Tom Dienhart at The Sporting News has ranked coaches in BCS conferences compared to other coaches in the conference and then compiled a list of all 66 BCS conference coaches. Dave Wannstedt checks in at #6 of 8 coaches in the Big East.
6. Dave Wannstedt, Pitt. Wanny finally looks like he’s home. Of course, he is, coaching at the school and in the town that forged that crooked grin. He knows defense, and he has infused talent into the program. But it’s time to start delivering the goods with West Virginia, Louisville and Rutgers stealing the headlines. Pitt is a proud program that ALWAYS should be good.
I can agree with Rodriguez at the top of the list but having UL’s Steve Kragthorpe at number three in the Big East makes no sense to me. The guy has yet to be on the sidelines of a BCS team as head coach (previously the head coach at Tulsa in C-USA) and apparently the following got him higher on the list.
Plus, he’s a swell guy who has the right priorities.
One spot in front of Wanny at #5 in Cincinnati’s new head coach, Brian Kelley. A guy who went only 19-16 at Central Michigan in three years. I’m not saying these two coaches won’t be a success but Dienhart is purely guessing that these coaches are going to be something special. It’s also questionable how guys like Kragthorpe and USF’s Jim Leavitt (#2) are ahead of Greg Schiano who is at #4.
He then threw together (seeming literally) a list ranking ALL of the BCS coaches from 1 to 66. Wanny checks in at 45th.
Most of the comments left on the article are left by people completely disagreeing with the rankings, and one of my favorites was this one.
Man, what an easy way to make a living. List all the BCS coaches and put numbers beside their names.
Are y’all taking applications?
Seemingly, that’s what he did. There are so many over and under rated coaches on that list that it’s hard to count them all. Missing by a few spots is forgivable but some of them seem to be way of base.
Just glimpsed the 66 scorching comments to Dienhart’s “Ranking (of the) Big East coaches.â€
It seems a pretty reflexive to question how in hell the guy managed any contract/ agreement with a widely read and subscribed to publication once considered a reputable source of news. What’s more phenomenal \, though, is the error of judgment demonstrated by sporting news’ editors/execs in their allowance or oversight to Dienhart’s invitation to SPEAK OUT ON THIS ARTICLE.
Dienhart’s piece is uncredible to a point where TSN’s value begins and ends with the annual Ed. of player stats (baseball).
Particularly laughable is the embarrassingly subjective, self-congratulatory account of his life in the bio right of “Ranking.â€
*….My NFL dreams ended at the corner of Grant and Meridian Streets …but my love for football endures. Especially college football. ……………
** Besides, my view from the press boxes across the country has been pretty good since joining the Sporting News in 1990….But my ride began before then, back in 1985 ….
*** Me–a guy who dared to dream of making a living that involved sports…If it would have ended there, I’d have been happy.
****….But, here I am. And many bowls, countless interviews, crazy travel and myriad fun have ensued. Who needs the NFL?
* MEANINGLES; ** PRETENTIOUS; *** INSIGNIFICANT; **** NONESENSE