Return to Glory: Georgia, Michigan and FSU Seeking Performance over Hype in 2011

Call it the Notre Dame syndrome.  Big hype and expectations, coupled with average performances on the field, have a few major programs teetering on the brink of irrelevancy.   Five historical powers are at the crossroads, and desperately need a strong season to get back on top.  While these teams may not slip into obscurity, their importance in college football is definitely fading. 

Georgia

Success is expected in Athens, but recently the program has seriously lost ground in the SEC East.  Once considered the brightest young head coach, Mark Richt’s luster has quickly faded.  He’s a lot like John Cooper—successful, but not elite.  Since 2007, the Bulldogs are just 44-21 with no conference titles or major bowl wins. 

Georgia has the talent to be the best in the East this year, but it needs to translate that into wins.  Bulldog fans are eager for a division crown, and maybe even an SEC Championship.  They’ll find out quickly if they are up for the challenge when the play Boise State on Saturday.  A win could springboard the team into a memorable year.  A loss could lead to a sixth straight disappointing season. 

UCLA

When USC returned to prominence under Pete Carroll 10 years ago, UCLA took a nose dive.  Everything was supposed to change when the Bruins hired golden boy Rick Neuheisel four years ago, but after amassing a 15-22 record with one bowl game and not as much as sniffing the upper echelon of the PAC 10, it is easy to see just how far the program has regressed. 

With all the talent in California, it's amazing that UCLA has become just an average program.  Even Neuheisel admits he is definitely on the hot seat.  If the Bruins fail to make it to a decent bowl this year, they will be officially a run-of-the-mill program. 

Tennessee

Little glory has been found on the banks of the Tennessee River lately.  The Volunteers are just 37-25 since 2007, and like Georgia, they have no conference titles or major bowl wins. 

To be fair, head coach Derek Dooley appears to have the program headed in the right direction.  However, the Volunteer faithful won’t be satisfied with Music City Bowls and eight-win seasons for much longer. 

The starting point begins at Florida on Sept. 17.  The Gators have long been the Volunteers’ nemesis.  A big win in the Swamp would show the program is climbing out of the abyss.  Another loss means the Orange and White could be swimming in misery once again. 

Florida State

For the last 10 years, Florida State has widely been considered a program on decline.  Even though their potential looks good this season, the hype needs to turn into dominance on the field for this perception to change.  The Seminoles’ nastiness is gone, and the shine on one of college football’s most dominant programs over the last 30 years has faded. 

Considering they have 16 starters returning from a team that went 10-4 last year and finished with a thoroughly dominating win over South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A bowl, anything less than an ACC title this year would be a disappointment.  

Oddly, Florida State will face an early-season test against the team that started the Seminoles fall in 2000.  A win over Oklahoma on Sept. 17 would set the tone that the Seminoles are back. Another blowout loss, and Chief Osceola’s spear will be staked through the heart of Tallahassee.

Michigan

Michigan’s fall from grace is probably the most shocking.  Until 2008, the Wolverines were the poster child for consistency in college football.  They had 40-straight winning seasons and went to 33 consecutive bowls.  Surprisingly, the administration felt a change was necessary.

Enter Rich Rodriguez.  The offensive genius was hired to convert a dominant power program into a modern, spread offense.  Three years later, with just 15 wins and one embarrassing loss to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl, Michigan finally cut Rodriguez and replaced him with former assistant Brady Hoke.

Hoke has changed the mood in Ann Arbor, and the rest of the Big Ten is actually happy because it needs Michigan to be good.  Hoke is bringing discipline and passion back into the program, and the fans are pleasantly optimistic. 

However, his grace period will be short.  With 16 returning starters, the return of a healthy Denard Robinson and a favorable schedule, the Wolverines need to hit nine wins for the season to be successful. 

College football is better when historically good teams are in the mix for the championship.  No offense to TCU, Boise State or Utah, but the dial moves when Georgia, Tennessee and Michigan are winning.  The 2011 season is critical for these programs.  Wins will be a good start, but dominance is necessary if they want to return to the big boys table.