JoePa Lucky Number 13

Sporting News, with little else to talk about, decided to put together a list of all-time great coaches, regardless of the sport.

That was their first mistake.

How do you compare a basketball coach to a foot ball coach? To pro hockey? NFL? Damn those inconsistencies. . . full speed ahead.

Paterno debuts at #13, with two college coaches ranked higher--Knute Rockne and Bear Bryant.

Notable notables:

1. John Wooden, college basketball
2. Vince Lombardi, NFL
3. Bear Bryant, college football
10. Knute Rockne, college football
13. Joe Paterno, college football
15. Chuck Noll, NFL
20. Bill Belichick, NFL (apparently integrity isn't a criterion)
23. Eddie Robinson, college football
24. Bobby Bowden, college football
27. Woody Hayes, college football
34. Tom Osborne, college football
36. Bo Schembechler, college football

As I said, there are apples to oranges as well as fruit to minerals comparisons going on here. While I don't like having the Bear ranked ahead of Joe, and although Joe has outpaced teh Bear's all-time record, when the two met head-to-head, the Bear won.

Knute Rockne? Give me a break. All-time list--sure. Top 10? Really?

I'll let our midwest friends fight out the Woody Hayes-Bo Schembechler ratings. That should provide some interesting blog material.