Four B1G names mentioned in Yahoo's 'most intriguing coaches' list
A lot of personalities exist in college football. It’s part of what makes the sport so fun and enjoyable.
It’s not just the players that bring the personality to the field, though. Sometimes, the right head coach can bring just as much attention to a program.
Recently, Yahoo Sports writer Pat Forde named the 25 most intriguing head coaches entering the 2017 season. Four B1G names appeared on the list.
At the top was Urban Meyer, specifically because of the situation the Ohio State head coach finds himself in right now regarding the situation involving Zach Smith and his current status as being on administrative leave. Here’s what Forde had to say on Meyer:
Didn’t see this ranking coming as recently as a week ago. But now a coach with three national titles and a previously endless line of credit with his employers is on administrative leave and under serious scrutiny. Meyer’s stellar career already took one bizarre turn with his burnout at Florida, and this could be another. A promising Ohio State season hangs in the balance.
Meyer isn’t a traditional name you’d see on this list, but he’ll be under serious scrutiny throughout the 2018 season, regardless of Ohio State’s investigation findings.
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Paul Chryst (Wisconsin) and Scott Frost (Nebraska) were the other three names on the list. Here’s what Forde had to say about all three.
On Harbaugh:
From savior to hot seat in three seasons, that’s the unexpected arc of Harbaugh’s tenure at his alma mater. Harbaugh has created endless headlines with recruiting stunts, audacious spring practice journeys, brazen satellite camps and odd personal philosophies — most recently declaring chicken a “nervous bird” that should not be eaten. But with a 1-5 record against rivals Ohio State and Michigan State, he hasn’t made enough headlines for winning the games that matter most. He has a roster flush with talent this year, though, creating the potential for a breakthrough season.
On Frost:
Orchestrated an undefeated miracle at Central Florida, then turned down Florida for the daunting challenge of coming home to reinvigorate his alma mater. Nebraska hasn’t factored into the national championship picture since 2001 and hasn’t won a conference title since 1999, two droughts Frost will be expected to end. Can he recruit well enough to make Nebraska what it was when he played quarterback for the Cornhuskers 21 years ago?
And on Chryst:
In terms of public demeanor, there isn’t much intrigue here. But beneath that bland exterior is a homebred Badger who quickly has taken a good program to an elite level, going 34-7 in three seasons. His fourth Wisconsin team looks like his best yet. Is it good enough to break the Big Ten East’s five-year stranglehold on the conference title?
Meyer, Harbaugh and Frost are all going to be names to watch this season, while Chryst might be a bit of a surprise. Regardless, he’s quietly led the Badgers to dominating seasons in his two years in Madison.
You can read Forde’s full column here.