Precedent Studies

[Rip Rap]

Can anybody think of an example of an outstanding NFL college coach who then became a college coach and didn't do well? Bill Walsh at 0.585 did better than any coach at Stanford since 1950, except John Ralston (0.601). He is the only example I could think of that might qualify. Other thoughts/examples?

Now Jimmy Johnson holds the unique distinction of being the only guy I can think of who honestly dominated in both college and the NFL. Most top college coaches moved up to the pros and got their asses handed to them (Holtz, Erickson, Mariucci, Spurrier, etc.) Coughlin has never been better than so-so. Any other thoughts/examples?

Granted, Weis was an OC rather than a head coach, but I find this comforting. Especially given how other NFL coordinators have done (Petrino, Saban, Groh, etc.). Please comment.

 

[guff]

I was going to start a new post on why Weis is the right the man for the job but it may work under this post.

As for pro coaches going to college with success, Mike Riley, who won 14 games in 3 seasons with the Chargers, is having some success at Oregon State. That program is making positive strides. One of those strides landed on the head of the Irish.

I can only guess but I believe the big difference between NFL and college coaching is game planning and preparation. The talent level is so high in the NFL, even on the worst team, that preparing for each game is paramount. It is much more difficult to ‘out talent’ an NFL team. Weis is a master of the game plan. I am a Steeler fan. My appreciation for Weis grew dramatically after the AFC Championship. His offense, and make no mistake that is his offense, dropped 34 points on the NFL’s best defense.

As I posted before I was on the fence regarding the Ty firing. Not to beat a dead horse - Ty is a mediocre coach, but Sunday through Friday Ty was unmatched. And in my opinion Sunday through Friday is just as important as Saturday. If you have to comprise principles to win, then you haven’t won at all.

I would rather Notre Dame become Northwestern than Miami. And hiring the wrong coach could have been a disaster.

But Weis is the right guy. He doesn’t have resume, he has a pedigree. The teams he was a part of did it the right way. The team came first. Players did the right thing on and off the field. Ultimately the teams won.

He develops players. I firmly believe that Tom Brady would be a clipboard carrying back up if not for Weis. He was a 6th round draft pick. NFL scouts rarely miss that badly and even it more rare on a QB. If they miss on a QB, it’s on the high side - Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf, Cade McNown plus a half dozen U of Florida QBs. Dude goes from 6th round pick to 2-time Super Bowl MVP within 5 years. He doesn’t get their without Weis.

Weis is the man for every day of the week.

 

[irishgo8]

Hey man good post. Brady being a clipboard backup. Nope sorry he wouldnt even be in the game. Our Brady should be really exicted!

 

[bmf175]

Maybe you could consider Bobby Ross in this list.

But there are a lot of factors when taking him into consideration. One, he is at Army so that isn't fair. And I believe before he went to SD he was a successful college coach some where. (I forget where)

I think he is a good coach, but the turn out was not as good as I thought it would have been.But, like I said he is at West Point.

 

[the_voidoid]

Maybe you could consider Bobby Ross in this list.

But there are a lot of factors when taking him into consideration. One, he is at Army so that isn't fair. And I believe before he went to SD he was a successful college coach some where. (I forget where)

I think he is a good coach, but the turn out was not as good as I thought it would have been.But, like I said he is at West Point.

I think Bobby Ross will turn things around for Army, to the point where they'll put up 6-5 or 7-4 records most seasons. They'll always be under-talented, but he's a great football coach and his style fits PERFECTLY with a Army. His teams will play with more heart than their opponents and Ross will figure out a way to beat the majority of the teams on their schedule each year.