College Football Nation: 110812 Tease
Today, we're taking a look at the tease teams across the Big 12, and the past three seasons, we've seen a good number of cases in the Big 12.
These three programs find themselves in the top 10 again this year, but here's what's happened lately. Is one of these squads simply a tease in 2011?
2010: Texas A&M
The Aggies, coming off a 6-7 season in 2009, weren't convincing enough to earn preseason top 25 honors, but the potential for a big year was there, and anyone paying attention knew it. The offense was loaded, led by the league's preseason offensive player of the year, Jerrod Johnson. Johnson, however, struggled early, throwing four interceptions in consecutive games against Florida International and Oklahoma State, turning the ball over five times in a loss to the Cowboys. The Aggies were embarrassed on their home field by Missouri to fall to 3-3, and despite a late-season rally, couldn't qualify for the Big 12 championship game.
2009: Oklahoma State
The offseason crescendo built to a pressure-packed season opener against SEC foe Georgia, but Dez Bryant and the Cowboys knocked off the Bulldogs to land in the top 5 and on the cover of Sports Illustrated. A week later, however, Case Keenum (and Dana Holgorsen, by the way) waltzed into Stillwater and gave the Cowboys a nasty buzzkill in the form of a 45-35 upset, officially derailing a championship season. OSU also suffered a pair of embarrassing 27-point losses to Big 12 South rivals Oklahoma and Texas, including a 27-0 shutout loss to Oklahoma. Kendall Hunter (ankle), Zac Robinson (shoulder) and Dez Bryant (NCAA suspension) were all forced off the field at times, but there's no doubt: That team was a tease.
2008: Missouri
The Tigers reached No. 1 heading into the Big 12 championship game in 2007, but a loss sent them to the Cotton Bowl and hoping for better luck next year. Chase Daniel and Co. opened the season at No. 6 and ran off a 5-0 start, including a 52-17 obliteration of Nebraska in Lincoln, the first win for the Tigers there since 1978. A week later, though? A program-defining win for Oklahoma State on Missouri's field, followed by an absolute undressing by Colt McCoy and Texas in Austin a week later, featuring a 35-3 halftime deficit. The Tigers were upset by Kansas before being rolled over 62-21 by Oklahoma and settling for an appearance in the Alamo Bowl. Quite the tease, Tigers.
So, which of the Big 12 teams ranked this year looks like a tease?
These three programs find themselves in the top 10 again this year, but here's what's happened lately. Is one of these squads simply a tease in 2011?
2010: Texas A&M
The Aggies, coming off a 6-7 season in 2009, weren't convincing enough to earn preseason top 25 honors, but the potential for a big year was there, and anyone paying attention knew it. The offense was loaded, led by the league's preseason offensive player of the year, Jerrod Johnson. Johnson, however, struggled early, throwing four interceptions in consecutive games against Florida International and Oklahoma State, turning the ball over five times in a loss to the Cowboys. The Aggies were embarrassed on their home field by Missouri to fall to 3-3, and despite a late-season rally, couldn't qualify for the Big 12 championship game.
2009: Oklahoma State
The offseason crescendo built to a pressure-packed season opener against SEC foe Georgia, but Dez Bryant and the Cowboys knocked off the Bulldogs to land in the top 5 and on the cover of Sports Illustrated. A week later, however, Case Keenum (and Dana Holgorsen, by the way) waltzed into Stillwater and gave the Cowboys a nasty buzzkill in the form of a 45-35 upset, officially derailing a championship season. OSU also suffered a pair of embarrassing 27-point losses to Big 12 South rivals Oklahoma and Texas, including a 27-0 shutout loss to Oklahoma. Kendall Hunter (ankle), Zac Robinson (shoulder) and Dez Bryant (NCAA suspension) were all forced off the field at times, but there's no doubt: That team was a tease.
