SI national contenders

[pc72687]

Here is the list:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2006/08/08/main.bar/index.html

[DELTOR]

Wow, we're on there but no LSU or UF??? Something's afoot!

[pc72687]

It does seem wild. I don't see it being possible but then they do explain that many of the people in the "top" spots have rough schedules.

[blues_cap]

yeah, mandel's mouth overtakes his brain most of the time. this guy is the master of the back-pedal as well as a professional "foot remover from the mouth guy"........i read his articles and i am often puzzled by some of his opinions. this is one of those guys whom i would be willing to bet never stepped foot on a football field but somehow is an expert???

[roosterj37]

He might be right but it seems like kinda of a crazy list to me.

[Bburton86]

That list sucks.

[blues_cap]

did i really see f'ing utah on there??? mandel needs to be fired for putting this list out for the public to see.....i wonder if sargarin is his editor??

[GeauxTo]

As Elmer Fudd would say, "Quazy, man, quazy!"

Deep within the writeup on The Barn, it says, "With only one experienced receiver, Courtney Taylor, returning, some new playmakers need to emerge."

Sounds like The Barn is going to have a ferocious passing game!

Heaux Heaux Heaux

[pc72687]

Like I said earlier. Many of these odd teams, ie Georgia Tech, Utah, TCU, and SC all have the bigger teams (UF, AU, ND, OK) on their schedule and victories over these teams would put them in a very good position.

[Bama0wnzall]

I honestly think Utah is a good pick, they are always a force to reckon with.

[WDavE]

Geaux,

The easiest position for a freshman to come in and contribute right away is receiver. I hope it is not your belief that Auburn has not recruited well at this position.

I'll use Rivals since you seem to like them.....
2005
WR
Montez Billings 4-star
Currently is moving up for playing time and is having a very good fall.
Preache Rodriguez 4-star

TE
Tommy Trott 4-star
He will play slot some and has the best hands on the team.
Gabe Mckenzie 4-star



3006
WR
Tim Hawthrone 4-star
He is everything he was advertised to be
Terrell Zachery 4-star

TE
Micheal Goggans 4-star

I hope you DC feels like you do and goes all out to stop the run.....

[TigerFanatic]

here are the teams we all think SHOULD be there and the reasons they are not.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2006/08/07/wideopen.sidebar/index.html

i read that the day before yesterday and never bothered posting it because i thought his selection standards were so freak'n rediculous. i mean give me a break. Utah in over UF, UGA, and LSU? thats just straight anti-SEC bias right there, that blue blooded bast***

[GatorNation]

here are the teams we all think SHOULD be there and the reasons they are not...
Did you guys see the most common traits for the MNC winners in the same article? I thought it was a really good read, and it sort of addresses some of the things about which we've been talking of late:

Most Common Traits: MNC (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2004/mainbar/index.html)

[Gamecocks4Ever]

Well, with the SEC having a conference championship game and many good teams, I hate to say it, but I don't think the SEC will have too many national championship contenders in the future, unless every conference has a championship game. It's just too hard to go undefeated. Our only chance is everyone losing and a one-loss team playing for the title.

[Wizard of Orange]

The Mandel article may be the worst article I've read all year.

However the article on Common traits is as good as anything I've read in a long time. It reinforces a lot of the arguments I've been making in other threads. Very well done and all facts.

[GamecockDieHard]

Did you guys see the most common traits for the MNC winners in the same article? I thought it was a really good read, and it sort of addresses some of the things about which we've been talking of late:

Most Common Traits: MNC (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2004/mainbar/index.html)


This article was the best read of the bunch in this thread, IMO.

But, even IF SC went 12-0 this season, we'd be in the same boat that Auburn was a couple years ago. When any SEC team wins out, it seems the press doesn't think their schedule was as tough as ND, or SoCal, or .....and there's no arguing that we have a questionable schedule this year.

[blues_cap]

that was a pretty good article. the part about the d-line being strong is so true it is ridiculous. when you can get pressure with your front 4(chicago bears last year, alabama/uf last year..hell, front 3) and drop 7/8 in coverage, it can make a long day for a qb. it is simple math, 7 people can usually cover 4 but if you have to blitz 2, 5 covering 4 is much worse odds.

to go out on my homer limb, this is why i think uf's defense has a chance to be special this year. their front 4 is as good as anybody in the country and if macdonald is back to 100% and stephen harris is good to go, it is very strong 2 deep across the line.

[geechee]

I've just gotten back so I didn't read the article yet but that is pure bunk looking at that list. Any list excludes LSU, UF. UGA, and UT but includes Ga. Tech, Loiusville, Utah, and Cal is beyond BS unless I've been gone about a decade more than I think. In fact, I'm not even going to bother to read that. It is almost laughable that this would be SI.

