Wowza.If this weekend didn't prove the complete worthlessness of polls, then nothing will. Going forward, I think we're still in for some "adjustment" with the rankings. Something just doesn't feel right, and that's based on more than simply seeing USF at #6 ;)
Go SEC teams with Tiger mascots. Gotta enjoy watching grown men cry up in the swamp over a loss to Auburn. After the ref's hit Auburn with 30 yards in false penalties during the final minutes, I was glad to see the game go to the right team. UF may very well be looking at 3/+ losses this year. Call me crazy, but FSU has the same record right now, only their one loss came from an actual ranked opponent. ;) *chomp*
USF beat the crap out of WV Friday night in front of their first ever sell out. I really do think USF is a very good team, but it's hard not to wonder if the Big East will ever decide to play someone of substance out-of-conference. It's really hard to get a sense of how good they might be when there's not a single top 10 (maybe not even a top 25) OOC opponent on anyones schedule. Everyone loves to knock the ACC, but those teams are actually playing people. You don't earn respect from an inflated ranking. You earn respect from knocking out quality OOC opponents.
ESPNU just picked up the USF/UCF game for October 13th though. If the Knights can handle ECU the way they've been playing everyone else, we may have a decent OOC barometer for the big east. Should be an interesting afternoon. Thing is, UCF didn't look all that impressive against ULL (Hold on to the ball, Knights!), and ECU just surprised Houston.
Don't look now, but the Big10 suddenly looks strong again. OSU vs Wisconsin is shaping up to be interesting.
ND still sucks.
Texas finally succumbs to their suckatude. It's only going to get harder for the longhorns. If only they could look forward to playing ND.
Oklahoma, the team that was giving me nightmares for simply looking so nasty, lost to Colorado. Thank god I'm not all that big on gambling, I would have taken OK at 97 1/2.
If Southern Miss is Conference USA's flagship, the conference is in deep trouble. Boise took `em to the woodshed.
Not college related, but how about Daunte giving it to the Dolphins? I like the `phins and all, but man, good for him. Fun to see him find a little redemption in all that mess.
Games to watch next week - LSU vs. Florida: Predicted highlight: Dorsey choke slamming Tebow, nailing him with an elbow drop and pinning him for the three count and the intercontinental title belt. ECU vs. UCF: Predicted highlight: Kevin Smith runs from the 1 yard line all the way back to Orlando. In the first quarter. ECU 17, Kevin Smith - 645 miles.
Comments...
(Page 1)1. LOL, i think that guy is crying bc the girl he came with worse a GATOR plush purse.
11:16AM on Oct 2nd 2007 by Nichole
2. Alex,
You are my friend, and I respect your opinion. However, you are wrong. Florida will beat LSU this weekend (what is your beef with them anyways).
I've got ESP(n).
11:09AM on Oct 3rd 2007 by Cory
3. Cory,
You're really going to make me tackle that, aren't you? Fine... Bring on the flames..
Beef:
A) The majority of their fans didn't go to UF (including you). Close to the majority of kids in Gainesville don't go to UF. They go to Sante Fe. I'd suspect remedial english is the most registered course in all of Gainesville, judging by the fans most of us encounter on a daily basis.
B) Every UF student I've ever met assumes I didn't go their because I wasn't accepted, which is ironic because they probably go to Sante Fe anyway. What they don't want to believe is that I've never had an interest in UF. Gainesville looks like one giant crime scene to me. Not to mention that their technology programs are poo in comparison to UCF's. I've been there outside of game day, say, on a random tuesday night when nothing is going on. I now understand the small town "i need to get out of here" boredom levels you see in b-rate hollywood flicks. Maybe I'm crazy, but UCF was my first (and only) choice.
C) SEC trash talk gets old. The top of the SEC is the most dominant of any conference. The bottom of the SEC might want to consider packing it up. UF fans have a hard time admitting this, but Vanderbilt and Mississippi State are a long way from BCS contention. Miss. State's win over Auburn withstanding. Wait, isn't Auburn a two loss, unranked, team already? We still remember the outcome of WV over UGA, right? Spare us the we-schedule-patsies because we have to garbage. The SEC is good, especially at the top (OSU vs. UF last year), but there are a ton of great football teams out there. If SEC teams would agree to play these teams, we could see just how good the conference is, top to bottom, once and for all (see Ohio St. vs Texas the last couple of years)
D) The majority of UF fans truly believe that UF is some sort of dynasty program. In 2002, UF lost 5 games. 2003, 5 games. 2004, 5 games. 2005, 3 games. 2006, 1 game. 2007, 1 game so far, 2 games likely after this weekend, 3 or 4 not out of the realm of possibility by season's end. In the last 6 years, 50% of the time UF has had a 5 loss season. Considering they were all but guaranteed a couple of OOC wins those years, that's hardly a dynasty. Compare that to FSU winning 89% of their games for an entire decade in the 90s. Or UM being the most successful d1 program of the last 30 years, winning 5 national championships and playing in more national championship games than any other team in the NCAA. Both UF nc's have come out of the misfortunes of other programs losing a single big game leading to UF squeeking into the NC game. UF capitalized in 96 and 06, and for that they deserve credit. But come on. Of the big 3 in the state, UF has the most amount of arrogance, the least amount of humility, and the least amount of success. The rest of us our still waiting for something to be impressed by (dynasty wise, that is. basketball/football in the same year was pretty ill).
