Hardest jobs in college football (M on the list)
The Athletic has a fairly interesting article ($) about which are the hardest jobs in college football based on a poll of "more than 60 people working in college football." Obviously there are different types of difficult, as the results (of Power 5 programs) demonstrate:
- Vanderbilt
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Texas
- Wash St
- Miami
- Auburn
- Tennessee
- Wake Forest
- Michigan (which had 1 first-place vote):
Being inextricably tied and compared to a power like Ohio State was the most consistent reason Michigan’s name came up. Beat the Buckeyes or it’s not good enough.
“Ohio State has one rival,” a Power 5 assistant said. “Michigan has three. You have to compare yourself to others.”
Any season that doesn’t include a win against Ohio State, a perennial Playoff contender and consistently the most talented team in the Big Ten, isn’t a success.
After Lloyd Carr, neither Rich Rodriguez nor Brady Hoke lasted more than four seasons.
“Leash is short for any non-alum,” one Power 5 assistant said.
They also do Group of 5/Independents, not too much of interest there. EMU was briefly mentioned as an impossible job.
October 14th, 2021 at 12:42 PM ^
“Ohio State has one rival,” a Power 5 assistant said. “Michigan has three. You have to compare yourself to others.”
Might want to add Ohio State has no other major in-state football program to share potential recruits with unlike Michigan. And no, Cincinnati doesnt count.
October 14th, 2021 at 12:46 PM ^
I think he was making that point in a roundabout way. I take issue with the three rivals part. I'm not sure how much you can count Notre Dame anymore (assuming he was referring to ND) with how infrequently they are on the schedule moving forward.
October 14th, 2021 at 12:49 PM ^
Glad I'm not the only one who briefly blanked on the 3rd.
October 14th, 2021 at 12:51 PM ^
He meant Rutger
October 14th, 2021 at 1:02 PM ^
no, illinois
October 14th, 2021 at 2:01 PM ^
illinois basketball fans think kofi cockburn is so good he's hurting michigan football.
October 14th, 2021 at 2:52 PM ^
