bucknuts44820: "From your post, it seems like you are saying that regardless of those things I mentioned above, that Oklahoma, Michigan, LSU, USC and a host of others deserve a top ten ranking"
First off, you're misinterpreting what I said. I said the traditional powers CONSISTENTLY deserve a pre-season Top 10 ranking. I'm not talking about 2004 alone.
But, taking into account the factors you mentioned: 1.) previous years record, 2.) returning players, 3.) stability of the program, and 4.) schedule, who deserves to be in the Top 10 more consistently than the traditional powers?
1.) Previous years record: scUM, USC, Oklahoma, etc. Don't they always have a good record? Previous, current, and future? scUM was 10-3 last year, USC was 12-1, and Okalhoma was 12-2. Those don't warrant a pre-season Top 10 the next year?
2.) returning players: This one I don't buy. Brett Basanez is listed as a returning starter for Northwestern. Justin Zwick is NOT a returning starter for Ohio State. Does this mean that Basanez is better than Zwick? Does this mean that Basanez will have a better season than Zwick? Does this mean that Northwestern will be better than OSU? No. Most of the talent in the nation is in scUM, OSU, Miami, etc. A freshman DB for Miami could be (and probably is) worlds better than a Senior DB at Fresno State. Its just the way it is.
3.) stability of the program: Can you give me a reason why West Virginia or Utah is more stable than any of the top tier schools I mentioned?
4.) schedule: Because a Big East team plays nobody that means they're better than Oklahoma? Don't think so. Sure, WVU plays nobody, but they ARE nobody themselves. WVU may be the favorite in the BE, but is it a world shocking upset if they lose to Pitt? to UConn? No way. And schedule or not, if they're ranked ahead of scUM because of it, its a joke. scUM in West Virginia, a neutral field, and especially in Ann Arbor, would lather the 'Eers by 3 Touchdowns.
Everything I said comes back to this: the traditional powers should be given the benefit of the doubt in the pre-season rankings until proven otherwise. Go back and look at the past 10 to 15 years. How many of the schools I mentioned finish out of the Top 10 in the Final poll in favor of a non-traditional power? The Final Top 10 is always filled out by Miami, FSU, Florida, Oklahoma, Nebraska, etc. If it always finishes that way, I don't see why its such a travesty to have it start that way in the pre-season polls.
"because of this you have the cases like....Auburn last year...Washington every year.....your logic is wrong."
Whoever said Auburn and Washington are traditional powers?? Not me. People who ranked these teams high WENT AGAINST my logic and tried to pick a sleeper team like the Tigers # 1 when clearly they weren't on the level of the traditional powers like USC and Oklahoma. Right there you just backed up my argument.
"I think that kind of post is uncalled for on this board......grow up a little bit Sloopy"
Butt out of this until you know the facts. If you take issue with me on this, send me a PM and keep it off the board.
takes 2 to tango
