VTTW Board Index

This list looks pretty good to me, though I think I'd put Vitello above Fulmer. He may not have the longevity yet, but all he's done is win consistently at an elite level, and against a much higher degree of difficulty.  

https://www.fanrunradio.com/sports/the-top-10-greatest-coaches-in-tennessee-sports-history

While I think that Tony will get to #3 I believe Fulmer's body of work is better, at the moment.

There is a bit of recently bias in the list but while I could quibble a bit here and there I think it is pretty accurate

Neyland has to be #1, right?  Pat #2.  He invented the passion for football at Tennessee.  Pat, while great, came along at a time when there were less than a handful of competitive teams.

I'm good with Pat at #1. Her impact transcends sport. And had her career not been cut short, she might STILL be piling up wins and championships.

Agreed

I think Pat is #1 duer to her impact to the sport

They are more 1a and 1b but I think the order correct

Pat may have faced easier competition early on in her career, but the simple fact is that she won 8 "consensus" national championships and Neyland won one.  That trumps most other things IMO.  And when Neyland started in the 20s, the great majority of teams we played were definitely not at our level. Suwannee being one example.

In fairness, Neyland actually is credited with 1938, 1940 and 1950 by "non-AP" sources, so he had four total if you count those, but even then Pat doubled him up.

A couple of other observations...Majors may be a bit too high on the list.  Seems like he's getting credit for his playing career, which should not count as a coach, but I can get where that would influence a person. 

Also the author did not provide a "min time served" criteria.  Doug Dickey and John Barnhill were objectively better than Majors but each had a relatively short tenure, and to be fair, Barnhill served during WW2 when personnel were depleted by the war (though he also had to deal with that!). 

Other than that, its an interesting topic for the dog days of summer.   :thumbup: :powert:

My only caveat between the two coaches is... what would Bob have done had he not been interrupted by two world wars? Either Pat or Bob is a strong number one pick in any top ten coaches list at any university. Pat's only drawback was her slippage at the end, while she was getting sick.

I'll backtrack on Barnhill a bit, he never won an SEC title while Majors won 3.  He did have a much better win percentage, but I rate championships higher.  Dickey on the other hand had 2 in 6 years while Majors had 3 in 17, and Dickey had a much better win percentage and an actually winning record vs. bammer when Bear was there. I say Dickey was better!   :naughty: :powert:

Did you know Majors record at Pittsburg was 45-45-1. But he won a national title. Crazy!

I'd like to know the whole story on Pat's final years on the sideline. When exactly did her symptoms start? Because even when she was still winning natties with Parker and co., I remember thinking she looked a lot less engaged and intense than she used to in her younger days. At the time I just chalked it up to her mellowing with age. But maybe there was more to it.

That includes his second run though.

Good point...had not thought to include his NC at Pitt.  Technically it should not count since it wasn't at UT, but it does add to his cred as a coach.