What’s the best G5 job in New York?

Every offseason we see the traditional lists of the best jobs in the country. Instead of just ranking every G5 job we figured it’d be more fun to isolate G5 jobs by their state and breakdown how attractive it is in comparison to their in-state peers. We will offer cases as to why one job is better than the other and let you determine the best G5 job in the state.

New York. Home to the largest city in the United States, dozens of marketable pro sports teams, and hundreds of renowned tourist attractions. But the Empire State is not exactly known for its college football, especially with Syracuse struggling to reach bowl season in recent years. The only other two FBS programs in the state are Buffalo and Army.

Both are judged as being tough jobs but which coaching job holds more value?

Making the case for Buffalo: Steve Helwick, Staff Writer at Hustle Belt

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The in-state foes Army and Buffalo battled for the fifth time in history in 2016, with the Buffalo Bulls charging to a 23-20 victory. Although both teams have struggled in recent years, the Bulls have shown flashes of decency. Buffalo reached the eight-win mark twice in the past 10 years, upsetting an undefeated Ball State squad for the MAC title in 2008.

A coaching position at Buffalo comes with pro-level talent. Recently, the Bulls have produced two solid NFL players: reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack and Los Angeles Chargers speed halfback Branden Oliver. The recent production of such talent can entice New York recruits to select Buffalo over other surrounding programs.

Also, Buffalo is the second-largest city in New York. The town is best known for its wings and the Bills, but there are always plenty of attractions and sites of intrigue in a city environment.

Buffalo attempted to rebrand itself as “New York” in 2013, before withdrawing from the marketing process by 2016. As one of the largest public universities in the country’s third-most populated state, Buffalo swung for the fences by boldly embedding “New York” into uniforms, jerseys, and apparel, but ultimately came up short.

Although the Bulls missed out on a huge rebranding opportunity, Buffalo did unveil a new logo and upgraded uniforms to add excitement to its on-field product on television. And speaking of television exposure, the Bulls are often featured on ESPN networks, Tuesday and Wednesday nights during November #MACtion.

Several weeks ago, the Bulls earned the approval of the state to construct a new $18 million indoor football facility, slowly catching up to the rest of college football in terms of athletics complexes. Recruits who ruled out Buffalo due to a lack of facilities can re-evaluate their decision once construction begins.

The program has mightily struggled in its past and only holds two bowl game appearances (and zero wins) to its name, so the Bulls can only go uphill in the future. Exhibiting flashes of potential and positioned in a well-known city in the world-famous New York, Buffalo is a solid G5 program to coach.

Making the case for Army: Jake Schmied, Staff Writer at Underdog Dynasty

Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

A coaching job with Army is different than an ordinary job coaching college football. For one, the team does not typically produce NFL-talent players. After they graduate, the cadets are top ranks in the U.S. army. Part of the coaching job is about building a mindset of honor, duty, and courage within the players. This carries the cadets further into their military careers. Recruits flock to Army because of this mindset; they want to become men on and off the football field and represent this country.

West Point, where the Military Academy is located, is the oldest military post in the United States. George Washington considered it one of the most essential strategic positions during the Revolutionary War. The military post is situated next to the Hudson. The changing colors of the trees, during the beginning of football season, make attending a game at Michie Stadium picture-perfect. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. praised West Point as one of the most inspirational game day experiences in the nation.

The West Point community adores their Black Knights. So much so that the allotted tickets from Army Athletics for the annual Army-Navy game sold out in July. Michie Stadium is buzzing during game day. Before the national anthem is sung, the Army Parachute Team delivers the game ball from the air.

Although Army has been on the losing end for most of the decade, the program has turned it around. A coaching job at Army, a program filled with history and character, would be humbling for a coach to take. Yes, Army is not typically in the AP Top 25, but they don’t need to be at that level in order to be relevant as they play in America’s Game, the Army-Navy Game.