you mean a bigger joke than a pre-season poll to begin with? hey, guys, why don't we set in motion how we determine the outcome of the season before it even starts.
And ND has kept their starting QB who is an arguable top 10 QB in the nation, and a strong duo of WRs who exploded onto the scene last year. They also have a very good CB in Walls who if he is provided with a capable pass rush by the ND Front this year, that he could really break out and make himself a more known name. Lone loss was Maurice Crum Jr pretty much. If Cierre Wood provides the goods and support Armando Allen in year 1, then the ND offense will be able to put up sickening numbers, against "Creampuff" opponents or not(They make those games ahead of time btw with teams like MICH, PUR and STAN as they're old time rivals. Not ND's fault Rich Rod. came to The Big House and is potentially messing up what they're doing.) Kyle Rudolph, the ND TE is also another name to watch out for as well. I am telling you that barring some O-Line meltdown(Like what happened in Clausen's freshman year in 07), this is an ND team that will put up monster numbers on offense and be at least decent on the defensive side of the ball. I cannot see how this ND team does not get 9 wins honestly. EDIT: ah Electric hyped up the Clausen/Tate/Floyd combo. Nice nice.
I'd actually be in favor of a poll not coming out until after the 1st month of the season... this way we have an idea what teams are really good and which ones we aren't guessing are good.
Exactly my point, since but one season doesn't change years of expectations. I'm not saying the conferences aren't legit, but I will say they are meaningless. Nobody takes the MWC seriously, and that's my point. If they were in a different conference, then it means a lot more. Not saying it's right, just saying the moral of the story is a conference has to earn their keep over time. I feel like major conference teams probably take other conference opponents too lightly more often than not, and the, say, MWC teams get pumped up for games like that.
Dude you do know Utah has beaten the shit out of two BCS teams in thier bowl games.... they did it with two completely different teams and two different coaching staffs. Come to think of Utah has more BCS wins the last 5 years than Notre Dame has bowl victories the last what 10 or 12 years? BYU has a national title even though it was 25 years ago they still have one. I imagine Alabama had their teeth kicked down thier throat by Utah last year because they didn't take them seriously. Your right though it's not right which will always be why college football will always be 2nd fiddle to the basketball tournament in the world of college athletics ...in fact I'm thouroghly convinced without gambling the only bowl games people would watch (unless of course it's your team) would be the Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Orange, and Cotton and whatever bowl game is playing in (I hate them but I know they still are a huge draw). That doesn't mean I'm not a fan or I won't watch, I like millions of other fans think it's a disgrace that the season ends in the hands of the voters and not on the field.
I'm sorry I know Bama was a decent team last year but I don't understand how they are listed that high and for that matter above Mississippi and Oklahoma state. Also, LSU should probably be where Oklahoma State is
They do have a guy who has proven he can win at the college level with pretty much every team he coaches. They also have quite possibly the biggest playmaker in the SEC outside of Tebow in Julio Jones. That kid could probably play in the NFL right now.
I'm not doubting that Nick Saban is a good coach (super huge douche bag, definitely) and Julio Jones is a great player, but still your leading rusher, starting QB, and starting Left Tackle is a lot to lose
The only position that COULD hold Alabama back is quarterback. Glenn Coffee left early because he was going to lose at least half of his carries to Mark Ingram and whoever wins the battle between senior Roy Upchurch and true freshman Trent Richardson. They don't have the best running backs in their conference, but they are loaded at that position. Saban made an awesome recruiting move when he signed James Carpenter, one the best JUCO left tackles, to replace Andre Smith. Also, the nation's #1 overall tackle prospect DJ Fluker committed to the Tide. They're fine at tackle. Greg McElroy will be asked to manage games and he can do that...I just don't know if he'll be able to win games with his arm. If he loses a couple of times, we'll see dual threat QB Star Jackson as the Tide's starter.
