Every season teams start with high hopes, only to get their bubbles burst, falling short of expectations or dealing with heartbreaking losses.
Well, I'm here to burst a few bubbles early.
Based on some of the polls I've read (ESPN, Rivals, Lindy's, Sporting News), I'll give my pick for the top five most disappointing college football teams of 2008.
Take notice that some of these teams will have decent years, but compared to their expectations right now, their seasons will fall very short.
For a perennial title contender, 7 to 8 wins is absolutely disappointing.
#5. Florida State Seminoles-
I've read some publications that have this team in the top 25.
Um, what?
What would give anybody any indication that this squad will be one of the best 25 this season?
Is it the phenomenal play of Drew Weatherford, who has never been the player people hoped for? Is it the numerous suspensions that the team has handed out as a result of the academic scandal from last winter? How about the lack of star power?
I understand that this is a down year in the ACC, but I see no reason to believe that Bobby Bowden can improve on last year's 7-6 mark. For a school that is a shadow of its former self, this season will be embarassing for a once proud program.
If 'Noles fans really think their team will qualify for a decent bowl, they are sadly mistaken.
#4. Arizona State Sun Devils-
Dennis Erickson helped this team to be one of the best stories of 2007, but the run stops here. For a team that is projected around the top ten in many lists I've read, I'm surprised that nobody is predicting a sophomore slump in Erickson's campaign at ASU.
Rudy Carpenter, who is already notorious for holding on to the ball too long, will have even more problems behind a line that returns only two starters. And staying healthy behind said line could be an issue as well.
Plus, this team will have a much harder schedule. As opposed to a relatively light load in '07, this year's version plays home games against Georgia, Oregon, and UCLA; with road games against Cal, USC, and rival Arizona. That's six potential tough matchups right there.
No doubt this team will be a respectable Pac-10 squad, to the tune of seven or eight wins and a decent bowl, but second in the Pac-10 and a top 15 finish is definitely not in my crystal ball.
#3. Michigan Wolverines-
This is a team that is used to contending for a Big 10 title and national championship, so this transition year into the Rich Rodriguez reign will definitely fall short of what "Big Blue" fans are used to.
They have almost no carryover from the Lloyd Carr era. Only three starters on offense return, and with a new, complicated system to learn, the spread offense might take years to get running.
Nine starters on D are coming back to Ann Arbor, but the D was the main problem last season in the games they lost. They might improve, but probably won't be able to carry the load for an offense that won't put up consistent numbers.
The fact of the matter is, with question marks all over the field, and a new coaching staff in town, the Wolverines are looking at a long season that includes games at Notre Dame, Penn State, and Ohio State; and at home versus Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan State.
For a team that was brokenhearted over a 9-4 end to the Carr era, a five or six loss season will definitely disappoint fans at the Big House.
#2. Kansas Jayhawks
Ah, where to begin.
Am I biased against the Jayhawks? Yes. But are they due for a huge letdown if they are looking to get double digit wins and a top 15 finish? Hell yes.
Where to start? First of all, gone are Brandon McAnderson, Anthony Collins, James McClinton, and Aqib Talib. All of these guys were stars that quietly shone for Kansas, and their holes won't be filled easily. So while KU didn't lose a lot of starters, they lost some big ones.
Second, they actually have to play somebody this season. Last year, their only regular season game against a .500 club was their 36-28 beatdown from Mizzou. And that game wasn't as close as the score might make you think.
This season, with games at South Florida, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and the Mizzou game in Kansas City, they already have four hard road games. Add in home games against Texas Tech, Texas, and rival K-State, and this team could lose five or six games easily.
Kansas had a phenomenal season in 2007, but the party is over for the Jayhawks in 2008. It will be put up or shut up time in the Big 12. KU will have a target on their back during the fall for the first time ever, and they'll have to play at a tremendous clip to keep up with Missouri in the North.
If Rock Chalkers really think this team will threaten for another BCS bowl and win over nine games, they've got another thing coming. There's no way this team has a repeat of 2007.
#1. Louisiana State Tigers-
The tradedy in Baton Rouge started early this spring when superstar QB Ryan Perrilloux was booted for numerous team violations. Now the team will be led by Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch, or unproven freshman Jarrett Lee. That spells trouble for a team that has had a talented signal caller for years.
This is a school that almost always reloads instead of rebuilds, but this defense only returns four starters from a stellar unit. The D may gel and be spectacular once again, but excess pressure from a struggling offense may lead to more trouble than they can handle.