2008: Missouri
The Tigers reached No. 1 heading into the Big 12 championship game in 2007, but a loss sent them to the Cotton Bowl and hoping for better luck next year. Chase Daniel and Co. opened the season at No. 6 and ran off a 5-0 start, including a 52-17 obliteration of Nebraska in Lincoln, the first win for the Tigers there since 1978. A week later, though? A program-defining win for Oklahoma State on Missouri's field, followed by an absolute undressing by Colt McCoy and Texas in Austin a week later, featuring a 35-3 halftime deficit. The Tigers were upset by Kansas before being rolled over 62-21 by Oklahoma and settling for an appearance in the Alamo Bowl. Quite the tease, Tigers.
So, which of the Big 12 teams ranked this year looks like a tease?
Aside from Ohio State, no Big Ten team has consistently met lofty expectations during the past decade.
A year ago, Iowa entered the season ranked No. 9 nationally but ended up losing five games. In 2009, Michigan State seemed poised for a second consecutive strong season but backslid both on and off the field. In 2008, the Big Ten featured two of the nation's bigger disappointments in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Almost every Big Ten team has fallen short of expectations in recent years, whether it was Michigan in 2005 and 2007, Purdue in 2004, Minnesota in 2004, Northwestern in 2001 or Penn State in 2009.
So is the Big Ten a league of big teases? Not necessarily. Every conference has disappointing teams nearly each year, along with surprise teams.
But a few Big Ten programs have teased and tortured their fans more often than others. These teams aren't strangers to preseason hype, but for various reasons they struggle to back it up.
Here's a look ...
Michigan State: The Spartans are taking steps to rid themselves of the tease tag, but it still sticks. There's a reason why folks are wary of Michigan State this season, even though the Spartans come off of their first Big Ten title in two decades. The hesitancy stems from the Spartans' struggles to meet lofty preseason expectations (2009, 2002), their tendency to fade after strong starts (2003, 2005, 2006) and their inability to string together consecutive great seasons. This season provides the expectations and the challenging schedule for Michigan State to change the perception.
Illinois: The Illini might have been the Big Ten's ultimate tease team in the past decade. They made BCS bowls after the 2001 and 2007 seasons but failed to make the postseason the other eight years. Ron Zook's recruiting success also raised expectations, particularly after the Rose Bowl run in 2007, but Illinois won just eight total games in 2008 and 2009. Talent never seems to be the issue in Champaign, but somehow this program hasn't been to back-to-back bowl games since 1991-92.
Iowa: A big part of the reason why I've labeled Iowa a dangerous team this season is because the outside expectations aren't that high. Preseason hype hasn't been a good thing for the Hawkeyes, who fell short in 2010 and also in 2005 and 2006, when they were picked third in the Big Ten but went a combined 13-12. Conversely, when expectations aren't as high, like in 2002 and, to a lesser extent, 2009, Iowa seems to thrive. But until Iowa can consistently match the hype, it will fit into the tease category.
Wisconsin: The Badgers are probably the least tease-y of this bunch, but they have had their moments. Their collapse in 2008 stands out, but they also were picked to finish second before the 2007 season and dropped three Big Ten games. Wisconsin also stumbled to a 7-6 record in 2003, a year it was picked to finish third before the season. While last year's Rose Bowl run helped Bret Bielema prove how far he can take the program, Wisconsin faces another set of high expectations entering 2011.
A year ago, Iowa entered the season ranked No. 9 nationally but ended up losing five games. In 2009, Michigan State seemed poised for a second consecutive strong season but backslid both on and off the field. In 2008, the Big Ten featured two of the nation's bigger disappointments in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Almost every Big Ten team has fallen short of expectations in recent years, whether it was Michigan in 2005 and 2007, Purdue in 2004, Minnesota in 2004, Northwestern in 2001 or Penn State in 2009.
So is the Big Ten a league of big teases? Not necessarily. Every conference has disappointing teams nearly each year, along with surprise teams.
But a few Big Ten programs have teased and tortured their fans more often than others. These teams aren't strangers to preseason hype, but for various reasons they struggle to back it up.
Here's a look ...
Michigan State: The Spartans are taking steps to rid themselves of the tease tag, but it still sticks. There's a reason why folks are wary of Michigan State this season, even though the Spartans come off of their first Big Ten title in two decades. The hesitancy stems from the Spartans' struggles to meet lofty preseason expectations (2009, 2002), their tendency to fade after strong starts (2003, 2005, 2006) and their inability to string together consecutive great seasons. This season provides the expectations and the challenging schedule for Michigan State to change the perception.
