Letter from the Publisher

It is hard to believe the 2000 football season is all but over. Sure Bob Stoop and Lou Holtz are the big stories of the season, but what about the other guys? Here are my thoughts on some of the coaches that deserve mention for jobs well-done:

• Bob Ladouceur continues to keep his amazing streak alive at De La Salle (113 and counting). To say that he is doing a good job is about as much of an understatement as saying the presidential election was just a little screwed up in Florida.

• In Jenks, Okla., they want to know what all the fuss is about in Norman with the Sooners. Coach Allen Trimble led the always-powerful Jenks High team to an unheard of fifth straight state title.

• Even though they lost in the first round of the NCAA D-II playoffs, Northwest Missouri, under headman Mel Tjeerdsma, has become a dynasty.

• What a great job by Delaware's Tubby Raymond guiding the Blue Hens to a 10-win season and a spot in the D-IAA playoffs, and what about the job first-year coach Joe Susan did at Davidson, guiding the Wildcats to an undefeated season.

• Maybe it's in the water? The state of Oregon may have the two best coaches in all of college football within its borders: Mike Bellotti and Dennis Erickson (at least they were there when I wrote this note). What a great job by Erickson, but do not forget the foundation put in place by Mike Riley. Bellotti is as good as there is in the business.

• The state of Iowa had reason to smile this year. Second year head coach Kirk Ferentz has the Hawkeyes headed in the right direction with three wins in the Big 10 conference, and Iowa State's Dan McCarney, with an 8-3 record and first bowl trip in years, has justified the patience of the Cyclone administration.

• Once again, I know all of the Coach of the Year awards will go to Stoops and Holtz (justifiably so, I might add), but here are a few names to add to the "damn, they had a great year" list: Gary Nord at UTEP, Watson Brown at UAB, Dave Baldwin at San Jose State, Randy Walker at Northwestern, Gary Darnell at Western Michigan, Nick Saban at LSU, Chuck Amato at NC State, George O'Leary at Georgia Tech, Dirk Koetter at Boise State, Rick Minter at Cincinnati, Gary Pinkel at Toledo, and Tommy Tuberville at Auburn.

• In November, I gained a new found respect for Miami Hurricane head coach Butch Davis. In the midst of a serious need to gain posture with the BCS to secure second place, Davis found his team playing Pittsburgh leading 35-7 late in the game when he pulled his starters. Davis said, "We've got 102 kids on this football team who have put in about eight months of their lives trying to make this team successful... about 75 of those guys live for the opportunity to play those last four or five minutes. I think it would be tragic for those guys to not get those opportunities." He went on to say, "To get a starter hurt with two minutes left in the game where you are beating someone's brains in anyhow, would be dumber than running up the score." Good for you Butch. You showed why ADs and NFL people hold you in such high regard.

I hope each of you had a great 2000 and I wish you Happy Holidays.

Sincerely,

Barry Terranova