Week 3 and more

[russ1945]

2 weeks into the season you should have a better grasp on most of the teams. Yu can quit using the preseason polls as a barometer as a rule and look at actual performances now. I ran some number of some (not all of the 128 teams) and I classified them as SAME or UP or Down from last seasons performances. This is based on my average ranking system and you have to realize that I don’t start relying on it until conference play has begun. But some of these teams have faced quality oppontents and others have not performed as well against non-quality opponents as one might have expected. Here is the list.

SAME - Arizona, Arizona St, Auburn, Baylor, Lousiville, Marshall, Miss State, N. Illinois, Oregon, Penn St (could move to UP if they increase offensive scoring), USC, and Stanford.

UP - BYU, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ole Miss, N. Dame, Oklahoma, Pitt, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Nebraska

DOWN - Alabama, Florida St, Ohio St, UCLA, S. Carolina, Wisconsin

Also keep in mind this does not teams are stuck in those categories. They could move up or down as the season progresses. These number are much more meaningful come November and bowl time.

Some of these may appear obvious but I am looking at the numbers. Did not have time to do my whole spreadsheet this weekend. If you want more info on these or any other teams just let me know. BOL

 

[russ1945]

During the off season I expressed my opinions about Texas hiring Strong. He claims to be cleaning up the program but he is really just setting up an excuse for another bad season. I am not sure i if anyone was sure if Ash could get through another season without further injury but you still had to question how effective Ash would be even if he made it thru the entire season. What message is Strong sending to his players. Even more importantly what message is he sending to future recruits. Who wants to play for a hard ass. Texas used to have the top recruits in Texas knocking down the door but now Texas A&M and Baylor are getting most of their attention. Who would you rather play for Strong, or Briles, or Sumlin.

I still say they settled for Strong. If they lose to UCLA (who has not looked great to date) then they will be 1-2. Phil Steele tabbed them for his top 25.They face Baylor (Oct 4) and Oklahoma (Oct 11) back to back and following that in all likely hood will stand at 2-4. I thought 8-5 would be a max out even with Ash but that might not happen now. Sure if they beat UCLA, Baylor, and Oklahoma they are off and running. I don't see that happening though. The direction for the Longhorn program continues to decline and what indication is there that it will begin to ascend in 2015.

I am not anti Texas and thought that with the right hire they might start to climb back. I still think the staff that is now at Louisville is better than the one that left there and moved to Austin. All in all I am not convinced that hiring Strong was the right thing to do. I also think that the top dogs like Saban did not see Texas as a land of opportunity, at least not worth leaving what they have. The arrogance of that athletic dept reached an all time high with their TV contracts but everything has gone down hill since. Money can't buy you love and it can't buy you wins.

 

[KennyB]

Don't understand why Alabama is down. They totally destroyed FAU (which they were supposed to) but they allowed zero points, gave up 24 carries for 55 yds on the ground and 88 yards passing. Offensively in 53 minutes they have 620 yds of total offense.

 

[CoachCB]

WTF is going on at Vandy? How did that bone-head coach allow that team to fall from grace overnight? Similar the the job Johnson did at Southern Miss a couple of years ago after Fedora left.

 

[rivercitybirdie]

i think strong was a bad choice for texas just based on geography. thinking all these powerhouse teams should hire coaches from their general area.

 

[russ1945]

Don't understand why Alabama is down. They totally destroyed FAU (which they were supposed to) but they allowed zero points, gave up 24 carries for 55 yds on the ground and 88 yards passing. Offensively in 53 minutes they have 620 yds of total offense.

And West Virginia scored 23 and had 393 total yards. Nebraska held FAU to 7 points, big deal. And then in week two perenial power (lol) rings up 24 points and 338 yards on Nebraska. On week 4 Bama meets Florida and how their offense does against that defense may define their season. If you read my post I said the numbers showed them down and they do.

 

[russ1945]

i think strong was a bad choice for texas just based on geography. thinking all these powerhouse teams should hire coaches from their general area.

Good point, I think by passing Briles and Sumlin indicates that they thought that they might be settling on another Texas coach. I think they wanted an outsider and possibly someone they could semi-control. I don't think Strong is a rogue I think he has the blessing of the higher ups and that is part of the problem. They accuse the players of being spoiled etc but that comes from those who control the program. It never was all on Mack.

 

[In2Sports]

When do you start using/looking at the teams that fall out of the top 25 and the teams that replace them?
Thanks for all U do

 

[CoachCB]

Strong is taking too much Urban Meyer philosophy w/ him (in coming into the new program). He's trying to show that HE is in charge. The blueprint worked for Meyer at 4 stops (BGSU, Utah, Florida, and OSU). But Meyer inherited good QBs everywhere he's been and has generally won & lost based on how good his QB is. Strong had a great QB at Louisville...he has a DUD at Texas. It's going to be a long process....and if he doesn't get it turned around by next season he could be in trouble. I think he'll turn it around....they're just going to take some lumps this year.

 

[WinOne]

Gotta remember what many of us have been saying for 5+ years now and that is the talent at Texas is way, way down. For all the nice RBs they've recruited, their OL couldn't bust a grape. It's evident by the fact that they've not sent an OL to the NFL in forever. Michael Brewer from the Lake Travis area is just another example of a QB that Texas did not get and he's a legacy if I am not mistaken. I for one don't think Strong will succeed there but he's going to get the time because he's Patterson's first hire. What Strong is doing can be done at L'Ville or some 2nd level school, but doing it at Texas is causing folks to panic. There are better ways to get your point across. What he's doing is hurting the other kids as well and they are not going to want to stay. I'll bet there is a huge exodus at seasons end.

