JoePa leads list of readers' top coaches
Readers voted on college football coaches for a "Mount Rushmore" of the sport. In order, Joe Paterno, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Knute Rockne and Eddie Robinson were the top four vote-getters.
In a poll conducted this week on Philly.com, readers were asked to vote on four college football coaches for a "Mount Rushmore" of the sport. In order, Joe Paterno, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Knute Rockne and Eddie Robinson were the top four vote-getters.
Here are the results:
1. JOE PATERNO (90.3 percent) 399-132-3, two national championships, five undefeated seasons and three Big Ten titles at Penn State. Hall of Fame inductee in 2007.
2. PAUL "BEAR" BRYANT (88.2 percent) 323-85-17, six national championships in 38 years at Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A & M and Alabama. College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 1986.
3. KNUTE ROCKNE (66.7 percent)
Notre Dame coach was only 43 when he died in plane crash in 1931. In 13 seasons with Irish, he went 105-12-5 (a winning percentage of 88.2), five national championships and five undefeated, untied seasons. Hall of Fame inductee in 1951.
4. EDDIE ROBINSON (46.2 percent)
Went 408-165-15 in 56 seasons at Grambling State, winning 17 conference championships and nine black college national titles. Sent 200-plus players to NFL. Hall of Fame inductee in 1997.
5. BOBBY BOWDEN (25.6 percent)
"Official" record from 1959-2009 at Samford, West Virginia and Florida State now stands at 377-129-4 after NCAA stripped FSU of 12 victories for academic violations during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Won two national championships and from 1987 to 2000, the Seminoles finished among the top five teams in the country every year in the final Associated Press poll. Hall of Fame inductee in 2006.
6. WOODY HAYES (20.0 percent)
Posted a 238-72-10 record at Dennison, Miami of Ohio and Ohio State. In 28 seasons at Ohio State, team won three national titles, 13 Big Ten championships and had a record of 205-61-10. Hall of Fame inductee in 1983.
7. TOM OSBORNE (19.5 percent)
In 25 seasons at Nebraska, where he is now the athletic director, he went 255-49-3 with three national championships. Hall of Fame inductee in 1999.
8. JOHN GAGLIARDI (15.9 percent)
The 84-year-old is the Division III JoePa equivalent. From 1949-52 at Carroll College in Montana, and at Saint John's University in Minnesota since, he has compiled a 476-129-11 record with four national championships (two in the NAIA, two in NCAA Division III). Hall of Fame inductee in 2006.
9. EARL "RED" BLAIK (8.7 percent)
Won back-to-back national titles in 1944 and '45 at Army. Compiled a record of 166-48-14 at Dartmouth and Army. Hall of Fame inductee in 1964.
10. FIELDING YOST (7.2 percent)
In 25 years at Michigan, won six national titles, six Big Ten titles and had a record of 165-29-10. Also coached at Ohio Wesleyan, Nebraska, Kansas, Stanford and San Jose, compiling a career mark of 198-35-12. Hall of Fame inductee in 1951.
11. DARRELL ROYAL (1.5 percent)
In 23 years at Mississippi State, Washington and Texas, the last 20 with the Longhorns, he posted an 184-60-5 record with three national championships. Hall of Fame inductee in 1983. *
- Bernard Fernandez