Their Top 25.

They answer the burning questions and pick the hot players.

lol @ Richie Weldon. This guy must not know a football from a dog terd.

pitt #10??????? With an idiot like Dave Wannstedt as their coach? LMAO K...This is the same pitt team that lost to OHIO UNIVERSITY last year by 10 points. The same pitt team that lost to WVU 45-13 near the end of the season. The same pitt team that their QB Palko was bitching in camp about how weak his own offensive line is?

Is this guy seriously on crack or follow college football AT ALL?

Expert? Pfffffffft.
LSU, Notre Dame, Georgia, Clemson, WVU not in the top 25? Pitt winning the BE over Louisville and WVU?

#2 Iowa? #3 Nebraska? #11 Virginia Tech? #8 Arkansas?

Oh good lord....
Don't quit your day job, honey.

[ August 29, 2006, 02:29 AM: Message edited by: wvderby ]

From his predictions for this season's biggest upsets: "Texas A&M will find a way to beat Texas..."

mmmm...OK and I will find a way to have sex with Sean William Scott this year, too! eek!

Honestly HQQK, I've heard Seanno goes both ways and if that pic in your profile is actually you and you send it to him, Texas A&M just might find a way... ')

Can outsports message board top 12 replace Richie's poll?

Was that a poll for the best 25 teams or a poll of which uniform colors he likes the best?

That poll is comedy. Afterall, with him being a Hokie, he probably believes college football began in 1998.

[ August 29, 2006, 08:22 AM: Message edited by: GymMountainEER ]

WVU Football Idol.

Micah = Paula (A little too kind)
Rob = Randy (Keeping it real dawg)
Rich = Simon (My grandmother can play better football)

lol...If that pics helps me with Sean, yeah, it's me! And for the record, I will be willing to sacrifice the atm game to make that happen! I love TEXAS football, but I know how to prioritize!!

yeah yeah yeah ... talk smack now, we'll just see how the bowl season shapes up in 16 weeks.

one thing you cannot pick on me about is my choice of the hottest players. =)

richie

oh - i should also add that when i saw cyd in chicago for the gay games, i mentioned that cal might be my preseason #1 team ... he about spilled his cosmo and said that i better do some more research =)

Yes, we will.

lol. You're a hokie. Go figure. Without CON-Vick, you aren't worth jack. No wonder WVU isn't in your top 25.

pitt at #10...lmao


Only pick I do kind of agree with you on is Ohio State. I know I picked them as #1...but I'm not quite drinking the OSU kool-aid yet. 9 starters gone on defense...Meat-chicken, Tex-ass, etc...on their schedule. I don't know if O$U will go undeafeated.

if you ever followed the stuff i've been writing about marcus vick for the past couple of years, you'll know that i never once was a fan. when bryan randal got the job in 2004, i was fully behind that. i was also one of the vocal members of the vt athletic club that wanted vick kicked off the team permanently. he was nothing but trouble and will only continue to be that way.

my pick of pitt at #10 was to satisfy the issue of not giving any love to the big east. it's hard to take that conference seriously. replacing temple with cincinnati? yeah, that was a great move.

oh yeah, which team gave the mountaineers a whoopin in morgantown last season? hmmmm ... and to think it was their only loss! And to think even more, that loss will be hanging over all the 'eers for at least a decade before the two teams can get scheduled to play one another again. =)

Lee Corso also picked Cal #1

I couldn't believe that I actually agreed with corso on something. But then again, back in 1999 he said that VT was going to meet FSU in the Sugar Bowl ...

From last years predictions...Who are the nation's most underrated and overrated teams?

Overrated: Texas. Ahhhh… Texas. Everything’s big in Texas. Especially the lofty expectations for a Mack Brown-led team. With the extremely early release of the Coaches Poll this season, I was able to take a gander at it before writing this article. I was flabbergasted when I saw that Texas was ranked #2. When will people learn? Mack Brown is not going to beat Oklahoma. Mack Brown is not going to win the Big XII title game. Mack Brown is not going to win a national championship.

Just wondering...How'd that shape up?

D'oh! Later in the season I reversed course and choose the Horns to win it all. (Sorry Rob!) Ahhh, preseason college football polls ... gotta love them for controversy.

