Best SEC Football Coach in History: General Robert "Bob" Neyland vs. Paul "Bear" Bryant

by David
(Tennessee)

Lengthy but if you want to compare the 2 greatest SEC coaches, read on ...

Background

Robert Neyland coached at Tennessee for a total of 21 years, twice interrupted. He coached from 1926-34, 1936-1940, and 1946-52.

Paul �Bear� Bryant coached a total of 38 years at 4 different schools; He was at Maryland in 1945, Kentucky 1946-53, Texas A&M 1954-57, and Alabama 1958-82.

Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and Maryland were among the 21 team Southern Conference when Neyland became head coach at Tennessee in 1926. Duke joined in 1929 to make it 22 teams. The 13 team SEC started in 1933. Sewanee left after 1940, Georgia Tech after 1963, and Tulane after 1965. Maryland was in the Southern Conference when Bryant coached there. Texas A&M was in the SWC.

Except where the percent of games tied is listed separately, ties count as � win and � loss when calculating winning percentages.

Overall Record

Games won, lost, and tied (winning percentage) in number of seasons:

*Neyland Career (at Tennessee): 173-31-13 (82.9%) in 21 seasons
Neyland in Southern: 61-2-5 (93.4%) in 7 seasons
Neyland in SEC: 112-29-8 (77.9%) in 14 seasons
*Bryant Career: 323-85-17 (78.0%) in 38 seasons
Bryant at Maryland and in Southern: 6-2-1 (72,2%) in 1 season
Bryant at Texas A&M and in SWC: 25-14-2 (63.4%) in 4 seasons
Bryant in SEC: 292-69-15 (79.7%) in 33 seasons
Bryant at Kentucky: 60-23-6 (70.8%) in 8 seasons
Bryant at Alabama: 232-46-9 (82.4%) in 25 seasons

Portion of Games Won, Lost, and Tied:

Neyland Career: 79.7%, 14.3%, 6.0%
Bryant Career: 76.0%, 20.0%, 4.0%
Bryant at Alabama: 80.8%, 16.0%, 3.1%

*Neyland�s winning percentage is best among SEC head coaches, minimum 10 years (7th among all NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision coaches). Bryant�s is 3rd (15th). Bryant�s win total is best among SEC head coaches (3rd NCAA FBS). Neyland�s is 11th (40th).

Overall Outstanding Seasons

Neyland Career (21 years):

6 undefeated seasons (1 perfect with no ties / 5 with one tie each)
6 one-loss seasons (no ties)
0 losing seasons (Two .500 seasons)

Bryant Career (38 years):

4 undefeated seasons (3 perfect with no ties / 1 with one tie)
11 one-loss seasons (9 with no ties / 2 with one tie each)
1 losing season (first year at Texas A&M)

Bryant at Alabama (25 years):

3 undefeated seasons (all perfect with no ties)
10 one-loss seasons (8 with no ties / 2 with one tie each)
0 losing seasons

In Neylands first 7 years, 1926-1932, he lost one game in 1926, one game in 1930 and had one tie each of the other 5 years for a cumulative record of 61-2-5 (93.4%). The 3 consecutive and 5 out of 6 undefeated seasons is unmatched in the history of any current SEC team.

National Championships Claimed

Neyland (4) � 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951

Bryant (6) � 1961, 1964-65, 1973, 1978-79

AP Polls (Beginning 1936)

Neyland Career (12 years)
1st � 1
Total Top 5 � 5
6-10th � 2
11th � 20th � 2
Unranked � 3

Bryant Career (38 years)
1st � 5
Total Top 5 � 13
6th-10th � 9
11-20th � 6
Unranked � 10

Bryant at Alabama (25 years)
1st � 5
Total Top 5 � 12
6th-10th � 7
11-20th � 2
Unranked � 4

Bowls

There were fewer bowls in the earlier years. Alabama is 1st in bowl appearances. Tennessee is tied for 2nd. Neyland has fewer appearances because he coached in the earlier era. During the time when their careers overlapped (1946-1952), Neyland and Bryant each coached in 4 bowl games.

Neyland: 4-4 in 8 appearances
Bryant: 15-12-2 in 29 appearances

Conference Record

Neyland Career: 103-17-10 (83.1%) in 21 seasons
Neyland in Southern: 41-2-5 (90.6%) in 7 seasons
Neyland in SEC: 62-15-5 (78.7%) in in 14 seasons

Bryant Career: 185-51-10 (77.6%) in 38 seasons
Bryant in Southern: 3-2 (60%) in 1 season
Bryant in SWC: 14-9-1 (60.4%) in 4 seasons
Bryant in SEC: 168-40-9 (79.5%) in 33 seasons
Bryant in SEC at Kentucky: 22-18-4 (54.5%) in 8 seasons
Bryant in SEC at Alabama: 146-22-5 (85.8%) in 25 seasons

