Who do you think is the greatest college football program?

[TBonewannabe]

I was listening to ESPN radio yesterday and they were talking about Michigan having the most wins of any school. Of course Beano Cook said that Notre Dame is because they have more national titles. Interesting enough the team with the most national titles is .........Yale with 17. So does this make Yale the best program?

 

[onemorebeer]

I think that the support, media attention, recruits, and most importantly success makes them the best program in America.

 

[Fletch Fletcher]

I know it will be an unpopular pick around here, but I'd have to say all-time, Alabama has the greatest program.
Fan support, societal influence, money, reputation, recruiting, success, etc etc.
Everyone in the state of Alabama goes up or down with that program whether they're a fan or not. They either love em or they hate em, but they ALL keep up with them.

 

[patdog]

Nobody will ever top what they did during the 25-year Bear Bryant era and they've had a lot of success before then and a good bit since. Plus they seem to be about ready to be a national contender every year again.

 

[Todd4State]

They have enough support to survive on their own without a conference. Not many people can say that. They have NC's, their games are broadcast nationally, they have Heisman winners, tradition, and great players like Joe Montana that they can lay claim to.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

or whatever it is. I have no doubt Bama, OSU, and others could survive without a conference.

If ND doesn't turn it around soon (they may end up at least seeming relevant this year, though it's simply a product of their schedule) it will just get harder and harder. No one playing today remembers them being any good.

 

[Todd4State]

The Montreal Canadiens haven't won a Stanley Cup this decade and they're still the greatest hockey franchise of all time. The Yankees didn't win a World Series in the 80's, and they were still the greatest baseball franchise of all time.

Just because ND hasn't won a bowl (Are you talking BCS bowl because they won the Hawaii Bowl last year?) doesn't mean that they aren't the best of all time. Heck, USC went 6-6 or something like that about seven years ago.

I'm looking at the entire body of work.

But yes, they do need to turn it around very soon if they want to keep their mantle.

 

[JohnDawg]

for all the reasons you stated as well as being Catholic.

 

[SLUdog]

I'd be more curious to see who's the best program over the last 40 years. This is roughly since integration.

 

[Stansfield]

They have the greatest college player of all time as well. Go Gator