Getty ImagesIn its annual list released Thursday, the Sporting News named Alabama’s Nick Saban as the top head coach among the 124 Div. 1-A (FBS) football programs in the country.
(In other news, H2O Digest proclaimed water is wet, while Aviation Illustrated acknowledged that the sky is indeed blue.)
Saban’s placement atop any list which ranks the top coaches in the profession is beyond (any reasonable) dispute, with a résumé that includes three BcS titles in the past nine years — two in the last three — at two different schools, as well as just four losses combined in SEC play the past four years.
With little or no doubt as to who sits atop the collegiate coaching perch at the moment, though, the question then becomes: who is No. 2?
According to the Sporting News‘ list, that honor falls to Boise State’s Chris Petersen, who’s arguably done the most — a .924 winning percentage in his six years with the Broncos – with the least — no recruiting class ranked higher than No. 53 in the country since he took over in 2006 – of any coach the past decade.
Ohio State’s Urban Meyer and his two BcS titles at Florida, coming off a one-year sabbatical, comes in at No. 3 — probably a bit high at this point, given the time off plus his final season at UF — followed by LSU’s Les Miles, who Saban foiled in his attempt to win his second crystal football with the Tigers in five years.
The rest of the Sporting News‘ Top Ten, in order, are Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops, Oregon’s Chip Kelly, TCU’s Gary Patterson, South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier, Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer and Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy.
While there were certainly some notable names missing from the Top Ten — Georgia’s Mark Richt (No. 14), USC’s Lane Kiffin (No. 20), Stanford’s David Shaw (No. 32) and Iowa State’s Paul Rhoads (No. 48) among others could certainly argue for higher placement — SN’s top-ten list is a solid grouping from top to bottom. Again, though, the point of this exercise is that spot right behind Saban: who is No. 2? Or, better yet, who should be slotted behind the Tide coach.
Personally, you’d get no argument from me placing Petersen in the two-hole. What say ye, though. Who should be recognized as the second-best coach in major college football?
Vote below, and sound off/whine/bitch/moan below that. Not that you need to be prompted to do the latter, of course.
If anyone really believes that Brady Hoke is only the 24th best coach in the NCAA, you are smoking some serious stuff.
Yeah, it’s got to be Petersen at No. 2. Urban Meyer’s ranking seems high. We haven’t seen what he’s done at OSU. Kiffin has done a fantastic job manuevering through penalties to bring back the Trojans. Chip Kelly, despite losing some big games, has been incredible for Oregon. What is Bob Stoops doing so high on the list? I’m a big Gundy fan too.
Not sure what the criteria would actually be for such an “award”, but Chip Kelly does far more with far less than anyone else on this list. Compare his recruiting classes with anyone else on the list, including Boise, and they simply don’t have the talent to compete, yet his record speaks for itself. Never among the top 20 recruiting classes, nearly always among the top 20 teams.
Sure Peterson’s done a lot with a little, but he’s not exactly playing the same schedule Les Miles is playing. So I have mixed feelings on ranking him #2. Would like to see what he could do with a major program.
We’ll have a better feel for Urban after seeing what he does with Ohio State next year. He’s a great recruiter, but I’m not a fan of his offenses. As for someone working against the odds, Kiffin should have ranked higher based solely on this year’s performance.
Compare his recruiting classes with anyone else on the list, including Boise, and they simply don’t have the talent to compete… Never among the top 20 recruiting classes…
Oregon’s had a top-20 recruiting class every year since 2007 with the exception of Kelly’s first year in 2009. They’ve had a top-30 recruiting class every year except for 2006 (No. 49) and 2002 (No. 49).
Kelly’s classes have ranked 16th (2012), ninth (2011), 13th (2010) and 32nd (2009).
Neither Boise nor Petersen has ever had a top-20… or a top-30… or a top-50 recruiting class EVER.
Petersen’s classes have ranked 54th (2012), 53rd (2011), 82nd (2010), 72nd (2009), 89th (2008), 68th (2007) and 70th (2006).
@ John Taylor
Yeah, that’s what I thought too about Chip Kelly and Oregon. I was too lazy to look it up, but I knew they brought in a top class this year. They got Arik Armstead for gosh sakes! That alone can get you in Top 25. If anyone does a lot with very little it was Petrino at Arkansas.
