UT and the Preseason Top 25

#1
Teeman

Teeman

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#1
This thread is in no way an excuse for CBJ. There is no excuse for the way the season played out. Nor is this a call for a new coach. There are way too many of those already.

Being a UT fan this year wasn't easy. The disappointment from last year mixed in with the preseason expectations had us all jacked up. Then came the close games, injuries, Hurd drama, defensive collapse, and the upsets. We weren't the only big program with issues this year though.

I just thought it was interesting to look back at the preseason Top 25 and how many teams fell short of expectations.

4. FSU- 9-3/5-3. Third in their division.
5. LSU- 7-4/5-3. Third in their division. Fired coach.
8. Stanford- 9-3/6-3. Third in their division.
9. UT- 8-4/4-4. Second in their division.
10. ND- 4-8. No bowl and NCAA violations.
11. Ole Miss- 5-7/2-6. LAST in their division.
12. Michigan State- 3-9/1-8. No bowl.
13. TCU- 6-5/4-4. Fifth in conference.
15. Houston- 9-3/5-3 Third in division and lost coach.
16. UCLA- 4-8/2-7. No bowl.
17. Iowa- 8-4/6-3.
18. Georgia- 7-5/4-4. Third in their division.
23. Baylor- 6-5/3-5. Sixth in conference.
24. Oregon- 4-8/2-7. No bowl. Fired coach.

Others receiving votes:
Miami- 8-4/5-3.
TX A&M- 8-4/4-4.
Northwestern- 6-6/5-4.
TX- 5-7/3-6. Fired coach.
Auburn- 8-4/5-3.
Arkansas- 7-5/3-5.
 
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#2
#2
Amazing post. I didn't check your facts, but if true, it's an absolute indication of how useless preseason polls are.

That's epic poll fail along the lines of Hillary's numbers in MI, PA, and WI.

AV
 
#3
#3
I think everyone got 10-2 fever. I know I did. Then as the season approaches more and more people find ways to make it 11-1, then flirtations of 12-0. After we go 5-0, the full fledged disease had taken over. Throw in the massive in-season attrition, mediocre coaching, and a shocking defensive collapse and we lose two more than we should.

Top 3 expectations (serious fans & pundits) in order as I remember:
10-2 (1st)
9-3 (2nd)
11-1 (Almost 2nd)

So, with the attrition, 9-3 was actually about average for the year. But, as salt in the wound UF took care of enough biz to win the east with only 2 losses. Adding insult to injury, we let it slip to 8-4.

So, I would say, we are one game below where we should be. Our coaching has not done anything to cause us to over-perform. Thus, we are among the season "losers".
 
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#4
#4
Aerie Vol said:
Amazing post. I didn't check your facts, but if true, it's an absolute indication of how useless preseason polls are.

That's epic poll fail along the lines of Hillary's numbers in MI, PA, and WI.

AV
Click to expand...

Our delusional fans see a top 25 prediction and they jump to the conclusion that it means we will be 10-2 or 11-1 and be SEC champs. When that doesn’t happen, regardless of the reason, they call for the coaches head and act like spoiled children who were denied the extra large piece of cake they visioned in their heads. Reality has no place in their tiny minds.
 
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#5
#5
Doesn't matter how you spin this, he gave away the east and gave away the Sugar Bowl. Fact.

If he couldn't win the east this year after beating UF and UGA, then when will he?
 
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#6
#6
It just proves to you how useless preseason polls are and there are a lot worse coaches out there compared to Butch. Do I think he is a National Championship coach? No I don't, but I do think he can win the East and possibly get us to the playoffs. Next year is a big test for him with all that we are losing. He almost has to win the East and and go like 9-3 for the fan base not to have pitchforks.
 
#7
#7
beneVOLence said:
It just proves to you how useless preseason polls are and there are a lot worse coaches out there compared to Butch. Do I think he is a National Championship coach? No I don't, but I do think he can win the East and possibly get us to the playoffs. Next year is a big test for him with all that we are losing. He almost has to win the East and and go like 9-3 for the fan base not to have pitchforks.
Click to expand...

I could see Tennessee losing 5 games (at least) and I am including Georgia Tech in Atlanta
 
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#9
#9
Teeman said:
This thread is in no way an excuse for CBJ. There is no excuse for the way the season played out. Nor is this a call for a new coach. There are way too many of those already.

Being a UT fan this year wasn't easy. The disappointment from last year mixed in with the preseason expectations had us all jacked up. Then came the close games, injuries, Hurd drama, defensive collapse, and the upsets. We weren't the only big program with issues this year though.

I just thought it was interesting to look back at the preseason Top 25 and how many teams fell short of expectations.

4. FSU- 9-3/5-3. Third in their division.
5. LSU- 7-4/5-3. Third in their division. Fired coach.
8. Stanford- 9-3/6-3. Third in their division.
9. UT- 8-4/4-4. Second in their division.
10. ND- 4-8. No bowl and NCAA violations.
11. Ole Miss- 5-7/2-6. LAST in their division.
12. Michigan State- 3-9/1-8. No bowl.
13. TCU- 6-5/4-4. Fifth in conference.
15. Houston- 9-3/5-3 Third in division and lost coach.
16. UCLA- 4-8/2-7. No bowl.
17. Iowa- 8-4/6-3.
18. Georgia- 7-5/4-4. Third in their division.
23. Baylor- 6-5/3-5. Sixth in conference.
24. Oregon- 4-8/2-7. No bowl. Fired coach.

Others receiving votes:
Miami- 8-4/5-3.
TX A&M- 8-4/4-4.
Northwestern- 6-6/5-4.
TX- 5-7/3-6. Fired coach.
Auburn- 8-4/5-3.
Arkansas- 7-5/3-5.
Click to expand...



So you're saying we have a shot to land D'antonio?
 
#11
#11
Aerie Vol said:
Amazing post. I didn't check your facts, but if true, it's an absolute indication of how useless preseason polls are.

That's epic poll fail along the lines of Hillary's numbers in MI, PA, and WI.

AV
Click to expand...

No, it's really not. This is often how preseason polls go; they're no more than a guess, not some sort of measured statistic.


More times than not, most of the preseason top 25 ends up incorrect (and the only thing it really ever hangs its hat on is if any of the top 5-10 is correct, anyways).
 
#12
#12
^ Good stuff. (From now on if you hear me refer to the hat racks, you'll know it's the top 5-10 and it can be like a code.)
 
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