SIAP: CBS Poll of Underrated and Overrated Coaches

Submitted by FauxMo on

A pretty interesting anonymous poll of current FBS coaches about which of their peers are most over- and underrated. Two B1G coaches are in the top four "Most Overrated" - James Franklin and Kirk Ferentz - and this quote on Lane Kiffen (also in the top four most overrated) alone makes the article worthwhile:

"I'm probably a little jealous [of Lane Kiffin]. If you're born on third base, that's great, but don't think you hit a triple."

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/candid-coaches-who-are-the-most-overrated-and-underrated-college-football-coaches/

goblue8417

August 19th, 2018 at 10:33 PM ^

The post says "oh we beat the B1G champs by 40" with no context whatsoever. Having 6 starters out and missing so many LB's to the point where they had to blow a freshman's redshirt in the middle of the game is an extraordinary disadvantage. O'Korn nearly beat out Speight for a starting job and was a 5th year senior with plenty of starting experience. 

The offense for PSU had a new QB and completely new offensive system and it was only week 4. Go watch them in the beginning of the season and then by the end of the year and tell me that is the same offense. It isn't. It doesn't mean the win doesn't count but context is important. And that 49-10 game is the single biggest reason for the dismissive attitude towards Franklin the last couple years which is absurd.

MarcusRay97

August 19th, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^

I think Harbaugh is the most overrated when you think about how much he was paid, the expectations and his record against our rivals ... 

JFW

August 20th, 2018 at 10:52 AM ^

A) The pay makes not one difference to me at all. He gets paid big time. But as an ROI he has brought millions into the University. Looking at just that, nothing else, Harbaugh is a huge plus to the organization that prior to his arrival was giving away tickets with cokes. 

B) I remember reading that he would be doing a great job to go 7-5 or 8-4 the first year; remembering he was inheriting a team that was regularly getting physically pummeled by MSU having shoot outs with Akron, and had one double digit win season in 8 years. 

In 3 years we have two ten win seasons and a 'bad' season that is about equal to the two 8-4 years I experienced under Moeller. In fact, in my 6 years at Michigan (91-96), we had *ONE* double digit win season at UM. We did win/share the B1G title, but the B1G was much weaker then. Then Lloyd really got the program cranking but half the people hated him (too boring, not a good enough offense, blah blah blah...). 

I'm sorry, I'm exhausted by this narrative and tired of the hearkening back to the 'good old days' that weren't as good as people remember. We have a good coach. Yes, we're 1-5 vs. the rivals. So bloody what. Only one of those games wasn't competitive. To me it feels like the Pistons as they were working their way up to the Eastern Conference semi finals in the 80's, then finally getting over the hump to go to the championship. Teams learn to win as they build, and they have times where they take steps back. I have faith that not only will he get us there ( there being consistent double win seasons, and consistent, though not constant, wins over our rivals in a very tough division) and get us there cleanly. 

Harbaugh is only overrated in the sense that people expected ridiculous outcomes from a program that was much weaker than they wanted to admit, after he did great things the first couple of years. 

I remember during the Carr years talking to my brother thinking 'Dear God, we have such a whiny fan base. It could be much worse than this'. I was proven right. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

jbrandimore

August 19th, 2018 at 6:05 PM ^

I hate to be the one to say this, but I feel this has to be said.

African Americans make up roughly 10% of FBS head coaches.

Yet in this “anonymous survey” 2 of the 12 occupied the #1 and #2 spots in an overrated category with the editors thinking snide insinuations that one of them was unqualified for his post being fit for publication.

Before someone points out David Shaws place on the underated list, first look up what Senators Harry Reid and Joe Biden said about Senator Barack Obama.

I’m shocked I was the only one to notice this. I’m more surprised the editors at CBS didn’t.

NittanyFan

August 19th, 2018 at 6:29 PM ^

If one looks at the numbers - the percentages of 20, 20, 13, 13, 34 give away the fact that only 15 coaches responded to this question. 

(more coaches --- 26 --- appear to have answered the "underrated question", which makes sense since that's a less loaded question)

Which means that Franklin and Taggert "won" this poll by getting 3 (anonymous) votes.

So, it's a small sample size.  I wouldn't draw too many conclusions from this.

Durham Blue

August 19th, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^

Agreed on Franklin.  Most douchey as well.  I disagree with Ferentz being overrated.  He never has a high rated class yet seems to always at least make a bowl in a competitive B1G.  Props to Ferentz, even though I hate his style of offense.