Illinois: The Illini might have been the Big Ten's ultimate tease team in the past decade. They made BCS bowls after the 2001 and 2007 seasons but failed to make the postseason the other eight years. Ron Zook's recruiting success also raised expectations, particularly after the Rose Bowl run in 2007, but Illinois won just eight total games in 2008 and 2009. Talent never seems to be the issue in Champaign, but somehow this program hasn't been to back-to-back bowl games since 1991-92.
Iowa: A big part of the reason why I've labeled Iowa a dangerous team this season is because the outside expectations aren't that high. Preseason hype hasn't been a good thing for the Hawkeyes, who fell short in 2010 and also in 2005 and 2006, when they were picked third in the Big Ten but went a combined 13-12. Conversely, when expectations aren't as high, like in 2002 and, to a lesser extent, 2009, Iowa seems to thrive. But until Iowa can consistently match the hype, it will fit into the tease category.
Wisconsin: The Badgers are probably the least tease-y of this bunch, but they have had their moments. Their collapse in 2008 stands out, but they also were picked to finish second before the 2007 season and dropped three Big Ten games. Wisconsin also stumbled to a 7-6 record in 2003, a year it was picked to finish third before the season. While last year's Rose Bowl run helped Bret Bielema prove how far he can take the program, Wisconsin faces another set of high expectations entering 2011.
You know who they are. They look good in the summer, they love the attention, and they’ve got you hooked -- only to disappoint you later by falling below expectations. That’s it. Game over.
They’re the ACC’s biggest teases.
Here’s a look at which programs in the conference have looked great in the preseason recently only to underwhelm once the season begins:
1. Miami: How many times have we heard it? “They’re ba-ack.” No, they’re not. They’re not even Coastal Division champs. Miami was picked to win the division in 2006, and finished 7-6. The Canes started out 4-1 in 2007, only to lose back-to-back Coastal Division games to Georgia Tech and UNC. In 2008, Miami had the outright lead for the Coastal Division in November, beat Virginia Tech 16-14, and then closed out the season with three straight losses. Offensive coordinator Patrick Nix was fired. Need I go on? In 2009 they started out 2-0 with wins over Florida State and Georgia Tech, only to flop on the road in the rain at Blacksburg. Miami has been teasing its fans with its talent for years.
2. Clemson: It was 2008. Clemson was ranked No. 9 in the country and picked to win the ACC. And then they ran for a whopping zero yards in the season opener against Alabama. They finished 7-6 that year, and Tommy Bowden was fired mid-season. In 2007 they started out 4-0, were ranked No. 13, and then missed four field goals and had a punt blocked in a loss to Georgia Tech. Huh? These Tigers strut their stuff in the offseason, bringing in recruiting classes that rank among the best in the country. But they haven’t had an ACC title to show for it in almost 20 years.
3. North Carolina: With all of the NFL talent this team lured in under Butch Davis, and considering the program is facing nine major NCAA violations, you’d think the Tar Heels would have won a national championship by now. Seriously. Had the entire team been eligible last year, they probably could have. Now, heading into the 2011 season, this roster was in the midst of reloading when Davis was fired. Just when the program seems on the verge of getting over the eight-win hump and contending for a title, the entire organization seemingly self-destructs. What at tease.
They’re the ACC’s biggest teases.
Here’s a look at which programs in the conference have looked great in the preseason recently only to underwhelm once the season begins:
1. Miami: How many times have we heard it? “They’re ba-ack.” No, they’re not. They’re not even Coastal Division champs. Miami was picked to win the division in 2006, and finished 7-6. The Canes started out 4-1 in 2007, only to lose back-to-back Coastal Division games to Georgia Tech and UNC. In 2008, Miami had the outright lead for the Coastal Division in November, beat Virginia Tech 16-14, and then closed out the season with three straight losses. Offensive coordinator Patrick Nix was fired. Need I go on? In 2009 they started out 2-0 with wins over Florida State and Georgia Tech, only to flop on the road in the rain at Blacksburg. Miami has been teasing its fans with its talent for years.