Lane Kiffin has to be the best coach in college football, not saban nor the others. Who else, but Kiffin, can keep a team together for 2 years through a bowl ban, keep them focused to play hard and well, finish as the #5 ranked team last year, poised to the #1 or #2 preseason ranked team for the 2012 season….. and also having to deal with their 3 year 15 schollie per year limit… all this and keeping a championship caliber team together?
Saban has the notoriety of a record. Hasn’t had to deal with the severity of penalties and sanctions that USC is dealing with. In fact, no other current coach has had to coach a team that’s playing under the penalties of USC.
That’s why Kiffin is the best college football coach today…. and we haven’t even started talking about recruiting…
Fight On brothers and sisters.
Beat everybody….
And we all support Todd McNair’s day in court against the NCAA COI and Paul Dee. Kick butt, Todd.
The only reason Oregon got Arik Armstead is because USC hit his older brother Armond with a medical redshirt and wouldn’t play him; therefore, Arik tried to use his influence to get Armond on the field. Spiteful move on his part.
USC takes extremely great care of its players and will not allow a player to practice nor play if the doctors’ diagnosis states a life-threatening condition for the player. If Armond disagreed, then he had plenty of time to leave The Program and take his skills to another school, just as what Jarvis Jones did when he was sidelined with a neck vertabrete fracture that could paralyze him if he was hit in the right way. Fortuntely for Jarvis, he is still balling like no one else, but one hit could terminate his career.
As an Alabama fan I would rate Les Miles number two hands down.
@thekatman …
Saban has the notoriety of record? You could say that if he’d won his championships 15 years ago and still made the top of the list. But he’s won three championships in less than a decade with two different teams, two in the last three years, and is the reigning champ. And Alabama was under sanctions when he came aboard.
Given his controversial behavior at Tennessee, Lane’s made an impressive turnaround. And yeah, I’d have ranked him a little higher than 20th based on what he did at SC last year. But one year demonstrating he’s a good college coach doesn’t make him the best in the game over men who’ve had long careers and won multiple championships. You’re just being silly.
@thekatman
I agree that Lane has overcome/is still overcoming an unbelievable amount of adversity that no other coach is facing. However, I don’t think he can crack the Top 5 Coaches until he wins a championship. We are talking about a guy who probably wouldn’t have been on anyone’s top 5 best coaches list last year..in the Pac 12 alone! And now, he has shown that he knows what he’s doing. He’s turning out to be an awesome coach and not JUST an awesome recruiter. However, he’s not Top 5 material. If he guides our team to a NC, then maybe he will be. I’m a huge USC fan, but it is too early to call Lane the best coach. His No. 20 ranking isn’t fair though.
Fight On!
Bobby Petrino should be on there, his off-field personal issues have nothing to do with his on-field coaching ability. He turned a mediocre program into a national power in 4 years. Kane Kiffin is just as bad, if not worse, with the way he left the Volunteers for USC & he has as success there similar to Petrino’s but he did it with an ready stacked team that has been winning & proven for decades (in a weak conference). I could coach & recruit USC to a top 15 ranking year in & year out
Fir enought poppabush…
Fight On.
@reclinerqb
Winning for decades!!!! The 2000s were good for USC. The 90s were not. USC was not very good in the 90s.
How is Kiffin worse? I’m not saying he was a saint, but come on. Leaving Tennessee for USC is what we call a job promotion.
@thekatman….
Yes and my sh$t smells like rose.
Being passionate is one thing but being absurd is another thing altogether.
Peterson #2 .. NOT! There’s a high school coach here in turn, who by the way has some players in the NFL right now, who have a better record than Petterson but it ain’t like he’s playing against the top 25 week in week out… Would you take Coach Robinson and his +500 wins over Spurrier or Sean Payton?
Boise State sucks. It’s been years since they’ve last won their conference. And this is going back to when they were still in the WAC, people.
…damn, I did an editor! It’s tough reading and trying to text a full comment in traffic!!
Boise State sucks. It’s been years since they’ve last won their conference.
