So, here's the list...
I had kind of a similar approach to Muck, in that I was trying to have a balanced group of Universities. I didn't take basketball into account at all, as is probably evident. I did take academics, especially the USNWR rankings into account and I think I only have 2 schools outside the top 100 in the National University rankings. (I think you can give me a pass on the Service academies)
The one thing I did have in the back of my head was putting together an attractive TV network/deal which I'll explain a bit with each school as well as some misses I had. Generally I'm very thin on West Coast and almost thought about abandoning that altogether once I didn't pick USC first overall. The one area I did miss on was the classic midwest, but, I had the choice between Texas, USC, and ND there. I was honestly hoping that Michigan would get back to me in round 2. (Muck and Nate just took a lot of my "next" picks as I was getting ready to take them)
So, all in all, I did want strong academics and strong "traditional" football powers. For instance, if you take SmoovP's group, programatically I'll take my top 4 over anyone he's got. Though, playing right now, He'd win a lot of head to head games. He has very good teams "right now" but I really feel like they're mostly a coach away from being not only average programs, but, in the case of Stanford and Michigan State, not very good ones at all. (And Oregon is a Phil Knight away from being Wazzu, probably).
That's not what I wanted. So, my first 6 teams have all won a National Championship since 1990. They all have reasonably good football traditions (I tried to pull the trigger on Wake Forest and some others, but, I couldn't take teams that have never done anything... ever... though it's a Michigan 1890's argument, even Army and Navy have NC's. Though that's not why they are there)
So, here's the list with the USNWR Rankings and some notes on the teams...
Texas (#45) - Pretty easy call here. Huge alumni base and solid football program and athletic department. I had PM'd Muck to take either Texas or USC in that order, though I think ND was somewhat of a better pick than SC if Texas was off the board, I thought I could make up for ND later. Though I probably didn't.
Alabama (#79) - With Michigan off the board, the 103 National championships were too much to pass on. Even though there is good and bad here with the iffy academics and let's say "comitted alumni base" 'Bama just keeps coming back even after they've been down.
Nebraska (#104) - With Oklahoma and Georgia coming off the board right befor this pick, this was the "Best" of the established programs on the board IMO. I had kicked around Wisconsin here, but, both had big stadiums and I just felt like the Nebraska brand was stronger.
Miami (#47) - The other thing I theoretically had in mind was "recruiting presence" for other programs in the conference and I wanted to get a Florida presensce. Much like Alabama, Miami will be back. We know what they've done in the past and a good school.
Washington (#41) - Not to knock Washington, but this was a consolation prize to some degree. Cal and UCLA went off the board immediately after the Miami pick and I felt I needed some West Coast presence. Big Stadium, great tradition, and maybe headed back to prominence after... well, we'll blame Ty Willingham.
Georgia Tech (#35) - Yeah, probably an Academic pick first and foremost but this is also the land of John Heisman and won a MNC in '90. First of my 2 "Paul Johnson" teams along with Navy. This is a power run Conference I guess.
Iowa (#72) - Again, I was looking at Illinois and Arizona State, and they were off the board right before this. Illinois was going to be the midwest/Chicago counterbalance to not taking Notre Dame, but, gone. And the loss of ASU pretty much caused the abandonment of any more western strategy. So, Iowa was mostly a BPA. I mean Ferentz is a 47 time B10 coach of the year recipient.
Syracuse (#55) - Jim Brown? Okay. See, great LaCrosse program. (Maybe). Well, this is Past Glory plus abandoning the Western Strategy, so, now I decided to get an Northeast presence having carpet bombed the Plains/Texas and Southeast. So , these guys kind of are in the middle of the East Coast and midwest so, it's sort of a counterpoint to the Iowa pick.
Boston College (#31) - This is kind of an oddball pick given the rest. They're really not historically that good. I mean, Flutie, sure. Matt Ryan, yeah. Mostly just a Boston Metro area thing. And hey, you know, I can get an non-conference game vs. ND. Good for ratings. Holy War.
Navy (#T16 - Liberal Arts)- Okay... so, when you have a TV deal. The bad part for your conference is who is gonna watch Indiana and Minnesota or Wake Forest and Duke. Well. What if your Wake Forest and Duke is actually Army v. Navy. How would you like that? Worst 2 teams, a game that 5 million people are going to watch. Plus, despite the small home stadium size, can play in a number of larger venues in games against The Texas's/Alabams'a Nebraska. Plus, who isn't going to root for the underdog service academies on those games?
Ole Miss (Believed to be accredited)- If Admiral Ackbar had made it, I'd have taken them #1. Also once lost the Bacardi Bowl to the University of Havana. I've got your cocktail party right HERE! Hey they have 6 bowl wins in the BCS Era 21 overall and 600 victories. You could do worse with an 11th round draft pick. Flim Flam Bim Bam.
Army (#T16 - Liberal Arts) -See the Navy Comments.