[GTmorris1970]

I've just gotten back so I didn't read the article yet but that is pure bunk looking at that list. Any list excludes LSU, UF. UGA, and UT but includes Ga. Tech, Loiusville, Utah, and Cal is beyond BS unless I've been gone about a decade more than I think. In fact, I'm not even going to bother to read that. It is almost laughable that this would be SI.

It is actually a very good article. They give reasons (Most valid IMO) for what they are saying.

[HMSUDAWGS]

How can you not include Florida, LSU, or Georgia. Sounds like Yankee biased crap.

[geechee]

It is actually a very good article. They give reasons (Most valid IMO) for what they are saying.

I don't care about their reasons really. I've only be gone a week and unless there were big changes I somehow missed, LSU, UGA, UF, and UT would beat the shit out of any of those other teams I mentioned above.

[blues_cap]

he chalks lsu and uf up to scheduel difficulties, which is understandable. he says uga with the new qb will be a transition year. that said, if he thinks utah will make it to the mnc game, he has lost it. i dont think if they went undefeaed and everyone else had 1 loss they would get voted in. wvu has a realistic shot, imo, if they beat louisville.

[GTmorris1970]

I don't care about their reasons really. I've only be gone a week and unless there were big changes I somehow missed, LSU, UGA, UF, and UT would beat the shit out of any of those other teams I mentioned above.

UF was left out because of a schedule that should be illegal, UGA was left out because of a somewhat rebuilding year, young QB, etc., LSU was left out I believe due to internal personnel problems and schedule. Noone has listed Tenn. anywhere that I have seen.

[GAMECOCK_FAN]

I don't care about their reasons really. I've only be gone a week and unless there were big changes I somehow missed, LSU, UGA, UF, and UT would beat the shit out of any of those other teams I mentioned above.
We'll get a chance to see when Tennessee plays Cal on Sep 2nd. It'll be a great opening weekend game. Hope the Vols pound 'em (and I believe the Vols will pull out a victory).

[GamecockDieHard]

he chalks lsu and uf up to scheduel difficulties, which is understandable. he says uga with the new qb will be a transition year. that said, if he thinks utah will make it to the mnc game, he has lost it. i dont think if they went undefeaed and everyone else had 1 loss they would get voted in. wvu has a realistic shot, imo, if they beat louisville.

I see that as the same thing with us too. With our schedule, it would be tough to get the vote, IMO.

[GatorNation]

he chalks lsu and uf up to scheduel difficulties, which is understandable. he says uga with the new qb will be a transition year. that said, if he thinks utah will make it to the mnc game, he has lost it. i dont think if they went undefeaed and everyone else had 1 loss they would get voted in. wvu has a realistic shot, imo, if they beat louisville.

You know what? The schedule argument is ridiculous imo because of the 2004 Auburn team. They ran the entire table, and it didn't mean a thing.

I agree with the Colonel: the powers that be made up their mind that they wanted an OU/USCW title game....Bush vs. Pedersen and all of those Heisman winners/finalists in the marquee game. Auburn never had a shot.

An undefeated SEC team should always get at least a share of the title.

[blues_cap]

I see that as the same thing with us too. With our schedule, it would be tough to get the vote, IMO.

i dont know man. there is a big difference going undefeated at usce or any sec school that going undefeated at utah. you never know, you could pull an auburn and get left out but hopefully that was due to the 3 teams being undefeated rather than sos.

[Wizard of Orange]

If it weren't for the MNC game, maybe some of these questionable picks would have a chance. BUT even if they slip by an easy schedule undefeated, they're gonna have to play a really good team ( unless of course two of the afore mentioned quest. teams go undefeated and no "good" team does)
Sorry, but he's waaay off...

[GamecockDieHard]

i dont know man. there is a big difference going undefeated at usce or any sec school that going undefeated at utah. you never know, you could pull an auburn and get left out but hopefully that was due to the 3 teams being undefeated rather than sos.


Yeah, but at this point for us, it's kinda like dreamin' about winning the Powerball. :laugh:

[blues_cap]

You know what? The schedule argument is ridiculous imo because of the 2004 Auburn team. They ran the entire table, and it didn't mean a thing.

I agree with the Colonel: the powers that be made up their mind that they wanted an OU/USCW title game....Bush vs. Pedersen and all of those Heisman winners/finalists in the marquee game. Auburn never had a shot.

An undefeated SEC team should always get at least a share of the title.

i agree 100%, au never had a chance assuming the other 2 stayed undefeated. what was funny was after the bowl games everyone was saying, "well, usc beat va tech worse than au." auburn handled va tech that whole game, it wasnt even close(although the score indicated differently). not at any point in that game did i think au was in danger of losing, not to mention they were inside the 5 twice and had to settle for a fg. on the other hand, uscw needed a phantom pass interference call to keep a drive going that ended up putting them ahead for good(i know, it's football). point being, when comparing common opponents, au seemed to dominate va tech while usc needed a little help.