A surprise coach puts Tide first on his ballot

The USA Today coaches poll makes its ballots public after the final regular-season vote, and because of this, we know which three coaches ranked Alabama first.

You’ll never believe who one of them was: Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville. Vanderbilt’s James Franklin and Middle Tennessee State’s Rick Stockstill. Franklin had Alabama first, Georgia second, Florida third, Notre Dame fourth and LSU fifth.

Two coaches voted Notre Dame first, Oregon second and Alabama third. Again, more surprises. Oregon State coach Mike Riley, a Crimson Tide defensive back under Bear Bryant in the mid-1970s, is one. Fresno State’s Tim DeRuyter is the other.

Alabama coach Nick Saban‘s top five looked like this: 1, Notre Dame; 2, Alabama; 3, Georgia; 4, Florida; 5, Oregon. Georgia’s Mark Richt had the same top five. Auburn coach Gene Chizik had one difference — he had Florida third and Georgia fourth.

Click here to see how all 59 coaches voted.

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