Under Petersen, Boise won the WAC in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and finished second in 2007. They finished second in the Mountain West in 2011.
Boise also won the WAC every year from 2002-2005, so that means the Broncos have won its conference eight times in the past 10 years.
@papabush
ok USC had one bad decade in the last 4? My point is that it’s easier to win at perennial “powerhouses” especially in a weak conference, & everybody jumped on Perrino for taking better jobs, when in reality ALL college coaches are regularly looking for a better job. Peterson & Kiffin both win in weak conferences, I believe that the level of competition you face week in and week out should have something to do with these rankings
Why give points for bad recruiting? Recruiting defines a coach as much as X’s and O’s. Thats why I voted for Miles. Peterson is a very close #3, but he does not play 6 or more HUGE games a year. However, he is the only one who truely has “less”.No matter how hard he recruits, location/facilities/infrastructre are an anchor on his recruiting. I am intrusted in seeing how Meyer does. It is easier to win when you can hand pick talent from Florida. Richt never gets the most from his teams. Georgia always has awesome talent. Kiffen has to fully shed his past, but a title run would do it. Kelly is a good coach, but it seems he is a step away. A stronger defense and Oregon would be a force. Ask me again after this year …….
Hey thecrazyasianinseccountry… Why do you smell your own sh$t? You need help, that’s gross.
Hey reclinerqb: You must be an SEC bubba. Take a look at the AP Poll…. How many SEC schools were in the top 7 vs Pac-12?
How many pac 12 teams were in the top two vs. the SEC?
So now folks are resorting to childish behavior on this site? Everyone knows the BcS title game was a sham.
How many non-SEC teams have won the national title the last 6 years? Beating Pac-12, Big-12, Big 10 teams in title games, in fact voters finally realized that instead of having the SEC destroy everybody else for a national title that the only “true” championship game (without a playoff which would’ve resulted in the same outcome, SEC vs SEC most likely) was to have 2 SEC teams play each other. There is no argument to be made that any other conference is as tough as the SEC.
@
thekatman
May 10, 2012, 7:24 PM CDT
So now folks are resorting to childish behavior on this site? Everyone knows the BcS title game was a sham.
–_____________________________
That’s funny said the guy he reason that USC care for their players and the guy who reasoned why Kiffin is a better coach!!
Just in case you did get it, just as I expect, I was making fun of you for being childish and to have you make that comment that’s pulp fiction classic!!!
@reclinerqb
As a USC fan, of course I would never say the SEC is weak. It’s the best conference in football right now. Easily. At least the SEC has the most top teams. The SEC does get some help, but only some. Of course no one but BCS would pit two SEC teams against each other in the NCG. But right now, I think the NC is up for grabs between USC, LSU, Alabama, Oregon, and Arkansas (in no particular order). If you say the Pac 12 has no defense, then the Big 12 is an even bigger example of that. Horrible defenses in that conference. Yes, the SEC had 6 straight championships. As my good friend Carl, an Alabama alum, says “if you think the SEC can win six straight championships, and isn’t cheating, you’re an idiot.”
Dantonio is a great coach, recruits are getting better too. Lesser recruits to UM and overall better TEAM .
I voted “other”……who cares?
Urban Myer has won two and will win two more at OSU…. I’m not a Gator fan, OSU fan, or Urban fan, but I think he and Nick are at least tied….
And yes Deb; I would not piss on Saban if he was on fire. I have nothing against Bama, but I am from South Florida and he f’d my Phins….
@papabush
If you think ANY major college football team isn’t involved in cheating when it comes to recruiting or players being given money under the table (boosters/Shapiro) or selling autographs/memorabilia etc then you are naive (you as in anybody that thinks that, not you in particular). The draconian system of the NCAA makes it impossible for kids (especially the poor ones) on scholarship to resort to whatever means necessary to be able to function on a campus like a somewhat regular student, I dont fault them for it. You can’t expect them to eat down food 24/7 & have no social life cause their family cannot provide them with spending money.
