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Updated July 7
This best coaches series has been something.
Judging by the feedback, more people are worried about how various assistant coaches rank than about current gas prices. Proof: I got an e-mail last week from Florida State linebackers coach Chuck Amato. Seems The Chest was a bit peeved he didn't make the best linebackers coach list.
(Note: I'm skeptical, though. Chuckles' return e-mail was mikeman4. Either Amato has a real weird e-mail or maybe -- just maybe -- it wasn't him.)
From: Chuck Amato
How awful you could leave me out of a list of best LB coaches! I'm the linebacker coach at one of the best linebacker places in the nation, and that trend continued when I went to North Carolina State and I still get no love.
Self Promoter:
Forget that, you ever find anyone to buy those red shoes? And don't tell me Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.
From: Derek
Thanks for at least identifying Gus Malzahn as a possible best offensive coordinator.
On one hand, because of Tulsa's size he'll stay under Joe Fan's radar until one of the large schools plucks him away from us. Sounds familiar, huh? Conversely, the folks who truly know college ball give this guy the accolades he deserves. Although he probably won't win many popularity contests, TU fans are enjoying him while we've got him.
F-Ball Wizard:
... until one of the large schools plucks him away from us ...? Actually, it's in reverse. Gus had his shot at Arkansas in 2006 and had to go to Tulsa to re-invent himself.
Don't worry, Malzahn will have his chance again at a BCS school.
From: Mike
With Norm's (Chow) résumé, why hasn't he been offered a head coaching job? God knows, he deserves one ... maybe you can address that in a future article or piece ... and this is coming from a Trojan. I want to see Norm success and make the rivalry THE rivalry in college football. Cheers!
Head Hunter:
Norm has interviewed for numerous jobs. He could have had the Arizona job (instead of Mike Stoops), I recall, if he had pursued it hard enough.
Here's what I've heard: Norm doesn't interview well. We all know people like this in every walk of life. It is what it is. Some coaches are destined to be lifetime assistants. That isn't a bad thing when Norm is making $1 million this year.
My other theory: Norm just likes to be loved. In other words, he pursues some of these jobs because he wants to be told how great he is. Again, there are a lot of people like that in the workplace.
None of that should take away from the fact that Norm is a great coach, father and person.
From: Mike
I enjoyed your OC column. But why did you omit John McNulty of Rutgers? Last year Rutgers became the first 1A team to have a 3,000-yard passer, a 2,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers in the same year.
Scarlet Might:
Unfortunately, there has to be a cutoff somewhere. When this is all over I'm planning to blog about all the great coaches who didn't make the lists.
McNulty was a guy I agonized over. I'll put it on you. Who would you remove from the OC list in order to insert McNulty?
From: Chris
You say that this Texas Tech team is the best in Lubbock since Leach arrived and you have them ranked as the fifth-best team in the Big 12 ... 3rd in the Big 12 South.
This is despite Mack Brown's statement this week that (Colt) McCoy may platoon at QB with the freshman. Tech doesn't have Missouri on the schedule and they play Texas at home. I don't see the recipe for Texas ranked ahead of Tech. There is still some time in preseason for you to make a redo list. We won't hold it against you. I promise.
Red Hater:
Texas and Oklahoma being rated ahead of Texas Tech might have something to do with them being TEXAS and OKLAHOMA.
This is my beef with TT: It wants to be big time but hasn't gotten there yet. Until it starts winning Big 12 South titles (at least), Texas Tech will be considered the same old 8-4, 9-3 team every year.
Absolutely Texas Tech is third in the South and fourth or fifth best in the Big 12. Would YOU put your school ahead of Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas?
By the way, what do you mean about "platoon at QB with the freshman"? Who is the freshman? Texas has sophomore John Chiles backing up and didn't sign a quarterback in February. Another kid, G.J. Kinne, transferred to Tulsa.