Is Winning and Being Likable Mutually Exclusive?

#2
#2
Phone keeps cutting off my message. Basically wondering if it’s only the unlikable jerks, sleazy type coaches who always win (saban, Kirby, Meyer, Spurrier etc) and nice guys finish last - Napier, Pittman types.
 
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#3
#3
And some say Heupel is too nice after a loss. Do we as a society prefer the dirty rotten scoundrels, cut throat, killer instinct type coaches or is there a place for the kinder gentler coaches and can they have success
 
#4
#4
And actually I don’t think Spurrier was sleazy but he was definitely cut throat. Lol looks like I’ll be the first OP with a thread where it’s only me responding to myself.
 
#6
#6
A coach can be any combination of sleazy, upstanding, likeable and unlikeable and everything in between. If we look at those post WWII with multiple national championships, it looks pretty close between those who were sleazier than average or jackasses or both and those who were neither. From what little I know, Saban, Bryant, Hayes, Meyer, Osborne and Switzer were one or both and Royal, Leahy, McKay and Wilkinson were neither.
Of our best coaches, I'd say Neyland, Majors and Heupel were or are neither but of course that's subjective.
 
#7
#7
I think for the most part it’s just subjective. Many of you can’t stand Kirby, but you’d probably feel differently if he was your coach. As a kid, I couldn’t stand Fulmer, but that didn’t mean he was a terrible person. I just hated that his teams kicked our a$$es every year. I had even more disdain for Spurrier, but it’s was primarily bc he was a successful coach for UF and he let us know about it all the time. It’s easy for someone to rub you the wrong way in instances like these.

I’m not saying Kirby is a saint, but he probably isn’t the a-hole many of you guys think.

The only coach that I can’t stand in recent memory is Jimbo Fischer. I live not far from Tallahassee and have heard him speak and witnessed him in a social setting and I can’t stand the guy. Kiffen has a big mouth, but I actually like him. Although, I understand that TN fans have reason to feel differently about him.
 
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#8
#8
I would say that if you win, then you are likeable by definition, whatever your personality happens to be. By your own fans, I mean.

Saban was prickly and grumpy most of the time but Bammers thought it was hilarious and maybe even a little bit charming. If he went 9-3 every year, it wouldn't have been so funny. His personality would have worn thin incredibly quickly if he didn't win like he did, and that can be said for 99% of coaches.
 
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#10
#10
05_never_again said:
I would say that if you win, then you are likeable by definition, whatever your personality happens to be. By your own fans, I mean.

Saban was prickly and grumpy most of the time but Bammers thought it was hilarious and maybe even a little bit charming. If he went 9-3 every year, it wouldn't have been so funny. His personality would have worn thin incredibly quickly if he didn't win like he did, and that can be said for 99% of coaches.
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I agree 100%. It’s all about one’s perspective. And let’s be honest, most of us would put up with a complete a-hole if he is winning NC’s. Sad but true.
 
#12
#12
I stopped by the Baylor forum since they canned their AD, who was also CFP Chairman, and see some clamoring for the next AD to fire Aranda and rehire Art Briles "because he was a winner." So morality or likeability or whatever has nothing to do with it, even at a Southern Baptist School.

My main interest is wondering if Danny White might be interested now in a CFP Committee position.
 
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#13
#13
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I stopped by the Baylor forum since they canned their AD, who was also CFP Chairman, and see some clamoring for the next AD to fire Aranda and rehire Art Briles "because he was a winner." So morality or likeability or whatever has nothing to do with it, even at a Southern Baptist School.

My main interest is wondering if Danny White might be interested now in a CFP Committee position.
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That is 100% something he'd be interested in and he's 100% the kind of guy they might ask.
 
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#14
#14
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
I stopped by the Baylor forum since they canned their AD, who was also CFP Chairman, and see some clamoring for the next AD to fire Aranda and rehire Art Briles "because he was a winner." So morality or likeability or whatever has nothing to do with it, even at a Southern Baptist School.

My main interest is wondering if Danny White might be interested now in a CFP Committee position.
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I read that like it might be easier for Danny White to get that CFP Committee seat as AD somewhere else.
 