no, Illinois is our rival!
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hPBlUeFKKYS+o5rFwipJFugPzBq/wDnNQvAsBa23P8AfiSabHudKksOm3jew8ZofFwCIO07WI233iqqwU2ieKaoY1EYkWqxQG2p2/ZSSb0Wqg0FjvqCgX2hix9dPqaqLDw+f1ovR/pbbYgHmVMf9pqlcIGktjZQDPH61bcAcTF4ExcgCRvYA+dTOEBw9KvCSgP5TpPgbrPow8qLQU2DBDyb/pNWYazt9+ZpLhma0MNQyhWNxdG2F91b0EHx4GQDugfCwr96Y6XPztRT5dlMqZU/Cw2PTo3MVU8gxEEURl8wRwBB3BFj4x9dxS4g5D4TkH7vWlhvK/obig4UglWAHFWNx4H8Q6iD040E+ZYnQk3sTuAOMfv/AJqq+Gbf028DOAEgGy/Edx4Dw+p6VoZDtUoysjFWmQQYPhbfwNYODgBF0iZAvbjy6Da9HZfDttMefiSTWMpb0VGNro9R7E9skxCExQEY2DiQhJ2mfh+nhXVi4kGRwO49a8Lx8ZYgiOVr+Nafsr7TnJ4oDsTl3swFwpmNag7EceYne1aQyfTKeL/k9f8AeNSojDaQCIIIkEbEUq6DnAP50dKpxO1VHAmsUIw4/fhWb2r2kcICF1MVLDeAom5je4PoazcqVsuMW3SOn/8AFAfw1wX8QM0Gx0A/Dhg+Zdp+QFD4nb2YNwwXh3VUfM3+dYXabu7Es5LWEudU22JJniI/WspZFJUjaOJxdsHf74z19OP2UMQQUm7QRex0zIn/AHfcVWGcT3P+lgR84INVPiHYo4O4JWb7fhk7eNRHTLk7QXmV1Iqg3UbTxJG01lnDKtBDQRckGxi1/L5UYcYgbfofQ3FUDtJDZjBG8jTEWgHbnzrVGb0Z+awCDN+Y4+QoVk4f5rVzLAze19j5ffjQZHDh5U3sFoCdSLH78qqLUY4/t/mqPdljpUST9+VKilKy7svB14irHEcue33zq/NupY6fh1T4gWkTYAmYnh82GIEU4SAFm+J52EXUct9+HnYTFMm3kPDYRFzSrZRYuahy1iZ4qpA5QCsecelLMdoM27MTzLMTEyIUmFpHJsx2adzMJv8A03NOOzG6Qdrn5yP2pktghzRF1nVO5IM9TIu3WqXLG7GfE3/c1rYXYrNZQCefeP7D5mtJfZsBZcMTyBRVHiAfqw86rkiDlKnhtBkWPhPyrssPszBVRKoDxMahvxO3nNEYHZWEb6EI3DEKQRe8AQBwmQJ9KTkikmcxgZ1dBRgZLIwNiJVXUnmPi6/KkGU7MvhMfKusxMhl1ElEtEwibngbA9eXXegc+uEfhAjj3EUf7QBI8yfKs3NI0ipSMMIOf0onAUXEgBhB+o9CAaqxcip2EegkdapOSVTfVz39eFVFqXQ5Nx7Ra6FTB3qJepDDWZufMH9KsGEkz9TWnFmbyRJYWIGENNhZgpbSIsDzX5jhO1SwcJ22CoBuzHYczFvnVwxFAvH+KFxs02IdCWXdjwA5/WjiifI/QHncW8KxYcWiJ56RwrY7JyqwsEXEiDJk8xMT43oEez2Zc/6eC7JwIKyR1E2rRwex8zhjv5bGUDYrhtHWWCsPpSkmloItSe2amFlRZQYjcnmBJM39evUUSiKNp6wxMHrAt8vGsRc9HdPxLwYgkTvbhw4VW+eH9I8/0J/SsOO9m9v0aOZDkvpIIUAkmVIBJ7vMwZkRQXZmG+K64Uag7qpXmH3I67X4VSmG+KdKSxPBLm3CB+tep+wnsiMFExcXV7yDY20gknYcdquML0RKaS/Tucpg6UVQICqFAnYKI/SlUopV0nGY7hEV3eAiKWYnkPuPOvLs9mXxXfFdpJIgTZB+FVHISfnzrtf4iZpUy6YUke8fU3VUGx6aipjpXmpxe9aSAbCJm0D6H61zZXbr4dOGNLkHIxNyd+f96bFZTbcxvE/e/wBaguIApLW4+Ec+pMDzmhxmh1jiYJA4+Qrnp2dOmrZNwg5joOFUtigTBI57X8iKuxUnY8oG9z/g+dZOcIBInqfQVabDjEtzOYEQNgf6ZFuB3vWVjFGlj/ui/mRVWJjGOdU4ZdnARSzGwULqJ6RxreFnNkSEMswXutPQGJHgbTUlTEPPzgfXetHF7Ax0wziYmH7pVuZcSf8AZcz5+VDfyzqAJibiReD4itGZRZR/KtxMedv7elSwkNwpud4sOsnlUxlvzOT8qk7ACABHjUPZoih3CrpS5PxNET0Xkv1q/JFF3JVrnVO3QA+HOTcRxqoGeEU0wZBgz86VDv4beFi4YgBhAPKDPWYAnkQDymrvfIDqZ1EiNzseQaCAI/LXOMxPEnxv/imTDmikM69MwkkowYbE3F4mAxI1He0joDVJzOEonuGO6TAxCTyUXOq9zNuVczo/v+1F5PNNh/DAJsbXPLvb28edS0gR0yYGNiH8q7wVCqAVsTaT4SpvfgKT4CYUsDLfmJGom4J1GW25R5VkL2iymdIW5NgPi4m96HfMM5ljPOTWbl8NIx+hmLigtYmOEmT+1NhYMg/v+lZ4aa6XsZBoYiSZPCxsJ07X+fhWfG2auSS0Apkrdd9vqaSYSsNLWHA8uNaeZTY8OJty/Y9d+NAYyxPDp1G/0PrUtuD0NJTWznswdDFCNj19R0NUvmZsJnkL1s9oZNX/ANQ8BDcNtj6Wq7sXsbExD/p4difiayqPH8R8K7oS5KzinFRdGJhZV3jUSq2ERqY9Ao413PYvsy66GKQsghZvP5nI+Jumwre7O9kfdgMza3O5iABxCjgK7XIZQaQIqqM3L4Z3Z/ZKrBAit3BwYFqswsCKICVRAO+Aj/Git/zKG+tOmVRbBFA6KB9KJ01EiPCgZFcJRsBUwKjtSLUxDwKVV+9HOnpAc17WezIzgUjEKOgaO7qQzFmG423FeadqdjY2VLe+VRJ/02VtSsBvGxHDcDc17kq2oDtHs3Cxl04uGjrwDKDB2kcj1FZyxqRpDK418Pn/ALRzWoljA4xwHKrVzJEjSIYc9if7V6ZmP4bZJtg/QHEZh89/Wub7V9gcwrk4JR14BmII+V/Ws5YXWjojnje+jkcXMEDmTb6wY51m4hJv611yew2cYwxRB5tW32V/DrDUhsdziR+HZPMDeqjifsmWaPo4bsDsJ804Cgqn4sTSSoA3CnZm4RXpPZvYGBlgSi94iC7XdvFuA6CBXSJllRQFAAAgACAAOAHCsrOtO1apKPRzyk5PZidpYYxWCtdLGOFjNZftNkx7iQt1IPkTB+vyrbXC71LP5bWhFL0L2eXPvaqmFaPaWTZHIIt98aHXBPL9altGyVgnuyedWDAnYUamWgcqvQRznnt9KzcjRRM7+Vjcddo+t6t0k2CxHAcPE/vFHMpO9/Hc9I3+/Og8fEkwAABwH1Mfd/A0rDiUtC2Fz0v5TVmEgXvapJEyRxHCPvhTYIkff3xqRQAXpU2CaGYzJ48zx60ykcTyFhNuYvvUC1yBwj58OlVu/wB8fGmoMfNF6mPveui7CzSWDTEwPiI4G8DcniOMbceZw8QUfkX0v08d45SN6iSplLaO17XwWUAmSTBsBpvEgctvOK57PwJtxaDsTeFnzDeOkVuYQLIAANLBj3m1EKRJI4kgmwMb351ldoqBM8SxAmdi1pjxE8gamUb2VCVaJ+yOVTFzC4WKoZHJ7puNQUsLHqAfKvW8r2UiRCbbV477H45TN4J3nEwx6sFP/dXvKoK3wf5o5s/+rBmwRG1Ty2HRAw6dEiugwH0ioxUxT0ARpb1BmvFPQBF1tVReiDWbJLkdf80mwLKere79xSqbLotpjUjUTVkFLDpVDrRTCqmFIAJlqOmiXSq9FAA+MljWHj4dzXRulqzsxl6QIx0wr1Z7maOXL1cmDQBz+b7ETEHeFc12p7GYyAvlzrj8BsT/AMjcD0NvCvTsPA6UQmX50nFMak10eAJmiCUcMrCzKZBB5FTcVZjd5TG9j6V7P217L4OY7zIuuPigXHJudc6/sHhbaIPRmH0NT40aLM/Z50MRXUHbnfY8RQ+LhqfPevSB/DjB4axPJ2/U0x/hlhH8bj/d/ajgPynm+Hhwd+NvCk6Wj16Dp1ra7b9msBMx7jCd3ZTDlmMaoLaVA3gL3jNiQN6ox8iMElCAGBNiZuOMyaiUlE0jBy2YLpHEqOVqFxD5/fGujfDDmWAPWy+Uk+NZuZyycJEHxtziiORMHiaM/CxbzWnhvsw6