Who will others compare our program with?

[kevpokes]

Our football program is obviously moving in the right direction. We will obviously not be viewed as a traditional powerhouse for many years, if that ever happens. But from the viewpoint of other schools, how will they view us if we continue to sustain success? Here are three schools I think of in a positive light that have potential for greatness and have had sustained success for periods of time. Keep in mind, none of the comparrisons are completely accurate, but I'm trying to pick out key things about programs that we can emulate.

Clemson-I think nationally they are sometimes viewed as underachievers but most people feel that Clemson has the potential to be great. They have great fan support, great home field advantage and the ability to recruit well. Granted, when they won big, they were cheating their brains out, but this is a school in a small town. I think the reason I picked Clemson was not that we have lots of similarites to their program but even though they get overshadowed with UGA in their backyard, there isn't any reason they can't win. With Clemson it's not their on the field success (or lack of at times) that we want to copy, but their perceived potential for success. In the BCS, perception matters.

Virigina Tech- Beamer built something out of nothing. They probably aren't viewed as a top 5 program, but if they put together a national championship team, would anyone be shocked? Our program has lots of similarities to VA Tech.

Oregon- Big donor with improved facilites. Both Va Tech and Oregon provide examples for how many years it takes to make runs on the national championship stage. Had Dennis Dixon not torn his acl, they'd likely have played in the national championship. Since that year and prior to it, they are a competitive team in their conference. I think the Ducks are a great example of how to make a bcs run every few years and be competitive with a traditional powerhouse in your conference.

Anyone else to add to the list?

[PistolChad]

Nice thread idea.

The first one that came to my mind before reading your post was Oregon because of the big donors throwing money at a historically non-Elite program to try to get them to the Elite level.

I definitely agree with the Clemson thought - especially because when they were flying high, they rarely could beat the "Big Brother" in the ACC at the time - Florida State.

Virginia Tech is a program that is also a good thought and I can see your points.


I would say that one program that IMO sticks out as a big similarity is California. Cal is in USC's shadow constantly. Cal can put together some pretty talented teams, but every season they choke in some way. They almost always lose the BIG game that could propel them to the next level - like beating USC. Occasionally when they actually do win the BIG game, they will turn around and completely blow it against a team they should (and usually) beat. Cal is a team that can get hyped and can peak in the Top-5 during the season only to falter by the end of season.

[O-St8]

That is a good list. I guess I would only add the Bill Snyder K-State program of the 90's.

They are a good lesson on how to both climb into the national spotlight, and on how to lose that prestige.

[kevpokes]

Originally Posted by PistolChad

Nice thread idea. The first one that came to my mind before reading your post was Oregon because of the big donors throwing money at a historically non-Elite program to try to get them to the Elite level. I definitely agree with the Clemson thought - especially because when they were flying high, they rarely could beat the "Big Brother" in the ACC at the time - Florida State. Virginia Tech is a program that is also a good thought and I can see your points. I would say that one program that IMO sticks out as a big similarity is California. Cal is in USC's shadow constantly. Cal can put together some pretty talented teams, but every season they choke in some way. They almost always lose the BIG game that could propel them to the next level - like beating USC. Occasionally when they actually do win the BIG game, they will turn around and completely blow it against a team they should (and usually) beat. Cal is a team that can get hyped and can peak in the Top-5 during the season only to falter by the end of season.

Good point on Cal. What Jeff Tedford does gets overlooked much of the time. They were going to get selected to a bcs bowl the year Mac Brown asked voters to move UT ahead of them and then they ended up going to the holiday bowl and getting thrashed by Tech. But they were right there and he does a great job.