Maybe this is worth its own thread. I guess nobody would argue against it being highly important in CFB. Maybe.
Given the recent coaching changes (and suspension etc.), I was wondering how important it is in several aspects of the game. Obviously, there is recruiting, some coaches recruit better than others, or some programs do anyway. Part of that is simple geography.
There is selecting good assistants. The OC and DC positions may be in some ways more critical on GD, not sure.
There is game preparation, practice, film study, etc., much of which falls to the coordinators etc. Underlying this is overall scheme, up tempo, run clock, balance, whatever.
There is game day management, start to finish. And of course public relations.
Anything else? How much impact would it have on a competitive game for the head coach to be absent, but to have participated in every other aspect of the contest? I personally think a Spurrier on the sideline is worth say 3 points versus a Richt, but that is a guess. Maybe a Richt is a neutral factor, and some coaches are negatives. Is 3 points fair?
I'm not talking about playing Austin Peay, but a team that can beat you of course.
It's impressive to me how much the HC can change a program from mediocre to very good or excellent. Maybe some of this is random luck. Some isn't. Some coaches do well at every step on the ladder. A lot go from coordinator) to HC at a large program. Do we know if Kirby Smart is an excellent head coach yet? Or did he catch one season of lightning?
Spurrier is my example of a superb GD coach. It was if he could read the mind of his opponent. And his general offensive schemes were effective of course at least at Florida. He is said to be bored with recruiting, which I can understand. Smart has been superb at recruiting, but that could be geography to a large extent.
The coach at Purdue seems to have made a difference in a tough situation. Is he a great coach or just one who was a bit lucky? Urban Meyer has been very good at four programs. Saban has been very good at two, and mediocre at one. Spurrier was a bust in the NFL, as was Saban as I recall. How about Franklin, Harbaugh, Dantonio (who I think is excellent as a HC)?
Thoughts?