Lastly, a schedule that features App State, and the typical SEC bruisers (Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama) might finally bare its teeth. Last year, several close calls allowed the Tigers to win a national championship. Les Miles probably won't be that lucky come the fall.
For a school that is always one of the most talented in the country, the future looks bright. But one wonders if the constant flight of players to the NFL, and the suspension of their best returning player, will lead this team to a subpar, possible .500, hiccup of a season.
Only time can tell, but this season probably won't be one that Tiger fans will remember fondly. Not because they will get blown out a lot or be terrible - but for the purple and gold, only a national title crown is satisfactory.
These picks are certainly subjective, and there might be more possibilities. Some might think Georgia will inevitably get eaten alive by it's tough SEC schedule. Ohio State and Oklahoma will surely be disappointed if they can't get over their respective BCS humps. Some might even turn the tables, and say my Missouri team is destined for a let down, with such high hopes for this year.
Leave your comments. They are greatly enjoyed and appreciated. I'm Peter Fleischer. Thanks for reading.
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2 months ago
great read and i think you hit all 5 on the head. I see LSU dropping 3 or 4 games.
from 2 months ago
Thanks for reading Justin! Glad you liked it.
2 months ago
Ah, Peter, my friend. Such despair and hopelessness for the above 5 teams :-).
As a lifelong Nole, and one of much common sense, I agree with you that we should not be in anyone's top 25 coming into this season. However, I do think we are going to be much improved over last year simply because the offensive line will be better. Pretty difficult for us to disappoint though unless we go less than 7-6. And that ain't happening.
Drew can be a winner if he's plays within his many limitations. Jimbo Fisher made winners out of and put into the NFL quarterbacks Matt Mauck, Rohan Davey & recently Matt Flynn. None of those guys were superstars. But they played within the system and their teams were pretty successful.
Starpower, you asked. It's very difficult to establish a star when the offensive line can't block anybody. Nevertheless, Preston Parker emerged last year as a do-it-all player, who, when the ball is in his hands, proved to be extremely dangerous.
Starpower in college football is a (ESPN, CBS) media thing. Name a star other than DT Glenn Dorsey on LSU's national championship team. It's also very overrated.
The kid whose star shined the brightest last year led his team to a 9-4 record including a loss in a bowl game to a Michigan team that lost to Appalachian State.
from 2 months ago
Thanks for reading Efrem. I guess disappointing is a completely relative term, but compared to the old days when the 'Nole used to be a perennial contender, this season will certainly fall short of expectations.
from 2 months ago
Efrem,
In all seriousness, I thought the o-line was going to be FSU's biggest weakness. Another projected starter (don't know his name) was just declared out for the year due to a blood clot, and only two kids who have played significant downs will return as starters--and they are sophomores.
I don't know, weak o-line and shaky qb play: I'm not seeing the improvement.
2 months ago
Good stuff. I'd say that Arizona State is the best pick on this list. I'm not saying they will have a dissapointing season, but they have the best combo of replacing starters and high expectations.
Florida State really isn't being expected to do that much so I'd say they will be about as good as most people expect.
Michigan is another team that I don't think has real high expectations right now. I'd say they will hit the 7-9 win mark and be about where most would expect.
Kansas is a tough one. I think most want to think they were a one year wonder, but I think they have enough talent there right now that they can have another good year next year. Kansas fans are crazy though if they start thinking they are one of the big boys and expect 10 plus wins every year. That will get Mangino fired in a hurry.
LSU is an interesting pick as well. They could very well lose 3 games this year if they don't get the QB situation settled, but then again they lost 2 games last year. They have too much talent to lose more than 3 games I think. They have the most talent in the league at the two most important positions, offensive and defensive lines. They will be an interesting team to watch early on.
from 2 months ago
Thanks for reading Justin.
Florida State is actually in some top 25's that I've read, so if people think they'll do that, I think they'll be very disappointed.
I also think that Michigan's season is more disappointing in a relative term. Compared to their typical season, this won't make anybody happy.
Kansas to me, a Missouri fan, could really be a joke this year. I was surprised and impressed with their win over VT, but other then that, they beat nobody worth bragging about. I think they could lost four or five games and maybe hover around the top 25.
from 2 months ago
*fuels fire*
I still think Va. Tech lost the Orange Bowl and kU didn't win it. Yeah, I'm probably biased, but Beamer's offense just had no clue out there. They played awful football and only lost by three, though.
