http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/06/03/best-co...
Michigan checks in at No. 12, between USC and Notre Dame.
OSU at No. 2, Penn State at No. 8, Nebraska at No. 15.
I saw this mentioned on the
This article is almost comical
<rant>
I almost hate justifying the article by responding to it.. but I guess everyone's gotta eat yo, so bring on the flame bate goodness.
Agreed, having USC at 11 is a joke -- and having FSU even farther down is absurd. Watch in 2 years when FSU is back, the same writer will put them in the top 4 (and make it sound like they've always been there).
If you really want to do a good piece on this stuff, why not write an article on the best HC jobs in the last 10-15 years. That's the best way to judge these things, rather than what's hot today.
USC 11?? BROTHER PLEASE.
</rant>
Just coincidentally,
Sports Illustrated has fallen to 26th, in the Ranking of Best Places to get College Football information.
I think in fairness, M
I think in fairness, M deserves anywhere from 5-7, depending where you would order Oklahoma and Notre Dame. I don't know why some of those teams are supposedly clearly above Michigan.
Go Blue!
My realistic top ten:
Again, the reason I'd put PSU and OSU ahead of Michigan is recruiting ease. We have to go into PA or OH to get guys away from their own flagship, neither of those schools greatly depends on talent from MI to survive.
Go Blue!
I like this list, though I
I like this list, though I actually think USC is a "better" job than Florida/FSU/Miami because the fans aren't nearly as crazed and you have far less competition in-state for top recruits. Yeah, Florida might have had a nice run, but at any given time FSU or Miami are sipphoning off recruits and the fans expect miracles every year. With USC, UCLA and Cal are probably the only legitimate threats year-in/year-out (Stanford simply can't compete for recruits consistently), and neither are close to the draw of Miami or FSU. Plus, the fans aren't going to kill you if you lose. They might not show up, but apathy is easier to turn around at times than crazed anger.
You might be right. Honestly
You might be right. Honestly any of Texas, USC and whichever of the Florida schools is on top is literally the perfect job, IMO.
Last year, Texas proved me wrong about being able to win 9+ games there with my experience from the NCAA franchise, but I still feel like it's almost hard to lose with the in-state talent out of TX, CA and FL.
Go Blue!
I agree with your
I agree with your list....except for Miami!!? You really think that's a top ten job in college football? Maybe about 15 or 20 years ago, but certainly not anymore. Their football teams have been nowhere near "great" in a while and their stadium sucks.
Well before their CC, Shannon brought in:
2010: 13th ranked class
2009: 7th ranked class
2008: 1st ranked class
2007: 9th ranked class
2006 (Shannon half class): 17th ranked class.
If Miami had a gameday coach, they would be a national power again instantly. They sit in some of the most fertile recruiting territory in the country and they have the prestige that a lot of these other schools have.
Go Blue!
Agreed.
I don't know about FSU, when
I don't know about FSU, when you really get into the deciding factors for individual coaches, FSU and PSU are probably less desirable than their "measurables" or whatever you want to call it would indicate. No matter how well you do JoePa or Bowden have already been there and done that and nobody wants to be the one who fails to live up to the last guy.
I haven't seen Miami's weightroom; I know their stadium is empty half the time but so is USC's. If NU was good they would have the same issues in down years. Bottom line, I could be completely wrong but I'll stick with Miami over FSU.
Go Blue!
You're right about PSU & FSU
They're both very similar. Both have/had HOF coaches that made their mark at those schools.. and probably stayed too long. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I've always heard PSU as some speudo sleeping dragon, one that's gonna be unreal once Joe finally calls it quits, And for the last few years, I've heard the same thing about FSU too. Judging from Jimbo's latest recruiting class, I'd be shocked if he doesn't do big things there (as much as I hate FSU.. their helmets are kinda sweet).
.. all is a bit moot though. UF has the best facilities of the three. if you haven't seen it, google -- it's like a world class spa. ridic
I'm pretty happy with your top five
I'd flip OSU and PSU, but otherwise I think you're spot on.
As for the bottom five - I think that in 2011, Michigan isn't right outside the top five. I think Staples' take was accurate with regards to us. I'd drop us to 10, boot Miami out of there, bump OU and ND down a spot, and have Bama at 6 and put in LSU at 7.
And if FSU or Miami get their legs again, I think Florida falls out of the top five.
You're just seeing my
You're just seeing my homerism come to light. I doubt there's any actual difference in prestige and ease of job between M/ND/Alabama/Oklahoma but they have to get numbered somehow.
LSU is a bit of an interesting case, IMO, they have the prestige to go on any list, but don't they have to cast a bit wider net recruiting wise (thus making Miles job harder than say, Stoops)? That was always my impression, and they don't have the religion thing going on like ND does to get in the door with some top prospects.
Go Blue!
Some guy at SI is just
Some guy at SI is just fishing for page hits. Nothing to get worked up about.