Big Theta,

You should be more humble and show appreciation to the conference that provided the platform for Virginia Tech to become somewhat relevant in college football.

Afterall, if the ACC/Swofford had their way originally, Virginia Tech would be still playing Big East football. As you know and is rarely talked about among Hokie fans, VT was not on the radar screen during the initial expansion process. Only because of ex Virginia Governor Mark Warner intervention in pressuring UVA to pimp VT to replace Syracuse or BC as canidates di VT enter into discussion. UVA implied it would vote against expanstion all together. This is the reality of how VT "earned" entry into the ACC.

Its rather comical seeing Tech fans take jabs at the Big East. The Big East made Hokie football. The same way the Big East will make Louisville football and other Eastern team become football powers. Most of that anger toward the Big East by Hokie fans is attributed from the Big East not viewing Virginia Tech athletics ( aside from football) as on par with other Big East football playing athletic departments like Pitt, Syrcause, WVU, Rutgers, and UCONN that were full feldged members. VT didn't enter as a full member of the Big East until after 2000


Regarding your comment of not having respect for the Big East because of the dismisal of Temple to add Cincy is factually incorrect. I have no doubt you follow VT athletics and all things Blacksburg, but I suspect you don't follow college athletics that closely based off your poll and the Cincy/Temple comment.


Just so you will be educated on that process of Temple leaving the Big East, UCONN football was brought into Big East football to replace Temple. UCONN's football program turned Division One in 2002. UCONN's new 45,000 ( expanding to 60k in the next 5 years) state of the art stadium in downtown Hartford was completed in 2003. This was all planned by the Big East to boot Temple's dismal program. After numerous warnings to shape up or ship out. Temple averaged between 7k to 15k most years ( half were opposing fans) and were a burden to the Big East financially. ALl t while collecting millions in football revuenue. But, They did beat Virginia Tech a couple of times though, didn't they? lol I guess I see why you think whey were " all right". lol!

As you know now, It was UCONN not CINCY that replaced Temple.


Cincy's inception into the Big East was a production of expansion from the need to acquire new teams. Temple was already out the door before Cincy was ever approached.

Also, even if your inaccurate reasoning above was correct as reasoning to dislike the Big East ( replacing Cincy with Temple), it would still fall short of holding merit.


Cincy's football program is a lot better than Temple's.

Cincy has a great historic remodeled 35k stadium. ALso, future games against elite schools like WVU, Louisville, Ohio State, and Georgia will most likely be played in the Bengals stadiums with a sold our crowd. Additionally, Cincy averages between 25-32k in attendance most years. Also, Cincy has actually been to bowl games(4) over the course of the last 10 years. , Cincy's basketball and all around athletic program ( better than VT and Temple) made the decision a no brainier for the Big East to invite the Bearcats.


Any other astute reasoning or logic you care to share ? wink

[ August 30, 2006, 06:26 AM: Message edited by: GymMountainEER ]

If Cal wins at Tennessee ( I'll be there), they have an outstanding opporuntity to play for a national championship if they beat USC.

Cal's my pick to win the pac-10.

Look back in the outsports archives and you'll find all my opinions on the subject of ACC expansion. There's no need to get nasty. Tech belongs in the ACC just like Penn State actually belongs, and should be a member of, the Big East.

Sorry for mixing up UConn/Temple/Cincy/USF/Rutgers. It's hard to keep all those sub-par football teams straight =)

If UConn is going to be turned into this college football superpower as indicated earlier in this thread, why was the stadium built in Hartford instead of Storrs? Is it too much to ask [fair weather] fans to drive an hour or two to support their school? And why was it built for only 45,000 seats?

I'm glad VT is in the ACC. (As with all the other Hokies out there.) I'm glad our rivalry with Miami can continue. (I look forward to that game more than I ever did the Tech/WVU game and almost as much as the Tech/UVa game.) And I'm glad to have an Atheltic Commissioner that actually *gets* it instead of kissing Notre Dame's ass to barely hold onto an automatic BCS bid.

You missed the point all together. I wasn't implying VT is out of place playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. VT has finally found its home. Also, with VT 2-7 record ( 3-9 if you include Miami) in its last 3 years of Big East play against Pitt, Syracuse, and WVU, you are probably happy the ACC has been more accomadating for the Hokies that the last 3 years of BE play, huh?

