I think Charlie Strong will have a great season in the Big East.
Total Comments (14550)
Examples of the "Sophomore Flash"-
Bob Stoops/OU/1999 (7-5), 2000 (13-0) BCS Title
Jim Tressel/OSU/2001 (7-5), 2002 (14-0) BCS Title
Urban Meyer/UF/2005 (9-3), 2006 (13-1) BCS Title
Pete Carroll/USC/2001 (6-6), 2002 (11-2) BCS Bowl Win
Mark Richt/UGA/2001 (8-4), 2002 (13-1) BCS Bowl Win
Nick Saban/UA/2007 (7-6), 2008 (12-2) BCS Bowl
Jimbo is the name that jumps out in my mind as the guy with the best chance to show The Right Stuff this year (ugh, can't believe I typed that). They have talent already in place and he has had the reins plenty IMO.
Kelly may get the vaunted but underachieving ND talent moving in the right direction, but I have my doubts about them.
Charlie Strong will make Louisville better, but I think he'll need time for his recruiting to improve the talent level significantly before he can show serious and solid rewards.
QUOTE(#3):
Charlie Strong will make Louisville better, but I think he'll need time for his recruiting to improve the talent level significantly before he can show serious and solid rewards.
The top 3 finishers in the Big East last year have new coaches, a great opportunity for one of the sophomore coaches to step up and win the title. True that Strong didn't inherit a lot of talent, but neither did his competition. I think he has an excellent chance to get to a BCS bowl this season.
QUOTE(#4):
The top 3 finishers in the Big East last year have new coaches, a great opportunity for one of the sophomore coaches to step up and win the title. True that Strong didn't inherit a lot of talent, but neither did his competition. I think he has an excellent chance to get to a BCS bowl this season.
If UConn can get to a BCS bowl, then any team can. This is the year before TCU starts rolling over the Big East.
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Agree with GR. FSU may be the best bet for a final top 5 in that list. Instead of ND or the Cardinals I will go with USF as having great potential as well-get by ND and its easy to see them winning out.
QUOTE(#6):
Agree with GR. FSU may be the best bet for a final top 5 in that list. Instead of ND or the Cardinals I will go with USF as having great potential as well-get by ND and its easy to see them winning out.
It's a good thing I'm typing, 'cause if I had to say this I'd probably get sick, but this could be the year the Domers actually have something to boast about. Kelly's got talent to work with and he won the Big East in his second year at Cincy.
QUOTE(#4):
The top 3 finishers in the Big East last year have new coaches, a great opportunity for one of the sophomore coaches to step up and win the title. True that Strong didn't inherit a lot of talent, but neither did his competition. I think he has an excellent chance to get to a BCS bowl this season.
Good point, TtT. And as BSB says, this is the last year the Big East doesn't have that new fox in their henhouse -- that whole situation reminds me of the ACC letting FSU come in and crush them all collectively for a gazillion years. Charlie might just get this last "easy and pre-TCU" BCS invite.
QUOTE(#3):
Jimbo is the name that jumps out in my mind as the guy with the best chance to show The Right Stuff this year (ugh, can't believe I typed that). They have talent already in place and he has had the reins plenty IMO.
Kelly may get the vaunted but underachieving ND talent moving in the right direction, but I have my doubts about them.
Charlie Strong will make Louisville better, but I think he'll need time for his recruiting to improve the talent level significantly before he can show serious and solid rewards.
I agree on all three.
I think FSU is BCS bound this year. The return 16 starters and are coming off a bowl win over USCe. With a little luck (e.g., Oklahoma getting upset by the Pokes or the SEC champ ending up with two losses), I'd give them an outside chance at the NCG.
Kelly has picked up some solid defense recruits (two 5* Defensive Ends, several 4* DBs) which is what that team was missing (except for the notable exception of Te'o) under Weiss. They may need a season to gel, but this program is definitely on the upswing.
Strong has the makings of an excellent Head Coach, but Louisville is not a great football school. He's got a year or two of rebuilding the program before I'd expect them be better than .500
QUOTE(#9):
I think FSU is BCS bound this year. The return 16 starters and are coming off a bowl win over USCe. With a little luck (e.g., Oklahoma getting upset by the Pokes or the SEC champ ending up with two losses), I'd give them an outside chance at the NCG.
They have to beat the Hokies IMO. They are the big dogs in the ACC for now.
Total Comments (14550)
QUOTE(#10):
They have to beat the Hokies IMO. They are the big dogs in the ACC for now.
True, although they are in different divisions, so won't face each other until the CCG.
I just checked their schedule and it looks like FSU has a bigger obstacle looming in September, when a certain team from Norman comes a callin'.
QUOTE(#11):
True, although they are in different divisions, so won't face each other until the CCG.I just checked their schedule and it looks like FSU has a bigger obstacle looming in September, when a certain team from Norman comes a callin'.
FSU takes that one, IMO. They have had that date circled since last year's buttkicking, and you can be sure Jimbo hasn't quit reminding them of that through this entire offseason. I think the Sooners will lose this one to the Choppers.
QUOTE(#10):
They have to beat the Hokies IMO. They are the big dogs in the ACC for now.
The ACC needs a big showdown CCG after some of these pattycake championship games with half-empty stadiums recently. A pair of undefeated division champs would really go a long way towards earning some respect for the league, and they need it. Badly.
QUOTE(#12):
FSU takes that one, IMO. They have had that date circled since last year's buttkicking, and you can be sure Jimbo hasn't quit reminding them of that through this entire offseason. I think the Sooners will lose this one to the Choppers.
Just don't see FSU outscoring OU in this one. In one respect it doesn't matter-both OU and FSU are very likely BCS bowl bound anyway.
QUOTE(#14):
Just don't see FSU outscoring OU in this one. In one respect it doesn't matter-both OU and FSU are very likely BCS bowl bound anyway.
I give the edge to the Noles based on home field advantage. When the Noles have the crowd behind them, Ron Zook field is a difficult place to play.
Total Comments (14550)
QUOTE(#15):
I give the edge to the Noles based on home field advantage. When the Noles have the crowd behind them, Ron Zook field is a difficult place to play.
The do have the whole chant thing down pretty good. I just see a better offense (by a decent margin) on the OU side of this one.
Tending to agree with AP here...OU has the guns to overcome the home field advantage that FSU will have
QUOTE(#17):
Tending to agree with AP here...OU has the guns to overcome the home field advantage that FSU will have
And according to my preview mag (PS) OU pretty much owns FSU. 5 in a row.
QUOTE(#9):
I agree on all three. I think FSU is BCS bound this year. The return 16 starters and are coming off a bowl win over USCe. With a little luck (e.g., Oklahoma getting upset by the Pokes or the SEC champ ending up with two losses), I'd give them an outside chance at the NCG.Kelly has picked up some solid defense recruits (two 5* Defensive Ends, several 4* DBs) which is what that team was missing (except for the notable exception of Te'o) under Weiss. They may need a season to gel, but this program is definitely on the upswing.Strong has the makings of an excellent Head Coach, but Louisville is not a great football school. He's got a year or two of rebuilding the program before I'd expect them be better than .500
On the ND topic I cry a giant "meh". "http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1238729" has a funny recruiting article. ND has the 14th best recruiting ranking over the last 10 years but only the 46th best record....
IMHO a lot of recruits gain a star or two by listing "ND" as the school of choice instead of Purdue or KSU or whomever.
QUOTE(#15):
When the Noles have the crowd behind them, Ron Zook field is a difficult place to play.
ROFLMAO!
Where'e EWO?!? When he sees that, he'll throw his tomahawk through the nearest wall...
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