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west Virginia #1 - Recruiting Officially Irrelevant

jlb, keep in mind UK hung 28, Vandy hung 42, and SCar won 30-22. I wouldn't assume gainesville would be an ugly loss with leak running meyer's system.

UK got their points in garbage time (against UK, garbage time starts in the 2nd quarter). Vanderbilt hung 42 points thanks to Jay Cutler, is about to be a rich man, and USC won because of the visor.
 
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Let's back up. I am not saying WVa is not a good team. 11-1 in Div I is solid regardless of who you play.

But we are talking about teams who should play for the NC.

I am not discounting the win over Georgia, but IMO it was not convincing. Rodriquez out prepared Richt big time. But they damn near blew a 28 point lead. The only other qualty team they played kiced their butt - at home.

Their SOS last year per Sagarin (only one I could find) was 63rd. That is weak (OSU was 2, USC 8 and Texas 13). It will likely be weaker this year. Maryland is a decent opponent, but other than a nice three year run in the old ACC they have not won more than 6 games in 20 years.

The schedule ruling that allowed for 12 games was just implemented and the 12th game was added just last season I believe. They also had to change their schedule to allow for changes in the Big East - changes that anyone would agree weakened the conference. But in any case I was not accusing them of padding their schedule so much as not seeking a challenge that would prove their team. If you play in a weak conference and want to play for the NC you need to do that. (I give Idaho St credit for that much.)

If they can whip Louisville and Maryland by two TDs they will have made a statement. But last year they beat a 1-10 Syracuse team by 8. The beat East frickin Carolina by 5. They beat Louisville at home by 2. They got their butt kicked by Va Tech - at home as well. They played WOFFORD for nuts sake!

Going into the Georgia game I believe they were ranked 10th or so. Lose that one and they drop to 15 or lower. But win by a FG and you are pre season number one? Or even top 5? I don't get it.
 
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in a typical year, they would be a marginal top-10 team. However there are a ton of top programs that are slumping (at least out of the NC race IMO). Tennessee. Michigan. Miami. Oklahoma. Nebraska. Florida State. The legit programs have glaring holes that must be filled, OSU - D, USC - replace so much with so much inexperienced talent, ND - defense?, PSU - seniors, etc.

I think your last lengthy post was excellent, and is more in agreement with my view of WVU than the earlier ones.
 
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You're kidding, right? I'm tired of all those who think it's better to start out a season ranked lower than as high as possible. Several news flashes for you who would rather not have us ranked #1:

1. Hype is not pointless, because it is what determines your place in the polls. The higher you start out, the higher you remain (and thus less ground you have to make up) should you lose.

2. Ohio State is under pressure every year to contend for the Big Ten, and possibly the national, title. This program will have the same amount of pressure on it whether it starts out #1, #5, or #10.

3. Ohio State will always, ALWAYS, have a target on its back, regardless of its pre-season ranking. Look at how Penn State had us circled on their calendar despite being 8-4 the previous year and being out side the top 5 at the time of the game (they had students camping out for a week to get tickets). That target will NOT shrink because of a lower pre-season ranking.

If you think it's better to be ranked lower to start the season, just ask Auburn.

QFT. This summary is so good it needs to be on the second page.

When it comes time to figure out who plays in the national championship game, I'd rather be an undeserving #1 than the most deserving #3.
 
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Ok, alot of you guys make good points, but Let me try and put this in perspective.

Ok let me break WVU down.

Lets start with non-conference. They went up against Wofford and East Carolina. Not exactally cream of the crop.

Then they played Va Tech at home in a huge rivalry. I can tell you that if tOSU ever had a team that was suppossed to be so great we wouldnt lose to scUM at home by 17. Va Tech could of won this game by about 40, but of course played stupid ball like usual, but was able to win by 17 still.

Ok then to the Big East. I honestly think scUM could of won the big east last year. I mean the number 3 team in the conference lost to ILL. Yeah that ILL. that everyteam in the big ten pasted.

So their toughest conference game was at home and they needed one helluva comeback to win that one.

They had one impressive showing, and that was the bowl game when if UGA would of played from the beginning they would of beat their ass. I don't care who you are, but if you are a good team you don't give up a 28 pt. lead to anyone. That just shows that you are not very good. I know they won the game, but after UGA spotted them 28 pts and started to play. Can you imagine what would of happened if UGA would of came to play from the beginning.

Bowl games should not be a huge measuring stick for the next seasons success. There is so much emotion that goes into bowl games, some teams care and some dont. Does anyone think that if scUM and Nebraska played on a neutral field in the middle of the season Neb. would of played on the same field as them. Another example is Wisky vs. Auburn. Wisky played that game for Alvarez. Everyone thought that AU was the better team, but they werent on that day b/c they thought they were just going to cruise but Wisky had much different plans.

I am still not sure what this guy is basing his opinions on. Just b/c they have a nice offense doesnt put them up there with the big boys. Put them in the big ten and I don't know if they are even looking at a top 25 ranking right now.

