Worst coaches

[JerryBeeds]

SI.com - Writers - Top to bottom (cont.) - Wednesday July 11, 2007 2:48PM (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/stewart_mandel/07/10/mailbag/1.html)

[crawfish]

He also gives the list for the 10 best coaches. I was very surprised NOT to see Saban's name on that list. I opened up the page expecting to see MANDEL list LSU's Miles on one of the list. I never know if the guy is going to blast LSU or praise them. But I was surprised that he didn't list Saban. There are guys on his "best coach" list that haven't even come close to a National Championship. Jim Grobe, Wake ForestRich Rodriguez, West Virginia and Gary Patterson, TCU and NOT Saban or even Tubby or Fulmer???? Come on Mandel!

Unveiling the nation's 10 best coaches (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/stewart_mandel/07/10/mailbag/index.html)

[The Ramp]

As much as I hate Texas A&M (almost as much as Ole Miss), Francionne had a decent program last year and returns a lot of starters. He could have a great year next season.

[jthomas666]

He also gives the list for the 10 best coaches. I was very surprised NOT to see Saban's name on that list. I opened up the page expecting to see MANDEL list LSU's Miles on one of the list. I never know if the guy is going to blast LSU or praise them. But I was surprised that he didn't list Saban. There are guys on his "best coach" list that haven't even come close to a National Championship. Jim Grobe, Wake ForestRich Rodriguez, West Virginia and Gary Patterson, TCU and NOT Saban or even Tubby or Fulmer???? Come on Mandel!I can give him a pass for not including Saban on this year's list--after all, he hasn't coached a college game in 2 years.

It looks like he's giving bonus points for doing more with less, which is how good coaches like Grobe get up there. I can't fault him for not including Fulmer, who hasn't been too stellar in recent years.

Leaving Tubby out is more puzzling--but at least he made the honorable mention list.

[Smithian]

Konrad Nutt is on the just-miss list for 5 worst.

[Poppycock]

Quote from the same article:

"One other note: As always, candidates had to be a Division I-A coach for at least the past three seasons to be considered for either category. So Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Charlie Weis, Bret Bielema and Chris Petersen aren't eligible just yet. Neither, mercifully, are Greg Robinson or Ed Orgeron."