2. Clemson: It was 2008. Clemson was ranked No. 9 in the country and picked to win the ACC. And then they ran for a whopping zero yards in the season opener against Alabama. They finished 7-6 that year, and Tommy Bowden was fired mid-season. In 2007 they started out 4-0, were ranked No. 13, and then missed four field goals and had a punt blocked in a loss to Georgia Tech. Huh? These Tigers strut their stuff in the offseason, bringing in recruiting classes that rank among the best in the country. But they haven’t had an ACC title to show for it in almost 20 years.
3. North Carolina: With all of the NFL talent this team lured in under Butch Davis, and considering the program is facing nine major NCAA violations, you’d think the Tar Heels would have won a national championship by now. Seriously. Had the entire team been eligible last year, they probably could have. Now, heading into the 2011 season, this roster was in the midst of reloading when Davis was fired. Just when the program seems on the verge of getting over the eight-win hump and contending for a title, the entire organization seemingly self-destructs. What at tease.
In 2008, the then-Pac-10 blog noted that "If you Google 'Arizona State' and 'sleeping giant,' 3,400 articles come up."
If you did it this week, you get 85,900 results (in 0.23 seconds! Technology rocks! Though it doesn't seem as if all the matches are relevant, Google).
In 2008, we wrote, "If a Pac-10 team has a chance to break USC's choke-hold on the conference title -- or at least to regularly challenge the Trojans for the top spot -- it's the Sun Devils."
Drrrrrr.
We were wrong. Somehow I want to blame Chip Kelly.
We are considering programs that are "teases" in the Pac-12, which my new boss, Ruthless Reynolds, described as "teams that always look great in the preseason only to underwhelm when play starts."
Sun Devils, why can't we quit you?
Well, lots of reasons.
You have the only coach in the conference who's won a national title in Dennis Erickson. As a resident of north Scottsdale living in the shadow of Black Mountain, I can confirm that the weather -- though a bit toasty in the summer -- is just about perfect eight months of the year. Tempe is just a short flight from the recruiting hotbed of Southern California. The, er, scene at Arizona State strikes this codger as something that might appeal to an average 18- or 19-year-old male. Academic standards don't typically limit recruiting options.
And the program has been there before, becoming a national power in the 1970s under Frank Kush and then again in the 1996 season, when it lost a national title in a thrilling Rose Bowl defeat to Ohio State.
Still, it's one of the great questions in college football: Why doesn't Arizona State win more consistently?
Of late, the Sun Devils have typically underperform compared to expectations. In four of the past six years, they've finished below where they were picked in the Pac-10 preseason media poll, most notably in 2008 -- that year! -- when they were picked second in the conference but finished sixth with a 5-7 record.
To be fair, though, they've eclipsed their preseason prediction in two of the four years -- 2007 and 2010 -- under Erickson.
And so we have 2011.
The Pac-12 blog started touting Arizona State as a 2011 contender before last season was done. Why? It wasn't just that the Sun Devils went nose-to-nose with some of the best teams in the country -- Oregon, Wisconsin, Stanford -- it was coaches from other teams specifically noting how talented the Sun Devils were.
Then you looked at the 2010 depth chart: Everyone was coming back. Seriously: The only senior starters last year were receiver Kerry Taylor and defensive tackle Saia Falahola.
Wow. To be honest, my thought process immediately saw 6-6 in 2010 and thought Rose Bowl shot in 2011.
But after a nice finish to the 2010 season, little has gone right for the Sun Devils. Defensive tackle Lawrence Guy made a poor decision and entered the NFL draft. Quarterback Steven Threet was forced to retire due to concussions. Fellow quarterback Samson Szakacsy left the team. Unanimous All-Pac-10 cornerback Omar Bolden blew out his knee at the beginning of spring practices, followed shortly thereafter by top returning receiver T.J. Simpson. Starting defensive end James Brooks quit, and the status of talented running back Deantre Lewis (gunshot wound) remains up in the air as he might redshirt this season.
That's five starters, a co-starter (Lewis) and an experienced backup quarterback. So, Sun Devils fans, you have a ready-made excuse if the season falls short of expectations and you end up only wondering what might have been.
