Poll Positions

2008-09-10T11:07:50-04:00

Perusing this week's <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/specials/top25_front/voters.html?SITE=KYLOU">Associated Press Top 25 voter breakdown</a>, there were a few ballots that caught my attention. Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury submitted this interesting top 3: No. 1 Missouri, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 East Carolina. Forget USC, Georgia, Oklahoma, Florida and Ohio State -- Mr. Wilner wants results against real opponents, and all three of those teams have delivered. Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman was similarly impressed with East Carolina's start, ranking the Pirates No. 2 (they are No. 14 in the overall poll). Molly Yanity of the Seattle Post-Intelligence gave LSU its only No. 1 vote, and provided Kentucky with all six of its points by slotting the Wildcats at No. 20. That vote allowed every SEC East team to receive votes this week. Georgia received 23 first-place votes, but the only voter who resides in Georgia, Adam Van Brimmer of the Savannah Morning News, not only didn't have Georgia No. 1, he had Georiga No. 3 in the SEC (and No. 5 overall), behind No. 2 Florida and No. 3 Alabama. Marcus Fuller of the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press fell asleep at the wheel, submitting West Virginia at No. 15 and East Carolina at No. 25 even though East Carolina whipped the Mountaineers 24-3. Which brings us to Maurice Patton of the Nashville Tennessean, who hopefully emailed the wrong version of his poll to the AP home office this week. Clearly, something was amiss. Mr. Patton had Tennessee at No. 20 and UCLA unranked. (UCLA beat Tennessee 27-24.) He submitted Clemson at No. 17 and Alabama at No. 21. (Alabama routed Clemson 34-10.) And finally, he had West Virginia at No. 16 and East Carolina at No. 23. (As mentioned above, ECU beat WVU 24-3.) Let's hope Mr. Patton double-checks his final version next week. Poll Positions

2008-09-09T01:29:19-04:00

2008-09-10T06:38:23-04:00

2008-09-09T20:41:27-04:00

God King

Troutdale 112308

@ PTHoopster - You are too funny...that was a nice humorous essay you wrote there. I noticed, about half way through, you did your backtracking. "MIZZOU sux, BUT...they DO have a "few" good players, ie, Daniel, Maclin, Coffman, Jackson, Washington, Weatherspoon, Sulak, (you left out a few) etc, etc." FYI, this "potent" Texas D you speak of has given up OVER 700 yards "O" themselves (compared to 866 by MIZZOU). Oklahoma has definately looked the most impressive out of the three. As for the abilities of Daniel & Maclin, if they were slightly above average players how come THEY are the ones mentioned in the Heisman Race and no Longhorns (and one Sooner)??? Remember, Daniel played only 1+ Quarters last week, as well as Maclin. Juice Williams is even mentioned as a Heisman runner at this time...of course, according to YOUR "numbers" he "still can't throw"...but I digress. Which "month" are you referring too? October?? Yeah, that's the month that will tell whom the Players or Pretenders are. Texas just better hope that Oklahoma doesn't hurt any of their good players (and vice-versa). As for those stats, next time, do your OWN fact checking, FIRST...here, here's a good link for you: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/ Personally, I think both Oklahoma AND Missouri are better than LSU and Florida. 2706029

2008-09-09T17:28:48-04:00

WVUfan

Buffalo 517887

Bronco - I don't wish anything but the best for ECU. They played WVU very tough in 2-3 games prior to last Saturday. I guess I find it ironic how many people (including the media) talk about how worthless the polls are early in the year and then shout "they beat the #8 team in the country" in one paragraph and talk about how overrated the team is in another. Or, alternatively, they talk about team's weak schedules for the Big East and ACC and then laud Wisconsin and PSU for beating Coastal Carolina, Akron, Marshall and Ore. State. The polls are a joke this time of year. ECU should be credited, but launched to #2? They beat two teams with big question marks ... they may rebound, and ECU should benefit, or they could collapse (not helping ECU). The jury is still out. 2704594

2008-09-09T16:49:53-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/461/018/thumb/P1000486.jpg 22 GA

Broncobeno

Athens 461458

Pipe down WVUfan. Geez. We all understand that. For right now though, those victories are impressive. They're East Carolina University! I didn't even know what Carolina they were in until this past weekend. Wouldn't it behoove your school for ECU to go on a roll and show everyone that they are, really, truly, a great team? 2704229

2008-09-09T16:15:49-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/517/110/thumb/Sashes.jpg 33 OR

