Whether due to superior Xs and Os, or motivational expertise, or proper placement and pacing of their players ---- whatever, some coaches have a talent for it, and get the utmost from their charges.
Which is rarely on a par with the famous football factories and their recruiting machines (USC being one prime example, tho hardly the only one).
Sticking only with those coaches with a long track record with one team - been there at least 8 years - here's my short list:
MIKE BELLOTTI, OREGON: Doesn't come close to matching Pete Carroll's recruiting machine, but does much more with the availvable talent than Carrolll (who showed his lack of motivational skills by letting the best team in the land coast after easy wins - and then lose to Stanford. At home. With a qb making first start. After almost losing to Washington.
That was solely Carroll's lack. Trojans were best team in land at season's end, but Pete dropped the ball midseason.
Bellotti uses his talent well, squeezes ever last drop from the cattle he has to milk.
ROCKY LONG, NEW MEXICO: Not easy to get good players to come to spend four years in the desert (tho I always liked the romance of the Jewel of the Desert - as a kid from NY driving west first time on old RT 66 I saw it from 35 miles away, shining in the black night sky like a beckoning siren).
Still, NMexico alum Long, who had a stint as UCLA's DC, steadily improved the Lobo win record. Very slowly, one win more per year. Does a lot with less. And while the conference chanmpioships still usually goes to the one of the Mormon schools, Long usually manages to snag a bowl.
PAT HILL, FRESNO I recall that Hill once said that in recruiting players he wil settle for lesser talent if he perceives the athlete displays a "never say die" attitude on the field. He wants fierce warriors, and gets them. And so will usually field very competitive teams. Hope they win the WAC this year.
MIKE LEACH, TEXAS TECH Tough playing in the perennial shadows of Texas and Oklahoma. But the guy and his brilliant offensive mind has been there 8 years, and has 8 bowl appearences to show for it. Mr Xs and Os . . .
He might have his best Defense also this year. If so, he may finally kick the ass of the two neighborhood bullies.
TOM AMSTUTS, TOLEDO Toledo Fats knows exactly how to place and pace his talent for max results.
A large spate of injuries last year doomed their chances in the MAC, but those guys got solid game experience and should be ready to motate this season. I woudn't care to bet against the chances of the Toledo heavyweight.
I know I left out the good "little" teams from Florida - and for this reason: Sunshine State is such a fertile recruiting ground, with enormous talent sprouting near the palms, and many of those poor black players opting to stay near home, that almost any coach can do well there. But stil a tip of the cap to ol' Howie Schnellenberger, who is again - after decades - doing it again in Florida.
Which is rarely on a par with the famous football factories and their recruiting machines (USC being one prime example, tho hardly the only one).
Sticking only with those coaches with a long track record with one team - been there at least 8 years - here's my short list:
MIKE BELLOTTI, OREGON: Doesn't come close to matching Pete Carroll's recruiting machine, but does much more with the availvable talent than Carrolll (who showed his lack of motivational skills by letting the best team in the land coast after easy wins - and then lose to Stanford. At home. With a qb making first start. After almost losing to Washington.
That was solely Carroll's lack. Trojans were best team in land at season's end, but Pete dropped the ball midseason.
Bellotti uses his talent well, squeezes ever last drop from the cattle he has to milk.
ROCKY LONG, NEW MEXICO: Not easy to get good players to come to spend four years in the desert (tho I always liked the romance of the Jewel of the Desert - as a kid from NY driving west first time on old RT 66 I saw it from 35 miles away, shining in the black night sky like a beckoning siren).
Still, NMexico alum Long, who had a stint as UCLA's DC, steadily improved the Lobo win record. Very slowly, one win more per year. Does a lot with less. And while the conference chanmpioships still usually goes to the one of the Mormon schools, Long usually manages to snag a bowl.
PAT HILL, FRESNO I recall that Hill once said that in recruiting players he wil settle for lesser talent if he perceives the athlete displays a "never say die" attitude on the field. He wants fierce warriors, and gets them. And so will usually field very competitive teams. Hope they win the WAC this year.
MIKE LEACH, TEXAS TECH Tough playing in the perennial shadows of Texas and Oklahoma. But the guy and his brilliant offensive mind has been there 8 years, and has 8 bowl appearences to show for it. Mr Xs and Os . . .
He might have his best Defense also this year. If so, he may finally kick the ass of the two neighborhood bullies.
TOM AMSTUTS, TOLEDO Toledo Fats knows exactly how to place and pace his talent for max results.
A large spate of injuries last year doomed their chances in the MAC, but those guys got solid game experience and should be ready to motate this season. I woudn't care to bet against the chances of the Toledo heavyweight.
I know I left out the good "little" teams from Florida - and for this reason: Sunshine State is such a fertile recruiting ground, with enormous talent sprouting near the palms, and many of those poor black players opting to stay near home, that almost any coach can do well there. But stil a tip of the cap to ol' Howie Schnellenberger, who is again - after decades - doing it again in Florida.
) 
can win there ...