Art Briles? Really?
Published: 8/17/2008 12:33 AM
Last Modified: 8/17/2008 12:33 AM
Tom Dienhart, the Rivals.com football writer who used to type columns for The Sporting News, ranks Bob Stoops first among Big 12 coaches.
"The postseason foibles notwithstanding (he is 0-fer in his last four BCS games), Stoops remains one of the nation's best," Dienhart writes. "Witness his 97-22 mark and five Big 12 crowns in nine seasons in Norman. Stoops' problem: Spoiling the Sooner fan base by leading the program to the national title in his second year on the job."
Fair enough. But how about Dienhart's choice at No. 7? Coming in ahead of Mike Sherman, Bo Pelini, Mike Gundy, Gene Chizik and Ron Prince... ladies and gentlemen... the world-renowned... Art Briles?????
According to Dienhart: "He showed his mettle by turning a Houston team that went 0-11 two years before he arrived into a strong program, going 34-28 in five years with three bowl bids and a C-USA crown in 2006. Now, Briles gets the ultimate test: giving Baylor a pulse. The program hasn't been to a bowl game since 1994 and has gone 35-101 since the Big 12 was formed in 1996. If Briles, who seems to know every prep coach in Texas, can't do it, who can?"
To answer Mr. Dienhart, Briles won't do it. And no one can.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
