What role does the college football coach play on and off the field? That is a tough question. Many people are mad about Tuberville getting fired. They feel that he did a lot for the team on the field and off the field for Auburn. They feel that one bad season on the field should not destroy all that he has done. To get to the answer we need to ask ourselves some pretty big questions.

• What are we paying the coaches to do?
• What are the end results we want for the school?
• What are the end results we want for the students?
• How can we make all of those things agree?

Now you see why it is tough. A lot is expected out of a coach. We all expect winning. We all want it. That is what we all want for the team, school, and students. On the other hand, schools should demand a coach that will mentor the students. If a coach does not do that, if they can not find the time to mold the student athletes, that coach should not be a coach. A coach is also demanded to stay in-line with the schools image and values. You can not have a coach that does whatever he, or she, wants. I believe that Tuberville decided to go to a spread offense and Auburn is known for running the ball. Auburn has a long list of very successful running backs, and Tuberville was about to flush that down the drain for a pipe dream newfangled offense.

When you cast your vote for Coach of the Year @ www.coachoftheyear.com , you need to ask if your school, community, and students are better because of the coach you vote for. There is not much time left to vote.  The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year stands for a lot more than just winning. It stands for the best coach not the best winner.

Here were the standings as of Nov. 14th.

•  [1]-Paul Johnson-Georgia Institute of Technology
• [2]-Mark Richt-University of Georgia
• [3]-Nick Saban-University of Alabama
• [4]-Bronco Mendenhall-Brigham Young University
• [5]-Joe Paterno-Pennsylvania State University
• [6]-Mark Dantonio-Michigan State University
• [7]-Pat Fitzgerald-Northwestern University
• [8]-Randy Shannon-University of Miami (Florida)
• [9]-Les Miles-Louisiana State University
• [10]-Bob Stoops-University of Oklahoma
• [11]-Skip Holtz-East Carolina University
• [12]-Brady Hoke-Ball State University
• [13]-Jim Tressel-Ohio State University
• [14]-David Cutcliffe-Duke University
• [15]-Urban Meyer-University of Florida
• [16]-Kyle Whittingham-University of Utah
• [17]-Mack Brown-University of Texas at Austin
• [18]-Houston Nutt-University of Mississippi
• [19]-Tommy Tuberville-Auburn University
• [20]-Rich Brooks-University of Kentucky
• [21]-Mike Leach-Texas Tech University
• [22]-Butch Davis-University of North Carolina
• [23]-Chris Petersen-Boise State University
• [24]-Tim Brewster-University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• [25]-Mike Gundy-Oklahoma State University