Rice, he bailed to take over the Tulsa job from Steve Kragthorpe, who left for Louisville, and helped the Golden Hurricane finish first in the nation in total offense. Fine, so offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and QB Paul Smith had a lot to do with that, but that doesn't mean Graham isn't growing into a hot name.
The Next Logical Step: West Virginia head coach in two years ... with Malzahn along for the ride
1. Bronco Mendenhall, BYU
There's a chance he might stick around Provo and not be off elsewhere, he's a true believer in the BYU program, but if he keeps up what he's been doing over the past few years, he might get an offer he can't refuse. He was all about restoring the pride to the program, and he's done that and then some going 28-10 with two straight 11-2, Mountain West-title seasons. A former Oregon State defensive back, would taking over for Mike Riley be a big enough move coming from BYU? Probably not, but for a coach who's fantastic at respecting traditions and making one-time powerhouses great again, he might be a natural for a name Pac 10 program like ...
The Next Logical Step: Washington head football coach
Five BCS Coaches Who Are About To Be Really, Really Big
5. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford
No offense to one of the nation's best and most beautiful universities, but if you're a relatively young head football coach (44), you don't stick around Stanford any longer than you have to. It's just too tough to be a consistent winner there. He cut his teeth at the University of San Diego leading the Toreros to two straight 11-1 seasons and a 29-6 record overall, and then he went off to The Farm where he went 4-8, but beat USC at USC. It seemed like he would've been a natural to take over for Lloyd Carr at Michigan, but he dogged the school's academic requirements when it came to football players and that ended that. There might be too much potential for controversy surrounding him for some schools, but not for a maverick football team. The guy can coach, so considering JaMarcus Russell needs a mentor ...
The Next Logical Step: Oakland Raiders head football coach
4. Will Muschamp, defensive coordinator, Texas
Think Bret Bielema with a track record. Don't get used to the new Texas defensive coordinator; he's just a rental. One of the hottest young names in coaching, Muschamp moved from Auburn to Austin to improve a defense that's been full of talent, but short on production, especially in the secondary. With a national title on his résumé as LSU's defensive coordinator in 2003, if he can be the difference maker for a talented Longhorn team looking to break Oklahoma's two season Big 12 title streak, he'll be off to someone's head coach unless Texas can come up with a succession plan.
The Next Logical Step: Tennessee head football coach
3. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati
Steve Kragthrorpe's hiring at Louisville made most of the Big East headlines, while Brian Kelly's move from Central Michigan to Cincinnati barely registered a blip. Who cared about the Bearcats when the Cardinals were coming off an Orange Bowl win? As it turns out, Kelly is a special offensive mind leading UC to a 10-3 record with an attack that averaged 36.31 points per game. Really, how many out there really thought Ben Mauk was going to be a dominant quarterback? Credit Kelly for that, and for taking Mark Dantonio's team to another level. Now, if he can keep the momentum going for another year or so, the bigger names will come calling. But first, he'll probably make Cincinnati the new Louisville.
The Next Logical Step: Penn State head football coach
2. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
After helping make the Ohio State defense rock and turning around Cincinnati, the former South Carolina Gamecock did the near impossible and took the flake out of Michigan State. He still has plenty of work to do, and he has to recruit well enough to get the Spartans over the hump and into Big Ten title contention, but if his first season was any indication, this will be a program to be feared. He has already established a nasty running game and a decent defense, and if he can take his team from 7-6 to, say, nine wins with a victory over Michigan, he'll quickly become a college football household name.
The Next Logical Step: Staying at Michigan State and making it a consistent power, but the South Carolina job could be interesting in a few years
1. Jeff Jagodzinski, Boston College
A player's coach who can actually coach, Coach Jags has had a strong two seasons to put on the résumé as the Green Bay Packer offensive coordinator in 2006 before becoming the coach who helped cement Matt Ryan as a top NFL prospect in a tremendous 11-3 campaign. With his NFL experience, he might seem like a natural to bolt to the big league at the first possible opportunity, but he might take a cue from Pete Carroll and realize that his style of coaching might be better suited for the college ranks. If he can keep cranking out ten-win seasons, is Boston College going to be big enough for him? Considering he has five kids and might not want to move them, he'll probably want to stick around for a while. In a big market like Boston, and with the personality that TV will eat up, he can become a large college football presence in a big hurry.
The Next Logical Step: Boston College head football coach for the next ten years
Last edited by Revering4Blue; 06-01-2008 at 10:27 AM.
Anyone who went 41-9 at Lousiville has to be on the list. Scumbag or not, Bobby Petrino is absolutely one of the top 10 college football coaches.
No way is Tressel one of the top 2 coaches in the country. I don't even think he's in the 5. He's a really good coach, but he's got too many limitations. His lack of ability to caoch in faster paced games is a glaring weakness that's been exposed in the last 2 title games. When Tressel ball goes awry, he has no idea how to react.
Grape works as a soda. Sort of as a gum. I wonder why it doesn't work as a pie. Grape pie? There's no grape pie. - Larry David
I would agree Tressel is not the #2 gameday coach in college football. But with college as opposed to pros "coach" encompasses so much more...i.e. the recruiting trail and getting your players to play to their max potential for instance.
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