---from collegfootballnews.com http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2004/Tuesday_Question/Tuesday_Question.htm Pete Fiutak Q: After USC’s performance against Virginia Tech, now who are the three top teams in America? A: I've said since the start of the season that you could throw five teams (USC, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma and Michigan) in a bag, and maybe put Texas in the mix, shake it up and pull one out and call it the best team in America. I know USC is going to be strong as the year goes on, but in this beauty contest the Trojans showed a little bit of a blemish. So as of this very moment (and this can/will change quickly as the season really gets going) ... 1) Oklahoma - This will change if the defense isn't up to snuff right away. The offense looks way too amazing with everyone returning. I just can't see anyone stopping this attack if everyone is healthy and clicking. 2) USC - The Trojans will work the kinks out and you can't discount the playmakers like Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush who'll make things happen against any team in America. The defense showed some holes and the O line needs work, but I'm not going to abandon the ship quite yet. 3) Michigan - This is my call since day one and I'm sticking with it. The Wolverines are loaded everywhere but in the offensive backfield and I won't waver even after Miami University gives them a nasty game this weekend. If you want to argue for LSU or Georgia you won't get any fight from me as they'll probably turn out to be the two most complete teams in America. I still want to see Georgia's offense do something after last year and I still am not totally sold that LSU's offense doesn't have a Florida-game clunker just waiting to pop out. Richard Cirminiello Q: After USC’s performance against Virginia Tech, now who are the three top teams in America? A: Saturday night’s BCA opener—a tougher than expected 24-13 USC win—exposed the Trojans as eminently mortal, but is that enough to knock them from the ranks of the nation’s elite? Uh-uh. Not to make light of a so-so performance, but a win’s a win. And this win came in August, 3,000 miles from home, in front of a mostly partisan crowd and against a pretty capable opponent. All the Chicken Littles need to take a deep breath and let this team evolve. Yes, the Men of Troy are more vulnerable than any of us expected and the young receivers and o-line must grow up quickly in September, but, along with Oklahoma and LSU, USC remains one of the three best teams in the country. The Sooners are the Sooners. Potent offense, attacking defense, game-changing special teams and one of the best coaching staffs in the game. On paper, no one has fewer holes. If defenses still win championships and speed really does kill, then the Tigers are well positioned for a repeat run at a national title. If the opposition can’t score more than ten points on the LSU D, it’s not going to matter much if Matt Mauck, Marcus Randall or Tony Randall is taking snaps this year. Matthew Zemek Q: After USC’s performance against Virginia Tech, now who are the three top teams in America? A: Not that anybody else has played or anything, but if one has to come up with the top 3 teams in the country at this very moment, one has to start with the two SEC heavies, Georgia and LSU, simply by virtue of the fact that until their collision in October in Athens, they'll both lay claim to the top spot in the land. Including one in the top 3 while excluding the other would be a particularly pointless exercise. The rest is purely preseason speculation, since every other team--as of Tuesday, August 31--is still officially in a pre-season phase, having not played one snap this season in a game that counts. I MUST STEP IN HERE...HOW DOES GEORGIA LAY CLAIM TO ANYTHING? I MUSTA MISSED A YEAR OR SOMETHING SOMEWHERE It doesn't mean much and shouldn't mean much, but Oklahoma probably has as good a claim to a No. 3 spot behind the Dawgs and Tigers as anyone. There's this guy named White. He's a quarterback. I hear he's pretty good, and that he has just a pinch of experience. That team might amount to something (and their main rival is Texas, too--that also helps the Sooners' profile). So call UGA and LSU co-No. 1 teams, and OU #3. Not that it should mean much at this stage. Let's get a taste of a crowded Labor Day weekend to get a fuller feel (and even then, it will only be the very beginning). Click to learn more... Mark Risley Q: After USC’s performance against Virginia Tech, now who are the three top teams in America? A: Disclaimer: It’s hard to pick the top three teams because we have yet to see everyone play. I’m one of those who happen to view any type of preseason poll as a bunch of hooey. I have those convictions even more so this year because of the increased “human element” within the BCS standings, which lends itself to the brainwashing of certain voters, who don’t do their homework week-in & week-out. However, the preseason rankings must go on, so here’s the Top Three, as they are, right now… No. 1) Oklahoma – Why? Like 114 other Division I-A teams, they have yet to play a game. So, all we have to go on is the quality of returning starters and how those players performed in 2003. Because OU’s cupboard is loaded with standout returning starters (and depth), and last year’s Sooners made it all the way to the BCS National Championship game, it’s hard to deny this group the top spot in the human polls. No. 2) Southern California –- Why? Because the Men of Troy also return a wealth of talent (along with a bushel full of talented recruits from the last two classes), and the squad is the defending co-national champs. In addition, it has what only one other DI-A team ca boast – a win. Sure, USC looked better on New Year’s Day than it did on Saturday night, but, taking into account all the headline-making distractions (Williams, Dennis, Justice), the need to break in four new starters on the O-line, and the fact that Virginia Tech is no slouch, it’s hard to ignore the talent within this group. I’m not sure this team can stay at the top of the polls, but, at the moment, it would be hard to justify kicking them out of the top three. No. 3) Georgia – Why? Because this team was soooooo close a year ago (losing twice to eventual co-national champ LSU, and a heartbreaker to Florida), and it returns a large amount of starters, including the key leaders on both sides of the ball (Greene & Pollack). Losing Lumpkin sucks, but, as far as the Dawgs are concerned, stud tailbacks seem to grow on the peach trees. The QB doesn’t make the entire team (see Krenzel, Mauck), but, like OU & USC, it helps tremendously to have an offensive leader with a good head on his shoulders, and who has already been through the Saturday battles. In Greene’s case, he’s been through several. John Harris Q: After USC’s performance against Virginia Tech, now who are the three top teams in America? A: One game down, a season to go and the questions are already out on the USC Trojans. Are they still one of the best teams in America? See below. 1. Oklahoma – The major questions of any team - Offensive line? If you saw the USC game you know how valuable an experienced line - OU’s is good. Receivers? Mark Clayton has a strong rapport with Jason White. Secondary? Man cover, zone – it doesn’t matter, the Sooners are solid. Tackling? Outside of the two late debacles, the Sooners tackle very well. BG will be a nice start, but the Sooners don’t have to be truly cranked up until the RRS in Dallas. 2. Florida State – As with Virginia Tech, the defense’s youth is extremely talented and single-minded on knocking you into next week. Yes, Chris Rix at quarterback can still be dicey, but if he’s ‘on’, no offense will be better on the East Coast. Keep an eye on Antonio Cromartie and whether he’s able to fight through early season injuries; he’s a tall corner that has sublime skill, and will be a tough one-on-one matchup for Miami’s taller receivers. 3. USC – Okay, so there are some ‘areas of concern’, but look at a couple of things. One, the USC defense made some good halftime adjustments. They were playing a game against an opponent they knew very little about on V Tech’s turf. Then, you take out four offensive superstars and it’s understandable that the first game would be shaky. Hershel Dennis may be the only one to come back, but at least, the ‘replacements’ can grow up together and find their groove. Oh, by the way, they still have some cat named Bush. He’s pretty good.
Yeah ... there were sooooooooooooooooooo close ... GA could ... ALMOST TASTE VICTORY ... whew ... glad the clock ran out ... good thing for LSU the game ended when it did ... they mighta KILLED US :wink:
Let's get phukkin' real here Did any of these azzclowns watch the SECCG ... I feel like I'm in the friggin' Twilight Zone here ... :dis:
