Our body of work recently, however, should suggest that our QB and defensive struggles (which look to be getting worked out) were at the heart of our problems in '08. I don't see how just one season puts a team back down into the basement.
Who outside of previous BCS winners will have a shot at the title? Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, USC, Ohio State, Texas will all be good again next year and FSU, Miami, Tennessee could suprise us. Who else?...Penn State, Alabama, Utah, Virginia Tech, UNC Now that LSU and Florida have won two BCS titles, I think you're going to see several additional repeat winners. I just don't see Texas Tech, Missouri, Nebraska, Georgia, Oregon, Ole Miss, Clemson, Georgia Tech winning it all next year.
I hear ya..however, I dont see not being in a top 5 as being in the basement. As much as we would like to say our QB and defensive problems are solved, one game doesnt prove much to those outside of the LSU fanbase. Remember, we lost to Arkansas with JJ at the helm and that same defense just over a month ago. Just think we need to win a big game before we start slamming the pundits for not listing us in their top 5. JMHO
"back down in the basement," no. But that QB will still only be starting his third game in the season opener, and we'll have a number of new starters on defense. Jumping us to the top 5 in a pre-season poll is an awfully big leap of faith. Personally, I'd be pleased with anywhere in the top 20 to start '09. Of course, its not where you start, its where you finish.
I would feel a lot better if Corso was overlooking us, too. Glad Herbie did not put us in his Top 5. It's like trusting two people who pick their Top Five based on team colors.
Whatever year Texas stomped LSU in the Cotton bowl Corso had both UT and LSU predicted to the Championship game. I learned this lesson then.
"Not so fast my friend." Unfortunately sometimes where you start does impact where you finish in the polls. For instance when we won the BCS title last year we started off near the top. When we finished with the same 2 loss record as a few top teams, we got the nod to play for the title. An undefeated Auburn team wished it began the season #1 a few years back. Utah in their dreams wishes it started this season in the top 5 or even the top 10 and they may have played for the BCS title. Most of the time a team doesn't fall in the human polls unless it loses or another team plays an extra game like a conference championship.
we still have been the lowest ranked team at the beginning of the season to win a bcs national championship in 03 i think. i think we were ranked like 16 or so.
