WSJ has M at 7th Worst Season for CFB Traditional Elites
The Wall Street Journal figures that Michigan had the seventh worst year of any traditional college football program using the following categories: program pedigree, humiliating losses, crushed preseason hopes and off-field embarrassments:
7. The Wolverines seem to deserve a worse ranking than this, given their epically overmatched defense (which ranks 108th of 120 teams nationally) and the way their regular season ended, losing five of their last seven. MICHIGAN's saving grace is that all five of its losses were to respected opponents
With the exception of pedigree, It is hard to see how any of these categories really fit Michigan's season. Yes, we lost badly to OSU, again, but win total was in line with general expectations but we had no off-field embarrass...
Michigan's coach spoke emotionally at a team banquet about a Josh Groban song.
Oh yeah, that. And a photo of the estimable Mr. Groban to boot. Sigh.
Your winner? Texas, easily:
1. Other programs had just one jump-off-the-ledge loss, or merely modest reputations and expectations, but TEXAS' 2010 season covered all the bases. Losses to Iowa State, Baylor and Kansas State ranked them No. 1 in our "humiliating" category, and they didn't rank lower than third in any other.
December 19th, 2010 at 8:47 PM ^
Abstract rankings with no set criteria are a crutch of lazy journalism.
December 19th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
If you take the the top teams in all time winning percentage and make a cut-off point of .600 winning percentage and higher, you end up with 22 teams. If you subtract Miami-Ohio, and Central Michigan (not in an AQ conference), you end up with a pretty good top 20 "elite" list. Although, not sure if Virginia Tech and Colorado (no.19 & 20) fit elite status.
December 20th, 2010 at 12:58 AM ^
I mean, compared to preseason expectations, no, we didn't have a "bad" season. Admittedly it was about the most disappointing 7-5 we could be (not upsetting anyone of consequence), but still, we got there.
Compared to 2006 Michigan, yes.
However, it was the year for it. Look at USC, Texas, Florida, etc. Most powerhouses having a down year.