fdqzzlTM/EOe3hV+XxJEelKcU1Y4utM6zIZ8abqsGbltRMgyNP6f1RaSafOyysxAjQ2kzLNOmTJ2HfYjxY8RGHg4yKCJN4mBeOYnzvveisdyUiWO99yE3aYNrt1AZgL1mjTjRZ7LuP5rBkx/qYceTrH/AGxX0EhrwH2RwpzmCv8AWvkN9+YAFuEdK96wzW2FUmc2Z/0EAVOq1qQrcxJUxpmNR10ALFFp4imUyJqyKGU6SR6UAM+NeKHzJCqW42NLFOmXaPPoOlBZnH1XYRxAqHsrol7w8x60qx17QHEX4xSqtEnZEVGKdaeKYFZWq2WryKYigAcrUClElKbTSAHZKoxMOtApUDhilQGcuEKvTDFE+7FNoFMCsLVioakqVMLQAypTPgg1ZFSAoAHGHVOaxNCO5tpVmk9AT+lHlKyPabKPiZbGRLs2G6iOZUgUMF2eD4OK6HWH73elib6jEnxv+taORwlIdjqaJIJ4gDVJjckI0nmRWbgD4pEMDF+BG8jnt86ljZkBjoBVGM6fI2twkt5GuN/p3p0tB2fyqKZRraiBzkRNthETPJltWdmEHC54k28hP1ozCzBYkMFNwb7ATJURsNvIDy0v5JWBkiBY2gSBcWubkG3Ok470ClXZyypwO33/AJqg5ZkPMTE8B5nat7By41KYtNhxY9Pl+9aWF2SXnvGCJuVnwAB4eNOMmtCkk9nMAAgHYj+qbncwTY/YPCr8ZQskIw2AniYm9zJH5ZMRvvXT4mSwlWQQw5wWXY20sxve0SbVz+fbUwQC5iBMlUkWgWWYG3QSQAWdFctG17A5YHNYRH4Vdz/UYIB9W+XWvaMuLV5x/DjIQHxOZCA22W5jpdfSvScLaumEaRxTlci4VIUwqGG0mrILTQ+sHaiGNqAwzElvKgA3VCzQDuXYRI+Xz9ak+aA4TPCq8TMad/ibhy2EVLY0gXtNtTLxVT8J5gcKCzGPqVrRANZ+Zc+9YyYDbeEXrSzaAYZY2Ok3522NNKhNmFrHI0qpZWG0fOlVUKz0dDVkVRVyGpQxFabRVkU0UwIEUgKnFIikBAimpzSiigsrK0gKs0GlpNMCINSilApRQA4SpqsVCnmgCdPUAacGgDk/av2Kws0C+HGFjfmA7r//ACKN9viF/HavF+2Oz8bLY3usZCjzI4qwmzI2zDbbwMGvpas3tnsTAzSBMdAwB1KdmVvzKRcGs5QT2aRyNaPnooFiN4meJI3k8d/pVgz7avEd6288ByEQOokbGu19pP4cY2HLZY++TfQYXEXw2VvKD0NcEqMjsroyON1dSrDxU3FYOLXZ0JqXRqZDOJr1OQImZkECLbjmeJ4Vs5ntRIOl1KlZ+MRG0kbAeMTsJrkczmC2m41IAoYWJgyCeZFCliTf5QL8yYk0oxKf6bOd7TaNKhlJ5iGjbvE3BI4Wpdk5ZnfSLuxEHfxv05/tWdlMoXcAbkkk7b9OG/jevVvZLsJcNdRFz9K0jEyyTpUje7ByAw8NEUWUep3J8SZNby1Vg4dXBK3RzFo2qjLwNXzq0GqsRaYFWLmZMCqlxJMRRKlQNqdEBMRtQ3QAeYwtK6xJJFpmb/lA2rJwmYuJm071q9uZsoqqnxMYHQDehMFu4WY96YkVMUNmRiYffPVr+AortjFAwyPAHwoZMZS5vNzH0oH2kzWlVXiT9PsVaWyWzExe1CpKzMWpVn4qyTcUqomz211pkNKlWXstFwp4pUqoB9qYGlSpAKlpFKlQA21LUKVKgBp6U9KlTAVMTT0qAI3qQBpUqAHC1IUqVICDNWd2z2JgZlNOPhq44HZl6q47y+Rp6VJjR5j7QfwwxMMFsq/vEEnQ5CuouTpayt56fOuNyvY7u0dY3FKlUUrNebo9D9l/ZVUhmgn5Cu7y+AAKVKqRkwqABNRXGHKlSqhExiCo4jgClSpgDHGEVPFxdItxP6UqVS+ykYfbGKZUnrHyrLfGaN7bkU1KrRDAz3QCPs1j9q4hfEVdzH39KVKmhMkUXlSpUqCT/9k=
October 14th, 2021 at 1:32 PM ^
Yes, sadly it's only two now because ND wanted to trim their rival list to one.