#17
#17
Volizona said:
Phone keeps cutting off my message. Basically wondering if it’s only the unlikable jerks, sleazy type coaches who always win (saban, Kirby, Meyer, Spurrier etc) and nice guys finish last - Napier, Pittman types.
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Putting Saban, Kirby and Spurrier in a grouping with Urban Meyer is pretty harsh.

Saban and Kirby aren't anything like Spurrier, and none of the 3 are even close to being as awful of a human being as Meyer is.

Saban and Kirby seem relatively down to earth. Spurrier throws verbal jabs but I can't really recall any huge character issues with him. Urban Meyer over looks and or covers up disgusting crimes for his coaches and players, on top of mistreating some players.
 
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#18
#18
Titans4Vols said:
Putting Saban, Kirby and Spurrier in a grouping with Urban Meyer is pretty harsh.

Saban and Kirby aren't anything like Spurrier, and none of the 3 are even close to being as awful of a human being as Meyer is.

Saban and Kirby seem relatively down to earth. Spurrier throws verbal jabs but I can't really recall any huge character issues with him. Urban Meyer over looks and or covers up disgusting crimes for his coaches and players, on top of mistreating some players.
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Agree.
 
#19
#19
Mac Brown at Texas. I can't think of any issues with him, or anyone really hating him beyond rivalries. maybe I missed it though, its been a while.

Tressel was kinda a dick, but I feel it was more in the Saban way.

Dabo is also a stuck up Holier than thou prick.

Thinking about the question the other way around: who would be some coaches that you don't hate or think are dicks that COULD win it? Lanning, with how he handled Nico, and Marcus Freeman, both seem like generally good guys.
 
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#20
#20
LouderVol said:
Mac Brown at Texas. I can't think of any issues with him, or anyone really hating him beyond rivalries. maybe I missed it though, its been a while.

Tressel was kinda a dick, but I feel it was more in the Saban way.

Dabo is also a stuck up Holier than thou prick.

Thinking about the question the other way around: who would be some coaches that you don't hate or think are dicks that COULD win it? Lanning, with how he handled Nico, and Marcus Freeman, both seem like generally good guys.
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I think Lanning probably is a dick but it is just harder for us to pick up on because he's in Oregon, we kind of like them, and we don't have a rivalry with them. Lanning seems like an ultra meathead competitor, kind of like Kirby.
 
#21
#21
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
Nah, Danny's job is solid if he wants to stay at UT for a decade.

He MIGHT have SEC Commissioner or other higher level aspirations and a CFP Committee stint looks good on that kind of resume.
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If there is ever an AD opening at a place like Texas, Ohio St, Michigan, or Notre Dame, I think DW is high on the list of people those schools would call. Especially if our sports teams keep running like they are. DW is an ND alum and his dad was the AD there. I think those schools (maybe Southern Cal as well) are the only ones he'd leave Tennessee for.

If he wanted to be SEC Commissioner, he'd be hamstrung by the fact that he was once AD at one of its member schools.
 
#22
#22
05_never_again said:
If there is ever an AD opening at a place like Texas, Ohio St, Michigan, or Notre Dame, I think DW is high on the list of people those schools would call. Especially if our sports teams keep running like they are. DW is an ND alum and his dad was the AD there. I think those schools (maybe Southern Cal as well) are the only ones he'd leave Tennessee for.

If he wanted to be SEC Commissioner, he'd be hamstrung by the fact that he was once AD at one of its member schools.
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It's probably true about the SEC seeing a conflict of interest.

ND is a real possibility. While others may try to get DW, if he followed his Dad to his alma mater I couldn't really fault him.

I don't really believe college sports survives in its current "student-athlete" form beyond 5 years. I think a "players are employees of the school" lawsuit changes things in a huge way and forces schools to lease facilities, logos, etc to a newly formed, not really attached to the schools, pro league for revenue sports.

I don't think Danny will find being AD over non revenue sports very exciting so I'd expect him to take a role in the transition to whatever "employee status" league forms when they separate.
 
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