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th
I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm
i dunno. at this point in
i dunno. at this point in time, i really can't argue with that list. given how the past few seasons have gone, and the teeth some of the constitutents of our fanbase have shown, things aren't all gumdrops and roses. its still a very desirable job, but its right about where it should be on that list. though osu is gonna sink like a stone once the ncaa sanctions come out.
This is home...
Georgia (5), Auburn (9) and
Georgia (5), Auburn (9) and Oregon (10) seem a little high to me. Could also argue against Oklahoma (3) given that they are the 2nd most prestigous team in a dying conference, and their coach is rumored to be a candidate for every single big time coaching hire.
Oregon is the most
out of place team on that list. Yes they have been very good recently, but I definitely think Chip Kelly would jump ship to coach a high-powered SEC or B1G team any day of the week (i.e. Michigan or Tennessee)
Why?
Why? Pay, facilities, job security, etc., are as good as he'll get. His name "prestige" could be higher at Alabama or Michigan or wherever, but he has Oregon in position to dominate the Pac-10 for the next few years and potentially play for (and maybe win) multiple national titles. I don't think there's any job he'd leave for.
Those who stay will be champions.
Well, for starters, Oregon
Well, for starters, Oregon has some NCAA allegations to navigate through. It also has basically zero recruiting base (which may necessitate some rule-bending to compete).
Very reasonable
I usually cringe when I see that someone's made a list like this, but that's a good list.
I'd quarrel with a few picks/slots - e.g. USC higher, Auburn lower - but in general that's a very reasonable list.
Denard's 2010 was spent redefining what one man can do.
Oklahoma should probably be a
Oklahoma should probably be a few notches down. They depend on poaching kids from Texas and having a great staff to win--which makes them a lot like Michigan. I think Oregon and OK State are overrated too because their success is largely predicated on the largesse of a single huge donor.
goofy criteria
I took a quick look, and he isn't making the list the way almost anyone would. He's just looking at who has a wealthy department, good facilities, easy recruiting. (thus Texas at number one)
Maybe he's not a college football fan at heart. I think most of us here would pick criteria from such things as tradition, victories, championships, etc. By those criteria, Michigan would be awfully high on the list, as would ND, USC, Alabama, and Oklahoma.
His list as it stands is not much more than a snapshot of who's on top in 2011.
"Underwear Wearing Basement Dweller"
I agree
He doesn't factor the 'Prestige' rating, to steal at term from NCAA football video games. This would put Michigan solidly in the top 8 or so. Also, he doesn't factor in climate/lifestyle which I guess would not help Michigan, but I think should be a factor in determining the best destinations to coach.
The weather here
may suck during the winter, but the city of Ann Arbor itself is amazing no matter what season it is. I would say the lifestyle is perfect for a college football coach.
SEC slappy
really? georiga and lsu? auburn in there too? i can see fla and alabama.
Oregon> USC?
guys on coke
On Coke? Obviously not or
On Coke? Obviously not or he'd have Miami at #1.
And not pot either... that would be Colorado and it didn't even make the list.
Of course Nebraska did hit #15, but with no Iowa I would say he's not doing Meth either.
Class of '97: 4 Years -- 4 Four-loss seasons
Not opiates either
Otherwise he'd have Stanford somewhere on that list.
Auburn only there because of recent cheating; without
last year's NC are you kidding me? That place is a hole in the middle of a hole that Alabama traditionally dominates.
Double Post
My Fault
It is "the loveliest little village on the plains"
I agree he's overrating it because of it's "flavor of the month" status, but I think that Auburn is a pretty nice college town. And it does have a ton of tradition and a history of success. But yea they're Alabama's little brother for sure.
I'll say it.
Yeah, I wouldn't want to coach MSU either.
Photography Facebook Page. Lots of Michigan sports photos. And planes, lots of planes:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Barron-Photography/13379
Oklahoma, Auburn and Oregon-
Oklahoma, Auburn and Oregon- These schools don't have much national support and will always lag with recruits that consider academics a priority. Their fanbase isn't nearly the size of Michigan's or NDs.
This list doesn't give enough weight to the size of the fan base which ultimately means eyeballs, dollars and better bowls.
Galileo was also chastised.
Why is PSU above Michigan? I
Why is PSU above Michigan? I do not get that at all.
THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS
Recruiting. It's far easier
Recruiting. It's far easier to get a kid from PA to stay home than it is to get him to come to MI.
Go Blue!
Recruiting Base
The author is assuming that Pennsylvania is a better football state than Michigan and since Penn State is by far the biggest program in the state they are able to mop up all the top recruits with ease.
Historically, Penn St
has had a lot of success in neighboring states of NY, NJ and Maryland in addition to owning talent-rich Pennsylvania.
Taking it one week at a time
Ya i guess in most cases. But
Ya i guess in most cases. But I know Marlin Jackson would tell you differently. He was all set to sign with PSU and then switched to Michigan just one day after being in Ann Arbor.
THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS
Oregon and Auburn need to be
Oregon and Auburn need to be lower, USC needs to be higher. In terms of good jobs, Texas, Florida (they have to share but the state is loaded), LSU, USC, maybe OSU/PSU should be at the top due to talent. The next tier would be schools that have to share or are in less talented states; Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia, Notre Dame, Alabama, FSU, Miami.
Oregon is a big overachiever, and I would not peg it as a top ten job. Auburn is okay but has some issues with all the local competition right now; they are also headed for a nice seasons with 7 or fewer wins...
It depends how recent results are weighted
To some extent, I do think Michigan is tarnished due to its lack of great results lately. But I think he over-rates that factor. I mean, he has Notre Dame 13th, lower than Oregon. Ask 100 coaches which job they’d rather have, and I’ll bet the Irish come out on top.
Marc Shepherd
New York, NY
Destination job?
I disagree with how the article says that Penn State is the last of the "destination jobs" on the list. While the program has declined over the last decade, there's a reason why someone like RichRod would leave his alma mater who was almost in the MNC game to coach at Michigan. UM isn't a leverage job or one that someone would leave to coach somewhere else. It IS the job....
GO BLUE! MClub supports you.
This is a low point, nothing more
I assume that the list is fluid and the rankings are not set in stone. A 12th ranking is the nadir for Michigan. Assuming a number of happy years of good results (read: better than 8-5), the job becomes more desirable. Recruiting firms up and good bowl games become more common. The alumni then resume holding hands and sing Kumbaya while making large donations. Michigan again becomes a top five job and the circle of life continues.
-So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.
Old Stadium Pic
In their stats on Michigan they used a picture of Michigan Stadium pre-construction. It's amazing at how different it looks after the upgrades.
Who cares?
Who cares?
I think the rating was just...
If Michigan was a better job, we would have been talking about better candidates than Les Miles and a semi-proven Jim Harbaugh, and an elite coach with at least one National Championship on his record would have been hired. All of the elite coaches are being talked about for TSIO, where only those with Michigan connections were seriously talked about for the Michigan job.
For someone with Michigan connections, it is probably the number one job. But for an outsider, it's probably around #24. Splitting the difference at #12 sounds good to me.
Hiring an elite coach
with at least one National Championship on his record.
Other than the coaches that have done the college, nfl and back to college route (Saban and Spurrier), what coach has won a NC at a school and then left that school at some point to coach at a different school? I can't think of any.
Rarely, if ever, does a coach leave a 'premier' program on his own to coach at another 'premier' program. If you look at the 'premier' schools that have had openings in the last 5-10 years and see who they've hired, it's either been coordinators at the same school or another school that got hired or a head coach from a non 'premier' school was hired:
Oklahoma - Stoops was DC at Florida when he was hired.
Florida: Urban Meyer left Utah. The new coach was the DC at Texas.
Florida St: Coordinator promoted to head coach.
Notre Dame: Willingham left Stanford. Weiss was pro coordinator. Kelly left Cincinnati.
Auburn: Chizik was the head coach at Iowa St.
Miami, FL: Cooker was coordinator who was promoted. Shannon was a coordinator who was promoted. The new coach left Temple.
LSU: Saban left MSU. Miles left Oklahoma St.
OSU: Tressell moved up from 1-AA.
UM: RR left WVU. Hoke left SDSU.
Looking at that list
Saban, Rod and Kelly all had double digit win seasons in BCS conferences before heading to their new jobs. Everyone else was not as distinguished, although Meyer did make the Utes the original BCS buster.
Which is why you need to look
Which is why you need to look individually at those cases. MSU is a tough, tough job; I can't think of too many people who would want to stay at MSU vs. Alabama. Rod had personal issues and apparently irreconcilable differences with the AD staff at his alma mater and jumped ship, and Kelly had already brought UC as far as it will ever go.
Go Blue!
Gruden and Dungy
Both Gruden and Dungy were talked about for the Michigan job, and both said something to the effect that "It'll be hard to pass up if it is offered" on ESPN. As far as speculation goes, that's just as good as Dantonio, Stoops, or Meyer (who had just retired when the M job cam available so there was no chance he was coming).
There's too much "flavor of
There's too much "flavor of the month" on this list. The top 5 should be some combination of Ohio State-Michigan-Texas-Notre Dame-Florida. Penn State-Alabama-Oklahoma should be in the next group, USC-Florida State-LSU in the next group, and Nebraska-Tennessee in the next.
Frankly, I think it would require more sustained success before Auburn ever becomes a "destination" job.
I saw this mentioned on the "throwback" jersey thread. I think he has it messed up with USC being 11; each of the schools that has the prestigious name in a fertile recruiting ground should be at the top.
I realize this puts OSU ahead of UM, but whatever. Michigan is a tougher job than OSU and we have better results.
Go Blue!