October 14th, 2021 at 1:43 PM ^
OK, replace them with Penn St, who we play every year, or Wisconsin.
October 14th, 2021 at 3:45 PM ^
OSU plays PSU every year as well and had Nebraska on their schedule for the last 6 years. Luckily for them, Nebraska sucked, and Wisconsin didn't. Michigan and OSU are trading Big Ten West dance partners for the next 6 years, and knowing Michigan's luck, Nebraska will get their act together and Wisconsin will go in the tank for the next 6 years. Outside of MSU, the Big Ten rivalries are pretty much the same for Michigan and OSU.
October 15th, 2021 at 1:40 PM ^
It wasn't luck. OSU's AD designed the schedule.
October 14th, 2021 at 6:14 PM ^
One component to a rivalry, I believe, is a trophy. Brown Jug and Paul Bunyan are a big deal to us as well as Minn & Sparty.
October 14th, 2021 at 5:44 PM ^
Three every year. Four when ND is involved. OSU, MSU, PSU and ND.
October 14th, 2021 at 3:24 PM ^
That’s why I would like to see Cincinnati in the Big Ten.
October 14th, 2021 at 7:08 PM ^
They’re headed to the Big12….
October 14th, 2021 at 7:11 PM ^
They're ranked 80 positions down in Forbes from Rutgers. They're the #143 public university.
They may be ok in football, but academically, they don't belong in the Big Ten.
October 14th, 2021 at 8:21 PM ^
The Forbes ranking is quite weird to me; they rank MSU ahead of OSU based on, AFAIK, median 10-year salary.
I would say that in most other global rankings Cincy is ranked at or above Nebraska. I've long contended that Nebraska doesn't bring you anything academically or athletically to the Big 10 so if we're in the process of shuffling the conference to make OSU's life more difficult I'd rather replace UNL with UC.
October 14th, 2021 at 7:58 PM ^
The fact that there was only one major in-state football program in Ohio afforded Michigan more opportunities to recruit Ohio, too - until Jim Tressel put up a wall.
October 14th, 2021 at 8:22 PM ^
There's a reason they have always vigorously fought Cincy getting recognized by any P5 conference, let alone joining the Big 10.
October 15th, 2021 at 2:17 AM ^
Ohio is the 5th most populated state,4th most High school players ,one Major program, no real academic restrictions .
I saw an article (maybe 10 years ago -hardest and easiest places to recruit) Easiest 1) LSU "footprint" . 2) OSU 3) Texas ... toughest places to recruit .. 1) Kansas St .2) Michigan
if i find this ill post it ..
October 15th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
There is absolutely no way we’re the second toughest place to recruit at. You’re telling me that it’s easier to sell a kid on Indiana, Northwestern, Wake Forest, Wazzu et al than Michigan?
October 14th, 2021 at 12:46 PM ^
Does anybody besides Illinois believe that they are Michigan's third big rival?
October 14th, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^
The weird part is I am not totally sure who the third team is that the coach is referring to. I am assuming Notre Dame, but they aren't on the schedule anymore. I would put PSU higher than ND right now.
October 14th, 2021 at 1:19 PM ^
I figured Notre Dame as well. It wouldn't surprise me that some of those polled who aren't affiliated with either school or the B1G might not know about the scheduling changes that have been made in recent years.
October 14th, 2021 at 1:34 PM ^
Good point, they played in 2018 and 2019, 2020 doesn't count so if you're not paying close attention to other teams schedules (most probably aren't), you might not realize it ain't happening this decade
October 14th, 2021 at 1:24 PM ^
ND has made it clear more than once that we aren't a rival. There was a graphic a few years ago about their record against their "Academic Rivals" which, iirc, was Duke and Northwestern. They have repeatedly resisted joining B1G for reasons. Around 10 years ago they dropped us from the schedule and committed to playing "historic" rivals which, iirc, included Purdue, Michigan State and USC. Currently, they aren't in a hurry to play us any time soon.
