Other Sad Teams

Guy Chamberlin

Active member
It always cheers me up a  bit to know that other people are suffering, and although some of these teams will go to bowl games, most of the fanbase thinks their college football legacy deserves better. 

Texas  7-5

All the money, recruiting advantages, coaching changes and arrogance, and the Longhorns still aren't back to relevance. 

TCU  5-7

They've had a damn good run the last few years, but look at that record-- no better than Nebraska!

Florida State  6-6

One more win, but they've had some of the most embarrassing losses of any Division 1 team this year. Fired their second year head coach. May be trending back up. 

Miami  6-6

Warm weather, recruiting hotbed, football legacy, keeping most of their players out of prison these days, but still mired in mediocrity. 

Michigan State  6-6

Meh.

Northwestern  3-9

They used to fight Nebraska for the upper reaches of the second tier of the Big 10, but they were just awful this year.

Washington 7-5

Huskies fans expect more, especially in a weak Pac 12

Stanford 4-8

They've been tough, smart and in the hunt all decade. A power football team that vintage Huskers want to emulate. But the personnel ran out this year. It happens.

UCLA  4-8

They've got every advantage we supposedly lack, and Scott Frost's more proven mentor at the helm, and they continue to troll the bottom of the Pac 12.

Colorado  5-7

Do their fans expect more or deserve better?  Don't know. Don't care. 

Tennessee  7-5

This record probably has the folks in Knoxville feeling optimistic, which shows just how far the Vols have fallen.

Texas A&M  7-5

I've never considered A&M college football royalty, but their fans seem to disagree. LIke 6-6 Missouri, they look like they're fading down the backstretch of the SEC

Arkansas  2-10

Believe it or not, Arkansas used to be a player. Or a spoiler. Or something. And Nebraska used to covet their coaches. They probably weren't as good as their 2-10 record suggests.

 
What a comeback for the Vols.  Thats a good season with the huge rebuild they had.  I wouldnt consider them a sad team right now.  We were excited when we finished 4-8 last year lol.

I remember making fun of Tennessee after their week 1 loss to georgia state. Didn't think they would make a bowl game.

 
This is a good reminder because I feel like we sometimes dont realize that we aren't the only team struggling in a given season.  We often say "this is so embarrassing" and stuff like that but really most opposing fans probably dont care.  

 
This is a good reminder because I feel like we sometimes dont realize that we aren't the only team struggling in a given season.  We often say "this is so embarrassing" and stuff like that but really most opposing fans probably dont care.  


In 2004, it was embarrassing.  By 2007, there was pity from most opposing fans.  In 2019, it's just par for the course. 

 
Certain programs (Oklahoma, Ohio State, Alabama...) have been able to stay pretty much on top for the last 50 years. Others with former great legacies stumble and have a hard time ever getting back.

What’s the difference? The head coach? The recruiting? Karma? All of these things have their place. But that’s not where the real difference lies.

What keeps these great programs on top is the BOSSES. The people who do the hiring and firing of the head coaches, et al. These are the people who seem to always make GOOD decisions on who to hire as coaches and recruiters and then everything else follows along. Over many years, all the underling pieces will change over again and again. To keep on top, your power people on top consistently make good hiring decisions.

Major college ball is like a business as any other. If you have a good person (persons) at the very top, they will bring successful people into the fold and your outfit will prosper. If not...

All of the major programs have the right people sitting in the big offices making the (mostly) right decisions. Sometimes there is an ethical lapse along the way by someone and they get caught. Programs that stumble did so because multiple bad decisions were made and they haven’t been corrected yet. And sometimes pride gets in the way and bad decisions are never acknowledged or corrected.

 
Certain programs (Oklahoma, Ohio State, Alabama...) have been able to stay pretty much on top for the last 50 years. Others with former great legacies stumble and have a hard time ever getting back.

What’s the difference? The head coach? The recruiting? Karma? All of these things have their place. But that’s not where the real difference lies.

What keeps these great programs on top is the BOSSES. The people who do the hiring and firing of the head coaches, et al. These are the people who seem to always make GOOD decisions on who to hire as coaches and recruiters and then everything else follows along. Over many years, all the underling pieces will change over again and again. To keep on top, your power people on top consistently make good hiring decisions.

Major college ball is like a business as any other. If you have a good person (persons) at the very top, they will bring successful people into the fold and your outfit will prosper. If not...

All of the major programs have the right people sitting in the big offices making the (mostly) right decisions. Sometimes there is an ethical lapse along the way by someone and they get caught. Programs that stumble did so because multiple bad decisions were made and they haven’t been corrected yet. And sometimes pride gets in the way and bad decisions are never acknowledged or corrected.


I agree that having top talent at AD and having a President and Chancellor that understand things is probably most important.

  I don't agree that Alabama has remained on top for the past 50 years.   From the time Bear Bryant retired in 1981 until Sabin was hired in 2006 Alabama was pretty average most of the time and downright bad some of the time. They had about 4 good years under Gene Stallings but nothing else that was that great or sustained.  Alabama wondered in the wilderness for about 25 years waiting for a coach.  

 
In 2004, it was embarrassing.  By 2007, there was pity from most opposing fans.  In 2019, it's just par for the course. 
Most opposing fans hate Nebraska and take joy from it, particularly Big 10, Big 12, and AAC fans of certain schools.

I'd like Nebraska to be bowl eligible like half this list.  Sucks that it may be awhile before we ever get back to even Pelini levels of success.

 
This is a good reminder because I feel like we sometimes dont realize that we aren't the only team struggling in a given season.  We often say "this is so embarrassing" and stuff like that but really most opposing fans probably dont care.  
The only difference is that none of these teams had that great of expectations outside of Texas and those who thought Jimbo would take A&M to a fringe SEC contender this early...

We on the other hand, had a player in the top 4 of heisman odds and were a media darling pick for big 10 title winner and dark horse playoff contender with urban stepping down.

Its not just the end record, its the end record relative to expectations

 
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