Additionally, VT was viewed as out of place ( even more than Miami) by the Eastern football fraternity covering the Northeast. VT didn't belong in the Northeast. Aside from WVU, VT had no history with Eastern football. This was one of the reasons the Big East was reluctant to add VT's athletic program ( aside from football) as a Big East member.

Also, I'm still failing see how Virginia Tech fans can dismis other programs as "inferior" or "subpar". Isn't this exactly what Hokie football was a short 15 years ago? It wasn't until the Big East allowed Tech ( at WVU's request) entrance into the conference did Tech become important. So, the irony of you taking shots at the USF, Cincy's, UCONN, and Rutgers and their ambitions to emulate the same path ( entrance into the Big East) as Virginia Tech did as unworhty is comial. Not to worry though. WVU fans will always be around to keep the Tech arrogance in check and remind Tech of how "important" their program was pre- Big East days.

Also, You don't need to apologize about the WVU-Tech series ending. WVU plays Pitt in the Backyard Brawl as has always registered as our "the" game on our schedule based on both programs actually having football traditions. Also, Louisville has replaced the VT game.

Its worked out well for both schools. However, Hokie fans need to be a lot more humble about their origins. Football was played before 1998 and maybe VT should win a BCS game before firing at the UCONNS, Rutgers, and other schools of the BE who are aspiring to become important in college football wink

[ August 29, 2006, 01:21 PM: Message edited by: GymMountainEER ]

So I take it we shouldn't take your preseason poll seriously since you plan to change your mind mid-season. Ah, now I got your game figured out. Anyway, it did make for good humor. When I read the three I almost fell out of my chair reading yours. Appreciate the humor BigTheta. Keeps the discussion board rolling.

HOOK 'EM!

For what it's worth, I just spent some time compiling data from the 2005 preseaon pollsters here at Outsports.com and compared it to the Coaches preseason poll and Coaches final rankings poll for 2005.

Four measurements were taken. The first was how many teams were listed in the preseason poll that were not even ranked come the end of the season. The second was how many teams were within 5 or fewer spots of their final ranking. The third was how many teams were within 9 or fewer spots of their final ranking. The fourth was how many teams were 10 spots or greater away from their final rankings. Granted, those were arbitrary numbers drawn, and the data is published so anyone can conceive their own measurements as they see fit.

How'd the results turn out?

Coaches vs. Coaches for 2005
Teams not in final poll: 10
Teams <= 5 spots: 11
Teams <= 9 spots: 12
Teams <= 10 spots: 3

Rob vs. Coaches for 2005
Teams not in final poll: 12
Teams <= 5 spots: 9
Teams <= 9 spots: 11
Teams <= 10 spots: 2

Richie vs. Coaches for 2005
Teams not in final poll: 10
Teams <= 5 spots: 8
Teams <= 9 spots: 11
Teams <= 10 spots: 4

Michah vs. Coaches for 2005
Teams not in final poll: 13
Teams <= 5 spots: 8
Teams <= 9 spots: 11
Teams <= 10 spots: 1

What can be concluded from this? Those of us that do not get paid to coach the sport do just as well at picking top-25 preseason teams as those who actually help decide the outcomes! I think we all did a pretty darned good job last year. And this year, only time will tell, but I think it's shaping up to be just as great! =)

Okay, you are definitely in the pollster mindset as I would have never even thought about evaluating those kind of stats.

That being said, here's your next statistical challenge (should you choose to accept it). How do the various entities rank when considering only the top 10? If you consider the bottom 15 are really the bubble teams and typically drop in and out all year long, the true heart of the poll is in the top 10 teams. I think that's where I find the most humor in your picks.

But hey, you're putting more effort into this than I could ever have time to and I applaud you for it. Don't take my humor the wrong way. I just think it makes for great discussion.

If you blow the others away with your picks, I salute your insight.

Anyway, I just can't wait for it to finally be "football weather" here in South Texas.

OK, flat out, Richie should be removed from college football analysis. It is blatantly obvious he is letting his petty grudge against Notre Dame get in the way of rational analysis.

He may think that the Irish are overrated at #2. That's fine. But not to even have them ranked? While, for example, Pitt, 42-21 losers at home to Notre Dame in 2005, is ranked 10th? Just silly.