The Big East is looked down on and there are reasons for that. I just hope this doesnt become another hype machine like they were 2 years ago and Louisville was this past year. It is getting old when the media is like this team could go undefeated b/c they play no one. How is that fair to team like us who schedule OOC against the likes of Texas.

I say for this very reason we need a playoff.
 
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Have any of you guys considered that this is just a stupid ESPN article intended to stir people up.

That article was designed to be read and reread by WVU fans - and to get other NC contender team fans fuming.

I agree with the thread title on this one...

:osu:
 
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Im glad we're not ranked number 1. In fact i wouldnt mind if we were ranked a little lower. I dont like all of the preseason hype in college football every year because it is pointless. Being preseason number one is a lot of pressure. There's a huge target placed on your back, a target that i am not really envious of.


We are Ohio State...we have the big target on our backs every year, every game no matter what.

I'd rather be pre-season number one...go undefeated and play in the championship game rather than be pre-season number 3, have all top 3 teams go undefeated and be the odd man out when the championship game comes around.
 
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We are Ohio State...we have the big target on our backs every year, every game no matter what.

I'd rather be pre-season number one...go undefeated and play in the championship game rather than be pre-season number 3, have all top 3 teams go undefeated and be the odd man out when the championship game comes around.

I know what you are saying, but if we go undefeated with our schedule next year and don't make the championship game, there will be some major hell being raised.
 
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I know what you are saying, but if we go undefeated with our schedule next year and don't make the championship game, there will be some major hell being raised.
no chance of that happening... not after beating Texas, and having flashy offense with Smith, Ginn, Pittman... and Wells will be perceived as awesome from teh start thanks to recruiting hype (so if he is merely a great #2 rb and short yardage back... it will just make people talk up pittman even more for being ahead of wells).

the hype machine will help us this year if we can live up to it.
 
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I have an alternative explanation for West Virginia's late season surge. They appeared to get better as the year went on because they played in a pathetic conference and thus faced pathetic opposition. The Georgia victory is also less than it seems.

Georgia beat LSU but let's not forget that LSU played a very irregular season due to the hurricane. Six of their games were determined by less than 4 points. They had just come off a two-point win over Arkansas! And a three-point win over Alabama. LSU were ripe for a letdown and didn't exactly have any stability in practice facilities, home life, etc.

Nothing I see convinces me that Virginia should be ranked in the pre-season Top 5 next year. It isn't about a winning record, it's about beating quality teams for that record. They need more quality opposition before they can claim to be considered for a national championship.

From Greenfield http://teamrankings.com/ncf/ugapower.php3?q=Georgia+Football


<TABLE width="95%" bgColor=#d8e9fd><TBODY><TR><TD>Date </TD><TD>Site </TD><TD>Score </TD><TD>Opponent </TD>
WEST VIRGINIA





<TR><TD>Week 1</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 15-7 </TD><TD></B>vs. #103 Syracuse</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 3</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 31-19 </TD><TD></B>vs. #38 Maryland</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 4</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>W 20-15 </TD><TD></B>vs. #83 East Carolina</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 5</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>L 17-34 </TD><TD></B>vs. #5 Virginia Tech</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 6</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 27-14 </TD><TD></B>vs. #59 Rutgers</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 7</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>W 46-44 </TD><TD></B>vs. #28 Louisville</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 10</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>W 45-13 </TD><TD></B>vs. #77 Connecticut</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 11</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 38-0 </TD><TD></B>vs. #94 Cincinnati</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 13</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>W 45-13 </TD><TD></B>vs. #63 Pittsburgh</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 14</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 28-13 </TD><TD></B>vs. #51 South Florida</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 15</TD><TD>Neut</TD><TD>W 38-35 </TD><TD></B>vs. #13 Georgia</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

GEORGIA
<TABLE width="95%" bgColor=#d8e9fd><TBODY><TR><TD>Date </TD><TD>Site </TD><TD>Score </TD><TD>Opponent </TD>



<TR><TD>Week 1</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>W 48-13 </TD><TD></B>vs. #48 Boise State</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 2</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>W 17-15 </TD><TD></B>vs. #39 South Caroli</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 3</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>W 44-7 </TD><TD></B>vs. #105 Louisiana-</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 4</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 23-10 </TD><TD></B>vs. #97 Mississip</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 6</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 27-14 </TD><TD></B>vs. #46 Tennessee</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 7</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 34-17 </TD><TD></B>vs. #66 Vanderbilt</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 8</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>W 23-20 </TD><TD></B>vs. #62 Arkansas</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 9</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>L 10-14 </TD><TD></B>vs. #19 Florida</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 11</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>L 30-31 </TD><TD></B>vs. #17 Auburn</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 12</TD><TD>Home</TD><TD>W 45-13 </TD><TD></B>vs. #93 Kentucky</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 13</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 14-7 </TD><TD></B>vs. #33 Georgia Tech</< B></TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 14</TD><TD>Away</TD><TD>W 34-14 </TD><TD></B>vs. #9 LSU</TD></TR><TR><TD>Week 15</TD><TD>Neut</TD><TD>L 35-38 </TD><TD></B>vs. #6 West Virginia</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
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