The recent release of the 2008 USA Today Coaches Poll got me thinking. Why do the coaches get to vote for the best team, but the players don't get to vote for the best coach? I would love to see a weekly ranking of the best coaches in college football today. Sure it doesn't make much sense in the grand scheme of things, but it sure is interesting.
So, I've decided that this college football season there will be a Top 25 for coaches. Sure it is purely subjective at the beginning of the season (much like the other polls), but as the season moves forward so will the poll. It will work much like the other weekly polls…you lose, you drop. A win over another ranked coach counts for more than a win over an unranked coach, and well…you get the idea.
How did I choose the pre-season top 25? Like the other polls the decisions were based on the coaches reputation, their success last season, and a perceived expectation of what they could accomplish this season.
So without further adieu…The 2008 Top 25 College Football Coaches Rankings (Pre-season Edition).
1. Pete Carroll, USC (Pac-10)
2. Jim Tressel, Ohio State (Big Ten)
3. Urban Meyer, Florida (SEC)
4. Mark Richt, Georgia (SEC)
5. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan (Big Ten)
6. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma (Big XII)
7. Nick Saban, Alabama (SEC)
8. Mack Brown, Texas (Big XII)
9. Les Miles, LSU (SEC)
10. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State (Pac-10)
11. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech (ACC)
12. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin (Big Ten)
13. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn (SEC)
14. Jim Leavitt, South Florida (Big East)
15. Mike Bellotti, Oregon (Pac-10)
16. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State (Big Ten)
17. Gary Pinkel, Missouri (Big XII)
18. Greg Schiano, Rutgers (Big East)
19. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee (SEC)
20. Pat Hill, Fresno State (WAC)
21. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati (Big East)
22. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame (Independent)
23. Tommy Bowden, Clemson (ACC)
24. Mark Mangino, Kansas (Big XII)
25. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest (ACC)
2. Jim Tressel, Ohio State (Big Ten)
3. Urban Meyer, Florida (SEC)
4. Mark Richt, Georgia (SEC)
5. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan (Big Ten)
6. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma (Big XII)
7. Nick Saban, Alabama (SEC)
8. Mack Brown, Texas (Big XII)
9. Les Miles, LSU (SEC)
10. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State (Pac-10)
11. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech (ACC)
12. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin (Big Ten)
13. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn (SEC)
14. Jim Leavitt, South Florida (Big East)
15. Mike Bellotti, Oregon (Pac-10)
16. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State (Big Ten)
17. Gary Pinkel, Missouri (Big XII)
18. Greg Schiano, Rutgers (Big East)
19. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee (SEC)
20. Pat Hill, Fresno State (WAC)
21. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati (Big East)
22. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame (Independent)
23. Tommy Bowden, Clemson (ACC)
24. Mark Mangino, Kansas (Big XII)
25. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest (ACC)
Others Receiving Votes: Mike Leach, Texas Tech (Big XII), Joe Paterno, Penn State (Big Ten), Mike Riley, Oregon State (Pac-10), Jeff Tedford, California (Pac-10), Randy Shannon, Miami (ACC), Houston Nutt, Ole Miss (SEC), Rick Neuheisel, UCLA (Pac-10), Bill Stewart, West Virginia (Big East), Chris Petersen, Boise State (WAC), Bronco Mendenhall, BYU (Mountain West)
The College Football Coaches Rankings will be released each Monday. Your comments will help me shape the rankings each week, so comment and comment often.
8 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
DJ Andreasen 11 months ago
Bronco Mendenhall is a better coach than Charlie Weis, and probably just about all of the other coaches in the "others receiving votes" section, just saying. Bill Stewart has coached one game with WVU, and his career coaching record is like 7-25 or something.
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Michael Bergman 11 months ago
Drop Richt and Rodriguez. Can't be that high with no NCs
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David Houser 11 months ago
get out of here with Charlie Weiss and ND and Rich Rod
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Mitch Rowe 11 months ago
What has R-Rod done to deserve the #5 spot? He may coach at Mich but he has alot more to accomplish before he cracks the top 10. Dennis Erickson has 2 NC and has won everywhere he has gone, and your telling me Richie is a better coach.....ok
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Michael 11 months ago
Where is Steve Spurrier!?
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Give 'em Hell Devils 11 months ago
Really? charlie Weis?
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Tim Moran 11 months ago
Mark Dantonio? Really? 18-17 at Cinci, 7-6 at MSU?
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Ram Patrol 11 months ago
There is some unfairness. Rick Neuheisel took a superb Colorado Buffalo Program and turned it into mediocrity. He took a storied Washington Husky Program and turned it to the most pathetic in the Nation. He is a turn-around kind of guy.
RAM
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