Richie may dislike ND, but at least he could pretend to be objective. Otherwise, his only contribution to the site is to cheapen Rob's and Micah's analyses and to undermine the credibility of OutSports.com to be associated with Richie. Other sports sites certainly wouldn't tolerate such behavior.

You know what? This is crazy! Richie's pre-season poll is (if I understand the philosophy correctly) his opinion about where teams will end up at the end of the season. It's HIS opinion -- one man's. Just because you disagree with it, doesn't mean he should be excluded from participation here. If you disagree, say why, move on and watch the damn games!

I'm as big a Husker fan as there is and I think he's absolutely bonkers for picking Nebraska at #3. They are a 9-4 team this year at best, in my opinion. But his Outsports poll is HIS opinion, not mine. Just because Notre Dame or West Virginia or whatever other pre-season darling isn't in Richie's poll doesn't mean you should argue for removing from Outsports.

Why not just sit back, relax and enjoy the football season? If Notre Dame, West Virginia or <insert your favorite team here> is that good, they'll prove it on the field!

[ August 29, 2006, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: NorCalHusker ]

Notre Dame, since 1999, has finished ranked in the top-25 only 3 times.

2005 - 9th
2004 - NR
2003 - NR
2002 - 17th
2001 - NR
2000 - 15th
1999 - NR

How does that compare to Notre Dame being ranked preseason?

2005 - NR
2004 - NR
2003 - 18th
2002 - NR
2001 - 16th
2000 - NR*
1999 - (no record found)

(* for 2000 I could not find the preseason poll, but used after the first week where only 2 teams had games recorded)

The Fighting Irish have consistently been ranked lower than their preseason poll in the final poll each year since 1999. Also, Notre Dame has not been ranked at the end of the season in consecutive years since 1995/1996. Perhaps my call on them not being ranked stems from these instead of just my personal bias.

Also, the stats I did on preseason / final rankings was not intended to "cheapen" Rob's or Micha's opinions/thoughts in any manner. The point was to prove that preseason polls are never correct, no matter who fills them out.

If Notre Dame is able to prove on the field they are a good team, then in the Dirty Dozen and the final Outsports.com poll, they will get ranked accordingly.

Richie, we lost to VT last year in the fifth game. Last year was supposed to be a "rebuilding" year for WVU. We did rebuild, but the products of that rebuilding were not recognized until we played Louisville. Our starting line-up for both sides of the ball was not really stabilized until the 8th game when we played USF.

Just remember, Slaton and White were not starters in the VT game. They played, yes. Slaton had a total of 11 carries in the game and netted 90 yards. White had yet to start a game. Mozes only had 2 starts as center but ended up an AA at that position. Our offensive line starters were not set until after the 6th game of the season.

I'm not trying to make excuses for the VT game last year. We lost. However, had we played VT around the 8th-11th game of the season, I'd be willing to bet the outcome would have been very different. WVU was a late blooming team.

I will say this. VT would NOT have beaten UGA in the Sugar Bowl. You choked against one of the weakest FSU teams in 20 years. You almost and should have lost to Louisville who was playing without their star QB in your bowl and you were playing a QB that should have been IN JAIL.

I dare you to say WVU would not be a competitive team in the ACC had they been asked to join. The best teams in the ACC the last 2 years are the same teams from the BE that WVU beat out or tied for the BE championship in 2003 (of which VT did not get a share.)

It is fortunate for WVU that much like F$U 1990-2003, we have hardly any competition in the BE and the BE still has its BCS bid. The ACC was one of the worst BCS conferences year in and year out before they took the 3 teams from the BE. They definitely would have been the weakest BCS conference last year if it wasn't for the former BE teams. Well...the Big East won it's BCS game. How'd that work out for the ACC last year?

To add to that...VT wouldn't even be in the ACC if, like GM said, you didn't beg your governor to con UVA to vote against the expansion if VT wasn't part of it. THE ACC DID NOT WANT YOU! Already the ACC is regretting letting VT in because of the shit VT has pulled with all the arrests, the NCAA sniffing around with the housing violations, and the lack of sportsmanship by your players and coaches. Wow, how proud your fans must be of such goodness and purity.