Conference Outstanding Seasons

Neyland Career (21 Years)
11 seasons undefeated in conference (6 with tie)
2 seasons with SEC losing record
Neyland in SEC (14 Years)
6 seasons undefeated in conference (one with tie)
2 seasons with SEC losing record

Bryant Career (38 Years)
12 seasons undefeated in conference (each perfect with no tie, 1 in SWC)
5 seasons with losing record in conference (4 SEC, 1 SWC)
Bryant in SEC (33 Years)
11 seasons undefeated in SEC (each perfect with no tie, all at Alabama)
4 seasons with SEC losing record (3 at Kentucky)

Conference Championships

Neyland (21 years)
Total � 7
2 Southern � 1927(1/3), 1932(1/3)
5 SEC � 1938, 1939(1/3), 1940, 1946(1/2), 1951(1/2)

Bryant Career (38 years)
Total � 15
14 SEC � 1950 (KY), 1961(1/2), 1964, 1965, 1966(1/2), 1971-75, 1977-79, 1981(1/2)
1 SWC � 1956

In 1950, Kentucky won the conference with a 5-1 record, despite the loss being to Tennessee who was 4-1. Tennessee finished 4th in the AP, then defeated #3 Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Kentucky finished 7th in the AP, then defeated #1 Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. So, while counting conference titles is an indicator of success, the method used to determine champions, especially in the earlier years, should be considered. The Southern Conference had as many as 22 teams. Some years, the champion played as few as 4 conference games � other years as many as 8 so scheduling was a big factor.

Among current SEC teams, Alabama�s 5 straight conference championships is matched only by Vanderbilt who won 5 straight (the first one shared) from 1903-1907 in the SIAA (a larger conference).

Bryant vs. Neyland, Head-to-Head (record indicated is for entire season)

1946 Tennessee (9-2) defeated Kentucky (7-3) 7-0 at Tennessee
1947 Tennessee (5-5) defeated Kentucky (8-3) 13-6 at Kentucky
1948 Tennessee (4-4-2) tied Kentucky (5-3-2) 0-0 at Tennessee
1949 Tennessee (7-2-1) defeated Kentucky (9-3) 6-0 at Kentucky
1950 Tennessee (11-1) defeated Kentucky (11-1) 7-0 at Tennessee
1951 Tennessee (10-1) defeated Kentucky (8-4) 28-0 at Kentucky
1952 Tennessee (8-2-1) tied Kentucky (5-4-2) 14-14 at Tennessee

Total: Neyland 5, Bryant at Kentucky, 0, 2 ties

Neyland vs. Alabama
12-5-2 (68.4%)

Bryant vs. Tennessee
17-13-4 (55.9%)
0-5-2 (14.3%) at Kentucky
0-1-0 (0%) at Texas A&M (Gator Bowl)
16-7-2 (68%) at Alabama

Editor's Note: Wow. Thanks David, terrific post! In fact, it will be the Sept. '08 "Post of the Month" on our SEC Sports Fan Forum. And, even better, that entitles to you to a free SEC Sports Fan T-shirt. If you want one, just let me know.

I'm a Tennessee fan and really didn't realize he had such great stats.

But, I still have a question: Who do you think was the best SEC football coach ever? Bear Bryant or Robert Neyland?

Comments for
Best SEC Football Coach in History: General Robert "Bob" Neyland vs. Paul "Bear" Bryant

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Sep 10, 2008
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Great Comparison of Coaches
by: Tex/1st-N-Goal (IFRA)

David...

You have really made some great points on comparing these coaches, both legendary and well deserving of all honors.

I always enjoy reading other's statresearch.

You presented the stats and made excellant comparison of the two coaches...with each stat that you used was factual and presented the comparison well, without bias.

As editor of "The College Football Historian" newsletter; I would like to have your permission to publish it in a future issue of the newsleter.

I will send you a copy of the issue which it will be published in.

Please feel-free to submit other stories/analysis on any other areas of college football.

Please email me, using the form at College Football Association and I will get back with you.

Tex/1st-N-Goal
Editor, The College
Football Historian

Nov 30, 2008
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Neyland Was The Best
by: Kolton Johnson

Robert Neyland had a better record then Paul Bear Byant

Feb 16, 2009
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Get This Article In PDF
by: Mo Johnson

You can read the above article in the February 2009 edition of The College Football Historian at Intercollegiate Football Researchers Association.

May 24, 2009
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Statistics a leading indicator!
by: Anonymous

And The Bear NEVER beat the General!