@reclinerqb
Of course I know it goes on. I’m a USC fan, and if you remember, we were just taken out in the alley and raped for one player, unbeknownst to the school, coaches and program, accepted improper benefits. Reggie cheated plain and simple. As the NCAA concluded, no one else was involved. Do I think others like the asst coach knew? It’s possible, but the facts given to us by the NCAA were that no one else knew. The fact is that these rules are ridiculous. You would think that when other schools like South Carolina, UNC, Ohio State got in trouble I would be happy seen as those schools did far worse. I’m not. I hate seeing what happened to South Carolina and Ohio State. The one program that I think should be in trouble is Miami, if convicted, for the sex-cocaine-abortion yachts and the money laundering. There’s wrong and then there’s f****ed up and Miami is the latter. Seems like a lot of change and reformation is happening. Programs are getting caught and cleaning up, the BcS is finally changing, conferences are switching…it is time for the NCAA to change and improve as well.
@orthomarine …
You’re entitled to your opinion about Nick. I have a different mindset about that kind of thing. Can’t get all worked up about Dennis Franchione leaving Alabama the way a lot of Tide fans do. People have the right to change jobs (unless they sneak out in the middle of the season as Petrino did with the Falcons). Franchione had turned around the Bama program, but he didn’t want to deal with sanctions from a previous coach so he left. It was disappointing, but a coaching job is not indentured servitude.
All I’ll say is that Nick didn’t f-up your Dolphins. He followed the medical staff’s recommendation on Brees. As dozens and dozens of coaches have done–especially when the media wouldn’t stop asking–he said “I’m not leaving” when he should have said “Piss off.” I do know–for a fact–that Alabama hadn’t made a formal offer when he said that. After the season ended, he met with Mr. Huizenga and made his decision. Mr. Huizenga–his boss–said he had no problem with Nick leaving.
The person to blame for the immediate aftermath of Nick’s departure was Cam Cameron. The people to blame now are Ross and Ireland. Your anger is misplaced. But it’s your anger.
thekatman says:
So now folks are resorting to childish behavior on this site? Everyone knows the BcS title game was a sham.
————————————————-
Yes, now folks are resorting to childish behavior. They’re ranting that a two-year NCAA head coach who hasn’t even played in a championship game should be ranked the best in football over men who’ve coached for years and won multiple championships. And they’re throwing tantrums that last year’s title game was a sham because (slurp slurp with the thumb-sucking) the top two teams in the nation both hailed from the same conference. Never mind that every other undefeated team had an opportunity for that number two slot but fell to a lesser team by a larger margin than Alabama’s loss to LSU. Never mind that Alabama defeated the undisputed top-ranked team 21-0 and allowed only one advance across the 50 in a decisive defensive beatdown. It was two SEC teams so, doggonit, it wasn’t fair!! Whaaaa!!!!
Uh-huh, some people are resorting to mighty childish behavior on this site
I think it was either John Wooden or Bob Knight, but they used to say that he could beat you with his players, or he could take your players and beat his team with you coaching them. That’s the true mark of a GREAT coach.
Raises the question: is Saban great, or is he great because of the players at Alabama? Or would he be just as successful if he were coaching the players at LSU, TCU, Boise State, or elsewhere?
Who’s #2?
Who was the runner-up at last year’s U.S. Open, golf or tennis? Who lost in the Stanley Cup Finals three years ago?
You know the old saying: if you’re not the lead dog in the pack, the view is the same.
papabush88 says:
May 10, 2012 9:44 PM
@reclinerqb
As a USC fan, of course I would never say the SEC is weak. It’s the best conference in football right now. Easily. At least the SEC has the most top teams. The SEC does get some help, but only some. Of course no one but BCS would pit two SEC teams against each other in the NCG. But right now, I think the NC is up for grabs between USC, LSU, Alabama, Oregon, and Arkansas (in no particular order). If you say the Pac 12 has no defense, then the Big 12 is an even bigger example of that. Horrible defenses in that conference. Yes, the SEC had 6 straight championships. As my good friend Carl, an Alabama alum, says “if you think the SEC can win six straight championships, and isn’t cheating, you’re an idiot.”