Just be glad your precious castrated turkeys are not playing WVU this year. I know the BE is glad to be rid of thug programs like VT and Miami and still maintain their BCS bid without the bad reputation from the 3 schools that left. BC's gambling scandal and other problems, Miami and their several years on NCAA probation, VT's lack of control of their players on AND off the field are good examples.

Good riddance IMO.

Absolutely! Some of you need to chill. You take this way too seriously. These are PRESEASON predictions, nothing else. Who cares? We'll know during the season who was right or not. Will Notre Dame cancel its season because Outsports picked them out of the Top 25? Feel free to disagree but don't dare claim Richie knows nothing about college football. We wouldn't use him otherwise -- he has been writing for us for years and is always perceptive and entertaining and knowledgable. And he has an admitted VT bias! There are tons of examples of teams being ranked high and sucking an not being ranked and having a banner season.

[ August 30, 2006, 12:55 AM: Message edited by: Jim at Outsports ]

richie's predictions are laughable. notre dame not ranked? nebraska number three? pitt number ten????

ramonce taylor has transferred from texas, btw.

"The Fighting Irish have consistently been ranked lower than their preseason poll in the final poll each year since 1999. "


A completely irrelevant and misleading stat. Charlie Weis hasn't been the coach since 1999, only since 2005. There is a HUGE different between Weis and Davie/Willingham.

Anzana make a terrific point. It's never registered with me the amount of airtime analysts, media, and even fans give focusing on past seasons of underachieving teams in applying them to current players and coaches that were not part of the program during those years.


Coaches like Weiss, Rodriguez, Pertino and a couple other college coaches have instilled into their players a winner's mentality that dismisses prior coaches and their success and failures.

Also, Whatever your affinity is with Notre Dame football, but its undeniable Notre Dame football under the guidance of Weiss was the perfect match who's given the injection of energy that was MIA in South Bend since the Holtz era. The recruiting's picked up, enthusiasm is sky high , and college football is a lot more interesting & entertaining with the Irish at the top of the polls.

Before we go annointing Weis as the savior of Notre Dame football, why don't we see if he can first sustain the success he had last year.

Tyrone Willingham took over a 5-6 Notre Dame team, went 10-3 the next year and was annointed the savior of Notre Dame football. He was fired two years later.

Weis took over a 6-6 Notre Dame team, went 9-3 the next year and . . . (wait for it) . . has now been annointed the *next* savior of Notre Dame football.

I personally think Notre Dame will do better this year than Richie apparently does, but if someone wants to have some healthy skepticism about judging the prowess of a coach after one season, I think that's justified by history (in this case, in the very same program fewer than 5 years ago).

[ August 30, 2006, 08:23 AM: Message edited by: NorCalHusker ]

All one has to do is see the difference in Notre Dame 2 seasons ago ( with the same players) in comparison to last year's team.

What happened? Weiss happened.

Weiss is a winner and motivator. His New England Patriot resume illustrates his understanding of being affiliated with championships type teams.

Willingham might work at Univ of Washington, but the jury is still out on whether he's capable of sustaining a good to very good program on a yearly basis. Something that he didn't do even at Stanford on a regular basis before becoming the Irsh's head coach.

There is no reason to compare Weiss to Willingham. Notre Dame is shouldn't be the premise of this debate. Ty's inabilty to produce a constant winner and whether he is a very good coach is the real debate, right?

Until Weiss has a dismal or average season, there is no reason to associate him with Ty's failures in South Bend.

[ August 30, 2006, 12:32 PM: Message edited by: GymMountainEER ]

EER, I think you've missed my point entirely. If you're taking a snapshot of a coach based on 1 year with a program, it may not be an accurate predictor of long term success. Willingham took a 5-6 team at Notre Dame and went 10-3 with them the next season. He was gone 2 years later. Weis took a 6-6 team at Notre Dame and went 9-3 the next season. Very few people looking at Notre Dame under Willingham after one year would have predicted he'd be gone two years later. Just because few people looking at Weis after one year at Notre Dame are predicting he'll fail doesn't mean it won't happen. And if someone wants to argue that it could happen, that Weis might be Notre Dame's long term savior, I think there are legitimate reasons for them to do so.

