NCAA FB "What if" Regarding Paterno, Bear Bryant, etc...

I found this interesting article on Bleacher Report about what could have happened if Bear Bryant would have taken the Dolphin job in 1969 or if Joe Paterno would have taken the Patriot job in 1972, as well as two other scenarios:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/136889-ncaa-football-four-great-coaching-what-ifs

Personally, I agree with the one on the Bear. That would have changed history at Alabama and the AFC. As for Paterno, I don't actually know how he would have done at New England. After reading this article, how do you think things could have played out?
 
The author is a bit too negative on college coaches switching to the pros; he seems to believe that pro players in 1972 were the prima donnas of today. In reality, the average pro player made less than the average worker on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. I think both Bryant and Paterno would have found more success than that scenario outlines. I don't think they would have been massive successes, but they might have created workmanlike performances in lengthy careers.
 
Bryant

The Bear may have had success in Miami, but not the success that Shula had. I don't see them going to three Super Bowls in a row with Bear Bryant.

An interesting one that I thought about was Bill Snyder never taking over Kansas State in 1989. He rebuilt a terrible program that had gone winless in 27 straight games. By 91, they had a winning record, by 93, he had them in a bowl, and by 98, they had an undefeated regular season, and should have played for the National Championship. They would have if it wasn't for a choke act against Texas A&M in the Big 12 Championship. I think that they would have won it that year. If it wasn't for Snyder, that program may have given up football eventually.
 
It's an interesting series of what if's, although I agree with Amerigo that the author may overstate the differences between pro and college players in the 1960's and early 1970's.

I enjoyed the Bear returning to the college game and coaching Maryland.

Actually, of all the coaches mentioned, differences in the careers of Jimmy Johnson and Howard Schnellenberger might have had greater effect on both the pro-and college game, especially since they are directly or indirectly linked thru the University of Miami and Oklahoma, two of the biggest college powers in the 1980's. Without Johnson taking over Miami U after Schnelly moved on, the 'Canes might never have stayed the national power they were in the 1980's. This would affect the career of another legendary college coach, Barry Switzer at Oklahoma, who over a several year period lost only to Johnson's Miami teams and very likely would have won 1-2 more national championships. A more successful Switzer probably could have withstood the player scendals which led to his ouster in 1989 and continued to coach the Sooners for another decade at least. Certainly, OU would not have hired Schnellenberger from Louisville University, a disaster which led to a long (for OU) period of failure, and even worse coaches until the eventual hiring of Bob Stoops from Florida. Stoops very likely would have succeeded Steve Spurrior at Florida, and Florida might not have endured the (relative) down years they saw until recently. Switzer would probably not have gone to the Dallas Cowboys, where he was a relative success, winning a Super Bowl. On the other hand, if Johnson had stayed at Oklahoma State, they might have become a major power in the Big 8/ Big 12, affecting both Oklahoma and Nebraska. It's all very interesting.
 
An interesting one that I thought about was Bill Snyder never taking over Kansas State in 1989. He rebuilt a terrible program that had gone winless in 27 straight games. By 91, they had a winning record, by 93, he had them in a bowl, and by 98, they had an undefeated regular season, and should have played for the National Championship. They would have if it wasn't for a choke act against Texas A&M in the Big 12 Championship. I think that they would have won it that year. If it wasn't for Snyder, that program may have given up football eventually.

Outstanding point. If anything points to supernatural (or demonic) powers on this earth, it is Snyder's miraculous transformation of the historically worst program in college football into a virtually instant success. The magic ceased apruptly when he "retired" and K-State returned to the bottom depths of the Big-12. Now that he has been talked into trying his Miracle in Manhattan (Kansas, for you NYC dudes) a second time, it will be interesting to see if the Devil still considers the deal good.
 
Aikman

It's an interesting series of what if's, although I agree with Amerigo that the author may overstate the differences between pro and college players in the 1960's and early 1970's.

I enjoyed the Bear returning to the college game and coaching Maryland.

Actually, of all the coaches mentioned, differences in the careers of Jimmy Johnson and Howard Schnellenberger might have had greater effect on both the pro-and college game, especially since they are directly or indirectly linked thru the University of Miami and Oklahoma, two of the biggest college powers in the 1980's. Without Johnson taking over Miami U after Schnelly moved on, the 'Canes might never have stayed the national power they were in the 1980's. This would affect the career of another legendary college coach, Barry Switzer at Oklahoma, who over a several year period lost only to Johnson's Miami teams and very likely would have won 1-2 more national championships. A more successful Switzer probably could have withstood the player scendals which led to his ouster in 1989 and continued to coach the Sooners for another decade at least. Certainly, OU would not have hired Schnellenberger from Louisville University, a disaster which led to a long (for OU) period of failure, and even worse coaches until the eventual hiring of Bob Stoops from Florida. Stoops very likely would have succeeded Steve Spurrior at Florida, and Florida might not have endured the (relative) down years they saw until recently. Switzer would probably not have gone to the Dallas Cowboys, where he was a relative success, winning a Super Bowl. On the other hand, if Johnson had stayed at Oklahoma State, they might have become a major power in the Big 8/ Big 12, affecting both Oklahoma and Nebraska. It's all very interesting.

I agree. If Johnson stays at OSU, they get Troy Aikman instead of OU and UCLA. I heard that Aikman almost went to Okla. St, but Switzer lied to him and said that the Sooners would become more of a passing team if he went there. With Johnson, the Cowboys may have won the National Title by 1987 with Barry Sanders, Aikman, Thurman Thomas, and Hart Lee Dykes.
 
I agree. If Johnson stays at OSU, they get Troy Aikman instead of OU and UCLA. I heard that Aikman almost went to Okla. St, but Switzer lied to him and said that the Sooners would become more of a passing team if he went there. With Johnson, the Cowboys may have won the National Title by 1987 with Barry Sanders, Aikman, Thurman Thomas, and Hart Lee Dykes.

Possibly, but OSU's problem in 1987-1988 wasn't offense. Their defense leaked like a sieve. I'm not sure Aikman would have made that much of a difference at OSU, but a Johnson-coached team might have hed a better defense.

Also, in fairness to Switzer, he didn't lie to Aikman, and I am not sure OSU was the team he would have signed with if he didn't go to OU. Before Aikman got injured, OU had put in a much more pass-oriented game just for him. Only after he sustained a season-ending injury early in 1985 (against Miami - a game OU lost) and was replaced by Jameille Hollieway who was a classic option QB, did the Sooners go back to the run-oriented wishbone. Hollieway set bunches of records and OU went ahead and won the national championship that year. Only an idiot (and Switzer was not that) would have demoted Hollieway and reinstated Aikman after that. Switzer worked hard to help smooth Aikman's transfer to UCLA after that season.
 
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