Likely College Football Surprises in ‘09: Notre Dame, Nebraska, FSU, Miami, Clemson or Colorado
1-liner, College Football August 30th. 2009, 12:00pmCollege Football: “In each of the past four years, an unranked big-name school has surged to win five or more games than the year before. Alabama did it last season. In 2007 it was Illinois, which reached the Rose Bowl after winning exactly twice the year before. In 2006, Brigham Young went 11-2 and beat Oregon by 30 after failing to make a bowl three of the previous four years. In 2005, Penn State had its renaissance. Before that, Ohio State went from 7-5 to 14-0 and the national title in 2002.” This year’s potential surprises: Nebraska, Florida State, Notre Dame, Miami, Clemson, Colorado. We’d put the mortgage rent check bar tab cigarette money on Notre Dame, baby. [WSJ]
22 Responses to “Likely College Football Surprises in ‘09: Notre Dame, Nebraska, FSU, Miami, Clemson or Colorado”
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August 30th, 2009 at 12:11 PM
I dont watch college ball but isnt everyone saying notre dame will win 10 games only because of their shitty schedule? Is it that much of a gamble?
August 30th, 2009 at 12:17 PM
it’s not JUST the schedule. they return, i believe, all 11 starters. the team was super young last year.
they return a ton on defense, too.
and if you read the link, there’s some other info on how last year’s 7-6 team was better than their record
August 30th, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I’m going UK.
/Surprised?
August 30th, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Nebraska and Notre Dame.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Ana Ivanovic currently on your CBS station…just an FYI.
I’ll take…. Nebraska.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:23 PM
@ SC – you could’ve warned me that it was kids day and Jordan Sparks was performing! Also a weird appareance by Ferrell.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:25 PM
UW.
/homer
August 30th, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Ozzie Guillen currently dropping F-Bombs on live TV. I want that guy in my dugout.
At least he’d tell Milton Bradley to shut the hell up.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Is it really worth it for ND to go 9-3 and then get destroyed by a real team in the BCS? Can’t imagine the ratings are all that great when they’re losing by 21 at the half
August 30th, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Yeah, they could have been a lot better last year but that defense, that returns a ton on defense, kept giving up double-digit leads to teams like Syracuse. Except for being one year the wiser, they haven’t proven anything for the 09 season.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Probably should have said that defense, that returns a ton of starters…
August 30th, 2009 at 12:58 PM
“They could easily have been 10-3 last year,” Mr. Steele says, pointing out that the 7-6 Irish blew double-digit leads and outgained their opponent in three of those losses.
they could have gone 10-3 if they’d beaten all the horribly horrendous cellar dwellers on their schedule, and still drawn Hawaii in a bowl game. P-shaw.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:59 PM
I just feel like banging out 14-15 comments inside of a minute. It’s like riding in a Ferrari.
August 30th, 2009 at 1:13 PM
It won’t be Miami, that much is certain. TBL should check schedules. The Canes could very easily start 0-4.
August 30th, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Young black men love Indiana. Oh, wait . . .
August 30th, 2009 at 1:49 PM
“unranked big-name school”
uh, No. 18 Florida State, No. 23 Notre Dame, No. 24 Nebraska
ap top 25
August 30th, 2009 at 2:35 PM
As an alum of 1994, though this is prudent analysis, I know damn well what an ill omen such analysis is! Thanks for nothin’ TBL Godfather! Building them up in the preseason is a historic curse.
Your analysis though informed will be stricken from the mission record.
(Deep breath) Okay go all now in peace.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Michigan
/oops, wrong thread
August 30th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
They should be ashamed that they’re not better. They play in a division that Mizzou and Kansas can dominate. And now Nebraska is almost back. They blew their chance.
August 30th, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Nebraska and FSU won 9 last year. Hard for them to really be a “suprise.” Unless they go 14-0. Good luck with that. Clemson always has the same bullshit hype and then fall flat every year. Miami just sucks and everyone there wants away from Randy Shannon. If CU can get there running game going they can be good. But they desperately need that because their passing game is horrible. Notre Dame has that cake walk schedule so they’ll be your “suprise” team and make it to a big name bowl. Then, “suprise”, they’ll get their asses handed to them.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Defense played horribly last year… But their is no better cure for what ails young talented teams than experience. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. 10 wins from this team isn’t hoping. It’s expected.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:39 PM
won’t it be funny if/when, despite it’s easy schedule, ND falls on its face and all the pundits scrabble to say they were the lone voice against ND getting a bowl bid?
/funny, funny, funny