You say there is no reason to compare Weis to Willingham, yet that is the entire basis of your post. You also say that Willingham's inability to produce a constant winner and whether he is a good coach is the real debate here. Simply put, no it's not. You and Anzana say that Weis is the difference at Notre Dame. So if anything, Weis is the debate.

You argue that the relative success of Weis and Willingham at their previous coaching positions prove that Weis will be a long term success while Willingham proved not to be. Perhaps. Weis is a great offensive coach -- as evidenced by his time with Pats and his first year at Notre Dame. He was an assistant in the NFL dealing with professional players, whereas now he's dealing with student athletes in college. Whether he can put together the right assistants, game plans, recruit, etc., to remain as successful as he was in his first season as head coach remains to be seen; he's only had one year.

Do I think Weis is likely to fail at Notre Dame? No. But I think there's plenty of room for people to take a wait and see attitude -- and to doubt whether this year's team can live up to its pre-season hype. Even if you disagree with that position, I think you'd have to admit that it's at least not unreasonable.

just read the entire preview page...yep, Richie's is pretty unorthodoxed. So be it....but just one thing.

Tell me that the following statement was some sort of joke, or a crack at the Big East:

" BC is the only real football school in the northeast"......

National titles won:(crickets chirping)

compared to...say....Pitt, Syracuse, don't know if Penn State is considered the northeast?

Just bizarre......

[ August 30, 2006, 01:22 PM: Message edited by: blueraider ]

Geographically speaking, BC is the only Div I-A football school in the Northeast. New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey ... those states are all in the Mid-Atlantic.

Yes yes, I know ... semantics can be a blessing and a curse. Syrcause has fallen on hard times since McNabb left before the turn of the century (has it really been that long?) and Buffalo ... well ... we'll leave the Bulls alone. Pitt will have a good team this year and hopefully will win the Big East as I predict, but western PA is hardly in the Northeast. Forget about Temple. They, along with ever-so-pathetic Duke, should stick to basketball.

As for Penn State ... one of these days I'll look on a map of PA and find out where College Station/Happy Valley really is. Something tells me it's in the middle of the state, which is still hard to consider the northeast. Geographically speaking, of course. =)

Don't laugh!

sorry Richie, most of your pics are a joke

Having gone to Penn State, I would say it's in the northeast part of the U.S. Just look at a map. FYI: There is a large state prison in Happy Valley and people always called it the "State pen by Penn State."

Actually, Jim, State College is in the exact center of the state. Here's a map of Pennsylvania. In fact, State College is the county seat of Centre County. And that's been MY Pennsylvania Geography lesson for today .

Richie, I know you hate WVU but there's no way in hell pitt is going place in the top 4 in the BE much less win it. I'd say they were competitive with UL and WVU IF Wannstedt was not their coach. However, Wannstedt is a horrible coach and dumb as a box of rat feces.

You are so totally wrong about pitt it's not even funny. They will be lucky if they place above 5th in the BE behind WVU, UL, Rutgers and probably South Florida. You obviously know nothing about the Big East.

Pitt lost to WVU by 32 last year, lost to UL by 22 and ended up 4th in the BE. They will be lucky to be 4th because all 3 teams ahead of them last year return more talent at skill positions and have better offensive and defensive lines. 2 have better talent at QB. All 3 have better talent at RB. All three have a better defense. Pitt has 2 standout players. Palko and Blades...and Palko cannot show his true talents because pitt's offensive line is so pathetic. Other than that, they have nothing else. WVU, UL Rutgers even South Florida have far more talent than pitt.

Not gonna happen.

Another astute observation:

"Syrcause has fallen on hard times since McNabb left before the turn of the century (has it really been that long?)"

Well, in the post McNabb era, Syracuse was 2-1 against Virginia Tech during its last 3 years of Big East play. I'm just sayin........

As a matter of fact, Tech was a combined 2-7 against the the Eastern fraternity of Syracuse, Pitt, and WVU in its last 3 years of Big East play. OUCH!

Back to the Cuse comment, last season was the Cuse's first dismal season ( 1-10) under first year head Coach Greg Robinson( Ex Longhorn Defensive cordinator) who replaced Paul Pasqualoni. They have been average to good since McNabb left. Most times a coaching change doesn't equate to winning first season. Ask WVU about their 3-8 season in its first year after legendary Don Nehlen retired in 2000. Of course, the following two years of 6-1 Big East records ( only Miami was better) made up for the initial year of growing pains. This season will be very telling for Coach Robinson and the Orange.

