The Scorecard Poll

Sherrill: Coaches Hate Him

Jackie Sherrill (above, left) held his own in five memorable Pitt-Penn State battles against Joe Paterno (right) from 1977 to '81, winning twice and coming close two other times. But the former Panther coach, now at Mississippi State, suffered a crushing p.r. loss to Papa Joe in this week's poll. Thirty Division I-A coaches were asked to name which program they would not want their own sons to play in, and 16 singled out Sherrill's operation. The only other coaches named in a negative way were Arkansas's Danny Ford, Georgia's Ray Goff, Notre Dame's Lou Holtz and Florida's Steve Spurrier (page 74).

In response to another question, Paterno was chosen by seven coaches as someone for whom they would want their sons to play. "I like his character and the way he treats players," said Washington's Jim Lambright. Nebraska's Tom Osborne also got seven votes.

So what do coaches have against Sherrill, who once had a bull castrated in front of his team as a motivational ploy? "He's always looking for a way to dissect the rules instead of abide by them," said one coach. Said another, " Sherrill's the worst. He's terrible."