That said, Arizona State, despite these major personnel losses, is still good enough to win the South Division. It also helps, by the way, that USC's ineligibility means it's only a five-team race among squads that each have significant holes.
But every time you start to think they'll be OK, something else happens, such as All-American linebacker Vontaze Burfict fighting a receiver he outweighs by 50 pounds in the locker room last week, or linebacker Oliver Aaron suffering a high ankle sprain, or backup defensive tackle Joita Te'i suffering a foot injury that will sideline him for seven weeks.
Still, 28 seniors back in the locker room, five starters back on the offensive line, Burfict leading impressive talent in the front seven, an underrated running back in Cameron Marshall and a quarterback in Brock Osweiler who looks ready to lead.
Sun Devils, why can't we quit you?
If you did it this week, you get 85,900 results (in 0.23 seconds! Technology rocks! Though it doesn't seem as if all the matches are relevant, Google).
In 2008, we wrote, "If a Pac-10 team has a chance to break USC's choke-hold on the conference title -- or at least to regularly challenge the Trojans for the top spot -- it's the Sun Devils."
Drrrrrr.
We were wrong. Somehow I want to blame Chip Kelly.
We are considering programs that are "teases" in the Pac-12, which my new boss, Ruthless Reynolds, described as "teams that always look great in the preseason only to underwhelm when play starts."
Sun Devils, why can't we quit you?
Well, lots of reasons.
You have the only coach in the conference who's won a national title in Dennis Erickson. As a resident of north Scottsdale living in the shadow of Black Mountain, I can confirm that the weather -- though a bit toasty in the summer -- is just about perfect eight months of the year. Tempe is just a short flight from the recruiting hotbed of Southern California. The, er, scene at Arizona State strikes this codger as something that might appeal to an average 18- or 19-year-old male. Academic standards don't typically limit recruiting options.
And the program has been there before, becoming a national power in the 1970s under Frank Kush and then again in the 1996 season, when it lost a national title in a thrilling Rose Bowl defeat to Ohio State.
Still, it's one of the great questions in college football: Why doesn't Arizona State win more consistently?
Of late, the Sun Devils have typically underperform compared to expectations. In four of the past six years, they've finished below where they were picked in the Pac-10 preseason media poll, most notably in 2008 -- that year! -- when they were picked second in the conference but finished sixth with a 5-7 record.
To be fair, though, they've eclipsed their preseason prediction in two of the four years -- 2007 and 2010 -- under Erickson.
And so we have 2011.
The Pac-12 blog started touting Arizona State as a 2011 contender before last season was done. Why? It wasn't just that the Sun Devils went nose-to-nose with some of the best teams in the country -- Oregon, Wisconsin, Stanford -- it was coaches from other teams specifically noting how talented the Sun Devils were.
Then you looked at the 2010 depth chart: Everyone was coming back. Seriously: The only senior starters last year were receiver Kerry Taylor and defensive tackle Saia Falahola.
Wow. To be honest, my thought process immediately saw 6-6 in 2010 and thought Rose Bowl shot in 2011.
But after a nice finish to the 2010 season, little has gone right for the Sun Devils. Defensive tackle Lawrence Guy made a poor decision and entered the NFL draft. Quarterback Steven Threet was forced to retire due to concussions. Fellow quarterback Samson Szakacsy left the team. Unanimous All-Pac-10 cornerback Omar Bolden blew out his knee at the beginning of spring practices, followed shortly thereafter by top returning receiver T.J. Simpson. Starting defensive end James Brooks quit, and the status of talented running back Deantre Lewis (gunshot wound) remains up in the air as he might redshirt this season.
That's five starters, a co-starter (Lewis) and an experienced backup quarterback. So, Sun Devils fans, you have a ready-made excuse if the season falls short of expectations and you end up only wondering what might have been.
That said, Arizona State, despite these major personnel losses, is still good enough to win the South Division. It also helps, by the way, that USC's ineligibility means it's only a five-team race among squads that each have significant holes.
