It goes without saying that there are countless coaching legends if we comb through the prestigious history of college football.
Perhaps it’s a bit of recency bias, but there are many who believe the two best college coaches of all-time are Nick Saban and Urban Meyer.
Although don’t tell that to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum … He doesn’t want Meyer’s name even mentioned in the same sentence as Saban’s.
Appearing on “The Opening Kickoff” with Mark and Lee on WNSP NOW, Finebaum held nothing back as he delivered harsh criticism towards Meyer.
“Oh, I think that’s very easy because one coach has won seven national championships and has been exemplary in everything that he’s done and stood for,” Finebaum said of Saban when asked to choose between the two.
“And the other one (Meyer) is basically just the worst of everything that’s imaginable … He has lied. He has misled. He has quit several different times to spend time with his family.”
Finebaum did take a brief moment to acknowledge Meyer’s impressive accomplishments.
“I realize Urban Meyer has won three national championships,” he said.
“But beyond that, it’s embarrassing for him to even be mentioned in the same sentence as Nick Saban.”
Finebaum didn’t shy away from highlighting Meyer’s turbulent career, particularly his disastrous tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Retiring for health reasons on multiple occasions makes him look like a bigger quitter in my eyes than even Marcus Mariota, and that is saying something,” he added. (How about Mariota catching strays?!?)
“In a world that is increasingly cringeworthy, Meyer defined the cringe.”
Ouch.
Finebaum’s critique extended to Meyer’s coaching style and all of the controversies surrounding his programs at Florida and Ohio State.
“You then factor in how seedy of a program he was running at Florida, as well as how toxic things got there in the end at Ohio State, and you have to wonder, will we ever see another coach like this again?” Finebaum questioned.
In contrast, Finebaum praised Saban’s career as a model of integrity and success.
While they didn’t always see eye-to-eye and certainly had their public spats, Finebaum – much like the vast majority of people – respects Saban to the highest degree.
Ultimately, Finebaum concluded that while both coaches deserve a place in the College Football Hall of Fame, their legacies should be viewed through vastly different lenses.
“Both absolutely belong in the Hall of Fame, but their first ballot inductions should land very differently,” Finebaum said.
Saban is almost certainly retired for good. But would it shock anyone if we see Meyer make a return to the sideline???
Tomorrow just so happens to be Meyer’s birthday.
Despite his “health” concerns, he’s still just 60 years old and would assumingly be in a position to hand-pick his next job.
You can hate him all you want, but let’s face it, there are VERY few programs who wouldn’t swap their coach for Urban Frank Meyer III right this very second.
Having said that, with the new Wild Wild West world of NIL and the transfer portal, it’s fair to wonder if returning to “modern day” college football would just be too big of a headache for Meyer to even consider.
After all, it’s precisely what drove Saban to his sudden and abrupt retirement.
What are your thoughts on Finebaum’s comments?
Was he too harsh on Meyer?
How about you? … Who do YOU think is the greatest coach in college football history?
Saban??? Meyer??? Or someone else???