I can see kU going 9-3, with losses to OU, Mizzou, and then one of either USF/Tech/Texas. However, if they repeat their top-ten ranking of last year, they'll have certainly earned it.
2 months ago
I agree with all of your teams except for ASU -- I think they could potentially beat the Tigers this year and will definately be a top 2 team in the Pac-10
from 2 months ago
Bulldogs?
from 2 months ago
Yea I'm an idiot...sorry, all the SEC teams are the same to me (terrible haha jk calm down)
2 months ago
Peter: If any Seminole fan is expecting BIG things from this years team, they need to leave that "stuff" alone and enter a rehab program. I'm looking at perhaps an 8-4 team. Offensive line cohesion being the caveat.
Oh yeah, Peter, man, my fellow co-workers are just a tab bit hot with you over the LSU entry. Man, these folks here in Baton Rouge take their Tigers very serious. After a loss, either no one shows up at work the following Monday, or you hear a lot of pill bottles (anti-depressants) being opened :-).
Tim: That player was Evan Bellamy. You are right in that we are really young at that position. But overall I think we'll be okay and will surprise some folks when we upset Clemson; but disappoint some folks when we lose to Wake Forest AGAIN.
from 2 months ago
Ha, trust me Efrem, I know all about LSU and their fan base. One of my best friends, BR writer Zack Warner, is a HUGE LSU guy. His mom went there, and his brother played for the bball team (Jack Warner ring a bell?). I understand how the Cajuns are, but I just think that the team will have a big dropoff from where they were the last few years.
It's really nobody's fault. Mile's gave Perrilloux every chance he could, and the defense lost a little more talent then usual.
2 months ago
how did Florida State become so undisciplined offensively so quickly...i remember when Chris Weinke was picking apart defenses and this offense was not killed by ill advised passes, poor reads, dropped balls, missed blocks...I worry about Jimbo as the new head coach in 2009..why not wait and see whose out there after next season
2 months ago
Great article man, and i agree with everything you said. i'm a huge florida state fan, and i'm sad to admit i think you right. I would say 8-4 at best, with clemson emerging as a great team and wade forest owning us for the past couple of seasons, i don't see fsu making it to the acc championship game. i will say though that the recruiting class they brought it have a bright future ahead of them, maybe in two years they will be a top 25 team again without question, but not this season. i agree with the michigan and lsu predictions too. it's going to take some time for rich rodriguez to get his players that he wants into michigan, and that might not happen right away. lsu is going to fall off, but not for too long. they lost a lot of talent from last years team. great article though man, nice work.
2 months ago
Interesting article. Of course I am an LSU fan so I have a little problem with the article. LOL! If the Tigers go .500, I will commit suicide! I just don't think that is possible. I think the majority of college football fans know LSU will have a drop off this year. In order for any team to win the NC you need luck, and that doesn't often strike twice. So I really don't see a 9-3 season as a disappointment. 7-5 or worse would be a disappointment.
2 months ago
LSU will never go .500 until our ages start with a 3. come on pete.
from 2 months ago
Dude, I don't know Zack. I'm looking at holes all over the defense from players going pro. Plus, I think they'll have a huge target on their back from teams knowing that they're hurting from the Perrilloux dismissal. Plus, they're in the SEC. We both know how that is.
We shall see.
from 2 months ago
They are gonna be fine. The best football team in the land over the past 5 years will not go 500 pete just get it through dude. They play in the SEC where they could lose a few but they could also steal a few. Show me 6 games they could potentially lose and I'll consider your arguement valid. And with there HUGE freshman class from last year they will have some bloomers. A title satisfies Baton Rouge heavily but a 8-4 season with a bowl win would also satisfy most Tiger fans with what they have on slate this year.
from 2 months ago
These are the games I'm looking at. I, unlike a lot of people, don't think they'll lose to App State. LSU has never choked. But they have tough games at Auburn, at Florida, at South Carolina, Georgia at home, and could possibly get upset by either Miss State (8-5 last year) or 'Bama.
The reason LSU is my most disappointing team is because honestly the past five years have been so amazing for your squad, and this year it will be WAY harder to repeat that success. But the reason why it's MOST disappointing is because I honestly believe they could have won the SEC West and possibly a BCS bowl with Perrilloux, so really the season they will have is clouded by what COULD have been, making it a little disappointing regardless of what happens.
2 months ago
your point now sinks in like jokes do to krishaun 5 minutes later.
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