College Football Programs and Their Twin in Basketball

Submitted by Raback Omaba on

I am an admitted Football addict, specifically Michigan Football. As a graduate of the university and lifelong fan, Michigan h always been my first love, but specifically the football program. While I’m a huge Michigan fan in every sport, with Basketball coming second, Football is by far the most important thing to me. I recently told my friend that I would rather have the 1# recruiting class in football (like, a fricken amazing class..Gardner, Lattimore, Luc etc.) than a Final Four appearance in Basketball. While I’ve thought about the severity of that comment, I still stand by it.

 

That being said, I’ve been enjoying the basketball season thus far and recently thought about this while watching the MSU – Texas game last night.

 

What College Football programs have a “twin” in college basketball?

 

 

Michigan Football = Kentucky Basketball

 

I was thinking Ucla or Duke, but settled on Kentucky. Historically successful program, a school that is known for that respective sport. A strong history and one of the sport’s greatest upsets (Texas Western = The Horror). Legendary arena (Rupp = Mich Stadium), classic unis&colors, recent success (past 15 years) has been good but not amazing, and a very impatient and spoiled fanbase. Does the Gillespie era equal RichRod’s? I sure hope not because I want to and am confident that RichRod  will make it happen – but at least we’ll have a Calipari like successful season in the possible first season post RichRod.

 

Notre Dame Football = Duke Basketball

 

Small, aristocratic private schools. Small towns that are actually pretty shitty (Sorry SB and Durham!) Strong history, classic unis, classic arena/stadiums. Strict academic restrictions. Each program’s chief rival has had great recent success (UNC and USC.) Some recent success by both programs, but they’ve largely been lacking lately. Overhyped recruiting classes dotted with douchebag players that you hate. “Clean Cut” players that are known for over achieving.

 

I was thinking UCLA here possibly.

 

Boise State Football = Gonzaga Basketball

 

Succesful mid major programs that have gone from “Cinderella” to consistently good teams. Crave national respect and spotlight, and they usually prove themselves. It’s tought to get other teams to play them. Northwest based teams. Mid major conferences, so the big stage is where they prove themselves.

 

Florida Football = UNC Basketball

 

Great recent success. “Sexy” schools for recruits. National Championships won recently. Tim Tebow is Tyler Hansbrough. Schools almost identical academically.

 

 

 

 

Oklahoma Football = MSU Basketball

 

Consistently good programs. Big time conference that they compete to win on a yearly basis. Great Coaches that are usually in the conversation for job openings, yet stay because why would they leave? The theme here is both programs are consistently good despite being not “sexy” in the eyes of recruits. Too many National Championships here recently, but they compete almost yearly and rarely fizzle.

 

Wisconsin Football = Wisconsin Basketball

 

They are basically the same, at least in my eyes.

 

That’s all I care to write at the moment….Comments?

 

Also, what other programs are like eachother?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

bluebrains98

December 23rd, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^

Interesting post...not sure there is any real meat here, but a good conversation starter. One criticism...UNC != UF academically. UNC is an elite academic institution. UF is a Florida university.

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Ziff72

December 23rd, 2009 at 8:41 PM ^

Those are actually very good. Original post. Entertaining. I give it a 9 out of 10. Off the top of my head how about UCLA football and Michigan basketball. Programs playing in the shadows of their legendary counterparts, that used to have consistent and sometimes spectacular success in the 70's and 80's, ran into some tough stretches the last 15 years and are now trying to battle back against established in-state rivals that have them dominated.

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UNCWolverine

December 23rd, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^

As an alum and fan of all sports Michigan and Carolina I want to second bluebrains' comments. Carolina is on par with Michigan academically and far ahead of UF. I dated a UF hottie for a while and I can assure you that she would never have gotten into either school. That said she was a smokeshow so I can think of worse things that letting girls like her into Michigan.

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VictorsValiant09

December 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 PM ^

Nice post. I would also include: Miami Football/Oklahoma Basketball Big schools, passionate fans, coaches that stay a long time and develop traditon and consistent success. Both have had a slight downturn recently. However, big difference is Miami's 5 National Championships to Oklahoma's 0. Florida State Football/Indiana Basketball Both helmed by many legendary coaches, in particular Bowden and Knight. Interesting and colorful chants and traditions. States that produce talent in their respective sports. IU has a few more National Championships, but you could always expect FSU to be fiercly competitive, not to mention their bowl record. Both have intense rivalries in state, and new/young coaches hoping to revitalize the program. Recruiting violations and sanctions have hurt both programs.