Too much History and tradition in Syracuse to assess as falling on " hard times" based off one dismal season. A season in which their was defections and the typical growing pains of a coaching change. If the Orange aren't .500 this season, fire away. However, its premature to think this great program will be down for more than a year or two ( at max).

[ August 30, 2006, 05:45 PM: Message edited by: GymMountainEER ]

Derby,

There is talent on Pitt's roster. HB Blades is an All American at LB. SS Revis is one of the best at his position. Palko is one of the better QB in the Nation if he returns to his sophomore ways.

Pitt's incoming recruting class was a top 10 class by Scout. Athlete Dorin Dickerson should be speical ( similar to PSU's sophomore WR/Athlete Williams) providing a spark needed with speed and athleticism on the pitt offense.

There is undeniable talent on the Pitt roster. Whether Wanny can coach and make it into a cohesive unit is the million dollar question. If Pitt loses to UVA, expect Pitt fans to be in an uproar. If Pitt Beats UVA, look for Pitt to bounce back this season. This weekend is huge fot the future of Panther Football. Do they take steps to become the Big East's 3rd program that can garner national attention or have they conceded this opportunity to Rutgers or a South Florida?

[ August 30, 2006, 05:52 PM: Message edited by: GymMountainEER ]

Syracuse's Record since 1998:
1998: 8-3
1999: 6-5
2000: 6-5
2001: 9-3
2002: 4-8
2003: 6-6
2004: 6-5
2005: 1-10
Combined record since 1998: 46-45.

Barely above .500 is not what I'd call \"average to good\". I went back to 1998 and included that year in there since I think that was the year McNabb left ... if anyone knows for sure which year it was, please, let me know.

As for the Virginia Tech / Syracuse series, I only have data handy that goes back to 1995. If I find earlier data, I'll post it. But for now, here's how the series actually happened.

1995: VT 31, Syracuse 7.
1996: Syracuse 52, VT 21.
1997: VT 31, Syracuse 3.
1998: Syracuse 28, VT 26.*
1999: VT 62, Syracuse 0.**
2000: VT 22, Syracuse 14.
2001: Syracuse 22, VT 14.
2002: Syracuse 50, VT 42.***
2003: VT 51, Syracuse 7.

* McNabb could be seen throwing up on the side line after calling timeout before the last play of this game. Syracuse was down by 4 points. McNabb throws a TD to win. No time left on the clock.
** The stands in Lane Stadium were completely filled until the final few seconds of the game. No one left early. No one. I was there. It was an incredible atmosphere for the game.
*** 3-OT game.

If you go back to 1995, VT is up by 1 game in the series. I'd call it even since I don't have the stats that go back to 1993 when VT finally had its first good season under Frank Beamer.

We are all entitled to our opinions and beliefs, especially in the preseason before any games are played. WVU does have more returning starters on offense than Pitt (and Louisville for that matter), but the game is being played in Pittsburgh. WVU is going to enter that game with a lofty ranking and feel they deserve to win it. Pitt's going to be entering the game with something to prove as the underdog. If you ever read my articles on here, when there's a good shot that an underdog will win a game, I side with that underdog.

The Louisville/Pitt game is also played in Pittsburgh. Same advantage goes to Pitt in this one, especially since it's their last game of the season.

Palko has a much better TD/INT ratio (17-9) than White/Bednarik combined (12-7). He also threw for close to 1000 more yards than those two QBs combined. (White did rush for over 950 yards on 131 attempts last season with 7 TDs on the ground; Palko had 6 TD rushing but was -140 yards rushing.)

Pitt returns one more defensive starter than WVU, including their leading tackler Blades. I feel the defenses are even on paper and would be even on a neutral field, however the game's not being played on a neutral field. Advantage goes to Pitt.


That's a rather harsh comment and one that's not filled with facts to back it up. It's your personal belief that I know nothing about Big East football, and you're entitled to that. But to claim that I know nothing about the football conference ... is just wrong. You might not agree with my statements or feelings about the teams in the conference, and that is absolutely fine. In fact that's encouraged. But to say that I know nothing about Big East football ... well that's just outrageous.

