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As is always the case, especially when it comes to sports, doing a greatest “whatever” of all time rankings list is a fruitless effort because there is a 100 percent chance that all that will be achieved is pissing off just about everyone.
ESPN knows this probably better than any other media outlet, which is why their decision to rank the 150 greatest college football coaches of all time for the 150th anniversary of the first college football game is certainly questionable at best.
To create their list, ESPN recruited a “blue-ribbon panel of 150 media members, administrators and former players and coaches” to share their thoughts.
According to that panel, the top 10 greatest college football coaches of all time are…
1. Bear Bryant (323-85-17)
2. Nick Saban (242-65-1)
3. Knute Rockne (105-12-5)
4. Tom Osborne (255-49-3)
5. Eddie Robinson (408-165-15)
6. Bud Wilkinson (145-29-4)
7. Joe Paterno (409-136-3)
8. Bobby Bowden (377-129-4)
9. Woody Hayes (238-72-10)
10. Frank Leahy (107-13-9)
Other notable names include John McKay (12), Barry Switzer (13), Ara Parseghian (15), Bo Schembechler (20), LaVell Edwards (22), Lou Holtz (23), Vince Dooley (24), Steve Spurrier (27), Bob Stoops (29), Dabo Swinney (31), John Robinson (33), Jim Tressel (35), Pete Carroll (37), Darrell Royal (38), Frank Broyles (40), Frank Beamer (45), Urban Meyer (46), Jimmy Johnson (49), Lloyd Carr (50), Don James (52), Mack Brown (59), Dennis Erickson (83), Brian Kelly (89), Barry Alvarez (90), Hayden Fry (91), Howard Schnellenberger (93), Phillip Fulmer (94), Jimbo Fisher (110), Jackie Sherrill (116), Pat Dye (119), and Les Miles (140).
As one can easily see, there is a lot of room for argument in these rankings.
For instance, Urban Meyer (future coach of the Dallas Cowboys) won three national titles with two different teams, and his 187 victories in 17 seasons are more than any other FBS coach over that length of time, yet he was only ranked as the 46th greatest college football coach of all time by ESPN.
If that seems like a slight, join the club.
Urban’s daughter Gigi Meyer, who along with sister Nicki, is always quick to defend their dad, was definitely not happy with his ranking.
Espn is #46 on my list of fav sports channels
— Gigi Meyer Pruett (@gigimeyerfit) December 11, 2019
She was not alone.
When I clicked on this list I wondered if Urban Meyer would make the top three. He’s ranked 46! https://t.co/YfuNct0ARL
— Eric Adelson (@eric_adelson) December 10, 2019
Urban Meyer at 46 is a joke. He has the highest win % of any FBS coach in the last 50 years (.854); never had a losing season his entire career at four schools; three national championships; one of only two coaches in history with national championships at two different schools.
— 🍬Sweet Teeth🦷 (@ElegantSquatch) December 10, 2019
Here is the list we were just discussing, Urban #46 on this list is insane. https://t.co/uVUiLs0lYs
— Beau Bishop (@BeauBishop) December 10, 2019
Several thoughts ...
- Eddie Robinson should be No. 1, or at least No. 2 behind Bear
- Urban Meyer is 46? 46!? I don’t love him, but he won three titles at two schools and invented the offense everyone not named “Georgia” runs today
- How is Steve Spurrier not Top 20 https://t.co/wkpKc4kKVB
— Johnathan McGinty (@johnemcginty) December 10, 2019
Meyer certainly wasn’t the only coach whose ranking upset college football fans, as expected.
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1204457829547073537Jimbo Fisher 😂😂😂
— David B. (@ObeseTapeworm) December 10, 2019
Mark Richt is #136!!!
Never won a natty and less wins than Ferentz. Was also run out of town by Georgia AND Miami!! He had all the talent in the world and really did nothing with it.
He made the list and Ferentz didnt.
— MichaelRichardson (@TheeMikeRich) December 10, 2019
save some room for 0 national titles, 2-8 in rose bowls Bo Schembechler, please
— simonan (@simonan) December 10, 2019
Gary Patterson is 74 and Whittingham isn’t in the list at all? 🤔🤔🤔
— Sportball Enthusiast (@MeTheDevil414) December 10, 2019
Ferentz consistently takes 2-3 star recruits and wins 8-10 games a year? He can’t even break the top 150 on this stupid list? @BHGP
— Bake (@_BAKE_) December 10, 2019
How is Kirk Ferentz not on that list? I’m an Iow State fan and I hate Iowa, but he is one of the top 150 coaches of all time.
— Zach Heisler (@zrheisler) December 10, 2019
I can’t believe I’m going to say this but Kirk Ferentz deserves to be on this list somewhere.
— Chris Peters (@ChrisPetersBITW) December 10, 2019
No Kirk Ferentz?!?
— Karrie Greive (@Karrotg) December 11, 2019
Troll on, ESPN. Troll on.