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MadtownMaize

December 23rd, 2009 at 11:07 PM ^

Alabama Football = Kentucky Basketball --old school traditional programs who both recently bought two of the most aggressive recruiters and biggest slime-ball coaches in college sports. Also; if UWBB=UWFB than IOWABB=IOWAFB

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Bosch

December 24th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^

compared Florida basketball to Ohio State football and Kansas football to Ohio State basketball...... since that would be inline with the topic and all? Of course you don't....... So I'll neg you for your ignorance and not for you thinking that your avatar is funny.

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jvblaha

December 23rd, 2009 at 11:46 PM ^

I think the Michigan and Kentucky comparison is very far off based on the integrity of the programs. Kentucky has had numerous NCAA violations and has been put on probation multiple times. I would have to say that Kentucky basketball=Alabama football. Also, UNC has always been great at basketball, (excluding the Daugherty years), whereas Florida's football success did not begin until the 90s.

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Vuginovic

December 24th, 2009 at 1:18 PM ^

that Kentucky Basketball is currently in the top 5 Michigan Football is not. That was not a good comparison by the OP I would probably say more along the lines of UCLA Basketball and U of M Football. Both historic programs and struggling recently.

Joined: 12/04/2009

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rdlwolverine

December 24th, 2009 at 12:20 AM ^

UNC has a much longer basketball tradition than Florida does in football. I would maybe match up UNC basketball with USC football. I think the Ky - Alabama pairing is a good one and the Michigan BB- UCLA FB isn't bad, but UCLA FB has never won a national championship. KY - Michigan is way off base. I don't think that Michigan football fan base is impatient. Rodriguez would have been gone after the Toledo game if he were coaching KY basketball. Hard to find a match with Michigan football but maybe Indiana basketball.

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jvblaha

December 25th, 2009 at 10:47 PM ^

Another factor to consider: North Carolina law requires UNC to take at least 88% of its incoming class from North Carolina, which is why it is so much more difficult to get into from out of state than UF, and Michigan as well.

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Boshdelightful

December 24th, 2009 at 3:51 AM ^

Certainly not the only criteria for judging this, but: Most Wins in College Football (# of National Championships) 1. Michigan (11) 2. Texas (4) 3. Notre Dame (11) 4. Nebraska (5) 5. Ohio State (7) Most Wins in College Basketball (# of National Championships) 1. Kentucky (7) 2. North Carolina (5) 3. Kansas (5) 4. Duke (3) 5. Syracuse (3)

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letsgoblue213

December 24th, 2009 at 11:41 AM ^

A lot of Michigan's championships are debatable. I've seen several different numbers from different sources ranging from 3 to 11 championships. Back when Michigan won most of its championships there wasn't any consistent, reliable poll to determine the champ. There were usually several #1 rated teams each year.

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NoHeartAnthony

December 24th, 2009 at 4:06 AM ^

Pretty solid program for awhile. Phog Allen and Naismith to our Yost and Crisler. Historic venues. Both teams went through a drought on the national stage until 1988 for them and 1997 for us. For Michigan BB, I always thought Washington FB is similar in terms of success. At least that's the level we're on. Other football teams to consider would be Pittsburgh or Auburn.

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blueheron

December 24th, 2009 at 10:50 AM ^

This will sound disparaging, but take a look here: http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/misc/natchamp.htm Seven of Michigan's eleven national championships were shared. (We all know about the @#$%ed-up circumstances that led to the last one winding up that way. That should have been UM's alone.) As well, the last one before that was in 1948. (Yes, everyone knows that, too.) Forget the last couple of years and look at 1970 to 2006. With the exception of '97, UM never really sniffed the top tier. But they were a solid Tier 2 school (meaning, just outside the realm of, say, Florida State) for nearly forty years. No other school avoided dropping beneath that level during that time. Look it up. I looked at the NCAA basketball champion list and I can't find any school close to Michigan football. It would have to be one with most of its championships in the prehistoric area coupled with a really long stretch of Tier 2 performance. Kansas probably comes closest.

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Ziff72

December 25th, 2009 at 7:34 AM ^

Mich had a ridiculous record from 70-74 and if BO didn't have a heart attack and we didn't get screwed by the voting Bo may have had 2 NC in his 1st 5 years. Bo's remaining 15 years were littered with top 10 teams including more near misses. 80 defense was unreal, 85 team was great, and 88 they lost 2 games by like 4 points to #1 ND and #2 Miami after they outplayed both. Moeller had his 93 team ranked #1 twice, 97 team, 06 team, yeah we were never in the top tier.

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panderberg

December 28th, 2009 at 4:09 PM ^

Simple minds should never stray far from home: UM Football = MSU basketball Both are USUALLY very good, but are only marginally National Championship quality. However, both programs can & do win NC's every other decade or so.

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