UCLA Coach DeShaun Foster
Coach Foster highlighted his exciting to be at UCLA and expressed pride in UCLA historic success.
While coach Foster seemed a little bit flustered and became an instant meme of social media as a result of his stage fright, in the one-on-one podium sessions he was very forthcoming and engaged when talking about his team.
Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz
University of Iowa Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz embraces change as the B1G welcomes new schools to the Big Ten Conference. He says we are all working for common goals.
Isn’t it amazing how we, as fans and supporters, are all part of this larger community? We all have a favorite team, sure. Some of us don’t go to a game without wearing our lucky socks or lucky undies because we are that passionate. But it’s this shared passion that unites us.
But at the end of the day, we all want the same thing… we want college athletes to have fun and be safe. We want them to be whole and complete student-athletes who are physically, mentally, and spiritually strong.
I love playing against great schools, and there are teams I absolutely hate, but I’ll always love the player over the team.
Michigan State Coach Jonathan Smith
Michigan State Spartans Football Fans will be excited to watch coach Jonathan Smith in his first season.
He didn’t stand at the podium and start bragging about himself or what he brings to the field. Instead, his opening comments were about his players. He focused on the three players that were with him and their accomplishments.
New additions, new faces, new staff — everything it takes to move forward. He said that he is looking for “substance.”
USC Coach Lincoln Riley
University of Southern California #Trojans Head Football Coach Lincoln Riley started off by supporting coach Mike Leach “the Pirate” for induction into the Hall of Fame. Mike was the Father of the Air Raid was one win short of the criterion. It was great to see Riley use his few precious moments at the podium to speak up for Mike. He admitted that he understood the criteria and the red tape, but this kind of statement in an opening speech shows a lot about this coach’s character.
Leach was only 61 when he died in December 2022, from complications related to a heart condition, following his third season at Mississippi State.
There is no process to fast-track coaches for posthumous induction, according to Steve Hatchell, president of the National Football Foundation, which runs the Hall of Fame
Which means the earliest Leach could appear on the ballot is the spring of 2026 — except for one teeny-tiny problem: He doesn’t meet the selection criteria.
The Hall of Fame requires coaching nominees to “have been a head football coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage.”
Leach coached for 21 years and won 158 games.
But his career winning percentage is .596, and the Hall of Fame does not round up.
Leach is one win short.
The man whose Air Raid passing game has come to dominate high school and college football and is used throughout the NFL.
The man who posted 11-win seasons in Lubbock and Pullman.
Leach mentored current head coaches Josh Heupel (Tennessee), Dave Aranda (Baylor), Sonny Dykes (TCU), Lincoln Riley (USC) and a slew of others.
Leach had 16 winning seasons and just five losing seasons at three schools (Texas Tech, WSU and MSU) that will never, ever be mistaken for football blue-bloods.
That Leach does not qualify for the Hall of Fame because his career record is 158-107 and not 159-106.
Credit: Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Nebraska Coach Matt Rhule
Coach Matt Rhule from Cornhusker Nation is grateful and excited about the positive energy in the athletic department. He says their Cumulative GPA is 3.241.
He was the first coach to discuss his team’s high academic marks, GREAT COACHES win by developing players into whole and complete people.
Brawn is great, Brains are greater! Great job, Coach! You are a leader who understands the importance of a solid education, and that is just one of the things about you that we respect!
Penn State Coach James Franklin
Penn State Fans looking to the football season under Coach James Franklin can expect more logistical and travel challenges without an international airport, as four new teams have been added to the B1G conference.
One important fact is that the Big Ten Conference is a leader in hiring minority head coaches. Out of 18 coaches, 5 are minorities. That is a much better ration than the NFL, the SEC or the ACC.
Let’s continue promoting great coaches based on what they bring to the field instead of the color of their skin.