 

[russ1945]

When do you start using/looking at the teams that fall out of the top 25 and the teams that replace them?
Thanks for all U do

That is why I started this thread. I think the following teams could be follow teams that could make the final top 25: Marshall, Boise St, Louisville, N. Illinois, Virginia Tech, BYU, and Pitt. Teams that could fall: Ohio St, UCLA, S. Carolina, Wisconsin, N. Carolina, Missouri and Washington. I will go into more detail later.

 

[russ1945]

Gotta remember what many of us have been saying for 5+ years now and that is the talent at Texas is way, way down. For all the nice RBs they've recruited, their OL couldn't bust a grape. It's evident by the fact that they've not sent an OL to the NFL in forever. Michael Brewer from the Lake Travis area is just another example of a QB that Texas did not get and he's a legacy if I am not mistaken. I for one don't think Strong will succeed there but he's going to get the time because he's Patterson's first hire. What Strong is doing can be done at L'Ville or some 2nd level school, but doing it at Texas is causing folks to panic. There are better ways to get your point across. What he's doing is hurting the other kids as well and they are not going to want to stay. I'll bet there is a huge exodus at seasons end.

I agree and you are close to the program and more in the know than I am. Coach is right, I think patience is running thin already. I just don't think he or his staff are ready for the big move up but that is just me. Look what Sumlin did at A&M. A HC has to be able to relate to his players, that is one thing Mack did well. I am like you in that I think the talent pool is down. Not going after Brewer is indicative of some of the indecision that is going on down there. A good QB is vital now days. Did any kids leave when they make the coaching change?

 

[WinOne]

I agree and you are close to the program and more in the know than I am. Coach is right, I think patience is running thin already. I just don't think he or his staff are ready for the big move up but that is just me. Look what Sumlin did at A&M. A HC has to be able to relate to his players, that is one thing Mack did well. I am like you in that I think the talent pool is down. Not going after Brewer is indicative of some of the indecision that is going on down there. A good QB is vital now days. Did any kids leave when they make the coaching change?

Not really however I think after this season you'll see some kids either come out early or look to transfer. I played golf this afternoon with one of my longhorn buddies and he's already hearing rumors about kids. There was no gradual change for them.

 

[WinOne]

Not really however I think after this season you'll see some kids either come out early or look to transfer. I played golf this afternoon with one of my longhorn buddies and he's already hearing rumors about kids. There was no gradual change for them.

I should have added...If they don't turn it around by end of season.

 

[russ1945]

Not really however I think after this season you'll see some kids either come out early or look to transfer. I played golf this afternoon with one of my longhorn buddies and he's already hearing rumors about kids. There was no gradual change for them.

That's really a shame. I think too much of the blame is being pinned on the kids. I think it comes from the top and in general is a result of an overall mindset and attitude that transcends to the kids. Does a 25 year old hotel maintain it's 5 star rating just because it was worthy of that rating 25 years ago. Oklahoma had some flat years, most programs do. I remember catching flack on here for saying Florida would not be a dynasty. I was not anti Florida I just saw it coming. We hear about the "elite" programs but all that really matters is the here and now. Auburn and Florida St are not upstarts they have some tradition too but they have coaches who relate to their players and have and nurture exceptional QB's. That is where Texas has been lacking lately. Tradition is great and well deserved but it suffers when those running the current program have failed to maintain it. The accusing finger should be pointing up, not down.

 

[GoSooners]

If things go like they always seem to go in college football, Strong will be gone after 3 years, but Texas will become a very good team again with Strong's recruits. Just keep in mind that Strong may not be gone quite as fast as everybody thinks. There are some HUGE egos down om the 40 Acres, and they are very slow in admitting they are wrong..

 

[russ1945]

If things go like they always seem to go in college football, Strong will be gone after 3 years, but Texas will become a very good team again with Strong's recruits. Just keep in mind that Strong may not be gone quite as fast as everybody thinks. There are some HUGE egos down om the 40 Acres, and they are very slow in admitting they are wrong..

Maybe someone is leaning on Strong to clean up the program but that puts the load on Strong. Too much discipline discourages potential recruits.
All in all GS I just think Strong is not ready or able to cope with the upgrade in competition that Texas brings with it over what Louisville had faced with him at the helm. He had a talented QB that may have made him look better than he was as a HC. He will have to prove himself at least to me and I think the entire program is in disarray at this point and time. Getting rid of Mack was just the first hurdle in a race that has many more to clear.

 

[WinOne]

I said this last December I believe in a post with SDF. If you get rid of Mack Brown, you have to have his replacement already lined up and it better be someone that the community can rally around (Saban, Urban, Dantonio, Franklin, etc). I did not believe that Strong was in that field and it seems for whatever reason no one wanted this job. We'll see on the recruits. He's not hit any homeruns at this point in recruiting

 

[GoSooners]

Red McCombs is sitting back in his easy chair smoking cigars and saying "I told ya so"

 

[Well-Seasoned]

I said this last December I believe in a post with SDF. If you get rid of Mack Brown, you have to have his replacement already lined up and it better be someone that the community can rally around (Saban, Urban, Dantonio, Franklin, etc). I did not believe that Strong was in that field and it seems for whatever reason no one wanted this job. We'll see on the recruits. He's not hit any homeruns at this point in recruiting

If you are a recruit in Texas you can go play for Baylor (a more recent up-and-coming team with a brand new stadium where you can make your own tradition and legacy), or you can go play for Texas A&M since they are in the SEC while staying at Home in Texas, or you can go play for Oklahoma (a consistent, traditional powerhouse team that is always there each year in national discussions)........