re: Mount Rushmore of SEC Head Coaches in any sport. I will leave my original 4 names.

He would be a great pick and a gem among coaches I was unaware of until now.

It can be any sport.


Texas swim and Florida T&F both were unknown to me and it is cool to learn about new people.

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While it is true that Bryant never beat Neyland while he was the head coach of Kentucky, that does not mean that Neyland never lost to Alabama.

I think Neyland's record against Alabama was 10-5-1.
Enjoy his achievements at Tennessee, which are great, but don't attribute to him being the bedrock, the very foundation, as was stated by the other Tennessee poster, of Southern football.

That's a bit much.

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He coached the team for nine years before the Army called him to active duty for one year in Panama. During that first nine-year stint with the Vols, Neyland had five undefeated seasons, all within a six-year period (1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, and 1932). The Vols reeled off undefeated streaks of 33 and 28 straight games.

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So...he had a streak of 5 undefeated seasons in 6 years...in 1934, he coached UT to an 8-2 seasons (losing 2 games by a combined 8 points). Then in 1935, he gets called away to serve a year of active duty in Panama, so W.H. Briton takes over and UT goes 4-5. Then in 1936, Neyland comes back and within 2 years, he has UT back to 3 consecutive SEC Championships 31-2 record (both bowl games).

So, what happens after those 3 consecutive SEC Championships? He is called back to the Army for 5 years. John Barnhill takes over for UT in Neyland's absence. No SEC Championships during that period (4 seasons in 5 years...no team in 1943). Neyland comes back in 1946, and UT immediately wins an SEC Championship. He goes on from there to win an SEC & National Championship in 1951. Note that UK was awarded the SEC Championship in 1950 because (in Bear Bryant fashion), they scheduled an extra SEC game. So, even though both UT and UK only had 1 SEC loss and UT beat UK head-to-head...UK was awarded the conference title. So, that would have been back-to-back conference championships for Neyland.

Its true that Alabama had success when Neyland was at UT...in 1926 (Neyland's first season), Alabama won the conference title (they didn't have to play against Neyland).

Before Neyland's arrival at UT, the Vols were 2-8-1 against Bama. Under Neyland, UT was 12-6-2 against them.

Again...12-6-2 was his actual record against Alabama:
1928 - W
1929 - W
1930 - L
1931 -W
1932 - W
1933 - L
1934 - L
1936 - T
1937 - L
1938 - W
1939 - W
1940 - W
1946 - W
1947 - L
1948 - W
1949 - T
1950 - W
1951 - W
1952 - W

When Neyland retired, the series was tied 14-14-3.

Prior to Neyland coaching at UT, Alabama was 151-58-15 (70.76%). While Neyland was at UT, Alabama was 143-41-6 (76.84%). So, you are correct that Alabama's winning percentage actually increased when Neyland was at UT. But when you consider 30% of their losses were to UT and 4% of their wins were over UT...it shows the influence of Neyland on both UT and Alabama's success.

Here is the other thing to consider. Neyland had great success against Bama, and that was while leaving for 6 years to go and serve in the Army (winning the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit and being made a member of the Order of the British Empire).

I agree that there still would have been a Bear Bryant and Nick Saban at Bama, were Neyland not at Tennessee...I also believe that without Neyland at UT...there would be more of an argument for Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas in this overall conversation.

Bear Bryant
Nick Saban
Skip Bertman
Adolph Rupp

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Summit is on there, no doubts about it.

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I'm going to throw in another woman...

Georgia Women's Gymnastics coach Suzanne Yoculan won 10 national championships.

She won a natty in each of her last five years of coaching, which is pretty much considered a dynasty.

Georgia has more women's gymnastics championships that any other university in the country.

I love the Ed O. interviews.

Lane is on my Mt Rushmore of coaching changes.