Calmplexity

Salem 517550

No team with a loss should be ranked anywhere in the top 25 right now. 2703794

2008-09-09T14:23:01-04:00

WVUfan

Buffalo 517887

Just curious ... if ECU runs the table and WVU and VT stay off the map, then ECU will have basically run an unimpressive schedule right? Put another way, if only one of their opponents is ranked at the end of the year, then would it look as impressive as everyone screaming "they beat two ranked teams" in the first two weeks of the season (and the pollsters were wrong to have them there)? ECU has done a nice job and they should be rewarded, but it's not like they beat USC and Georgia in the first two weeks and does anyone really think that they're a top 15 team so far? VT burned a redshirt on a QB immediately after their game and everyone is calling for Stewart's head after two games. 2702430

2008-09-09T13:09:00-04:00

PTHoopster

Glencoe 386213

Mizzou? Demolish? Can you use those words together then its defense allowed so many yards AND points to the Illini? There's no demolish in there. That's like the writers here in Oklahoma calling Ok State's victory over Houston a romp and a "decisive" victory despite tailing at the half and allowing 483 yards and 37 points. To say, thus far, that Mizzou has outplayed Texas or OU (Hell, maybe even Kansas pending how they play at USF) is a mockery. It's a laughing stock. And as for the being the only team to demolish a ranked team, that title goes to ECU who spanked WV 24-3. I mean seriously...did you see how bad the Illini looked early on Saturday? Juice Williams STILL can't throw and STILL lit up Mizzou's defense. As for the Texas "push-overs" maybe you don't know how good a team Flordia Atlantic is. You're month is going to get you in trouble.OU beat Mizzou twice last year, and, in your words, demolished them the second time. This OU team...better. Warm-up? There's a nation of people laughing at you right now. Texas is one of them. You play IN Austin. Good luck. Texas will be out with bloodlust after the Sooners beat them. Warm-up? The Sooners have their own Jeremy Maclim in Ryan Broyles. And a much more savvy quarterback. Nothing against Chase Daniels. As well as a more talented offensive and defensive line and a better backfield. OU-Mizzou would be a great game in the Big 12 Title...don't get me wrong. Daniels will be the best QB they face, but Gilyard was every bit as good as Mac. OU might not be able to stop him, but who else does Mizzou have? While at the same time, Mizzou won't be able to stop OU's bevy of talented skill players. Just fine? If Mizzou's defense plays like that the rest of the season I can see three losses already...not counting whatever bowl game they go to, depending on who they face. It's a shame that people have to post bias opinions about their teams only to be brought back down to earth when their team falls. TheTop 10? USC, Georgia, Oklahoma, Flordia, LSU, Mizzou, Ohio State, Penn St, Texas, ECU. That order. If you're a fan of Mandel. He has the Sooners #2, Mizzou #5, Texas #8 2701349

2008-09-09T11:51:31-04:00

God King

Troutdale 112308

@ UTbb3 - I would imagine MIZZOU picked up a #1 (Actually, the AP show them with SIX # 1's) vote due to the fact that they demolished a ranked team that is STILL ranked and did what they were supossed to do against the "push-over" (SEMO). I would ALSO imagine this is due to the fact that MIZZOU is the ONLY top 10 team team to play a ranked team yet...and demolish them. Asides from that, let Texas keep padding their stat's against the "push-overs"...their REAL challenges are JUST beginning...that Oklahoma matchup right BEFORE the MIZZOU game should be a nice warmup for MIZZOU. MIZZOU's "D" will be just fine...although it does help when the "O" is averaging 52 pts a game...wow. 2700433

2008-09-09T11:22:40-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/359/778/thumb/USA_rowing.jpg 42 CA

Stewart L

Oakland 360218

Just because a team wins a game doesn't make it a better team. Case in point, Tennessee playing away nearly beat and should have beat UCLA. It was the better team that night. (and I was rooting for UCLA) 2700055

2008-09-09T11:16:54-04:00

zzdawg

Athens 265022

Broncobeno - couldn't have said better myself. I wonder where he ranks his Georgia Tech team? 2700004

2008-09-09T11:04:47-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/461/018/thumb/P1000486.jpg 22 GA

Broncobeno

Athens 461458

I live in Georgia and am a Georgia fan, and I have to say, Adam Van Brimmer is an idiot. He doesn't know if he's coming or going. I think the only reason he submits these ballots is just to get people riled up. Last week he had Georgia no. 7 and Alabama no. 2. But, after last year's round of BCS games, he slotted Georgia no. 1. Living in Georgia you would think Mr. Van Brimmer would see the games, as Georgia is playing just as well right now (I know against lesser opponents, but you can tell when a team is clicking and when they're not) as they did at the end of last season. Not so fast though. He's the beat writer for Georgia Tech at the Savannah Morning News, which means he would've been in Boston during Georgia's very impressive game against CMU this past weekend. He's just your run of the mill score checker. I'll never know why the AJC stopped all their writers from voting in all polls as well as end of season awards. Now the only voter this state has left is this moron in Savannah. 2699866

Bill Trocchi

Tucker 42721