During last week's Google hangout we discussed various Mount Rushmore themes of college football. You know the drill when it comes to this conversation. Pick the four names that best represent the topic at hand. One of the categories we threw together focused on the BCS Era. After giving it some thought over the weekend I decided to settle on the four names I would carve in to a BCS Era Mount Rushmore.
These four coaches had four of the most dominant runs throughout the BCS era and each had to deal with a bit of controversy along the way, which makes it seem all the more fitting considering we are discussing the BCS.
Jim Tressel
As head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Tressel not only transformed Ohio State in to the dominant force in the Big Ten, but he coached the Buckeyes in eight BCS games, including three BCS Championship games. For much of the BCS Era, Ohio State has been a player in the conversation. Whether you felt they belonged or not, Tressel built a program worthy of the conversation. Tressel's career came to an abrupt halt when he was found to be covering up for some of his players. Tressel is 5-3 in BCS bowl games.
Pete Carroll
After returning to the college game from the NFL, Pete Carroll went to work to rebuild a program waiting to shine again. Under his watch the Trojans became one of the most dominant forces in college football, playing in seven straight BCS games, winning one BCS title and two AP national championships. As an NCAA investigation prepared to bring a hammer on his program, Carroll escaped back to the NFL, where things turned out alright in Seattle. Carroll is 6-1 in BCS bowl games.
Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer did more than win a pair of BCS national titles at Florida. Meyer is the only coach to lead three different programs to a BCS bowl game, which puts him in unique territory. Meyer burst on the scene when he coached Utah to the first BCS busting season in the BCS Era in 2004, and demolishing Pittsburgh 35-7. Meyer was quickly hired by Florida, where he continued the trend of getting a program with all sorts of potential to get back to the top. Fast forward to last season, where Meyer coached his third team to a BCS bowl game when Ohio State played in the Orange Bowl. Meyer is 4-1 in BCS bowl games.
Nick Saban
Alabama's Nick Saban is the only coach to lead two different programs to BCS championships. Saban's first BCS title came at LSU in the 2003 season (Carroll's USC team claimed the AP national title that same season). His success at LSU took Saban to the NFL, but he soon returned to Alabama. Like the three others joining him on the BCS Era Mount Rushmore, Saban restored pride in a traditional power and currently has his team among the best in the college football world. Saban has won three BCS titles at Alabama and has a program capable of making annual runs in the College Football Playoff Era about to get underway. Saban is 5-2 in BCS bowl games.
More Mount Rushmores from around the Bloguin Network:
- Notre Dame (Subway Domer)
- Penn State (Nittany Lions Den)
- Wisconsin (Madtown Badgers)
- SEC (Crystal Ball Run)
Kevin McGuire is the managing editor of Crystal Ball Run. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
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