If you believe in the "follow the money" approach, you'd assume 1A has the best coaches and that things decline from there. But that's not necessarily correct. In academia, for example, it's often said the best teachers are in elementary school and the worst are college professors. (We're talking teaching skill, here, not core knowledge.)

I happen to believe IAA might just have the best true coaches in college football, especially head guys and top assistants. There seem to be fewer career climbers at this level, and more guys who truly love their universities and their players, while also knowing the game and possessing great teaching and motivational skills.

Not intending any disprespect to IA coaches and certainly not ignoring career-stable guys like Paterno. But old-school teachers like him seem to be the exception at their level.

Curious how you guys feel about this.