While I'm afraid to jump into this Big East lovefest I do find it interesting that Richie put my natural home state (Arkansas) ahead of my adopted home state (Texas). Both have freshmen quarterbacks but Texas has far more talent on their squad than Arkansas can hope to have.

Richie, that positioning alone makes me suspicious of your picks. I'm finding more fun in dissecting your choices to find your reasoning. Oh well, I'll just kick back and enjoy the fun this year. BTW, less than 24 hours until the college pigskins fly.

TEXAS FIGHT!

RBear - every so often Houston Nutt is able to put together an incredible team. Remember back in his first (maybe second) year as the HC, he reeled off a 9-2 season? It surprised the heck out of everyone. This season, he's got 19 starters back, 10 of which are on offense. Yes, the QB is going to be problematic, but the rest of the team is overly experienced. This Arkansas team reminds me of a freshman-led Virginia Tech team from 1999. Especially with all their tough games being played in Fayetteville apart from the one at Auburn (which I think the Hogs will lose). That game at Auburn is early enough in the season they can bounce back in the polls and finish highly ranked. Can't wait to watch them play this season!

Syracuse had 2 losing seasons in the last 8 years. That hardly is "falling" on hard times.

While you point out Syracuse's .500 record as a premise for this assesment, what if we apply your brillant reasoning to Tech's last last 3 years of .500 play in the Big East? Tech was 11-10 in its last 3 years of Big East play. Its a good thing Rutgers and Temple were around to assist with 6 of those wins. If not for Knights and Owls, VT would have landed in last place those three years. Does this mean Tech had fallen on hard times in the BE before joining the ACC? wink

[ August 30, 2006, 08:50 PM: Message edited by: GymMountainEER ]

Don't know if you knew it but they revived the rivalry for 2008 and 2009. It will be very interesting to see the two QBs (Colt McCoy and Mitch Mustain) match up along with the squads. Besides I was at the last UT-Ark game in Austin when the Hawgs shocked Texas at home.

I'd love it if the Hawgs pulled in a good season. They have been so unpredictable in prior years. The most excitement in the past has been their record breaking OT games so something has to happen.

Not really.....since McNabb left Syracuse, Va Tech has had a better overall record than Syracuse and has been in the national spotlight while Syracuse has not been the program that they were from the undefeated season('87) up through McNabb's final season('98).

I don't feel like posting all kinds of stats that one could find for themselves to debate this, just trust me on that one.

I saw Oklahoma #25 in someone's poll..NOW that was funny!! Can't wait for the word to see we haven't lost a beat vs UAB..even though it's lowly UAB..BOOMER SOONER!!

"Not really.....since McNabb left Syracuse, Va Tech has had a better overall record than Syracuse and has been in the national spotlight while Syracuse has not been the program that they were from the undefeated season('87) up through McNabb's final season('98).

I don't feel like posting all kinds of stats that one could find for themselves to debate this, just trust me on that one."


You don't have to post stats on this subject. It wouldn't be applicable to the debate at hand. I am in agrement VT has been better than SU football. That wasn't the point.


I'm failing to see where I compared Tech to Syracuse during the post McNabb era. I simply applied Richie's brilliant assesment SU football record of being just above .500 as the premise for the Orange falling on hard times. If we applied this same analogy, what is VIrginia Tech's excuse during their last 3 years of Big East play? Tech barely sported the same .500 record of 11-10 in Big East play as Syracuse has overall since McNabb era. Also, 6 of those 11 wins during that time was against Rutgers and Temple. VT football had fallen on hard times it seems and become average.

If SU football had fallen on hard times ( 2 losing seasons in 8 years), then Virginia Tech should ne happy about their new home in the ACC since they were barely a .500 ( half of their wins against Rutgers and Temple) team in the Big East in their last 3 years. wink


Also, Syracuse has typically played the most difficult OCC schedule of any BE team.

[ August 31, 2006, 08:12 AM: Message edited by: GymMountainEER ]

I was using overall records, not conference play. If you want those statistics for conference play, I'd be happy to throw them up for you in the Big East discussion board and I'll post it for all teams, not just Syracuse or VT. Hmmm, I wonder how the Mountaineers did during that same time period ...