When was the last time that Mich, Fla State and Tenn were not in the Preseason Top 10? I like Texas at #7, that means Ohio State will come to Austin as the higher ranked team and maybe the favorite. That'll be juicy! Terry
We've got no problem with that....more often than not, there is good reason why one is higher ranked and favored... :wink: A freshman QB running a new offense.....yum, yum. :shock: = the look on his face after the first possession! Make sure he brings his big boy pads! :lol: Terry
Irish #1 n TSN mag <r>From what I understand, ND is ranked #1 in TSN pre-season NCAA football issue. While it feels good to finally get some recognition, I'm not sure how I feel about the Irish being ranked this high, this early. I think most of us would agree you really don't know what you have in a team until they have a few games under their belts. <br/> <br/> I think a #1 ranking puts a big target on your back at the beginning of the season. Lord knows the Irish don't need another reason for teams to get up for them either. <br/> <br/> Let's hope none of the pre-seaon hype goes to their heads and they just go out and play good football beginning with the Georgia Tech game. <br/> <E></E></r>
I don't worry about the added pressure. I think Weis will have them grounded in reality throughout. The Irish are the biggest game of the year on almost everyone's schedule, truth be told. They open in Atlanta so Ga Tech will have all these months to get ready for their biggest game of the year( Georgia notwitstanding ). Then it's home for two games... against Penn State and Michigan. Who knows how good the Nittany Lions will be but Carr is probably playing this one for his future. Then off to Michigan State for some serious payback. Back home for a revenge minded Purdue, then Stanford and UCLA who is a serious threat. Then off to Baltimore to play Navy, back home for North Carolina then to Colorado Springs for Air Force. A laugher at home follows with Army then to Los Angeles for the Trojans. NOBODY in college football travels like the Irish, coast to coast. Many major powers don't move more than a couple hundred miles in any direction... ever. That's the component I fear Night and day games... east coast to mountains from the south to the west coast. That ain't easy.
I'd just as soon not be a pre-season #1 either, but I think in the end that Ohio State is going to be the pre-season #1 in the AP and USAToday/Coaches polls. I'm more than happy starting anywhere in the top 10, that gives you plenty of opportunity to move up as teams ahead of you lose. I think this could certainly be a year that nobody is undefeated. Terry
I agree with Tim and Terry. I don't want to be preseason #1. There are land mines buried everywhere on our schedule. I have no doubt whatsoever that we will have a very successful season, but I would prefer to see it evolve rather than start as ranked #1 with nowhere to go but down. That's just my nature, I guess.
Some challenges are more enjoyable than others.....a challenge with VY is not quite the same thing as a challenge without VY. :wink: Terry
On VY we agree, could we agree that a defense without Hawk, Carpender and Schlegel (sp?) is not quite as intimidating!
I think Tenn and Michigan will definitely have to earn their way back to the upper reaches of the rankings. I am surprised ND gets a free ride to the top because the Irish did not accomplish all they wanted to last year and lost their bowl game. I think UF winds up in the top 6 of the real rankings when they come out and that's fine by me. That is also a little generous to start with and given the UF schedule this year that would be a great finish.
:idea: Either Michigan or Tennessee could skyrocket right back into the Top 5 with wins over Notre Dame and Florida... .............JO'Co
...and Whitner and Youboty, etc, etc...... :cry: Sadly yes, we're agreed..... Can't wait to get to Austin for another classic. Terry
Living in the Austin area, I would love to join you for the UT / OSU game but Cindy and I will be on a trip to Florida and then Tennessee during that time frame.
Terry, I expect that you guys will have a very good defense and if your offense is as good as expected you can have a 1 season :twisted: It will be hardest to replace the production of Hawk, Carpender and Whitner, but the other guys can be replaced without any dropoff in production. The guys who replace the other 3 could have good years but those guys were AA's and highly productive. Esp Hawk and Carpender who OCoord had to figure their game plans on those 2. It will be interesting to see if Michigan can rebound from last years disaster, with the retooling of their coaching staff. They are not lacking in talent and even though they have the Irish and the Buckeyes on the road, if the staff gets things turned around and Hart stays healthy they will be good. Maybe the new old OCoord will finally get a Mich offense to go on the road. Terry
This is from an Ohio State guy who for some reason is a regular on the NDNation boards. ...go figure. Terry
I agree...they ain't gonna be pushovers for certain and with the offensive firepower coming back, they ought to be a very good football team by the end of the season. That said, it's a long season and there are alot of very good football teams but only one national champion. Could they contend? Sure. Should they be preseason favorites given what they lost and what is as yet unproven? nfw, imho. Terry