But every time you start to think they'll be OK, something else happens, such as All-American linebacker Vontaze Burfict fighting a receiver he outweighs by 50 pounds in the locker room last week, or linebacker Oliver Aaron suffering a high ankle sprain, or backup defensive tackle Joita Te'i suffering a foot injury that will sideline him for seven weeks.
Still, 28 seniors back in the locker room, five starters back on the offensive line, Burfict leading impressive talent in the front seven, an underrated running back in Cameron Marshall and a quarterback in Brock Osweiler who looks ready to lead.
Sun Devils, why can't we quit you?
If there is one team from the Big East that can be called the biggest tease, you have to look at Pitt. The last two seasons, the Panthers have raised hopes, only to dash them with disappointing play. That ultimately cost coach Dave Wannstedt his job. Let's take a look at what happened in 2009 and 2010 as the most recent examples.
2009
Pitt was the preseason media pick to win the Big East, but everything fell apart in the last two weeks of the regular season. With a 9-1 record and No. 9 ranking, Pitt traveled to Morgantown to take on West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. But the Mountaineers ended Pitt's five-game winning streak when Tyler Bitancurt kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired in a 19-16 West Virginia victory. Still, all Pitt had to do was beat Cincinnati at home the following week to clinch the league's BCS berth. Pitt build a 21-point lead early in the game and also went up 38-24 in the fourth quarter. But the Panthers squandered the game away. Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike hit Armon Binns on a 29-yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds left to give Cincinnati a 45-44 win in the snow and the Bearcats a spot in the BCS. Pitt ended the season in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against North Carolina -- a far cry from the Sugar Bowl. On the bright side, the Panthers did go 10-3, but they did fall short of expectations.
2010
The Panthers were the overwhelming favorite to win the Big East in the preseason media poll, getting 22 of a possible 24 first-place votes. With running back Dion Lewis, receiver Jon Baldwin and defensive ends Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus returning, hopes were high in Pittsburgh. The Panthers started the season ranked No. 15 but were a disappointment right out of the gate, losing the season opener at Utah 27-24 in overtime. They then lost in embarrassing fashion to Miami, 31-3, and dropped a game to Notre Dame, starting the season 2-3 with wins over New Hampshire and FIU. Pitt reeled off three straight wins to open Big East play atop the league. Despite a 30-28 loss to UConn, all the Panthers needed to was win out to secure a BCS berth. And once again, they couldn't. Pitt lost to West Virginia 35-10 after turning the ball over four times. Wannstedt resigned after the season and opted not to coach in the BBVA Compass Bowl against Kentucky. Pitt finished the season 8-5.
There were plenty of other disappointing losses in recent memory:
2008: Pitt opened the season ranked No. 25 but lost the opener at home to Bowling Green 27-17.
2007: Pitt was routed at Virginia 44-14.
2005: Loss at Ohio 16-10 in overtime dropped the Panthers to 0-2. Pitt was picked to finish second in the Big East, only to miss a bowl game and finish 5-6.
2009
Pitt was the preseason media pick to win the Big East, but everything fell apart in the last two weeks of the regular season. With a 9-1 record and No. 9 ranking, Pitt traveled to Morgantown to take on West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. But the Mountaineers ended Pitt's five-game winning streak when Tyler Bitancurt kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired in a 19-16 West Virginia victory. Still, all Pitt had to do was beat Cincinnati at home the following week to clinch the league's BCS berth. Pitt build a 21-point lead early in the game and also went up 38-24 in the fourth quarter. But the Panthers squandered the game away. Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike hit Armon Binns on a 29-yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds left to give Cincinnati a 45-44 win in the snow and the Bearcats a spot in the BCS. Pitt ended the season in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against North Carolina -- a far cry from the Sugar Bowl. On the bright side, the Panthers did go 10-3, but they did fall short of expectations.