Jul 22, 2009
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neyland
by: Anonymous

the bear was great but neyland was greatest the bear never beat him and neyland had a better record and neyland would have won more if he did not have a war to fight

Jul 29, 2009
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Neyland vs Bryant
by: Anonymous

One of the most biased comparisons I have ever seen. The south was considered inferior football before Bear Bryant coached the SEC. Some would argue that Bear Bryant put the SEC on the map.
To compare Bryant at Ky against Neyland at Tn is like comparing apples and oranges. Kentucky has never been a football school. That would be like comparing Ky basketball with SC basketball. Neyland coached mainly at Tn, a football school. Bryant built winners out of historically losing schools.
The only thing you got right was Bryant had six national champions as opposed to Neylands 4.
I think that is the important stat. Did you bother to include the total wins by each coach?
I think you would find Bryant wins.

Shame on you're biased opinion.

Aug 28, 2009
Rating

Reading Comprehension?
by: David

It�s good that you posted anonymously. I wouldn�t claim that reply, either. I hope your were joking.

�The south was considered inferior football before Bear Bryant coached the SEC. Some would argue that Bear Bryant put the SEC on the map.�
� Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas would be sad to hear that. Ever heard of them?

�To compare Bryant at Ky against Neyland at Tn is like comparing apples and oranges. Kentucky has never been a football school. That would be like comparing Ky basketball with SC basketball. Neyland coached mainly at Tn, a football school. Bryant built winners out of historically losing schools.�
- Prior to Neyland�s arrival at Tennessee, its success was modest at best. Prior to Bryant�s arrival at Alabama, they had already had a quarter century of success under legendary coaches. (That would be Wade and Thomas, who delivered Alabama�s first several championships). Bryant did have to rebuild from the �Ears� years. He also built Kentucky. During the years Neyland and Bryant battled, if you exclude the games against each other, Kentucky had a slightly better record than Tennessee. Two fairly equal teams � seems like a reasonable comparison to me. If you don�t accept that the teams were comparable, then, logically, it flows that Bryant built his record against inferior competition. (Otherwise, they wouldn�t have had a similar record over 7 years).

�The only thing you got right was Bryant had six national champions as opposed to Neylands 4.�
- Simply not true. Everything in the post is fact.

�Did you bother to include the total wins by each coach?�
� Yes. Did you read the post?

�Shame on you're biased opinion�.
- There is absolutely no opinion in the post. Read the post again and point out even one item that�s opinion. It�s nothing but facts. I never even stated who I think is the better coach.

I don�t know why I bother. If you can�t comprehend the original post as an information piece, you won�t understand this response.

X Close Editor

Aug 28, 2009
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Submitted by: David

Title

Comment
It�s good that you posted anonymously. I wouldn�t claim that reply, either. I hope your were joking. �The south was considered inferior football before Bear Bryant coached the SEC. Some would argue that Bear Bryant put the SEC on the map.� � Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas would be sad to hear that. Ever heard of them? �To compare Bryant at Ky against Neyland at Tn is like comparing apples and oranges. Kentucky has never been a football school. That would be like comparing Ky basketball with SC basketball. Neyland coached mainly at Tn, a football school. Bryant built winners out of historically losing schools.� - Prior to Neyland�s arrival at Tennessee, its success was modest at best. Prior to Bryant�s arrival at Alabama, they had already had a quarter century of success under legendary coaches. (That would be Wade and Thomas, who delivered Alabama�s first several championships). Bryant did have to rebuild from the �Ears� years. He also built Kentucky. During the years Neyland and Bryant battled, if you exclude the games against each other, Kentucky had a slightly better record than Tennessee. Two fairly equal teams � seems like a reasonable comparison to me. If you don�t accept that the teams were comparable, then, logically, it flows that Bryant built his record against inferior competition. (Otherwise, they wouldn�t have had a similar record over 7 years). �The only thing you got right was Bryant had six national champions as opposed to Neylands 4.� - Simply not true. Everything in the post is fact. �Did you bother to include the total wins by each coach?� � Yes. Did you read the post? �Shame on you're biased opinion�. - There is absolutely no opinion in the post. Read the post again and point out even one item that�s opinion. It�s nothing but facts. I never even stated who I think is the better coach. I don�t know why I bother. If you can�t comprehend the original post as an information piece, you won�t understand this response.

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Sep 21, 2009
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Great posts, some other thoughts
by: gohorns

Regardless, of who's the best coach, Neyland may have left the greatest mark on the game of any coach, and his stats are hard to argue with.

However, I don't think the head to head comparison holds as much water as it normally would, given that all the matchups were when Bear was at Kentucky where hoops was king and Rupp was determined to keep it that way.

Many years ago I heard it said that Neyland's response to the charge that he scheduled patsies was "When you go 9-1, nobody ever asks who the 9 were." Any verification, one way or the other?

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Best SEC Football Coach in History: General Robert "Bob" Neyland vs. Paul "Bear" Bryant

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Best SEC Football Coach in History: General Robert "Bob" Neyland vs. Paul "Bear" Bryant