pannell@dosadi.DEC (Roger D. Pannell 229-6893 LTN1-1/D03) (08/06/85)
I just received my latest issue of SPORT magazine in which they previewed the
upcoming college season and picked their top 20 (and their second 20). I was
surprised at some of the choices they made. I can't remember all the choices
but I'll post them later in the week. The first surprise though was the team
they had picked for number 1 - it was MARYLAND. I had heard Joe Paterno
praising Maryland a couple of weeks ago, but I thought that was only because
Penn State will be playing them very early in the season and maybe even the
season opener for each team. I do remember the top 5:
1. Maryland
2. Oklahoma
3. SMU
4. Illinois
5. Florida
What I found most interesting about those teams is the fact that 3 of the 5
are either facing probation, going on probation, or coming off probation this
year. SMU MAY be hit with probation for the second time in 5 years and sixth
time in their history. Illinois is supposed to come off of probation at the
end of the year and could play New Year's Day. Florida is just begining their
penalty, for over 100 violations.
Other surprises were the Flutie-less BC ranked #15 and Penn State down around
#37. Also there was no mention of Texas in the top 40. To me, that was a
real surprise because some teams seem to get recognition no matter what and I
always thought Texas was in that group.
As a Georgia Bulldog fan, I am looking forward to seeing what they can come up
with for a kicker to replace Kevin Butler and also how the running backs will
perform. SPORT magazine didn't have Georgia ranked very high either
(somewhere in the high 20's) but I would expect them to do much better than
that. I think their ranking was based on a suspected 6-5 record. I haven't
seen Georgia's schedule yet but I think they'll do better than that. They do
start the season against 'BAMA, Baylor, Clemson and South Carolina. Of those
four I'd have to say Clemson will be the toughest.
Also this year SPORT did not choose Beano Cooke to make choose the magazine's
top 20. He did however pick/jinx Oklahoma as his #1 team.
-- Roger Pannell
ARPA: pannell%dosadi.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA, pannell%dosadi.DEC@Purdue-Merlin.ARPA
UUCP: {allegra, decvax, ucbvax}!decwrl!rhea!dosadi!pannellables@mcc-db.UUCP (King Ables) (08/08/85)
> .... Also there was no mention of Texas in the top 40. To me, that was a > real surprise because some teams seem to get recognition no matter what and I > always thought Texas was in that group. Texas WAS in that group. For years Texas was the powerhouse of the SWC (actually, for years no one else was any good, but Texas was good on a national level, too). These were the years I was growing up and by the time I got to college (UT of course) we didn't automatically go undefeated anymore. Boy, what a rude awakening! :-) Darrell Royal, who was my idol all through childhood, even had the nerve to retire from coaching the year before I started college!! Now, after a number of years of being average, we don't automatically get that nod from the polls that we used to. Notre Dame has been having this problem lately, too (snicker snicker). But it's all for good reason this year.... we're going to be HORRIBLE. Obviously, someone else knows it, too. I want to go 12-0 as much as any other Longhorn fan, but it's just not going to happen this year. We'll be lucky to break .500. I'll be the first to admit that I liked having a DYNASTY. The games weren't as exciting (from a purly non-partisan view) but it sure was more fun! Go 'Horns! -King ARPA: ables@mcc UUCP: {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!mcc-db!ables I'm not a BAD loser, I'm just not a GOOD one, either!