This week on A View from Big Ben I thought I would have a light moment and record my top five current Head Coaches that I LIKE and DISLIKE. Any past or present Vols Head Coaches are not allowed. It’s not scientific but just what I feel, so here goes.
LIKE
5. Herm Edwards – Here’s a guy who didn’t coach in college for around 20 years during which relationships such as in recruiting are built and players are socially so different as opposed to then. He also goes to Arizona State that doesn’t seem to win big anyway. All the pundits said he was crazy and doomed to failure, well ASU just may be favourites in their division this year and have also already developed players like Lazard, Aiyuk, Benjamin and the current quarterback Daniels, who looks a stud. Oh, and Marvin Lewis has jumped aboard, more proof.
4. Lane Kiffin – I know I’m going to cop it for this one but anyway please let me try and reason. He was the coach in my first year following the Vols and actually they seemed to overachieve that year, this is proved by Kiffin being very sort after. Now I didn’t appreciate at the time the way he left, but after the next few years of watching the Vols struggle I found myself seeing the bigger picture and wished he had stayed. After falling on his face and seemingly unemployable he took the Florida Atlantic job and made them very competitive. Now the rebuild is nearly complete and I expect big things from Ole Miss in a couple of years. Well I did my best to reason why he is on the list but I guess for many of you the cuts are too deep.
3. Any Kentucky Coach – Well I should have you all onside now. Despite this barren decade we can still guarantee a victory over Kentucky, even Vandy have been drinking at our well, but not Kentucky. Take the last two years KU have actually had a very good team and yet we saved our best overall performance two seasons ago for them and last year our best goal line stand. In short who ever is the coach they just don’t seem to be able to beat us.
2. Les Miles – The nickname “The Mad Hatter” gives you a clue why he is here. Not only did he produce some edge of your seat match calls and press conferences, he also won a National Championship. I don’t understand why he was out of work so long. Then he got the poisoned chalice that is Kansas yet he overachieved in his first season and I’m rooting big time for him. Although just to be competitive will be a success where he is.
1.Ed Ogeron – I know I said no Vols coaches but he wasn’t a Head Coach. Every year at LSU he always seemed to he on the “Hot Seat” and I thought he was out of his depth but then 2019 and Joe Burrow came along. Possibly the best season for a team in modern college history and Coach O will now be a legend in Death Valley. Oh, and I just love that voice…. Geaux Tigers.
DISLIKES
5. Tom Herman – The main reason why I’m not a fan is when he was at Houston all I heard was how great he was and every team were desperate for him. Well what has he done at Texas? (where you seem to guarantee 10 wins) sweet FA and this coming season seems just the same. Remember Gerry Cooney the boxer who went from the “Great White Hope to the Great White Dope”.
4. Chip Kelly – Very similar to No5. When at Oregon he introduced a hurry up offence with a great college quarterback in Mariotta and was successful but suddenly he was anointed as the great inventor of college football. Well it didn’t work in the NFL and then UCLA bought into the misplaced hype and he has been a disaster at a once respected college. In card terms a “Busted Flush”.
3. Jim Harbaugh – We have a saying that a cat has nine lives well how many does Harbaugh have? you fill in the blank. He doesn’t only lose to every ranked team, he gets hammered and I mean hammered by Ohio State (are team I really don't like) every year. Are the Michigan boosters secret OSU alumni? if not, how does this guy keep his job? Oh, and even press conferences are about as enjoyable as a visit to the dentist.
2) Greg Schiano – Suddenly this light heated list has got serious. Anybody remotely involved, never mind keeping quiet regarding the Penn State shame, should no way be a Head Coach. Would I trust him with my kids, no way? I will list another day why I think Tennessee is the BEST College team, but very near the top was how proud I was that you guys stood up to Curry and demanded that the college did not hire him. Even though you were desperate for a winner to arrive in town some things are actually bigger that winning and you guys lead the way. Shame on Rutgers.
1.Kirby Smart – Of course being head coach of Georgia puts him right up but there. But it is more than that. This coach has had an amazing run of recruitment classes from a state quite frankly is unparalleled in High School talent. He has also been in place when the Gators and Vols (his only two real competitors in the SEC East) were in rebuild mode (not any more) and yet I think he has underachieved. As for his judgement, who would you prefer Fromm of Fields? I rest my case judge.
One final note I wanted to include Swinney (so full of himself) and Saben (who just exudes the word fun but you can’t ignore his record so a sneaky respect for him)
GO VOLS