Notre Dame can fuck off.
October 14th, 2021 at 1:51 PM ^
I think you have it backwards - Northwestern released that graphic with their record vs Duke and ND (and either Vandy or Stanford iirc).
But yeah it's kind of weird, ND fans will yell MICHIGAN IS NOT A RIVAL any chance they get, but they account for 80% of all "Meatchicken" usage on the internet, and if you inject them with truth serum, many would tell you they hate Michigan more than even USC.
But again, they don't consider us their rival, and while I do hate ND (moreso in the way I hate any elite private school, not particularly for any football reasons) I also can't in good faith call them a rival anymore.
October 14th, 2021 at 3:08 PM ^
Agree 100%, we need to stop pandering and pining over those fuckers. We are the Charlie Brown and they are the Lucy holding back the football in this saga and we need to ignore any future request to play them, unless they sign a long term deal, etc.
October 14th, 2021 at 5:39 PM ^
Follow the money.
They're a rich-ass school that has its own money spigot. Except when ND is really bad, their touted "rivals" of the service academies will usually lose but Michigan can beat them, reducing their chances of a national championship and its attendant booty.
October 14th, 2021 at 7:12 PM ^
>"There was a graphic a few years ago about their record against their "Academic Rivals" which, iirc, was Duke and Northwestern.
Does ND actually think they're a better school than Michigan?
October 14th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
Rivals are OSU, MSU, ND. Illinois doesn't register.
October 14th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
Illinois would have to get in line behind Minnesota and Northwestern. At least those two teams have trophies associated with their games.
October 14th, 2021 at 4:51 PM ^
Illinois is so rivalrous that they don't even NEED a trophy.
October 14th, 2021 at 1:50 PM ^
Minnesota.
And they have a point. The Little Brown Jug is the most meaningful trophy in college football.
Although I would LOVE to introduce a statuette of "Brady Quinn crying on the sideline in 2006 as his Heisman hopes evaporate" and make that the ND-Mich trophy.
October 14th, 2021 at 3:45 PM ^
It's a little strange that Michigan gets everybody's "best." Illinois and Rutgers think they're "rivals" and Nebraska and Penn State consistently make Mich a night game with a "white/red out" or whatever. Wisconsin and Iowa always get up for them. And that's not even mentioning Sparty. Meanwhile they all give OSU a pass, Rutgers even called OSU their allies. You'd think the conference would get up for OSU it's best team (I was going to put that in quotes, but I think it's hard to argue) as more of a litmus test.
October 14th, 2021 at 4:31 PM ^
I'm sure they do. We don't read as much Wisconsin or Penn State propaganda as we do Michigan's --and we sure don't pay attention to the way they psych themselves up for Ohio State. (Or, because it doesn't involve us, when we do read it, it seems more silly and less genuinely emotional).
I know Michigan fans are convinced that the officials and the Big Ten conspire against us, that every team prepares solely with us in mind, etc. etc., that God hates us, somehow, for reasons, but ... in fact, other teams' fans make the exact same complaints about how their own teams are treated.
Eh. First week of grad school in Charlottesville a new classmate, who had gone to school there as an undergrad, told me that "everyone knows ACC referees hate UVA." Riiiiiiiiiight.
October 14th, 2021 at 7:15 PM ^
That's because they know they cant beat OSU while with us they can actually be competitive...
October 14th, 2021 at 12:46 PM ^
Some of them on that list I wonder. Why Texas? It is fertile even though they have to share with other teams in state and SEC. Could be why? I understand Auburn.
October 14th, 2021 at 12:51 PM ^
The Texas one didn't make much sense to me. The expectations are wildly high, but the resources there can only be matched by a handful of schools. I would have the Texas A&M job as a harder job than Texas because they expect to compete with Texas.
