Final Polls
- Thread starter nycat33
- Start date
We are, most assuredly, not a better team than Tennessee. Weren't this past season, likely won't be next season.
I have no problem publicly stating that the final coaches poll exemplifies absolutely everything that's wrong with polls.
regardless of the irrationality of these, we have ended the season ranked, and there is a good chance we will enter the next season ranked. Good for recruiting and general fan interest, even if inexplicable
Totally agree with this and would objectively say we're ranked about where we belong when you consider the entire season's body of work...but honestly hate being ranked above UT since it naturally invites ridicule of our program and unwanted attention in the short term.
Fortunately...I'm already seeing "way too early Top 25" lists so this should work itself out in a day or two. Also, the AP appears to have gotten things "right."
A fair case can be made that Northwestern should be in the Top 20 of the AP Poll. All but one of the teams Northwestern beat who went on to play in bowl games won their bowl games including now higher ranked Wisconsin and Stanford. As to the Coaches slotting of Tennessee we did end the season with a better record.
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Coaches poll is trash.
Having worked in a sports information office in my 20's, I completed our coach's ballot. Coaches typically only see the 12 other teams on their team's schedule.
The poll is based exclusively on the morning's sports page where the assistant can see who won and who lost. The process is simple: downgrade the losers and upgrade the winners.
Having worked in a sports information office in my 20's, I completed our coach's ballot. Coaches typically only see the 12 other teams on their team's schedule.
The poll is based exclusively on the morning's sports page where the assistant can see who won and who lost. The process is simple: downgrade the losers and upgrade the winners.
If the poll is meant to reflect the best team at the end of the year, I agree with you... Tennessee should be significantly higher than NU.
If the poll is meant to reflect the accomplishments of the year... hmm. I still think Tennessee should be above NU, although maybe by not quite as much.
NU was a good team this year. Tennessee was approaching (though perhaps not quite there yet) elite.
Notre Dame gets blown out in their bowl game (to a team ranked one spot ahead of them) and drops 3 spots. Oregon loses theirs in 3 overtimes to a team ranked 4 spots ahead of them, and drop 6 spots.
Max, you aren't suggesting that the (really angry on the verge of ) fighting Irish are given some sort of preferential treatment, are you? You really ARE mad, Max
/s
I can see us behind UT, but not a team like Wisconsin that we manhandled on the road! That's garbage!
Max I hope it is at least mildly rewarding for you to see that this board generally thinks UT should be ranked higher than NU
Two things about Tennessee. If they develop any kind of a passing attack, and they stay relatively injury free, they should win the SEC east, and should finish in the top ten.
I hate to say it, but they proved they were way better than NU this year. That team is loaded with young talent (Dobbs, Hurd, Kamara), and their defense is just as good as their offense or is it the other way around.
I hate to say it, but they proved they were way better than NU this year. That team is loaded with young talent (Dobbs, Hurd, Kamara), and their defense is just as good as their offense or is it the other way around.
Nope, the coaches have spoken!!! We clearly were better than the Vols.
http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm
Sagarin ranks NU 44th.
Tennessee number 10.
Wisconsin number 19.
Standord is 5th and Iowa 22nd.
In my opinion, Sagarin is closer to the truth, if the polls are trying to answer the question, "So, tell me, in order, how good the teams are?" NU earns its ranking if it's, "Move the teams up and down based on what they were ranked last week and whether they won or lost."
Sagarin ranks NU 44th.
Tennessee number 10.
Wisconsin number 19.
Standord is 5th and Iowa 22nd.
In my opinion, Sagarin is closer to the truth, if the polls are trying to answer the question, "So, tell me, in order, how good the teams are?" NU earns its ranking if it's, "Move the teams up and down based on what they were ranked last week and whether they won or lost."
I don't think Sagarin is close at all. Despite the bowl fiasco, we had one of the best reoords in the B1G this year, and a case can be made that the B1G was the second-best league after the SEC this year.
After spending time on this board, I have grown to respect the general football knowledge from the majority of the posters here. Personally, I don't care that much about the post-season popularity contest they call polls. With that being said...I hate Notre Dame and the preferential treatment they always receive.
Actually, I'm only slightly perturbed...but slightlyperturbedmaxvol is a bit too cumbersome to type.
I agree Sagarin is way too low. The way Sagarin works we would be predicted to lose to all 43 teams ahead of us on a neutral field. I really don't believe that is the case. We did overachieve but I wonder if Sagarin downgrades teams with poor offenses even if our defense is one of the tops in the country.
My belief is that NU is in the 20-30 or the 30-40 range, in terms of 'best teams in the country.'
NU played three very good games - Wisconsin, Stanford, Minnesota - and mostly won the others by being the best of two not-so-good teams on the field that day.
There's no chance the team that played Iowa or Michigan or Tennessee, or Purdue or Ball State or Illinois, is one of the best 20 teams in the country.