Inside view: Coaches answer Times' annual questionnaire

If Jake Locker is going to make a serious run at the Heisman Trophy in 2010, he's going to have to do a little bit more. So say most coaches impaneled by the Times to answer a variety of questions — some pressing, and some not so much.

Some 29 Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) coaches opted into our focus group. It includes 16 BCS-level coaches, five of whose teams are in the preseason top 15 of the coaches poll.

(In some cases, coaches declined to answer a particular question, leading to the irregular math.)

About Locker

Jake Locker of Washington is drawing mention as a Heisman Trophy candidate. Will winning it be any more difficult for a candidate in the Pacific time zone and not in Los Angeles?

Thirteen coaches said it will be harder for Locker, eight said not. "It's always more difficult for a West Coast player," one coach wrote. Another replied: "I think the Heisman has gotten to be the best player on the best team, so I think the more serious issue is whether Washington can win enough to put him in that position."

A third responded, "Emphatically, yes." But another coach taking the opposite tack answered, "Not any more with the 24-hour media cycle."

Pick one

Let's say your program could have one player currently on another college roster. Whom would that be?

Locker was one of three players who got multiple mentions, pulling in three. But the biggest vote-getter was Heisman winner Mark Ingram of Alabama, who drew five votes. Houston quarterback Case Keenum got two.

Twelve others were mentioned, including five defensive ends. Three Pac-10 players drew notice — Stanford's Andrew Luck, USC's Matt Barkley and Oregon's LaMichael James.

He's the best

Name the college coach for whom you have the most regard.

Mack Brown of Texas led with four votes, followed by Ohio State's Jim Tressel with three and two apiece for Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Penn State's Joe Paterno.

He's the worst

Name the college coach for whom you have the least regard.

No big surprise, either that most coaches wouldn't touch this, or that three who did named Lane Kiffin of USC. Only three others got a single mention — Brian Kelly of Notre Dame, Nick Saban of Alabama and Mike Locksley of New Mexico.

Top of wish list

Mark Emmert takes over this fall as NCAA president. What's the one change you'd like to see him accomplish in college athletics, especially as it concerns football?

The most popular wish is for Emmert to spearhead some sort of football playoff system. There's also some sentiment for an earlier signing date for letters of intent. Other responses: Allow more contact between coaches and players in the offseason; change or get rid of the Academic Progress Rate system; allow five years of eligibility; increase the limit of 15 spring practices; and allow a preseason practice game.

Media attention

In all honesty, do you regularly read coverage of your football team in your area newspaper?

A dead heat on this one, with 13 on each side. One affirmative respondent said, "I want to know what players are reading." Another wrote, "It depends on whether we won or lost."

Toughest job

Which Division I-A coaching job is the toughest in the country, relative both to resources and expectations?

You could interpret this two ways, and eight coaches answered Notre Dame. The rest seemed to focus on places with lesser resources or in difficult locales. Temple and New Mexico State were named twice, and eight others drew a vote each, including Washington State.

Stressed at work

If you feel pressure to win in your job, how do you think that manifests itself (for instance, anything from hair loss to lack of sleep, etc.)?

Coaches overwhelmingly said they feel pressure; just four said they didn't. Of the majority, loss of sleep was the most mentioned, but weight gain also was noted. Another wrote, "I eat my fingernails."

About boosters

Which describes most closely your relationship with boosters of your program?

A. Close friends with a few.

B. Close friends with a lot of them.

C. Would just as soon not get near any of them.

Nineteen described themselves as close friends with a few boosters, three with a lot. Nobody took the third option.

Paycheck debate

Salaries have now shot up to the $4 million to $5 million range annually for the top coaches. In a college environment in which the school presidents make less than $1 million annually, is that top level (say, the top 10 to 15 coaches) too high?

This idea was shouted down, not surprisingly, with 21 coaches voting no and just four affirmatively. "No way!" responded one. Another said, "They deserve every cent of it, especially considering the revenue those top 10 to 15 coaches generate for their department, school and cities/communities with successful programs." Another, reflecting the prevailing sentiment, wrote, "I think the market determines the salary and that's kinda the American way."

Where to eat

Name your favorite out-of-town restaurant (on recruiting trips, vacation or business).

Many coaches weren't more imaginative than a standard four-man pass rush, choosing some chain restaurants. Among the others: Metropolitan Grill in Seattle; City Hall Steakhouse in Scottsdale, Ariz. (two votes); Del Frisco's in Dallas (two votes); Dreamland Barbecue in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; The Crab Trap in Fernandina Beach, Fla.; Joe's Stone Crab in Miami; Handsome Harry's in Naples, Fla.; Chicken and More in Spokane; The Precinct in Cincinnati; and Pascal's Manale in New Orleans.

Bud Withers: 206-464-8281 or bwithers@seattletimes.com