October 14th, 2021 at 2:36 PM ^
Texas is in there because they've been struggling a bit since the tail end of the Mack Brown years. Any team with a fan base that has high expectations and which has also underperformed is going to end up on a list like this. That's pretty clearly why Michigan wound up on the list, after all.
October 14th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
The expectations are unrealistically high. They are expected to win against their rivals Oklahoma and A&M but they don't.
They are expected to retain every in-state recruit.
Their booster are plenty with deep pockets but many are openly racist and feel entitled to influence hiring and policy. The student body wants to ban the singing of, 'The Eyes of Texas" because its sang to the tune of, "I've been Working on the Railroad."
Many boosters vehemently complained. One wrote," "Less than 6% of our current student body is black," "The tail cannot be allowed to wag the dog….. and the dog must instead stand up for what is right. Nothing forces those students to attend UT Austin. Encourage them to select an alternate school ….NOW!""
October 14th, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
Yeah, I'm confused on Texas' inclusion. They have high expectations, but they aren't in the SEC either just yet.
Crazy stat - Texas has not won a conference Championship in 11 years. This in a conference that has been only 10 teams large for 8 of those years! If the Big XII just drew their conference Champion out of a hat every year from 2010-2020, Texas would have won 1.05 Championships. Instead they have zero.
October 14th, 2021 at 8:31 PM ^
They are not going to enjoy Nick Saban kicking their teeth in every year
October 14th, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
A lot of the same problems that plague Michigan re a slavish devotion to doing things the Texas way and getting in their own way. Texas is a world class university - one of the best publics in the country. They should be able to recruit any player in the country. Austin is a great place to live too.
October 14th, 2021 at 1:17 PM ^
I don’t get Texas or Miami. Two fantastic institutions of learning in states that are huge draws and great weather. Add in that you have massive amounts of talent to draw from and it seems like one of the easier jobs.
October 14th, 2021 at 3:15 PM ^
Texas it's all about expectations. Fantastic resources, but perhaps no school in the country has higher expectations. And when coaches start to fall short of those expectations, things can spiral pretty quickly.
Miami (and I'd add USC) both have great talent pools to draw from, but I'd say they suffer from fair weather fans. It's been talked about how LA is really a pro, not college, sports town. Miami does well (typically) when they're winning, but when they're not, it's embarrassing how empty that stadium gets.
October 14th, 2021 at 5:15 PM ^
Its true....Miami, LA, and I would add in San Diego, are "fair weather fan Mecca's". They aren't going to have a crazy loyal fan base. Very good point.
October 14th, 2021 at 5:46 PM ^
Miami doesn’t have great practice facilities and they play their games in a pro stadium 20 miles north of campus. It’s not great. They were pretty much a product of a market inefficiency—other teams didn’t necessarily appreciate the talent in South Florida, and Miami was *very* tolerant of bad behavior—that has now disappeared. But people in South Florida still expect them to be at the same level as they were from 1980-2000. I can see why it’s now a tough job.
October 14th, 2021 at 1:23 PM ^
For Texas:
The intrigue in Texas speaks to its appeal. It probably also explains why the program hasn’t won a Big 12 title since 2009.
“Just a lot of political aspects to it that have nothing to do with football that makes it very difficult,” a Power 5 administrator said. “Takes a very skilled person.”
Alignment has been incredibly difficult to pull off there. The program is on its third head coach since Mack Brown. And the looming move to the SEC — while making the richest program in the country even richer — may make it even more difficult for the on-field product to get back on track.
“Expectations are so unrealistic,” an agent said. “Delusional fan base, but they do have the money to throw at any problem that comes their way.”
October 14th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
The assumption was always that as the flagship team in a talent rich state, almost anyone could win there (like OSU and LSU) but I think that's largely changed and clearly they've had a run of failed coaches so I can see how it's getting a reputation as a bit of a pressure cooker. It has high standards of it's coaches.
Part of that is a reflection of the quality of the coaches though and not the job itself. Had this question been posed ten years ago, no way Texas is on the list and Notre Dame is probably top 3. In fact, 15 years ago, Alabama would have made the list as well. Those jobs are more difficult than Texas all things equal, but Kelly and Saban have been good enough individually to make people think their jobs are easier than they really are.