__
Accusations of cheating coming from a USC fan are the biggest joke on here.
papabush88 says:
May 11, 2012 1:32 PM
@reclinerqb
Of course I know it goes on. I’m a USC fan, and if you remember, we were just taken out in the alley and raped for one player, unbeknownst to the school, coaches and program, accepted improper benefits. Reggie cheated plain and simple. As the NCAA concluded, no one else was involved. Do I think others like the asst coach knew? It’s possible, but the facts given to us by the NCAA were that no one else knew. The fact is that these rules are ridiculous. You would think that when other schools like South Carolina, UNC, Ohio State got in trouble I would be happy seen as those schools did far worse. I’m not. I hate seeing what happened to South Carolina and Ohio State. The one program that I think should be in trouble is Miami, if convicted, for the sex-cocaine-abortion yachts and the money laundering. There’s wrong and then there’s f****ed up and Miami is the latter. Seems like a lot of change and reformation is happening. Programs are getting caught and cleaning up, the BcS is finally changing, conferences are switching…it is time for the NCAA to change and improve as well.
__
Still in denial about Lonnie White, I see. USC is the biggest joke when it comes to you fans denying that players have been paid to play since the 1930s through today.
@papabush88….
If you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying!!!
Hey papabush….. no worries about these kids from the SEC trying to put down USC. When people hate on SC, that just means they’re jealous… bless their lil hearts.
This season will tell the tale, and when they say “…If you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying!!!”… is just an old SEC trick. They do it all the time.
Fight Onbrothers and sisters.
Beat everybody.
Beat the NCAA COI and Paul Dee.
@bozosforall
Never denied the Lonnie White thing. He came out, as well as other former Bruins, and divulged information that they were offered money from agents etc. I never said USC has NEVER cheated. I’m sure they have. In the Reggie Bush scandal, the facts that we have, given to us by the NCAA’s COI, were that Reggie Bush acted alone and no one else affiliated with USC knew. Like I said above, it is possible that others knew, but the facts/evidence we have were that no one else knew.
Also, you said I accused those other teams of cheating. I did not. My colleague at work, an Alabama alum, accused all of the SEC teams that have been a part of the last 6 BcS championships of cheating. That includes his own alma mater.
Your jealousy of USC is so blatant. I just don’t get it. We haven’t won the 2012 championship yet. Are you so certain that we will, that you’re already pissed off about it? I’m going to say it again: The SEC has the most talent RIGHT NOW in all of CFB of any conference. And I will also say this again: The violations at UNC, South Carolina, Ohio State (not including the cover-up) and the alleged violations of Oregon may be illegal in the eyes of the NCAA, but I still think the NCAA needs major reformation to those particular rules. The reason why I singled out Miami, is because the allegations against them are just completely immoral. If they are true, that’s beyond bad. Hookers, cocaine, money laundering. That sounds more like organized crime, than some kid accepting money from an agent. And if that is happening elsewhere and not just Miami, shame on them. And to top it all off, the guy who was allegedly involved in all of that Miami stuff, was the same guy who sat on his high horse when bringing down the hammer on USC: Paul Dee. Scum of the earth.
@thekatman
Are we reading the same post? Who’s hating on USC?
@thecrazyasianinseccountry
You are not hating on USC. Look above. bozosforall is.
I’ve known you from previous posts, thecrazyasianinseccountry. And if I remember correctly, you are pretty fair, even though your username might not seem like it. I have never seen bozosforall write anything that wasn’t about his blind hatred for USC. It’s pretty sad actually.
@Deb
You truly see life through Crimson glasses…. Saban is a dirt bag and does not come back Miami for a reason…. The nfl was too big for him; he could not hack it in the nfl and cost the franchise money so he could experiment…. Don’t insult all Bama fans by being so narrow minded to varying opinions
@papabush88
Fair enough…
Call crazy or whatever but you know what I want to see … USC at their very best against my LSU at our very best, and let’s settle what we’ve started in 2003.
Now that will be a game to slap my wife for … On the knee!!! Just in case you’re reading this baby I said slap on the knee for!!!
crazyasianinseccountry: Glad you clarified the slap comment. My wife was reading!
That game between LSU and USC could happen this year in post-season. If so, I hope all are healthy. If so, I hope the LSU coaching staff is prepared with a better game plan and the players are prepared as well. After a truly grueling SEC schedule, there can be many banged up, bruised, and sadly possibly a few out for the remainder of the season.
