ACC: Head coach aura rankings

In this week’s edition of ACC football talk, the coaches with the game plans are tossed out.

This week’s rendition is simply put, a list ranking all the head coaches and their AURA.

You may be wondering, what is aura? A simple answer to that question is the style and swagger that every coach brings to game day for their teams.

No. 17: Troy Taylor (Stanford Cardinals)

AP Photo/Tony Avelar

Taylor can definitely jump the list considering he is a new coach in the revamped ACC.

As of now though, the former FCS head coach at Sacramento State is really giving me clean vibes so far to start.

No. 16: Justin Wilcox (California Golden Bears)

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

He really just looks like your classic old-school football player in the one above. The loss to Florida State a few weeks back also does not help your rankings on the list.

Because this is about football, obviously.

No. 15: Dave Doeren (NC State Wolfpack)

AP Photo/Matt Kelley

There truly is absolutely no aura in not only this picture but overall from Dave Doeren.

Add onto this as well the fact that he and his crew have gotten blown out twice so far this season at the hands of Tennessee and Clemson.

No. 14: Rhett Lashlee (SMU Mustangs)

AP Photo/LM Otero

Scared? Yeah, I would be if this was my head coach.

The only saving grace here is the simple fact that his team has performed well to start the season at 4-1.

No. 13: Pat Narduzzi (Pitt Panthers)

AP Photo/Matt Kelley

Narduzzi has never impressed me as a football head coach, but with that said this is the coach with the most aura list.

And, Pat does have some interesting gameday outfits and shows a lot of passion. That earns him the No. 13 spot.

No. 12: Brent Key (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File

Key has a sneaky Bill O’Brien-type aura that I feel is a good fit for college head coaches.

The Yellow Jackets have had an up-and-down start to the season, but one thing is for sure, the KEY to their season resides with their head man.

No. 11: Tony Elliott (Virginia Cavaliers)

Nell Redmond/USA Today Sports Images

Elliott has some sneaky drip while on the sidelines, and I always love the windbreaker/raincoat look.

The No. 11 spot is his.

No. 10: Fran Brown (Syracuse Orange)

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File

I am giving more credit to Brown, not only because he is new, but also because he was with Georgia for the last few years as an assistant.

Syracuse hasn’t had swagger in recent years, but I like Brown’s overall vibe.

No. 9: Dave Clawson (Wake Forest Demon Deacons)

AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File

The picture may be old, but Clawson earns more aura points due to consistently putting together solid football programs.

Style is kind of boring, but number nine fits the bill.

No. 8: Mike Norvell (Florida State Seminoles)

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

It’s been a tough start to the season for the Seminoles, but one that I feel like they can recover from in the next few years.

As for Norvell, the energy and aura are there, just coaching better is the key.

No. 7: Dabo Swinney (Clemson Tigers)

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Maybe the team being better helps his aura rankings, but Dabo has always given me a weird vibe.

He should focus more on the looks on the sideline, than his recruiting (which has fallen off a lot if you ask me).

No. 6: Brent Pry (Virginia Tech Hokies)

USA TODAY Sports/Jim Dedmon

Come on now, this picture absolutely screams aura all over the place.

I am biased as well because he coached at Penn State, but this is absolutely sick.

No. 5: Jeff Brohm (Louisville Cardinals)

AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley

This is the type of coach I would want to play football for.

He may not scream aura with the way he looks, but the way he coaches is enough for me to put him at No. 5.

No. 4: Mack Brown (North Carolina Tar Heels)

AP Photo/Ben McKeown

The parties after big wins must be legendary, and Mack Brown knows how to have a good time.

The old-school flavor with the new-school moves makes him one of the coolest coaches in the sport.

No. 3: Bill O’Brien (Boston College Eagles)

AP Photo/L.G. Patterson

I have two words for you about the former Penn State head coach, double-chin.

Enough said.

No. 2: Manny Diaz (Duke Blue Devils)

AP Photo/Aaron Beard

Oh man, I wish Penn State still had this guy.

So much aura in the way this guy moves about his life, and I think the 5-0 start at Duke proves he still has his swagger.

No. 1: Mario Cristobal (Miami Hurricanes)

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

The former standout player at the “U”, Cristobal is in his element down in South Beach.

The swagger on that squad is immense and Cristobal realizes the talent he has and then some.

Giustino Racchini is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, you can email him at gar5448@psu.edu.