Bobby Collins (American football)

College coach infobox
Name = Bobby Collins


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Sport = Football
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OverallRecord = 91–44–3
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BowlRecord = 3–2
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CFbDWID = 424
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CoachYears = 1975-1981
1982-1986
CoachTeams = Southern Miss
SMU
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Bobby Collins is a former American football coach. He served as head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi and Southern Methodist University. While at SMU, Collins saw the school's football program brought down by severe NCAA sanctions that led to the “death penalty” being applied to the program, including the entire abolition of the team in 1987, and restrictions to just seven games in 1988. The school decided not to field a team that year.

From 1975 to 1981, Collins coached at Southern Miss, and compiled a 48–30–2 record. In 1982 he was hired by SMU, signing a five-year deal with more than $100,000 annual salary. While at SMU, Collins compiled a 43–14–1 record. His only losing season as a coach came in 1976, when he went 3–8 at Southern MIss. From 1982 to 1984, he put together the best stretch in SMU's history, going 31–4–1.

After the season, Collins, athletic director Bob Hitch and recruiting coordinator Harvey Lee Parker were interviewed by WFAA-TV's Dale Hansen regarding allegations that players were being paid. Collins denied any knowledge of the affair. [Taafe, William. [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1135954/index.htm Daring to take on the home team] . "Sports Illustrated", 1987-03-09.] It later emerged that Collins knew that players were being paid, though he didn't know who they were. [Sullivan, Robert; and Craig Neff. [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1135953/index.htm Shame on you, SMU] . "Sports Illustrated", 1987-03-09.] Collins resigned shortly after WFAA aired a special report breaking the scandal, and was later given $850,000 in severance pay in return for keeping quiet about the payments. [Wangrin, Mark. [http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/football/stories/MYSA030307.01A.smu-clements.36d2bf0.html 20 years after SMU's football scandal] . "San Antonio Express-News", 2007-03-03.]

Collins was not sanctioned by the NCAA for any role in the events leading up to the "death penalty," though the final report criticized him for not providing a convincing explanation for why players were still being paid after the school assured the NCAA that the payments had stopped. Nonetheless, his reputation was ruined. Aside from being a finalist for an opening at Mississippi State in 1990 (which eventually went to Jackie Sherrill), [Reed, William F. [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1136023/index.htm What Price Glory?] "Sports Illustrated", 1990-12-24.] he has never been seriously considered for an opening at any level of college football.

Head coaching record

CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Southern Miss Golden Eagles
conf = Independent
startyear = 1975
endyear = 1981CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1975
name = Southern Miss
overall = 8–3
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = —
ranking2 = —CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1976
name = Southern Miss
overall = 3–8
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = —
ranking2 = —CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1977
name = Southern Miss
overall = 6–6
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = —
ranking2 = —CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1978
name = Southern Miss
overall = 7–4
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = —
ranking2 = —CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1979
name = Southern Miss
overall = 6–4–1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = —
ranking2 = —CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1980
name = Southern Miss
overall = 9–3
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Independence
bowloutcome = W
ranking = —
ranking2 = —CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1981
name = Southern Miss
overall = 9–2–1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Tangerine
bowloutcome = L
ranking = 19
ranking2 = —CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Southern Miss
overall = 48–30–2
confrecord = CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = SMU Mustangs
conf = SWC
startyear = 1982
endyear = 1986CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1982
name = SMU
overall = 11–0–1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Cotton
bowloutcome = W
ranking = 2
ranking2 = 2CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1983
name = SMU
overall = 10–2
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Sun
bowloutcome = L
ranking = 11
ranking2 = 12CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1984
name = SMU
overall = 10–2
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Aloha
bowloutcome = W
ranking = 8
ranking2 = 8CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1985
name = SMU
overall = 6–5
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = —
ranking2 = —CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1986
name = SMU
overall = 6–5
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = —
ranking2 = —CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = SMU
overall = 43–14–1
confrecord = CFB Yearly Record End
overall = 91–44–3
bcs = no


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