Teams that always have pre-season hype yet rarely produce. Why is that?

[brutetough]

tOSU gets my vote... They r always a quality team, but always a few steps away...

The first team that comes to mind is Clemson. I can't tell you how many years the "experts" have said "This is their year to make a title run" yet they never do it. However, for the most part seem to bring in excellent recruiting classes. Have their coaches been THAT BAD?

South Carolina also comes to mind when talking about the SEC teams that always get the pre season "team to watch out for". Granted they made it to the SECCG but good lawd they still managed to lose four games for the year. What is it about these teams (and others) that cause the experts to always predict greatness yet they never produce?

 

[rolltide2213]

used to be michigan a few years ago, now i'd say iowa or clemson.

 

[Con]

I just think some teams aren't ready to be in the spotlight. It has a lot to do with leadership and maturity. We weren't that year we went out to UCLA and got embarrassed. The Alabama teams of the 60's and 70's were ready for it. They were expected to be there and they lived up to the hype. Like them or not, the Miami teams of the 80's were just arrogant enough to enjoy the spotlight and live up to the expectations. I think we are seeing now for our team at least, is a confidence in a coach that has been there and done that. The guys on the team believe in the coach. Look no further than the Miami Heat, they don't have a coach that can get them over the hump, but they sure have a little talent.

 

[Luvubama]

I agree it's got to be Clemson. My husband and daughter graduated and we are IPTAY members. I disagree the fanbase is not excited enough. I'm at almost all the games and the atmosphere is great (not as good as ours though!!!). I think it's the conditioning and have said that every year. Their players are not tough -- both mentally and physically. They do think every year is going to be "the year" but agree with some of the earlier posters, they just don't seem to know HOW to win and win in close games. I think Dabo is a decent coach but he just doesn't have what it takes to get them to the next level. IMHO.

 

[bamaman07]

Virginia Tech. I respect Frank Beamer but his teams always start out poorly but gain momentum as the year goes on then loses their bowl game. They've lost to all the big boys they've faced (Alabama, USC, Boise, Stanford). Clemson, Georgia and Miami have to fall into this category too.

 

[GulfCoastTider]

Climpson wasn't even in the AP preseason Top 25 last year. I agree they've been hyped in the past, but I think the sportswriters are onto the scam, now. Agree with Iowa being in there. Miami, too.

West Virginia always seems to get some preseason love but also always seems to turn into a dumpster fire by the end of the season.

 

[Mystical]

In Clemson defense they played 2 SEC teams and South Florida as part of their out of conference schedule last year. Not to mention the 2 teams they played from the SEC also beat us.

 

[capnfrog]

LS Who. Always recruit in the top % and always win some big games but are always a letdown. Other than the CNS years, they haven't lived up to expectations in a long while.

 

[USCBAMA]

i was in clemson for 7 yrs. my take on it is that they feel almost entitled to being a championship quality team. if you walk around clemson, they will talk about what a great football school it is and how their history and tradition is incredible. but then they would look lost when i asked them what they have done lately? they have played the last 10-15 yrs under no sanctions, in an incredibly weak conference, and they have been mediocre every yr. it is almost as if they think bc of danny ford and a championship way back before any of their current players were born, that they automatically will go out and be a great team. the worst bet in college football is clemson- you absolutely never know which team will show up. i remember one yr where they beat fsu, then lost to duke, then beat miami all in 3 weeks. i also remember where almost every huge thursday night game, they would get blown out of the stadium (this happened multiple yrs). tommy bowden was soft and his team was soft. if a team came out and punched them in the mouth on the first series, then they wuld roll over the rest of the game. plus their offense was embarassingly predictable once rodriguez left. the problem is it wasnt just under bowden that they were erratic. they were also like that with Hatfield and Tommy West. Now they are like that with Dabo. I think it is just a second tier program that doesnt realize they need to fight to become elite- they just already think they are and that is why they always seem to underperform.

plus the most exciting 25 secs in football really isnt all that exciting- a bunch of fat dudes trying not to fall down the hill isnt exactly amazing. s.car, miami and va tech are all much better intros. (of course ours is the best)

A perfect summary of clemson football the past 20 years.

 

[TideMan09]

Penn St, Florida St, Nebraska, Georgia Tech all can be added to the list..Florida St is getting a lot of National Love at the moment..I have a feeling they're going to fall on their face hard yet again this year..

 

[senior]

Here is one for you. How many times in the last 10 years have we heard how Oklahoma is going to win it all? They are saying it again this year. Stoops has made it to the the big Game how many times? Didn't Saban beat him one year for a Share of the title?

 

[afadam07]

I think Boise's the most over-hyped team. Yeah, they finish high in the rankings, but they don't play more than one game during the season.

Georgia is another one that is usually hyped in the preseason. They're probably the unluckiest team in the SEC because they always seem to get hit with injuries at the wrong time.

 

[AllTide]

Virginia Tech.

 

[bamafaninOhiO]

Any team in the Big Ten fits this thread.

Most overhyped, overrated, conference in the country.

 

[BamaBeta]

I can't recall Va Tech ever being hyped as anything more than a dark horse title contender, which they've lived up to. Otherwise, they do as they're predicted to do: win more than anyone in the ACC.

Miami of the last half decade comes to mind for me. They get a lot of hype because sportswriters seem to be dying to be the one to predict which former great is "back," and because they get some impressive talent. The problem is, their talent is scattered and their coaching has only ranged from very bad to bad.

They did not live up to the hype in 2005 or 2008 and have not been contenders since 1999 and 2000 seasons with 1 loss seasons. They did have a two loss season recently but that was 2005 when they were supposed to run the tables with Marcus Vick and a slew of seniors.

I would agree with Miami because people thought that just because a former champion was the coach that the results would be title contention. Miami has not really been in title contention since the 2003 season which was ended by Virginia Tech.

 

[oorah_okie]

Here is one for you. How many times in the last 10 years have we heard how Oklahoma is going to win it all? They are saying it again this year. Stoops has made it to the the big Game how many times? Didn't Saban beat him one year for a Share of the title?

That's a problem most schools couldn't dream of.

 

[freefall]

Any team in the Big Ten fits this thread.

Most overhyped, overrated, conference in the country.

But, but, but... they are LEGENDS!!