E) Miami beats UF's ass soundly in Gainesville. UF cancels the annual series after 49 seasons because they "want to play a more national schedule." FSU/UF becomes "the rivalry". Miami wins the National Championship that very same year (about as national as it can get). Only lately have the teams started to play each other every few years. Instead, we get to watch UF play the likes of Western Kentucky and Troy. UF fans try to say its SEC scheduling and money, as if other teams don't have to deal with the same issues. Look at FSU, Bowden has the balls to play both Miami and UF every single season. Two of his three OOC games come (well, came.. stupid acc move) against insanely difficult in state rivalries, and he's willing to play them on the road every other year. Miami is totally cool with doing the same and building UF/Miami and FSU/Miami. Instead, UF/Miami has only happened 4 times since 1987, with half of those games coming in the form of bowl games. By the way, Miami leads the post-rivalry series 4-0. (in other words, UF hasn't beaten UM in more than 20 years).
F) Steve Spurrier coached there.
G) Too many fashion/bandwagon fans. Let's see what happens when UF is staring down a 3,4,5 loss season again. Last time I was in the Swamp was one of those 5 loss years. The dozens of Miami fans in attendance could be heard out by I-75 by the end of the third. Compare that to a program like ECU which has very little comparable tradition, yet sells out their stadium and their fans stay in the seats.
I'll start respecting UF fans when they start chilling out some about their teams recent success. I'm just completely overwhelmed and turned off by their irrational exuberance and their quickness to put down other teams in the state, when overall, they haven't earned the right. Same could be said for USF, but at least that has a Cinderella feel to it, even if the feel is nausea.
Best,
Alex
2:21PM on Oct 3rd 2007 by Alex Rudloff
4. No flames. Your my friend. However, I do have a few rebuttals for you:
A) I don't consider myself a UF fan necessarily. I do promote schools closer to me than not. So, if the choice is FSU or OSU, I'm picking FSU every time. I have a sense of loyalty to where I'm from, regardless of the school. That's why I'm thoroughly excited about USF's recent success, even if their coach talks trash.
B) UF is a difficult school to get into. If you deny it, you're a liar. I too almost went there, but the snobbery from faculty when I was trying to register there turned me off. I didn't want to go somewhere I wasn't wanted. Contrast that with people tripping over themselves to get me into UCF, and I was sold. I don't hold a grudge against the Gator 'Click'ery. A lot of folks work really hard to get in there, and it's a big source of pride that they got in. It's cool with me. I still make more money than the average UF grad, and I deadlift 500lbs. So snobbery can kiss my ass too, but I really don't care.
C) Trash talk is a necessary evil of life. That's probably more so the case in any sports program in the world. You think SEC talks trash? Try listening to English soccer fans talk about their local team, then see who talks trash. Besides, much of that trash talking is substantiated.
D) UF ranks in top 25 a lot. They don't have the consistency of FSU in the 90s or UM in the 80s. However, in the last 12 - 13 years, how often have they been top 25. How many other schools can say that?
E) Alex never picks a fight with me. Therefore he is a wuss. Come on now. How are you going to fault a team for trying to pick the battles that gives it the most chance for national success? You can talk 'bravery' and 'honor' all day. Too bad that doesn't bring money to your school (the money that funds the Art department that questions the need for a football program).
F) No argument. That dude sucks.
G) No argument there either. However, any sports team with success gets tons of bandwagon fans. Get over it. Do you really think the Yankees sell billions in Merchandise to locals and transplanted New Yorkers? No. They sell it to people who like associating themselves with winners. It's the same mentality that gets people to listen to things like Britney Spears and Kanye West. Tell me with a straight face those acts have talent. yeah.
The short of all of this? Nothing here is new. So, if you choose to hate UF, that's your call. But don't pretend that it's UF's fault.
5:47PM on Oct 3rd 2007 by Cory
5. Uhm, never did I say it was UF's fault. You asked me why I'm a gator-hater, and I told you. We're not talking about English soccer teams, nor did I say that UF is not, in fact, hard to get into. I'm also not saying that they aren't a consistent nationally recognizable team.
I'm saying that the stereotypical UF fan fails to recognize that their program is not nearly as accomplished as others around the state. In fact, they often argue otherwise by pointing to the strength of the SEC.
It's the arrogance and failure to support other programs, like you suggest, that gets annoying. Go have a conversation with your average gator fan about USF and UCF's growth. I'll give it 5 to 1 odd's that they'll go on a rant about how they'll never be UF, before you even ask or suggest it.
5:51PM on Oct 3rd 2007 by Alex Rudloff
6. Come on, Alex. Don't tell me you're STILL upset about the raping the Gators gave UCF last year! ;-)
8:09PM on Oct 3rd 2007 by Matt
7. Matt,
Hahaha, nah. That one was somewhat expected ;) I actually called UF winning the NC last year the season before. Chris Leak really impressed me, and I've been a big fan of Urban Meyer throughout his career.
So.. UCF in a sophomore slump vs. a team I thought was going to win the NC... Yeah.. Not to much of a shock I guess ;)
8:10PM on Oct 3rd 2007 by Alex Rudloff
8. Hahahahaha that picture is almost as great as the picture on the Sports page of the Florida Today titled "Awww-Burn" - you could see the tears in other guy's blood shot eyes.
I agree with your argument and work with a ton of people from the "Gator Nation" and to even mention UCF being 3-1 or USF being 4-0 gets their blood boiling. Right now the latest email has defined "over rated" as being #6 in the polls. I'm thinking that USF will be 5-0 after they play FIU this weekend. When that happens, they will be crowned with the longest losing streak in NCAA football with 18 in a row... Then we get a chance to knock USF from their place :) Who all is going to RJS to see the game?
1:05PM on Oct 6th 2007 by Boyd