@alligatorsnapper
If it does happen I hope LSU will remembered how their nonchalant attitude caused them not only to win the biggest game of the year but a place in College Immortality. Now their just a blimp in history. I hope they’re hungry and if God is willing, be in position to rectify themselves from, not just losing, but completely humiliated by, that evening , a much better team. Not everyone are given a chance for redemption and I doubt if given, they will fumble it.
@papabush
My bigger issue with the way the cheating/scandals are handled (including Miami) is that by the time the archaic & unbelievably (literally) slow NCAA finishes an investigation the people that get punished had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the infractions. It’s not right/fair to punish the current and future USC students & athletes because of something that happened like 8 years ago. Same with Miami, by the time any punishment is handed down it will only punish kids that weren’t there and had nothing to do with it. Ohio State was the only semi-swift punishment out of any I have seen (& I guess UNC). And w/Ohio State, the NCAA allowed KNOWN in eligible athletes play in a bowl game for monetary reasons (nobody would’ve watched if the Ohio State 5-6…however many) would’ve been banned like they should’ve been (I don’t think they did anything wrong personally, but stickin to the NCAA “rules” we all know they shouldn’t have played). How is that not the BIGGEST DOUBLE STANDARD EVER?!?!? They bust players for selling their OWN property to get paid (tattoos…whatever) and then illegally allow them to play so that everybody EXCEPT the players get paid….SERIOUSLY?!?!? (And for full disclosure I am a die hard Razorback fan & alum w/2 of my stepchildren currently attending) even after my disclosure I want to make it perfectly clear that while I disagree with nearly everything the NCAA/BCS oes and stands for, the one time they had a chance to do the “right thing” they didn’t….because of money…we all know those players should’ve been suspended for the Sugar Bowl….and I’m saying that NOT as a Hog fan….but I’m glad they allowed them to play because it shows their true motives & double standard…I just wish the media would’ve hammered them for doing it, but they didnt want to risk their money, tv access, player access, future negotiating power, etc. Dang, this makes me sick even talking about it because I hate the NCAA so passionately….seriously…they punish all the wrong people for breaking draconian rules….and now I’m rambling….
@reclinerqb
I feel ya. NCAA sucks. And you’re right. They’ll punish the wrong people at Miami because Paul Dee, who orchestrated all of that, is untouchable now that he’s not a Miami employee.
@orthomarine …
Somehow I doubt Bama fans would find my posts insulting–although I know some in my own family who’d get their feathers ruffled over my excusing Dennis Franchione for leaving Alabama in the dust after two years. I gave Franchione a pass for doing to Alabama exactly what Nick Saban did to Miami … yet somehow in your eyes that means I see everything through crimson glasses. Maybe you should look up the meaning of objectivity.
Everything I posted was true. Miami lost Drew Brees because the medical staff told the coaching staff to pass on him. Check it. Yes, after repeatedly telling reporters he would only talk about the Dolphins, Saban finally told them he wasn’t going to Alabama. He should have told them to piss off and left the podium. He handled it badly. He’s no saint and I’ve never portayed him as one. He’s a brilliant college coach, but he’s as capable of screwing up as the next guy. I just don’t consider a coach changing jobs an unforgivable sin–whether it happens to my team or yours. Mr. Huizenga–his boss–said publicly he was okay with Nick. If you’re not, fine. Be bitter.
Cam Cameron took the Dolphins to 1-15. If you want to blame Saban for that, go ahead. Saban left your team five years ago. Jeff Ireland was your VP of Scouting when the Brees decision was made, and he’s been your GM for four years. Stephen Ross has owned your team outright for three years, and in my opinion, he’s not the best owner in the league. You want someone to blame for your team’s troubles, I’d suggest you blame the guys who’ve been running the team (into the ground), not the coach who left in 2007.
But then, I’m looking through crimson glasses and you’re just the soul of objectivity, right?
I believe Bill Snyder was ranked 11th and probably deserved to be much higher. The team collapsed when he retired the first time and then resumed winning the minute he returned. Manhattan Kansas is not a hot destination for top recruits and Snyder fills holes every year with a revolving door of JC recruits, somehow getting everybody to buy in and mesh as a team. He’s simply amazing.