2010
The Panthers were the overwhelming favorite to win the Big East in the preseason media poll, getting 22 of a possible 24 first-place votes. With running back Dion Lewis, receiver Jon Baldwin and defensive ends Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus returning, hopes were high in Pittsburgh. The Panthers started the season ranked No. 15 but were a disappointment right out of the gate, losing the season opener at Utah 27-24 in overtime. They then lost in embarrassing fashion to Miami, 31-3, and dropped a game to Notre Dame, starting the season 2-3 with wins over New Hampshire and FIU. Pitt reeled off three straight wins to open Big East play atop the league. Despite a 30-28 loss to UConn, all the Panthers needed to was win out to secure a BCS berth. And once again, they couldn't. Pitt lost to West Virginia 35-10 after turning the ball over four times. Wannstedt resigned after the season and opted not to coach in the BBVA Compass Bowl against Kentucky. Pitt finished the season 8-5.
There were plenty of other disappointing losses in recent memory:
2008: Pitt opened the season ranked No. 25 but lost the opener at home to Bowling Green 27-17.
2007: Pitt was routed at Virginia 44-14.
2005: Loss at Ohio 16-10 in overtime dropped the Panthers to 0-2. Pitt was picked to finish second in the Big East, only to miss a bowl game and finish 5-6.
No one likes a tease. They ruin a perfectly good time, and in the SEC, we've seen a few teases in the past couple of seasons.
A tease team is a team that looks good during the spring or preseason camp, but somehow implodes during the season. It can also be a team that has high expectations, but just never puts it together.
Could there be one lurking in our midst as we speak? Possibly. If Alabama doesn't compete for a national championship, would you consider the season a failure? Some would. Or what if South Carolina doesn't win the East? That would be considered a major disappointment to a lot of people out there.
Here are some of those tease teams we've seen in this league over the past couple of years:
Georgia: The Bulldogs have been notorious for underachieving. In Mark Richt's second season, Georgia went 13-1, winning the SEC. The Bulldogs repeated as East champs in 2003 and won the SEC again in 2005. During that four-year span, the Bulldogs went an impressive 44-9. Georgia was bringing in some of the best recruiting classes in the SEC and it seemed like the Bulldogs would regularly compete for a national championship. However, Georgia has had double-digit victories just twice since 2005 and hasn't made it back to the SEC championship. Last season was the ultimate low point when the Bulldogs went 6-7, the first losing season since going 5-6 in 1996. This season, Georgia has a slew of talent, thanks to a stellar recruiting class that featured a group of Georgians dubbed the "Dream Team." If not for injuries and attrition on the offensive line and at running back, the Bulldogs would be battling South Carolina for the role of preseason favorite in the East. But there is talent to make a run. Can the Dawgs scrap the underachieving bug in 2011?
Ole Miss: Recent Ole Miss teams have been a little disappointing after that deadly preseason hype. After Houston Nutt's impressive 9-4 first season -- a season in which the Rebels upset eventual national champion Florida and won six straight games to end the season -- many had the Rebels competing for much more than just back-to-back Cotton Bowls. The Rebels entered the season ranked eighth in the country and rose as high as fourth before faltering during the middle of the season and losing to Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. However, Ole Miss won its second straight Cotton Bowl. Last season, Ole Miss wasn't picked to bring home any trophies, but the 4-8 season was far from what was expected. The Rebels touted a much-heralded defense and brought in former Oregon standout Jeremiah Masoli to run the offense. Neither lived up to expectations and Ole Miss won just one conference game.
Florida: It's not like Florida consistently underachieved under Urban Meyer, but in 2009, everyone and their mother had Florida playing in back-to-back national championships. The Gators had what some considered Florida's best defense ever and had Tim Tebow back for his senior season. Even without Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, many figured Florida's offense would be fine. Well, the offense was rarely explosive or intimidating and the Gators were eventually blown out by Alabama in the SEC championship. Florida throttled Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, going 13-1, but most of the Gator Nation's excitement left when those national championship hopes were destroyed. Before 2010, people expected John Brantley to blow up Florida's record books with his passing numbers, while running another explosive Meyer offense. Along with a mighty recruiting class, Florida had the look of a SEC contender. However, Brantley never fit into the spread attack and Florida's offense limped through an 8-5 season that included a blowout loss to Florida State, the first to the Seminoles since 2003.
A tease team is a team that looks good during the spring or preseason camp, but somehow implodes during the season. It can also be a team that has high expectations, but just never puts it together.
Could there be one lurking in our midst as we speak? Possibly. If Alabama doesn't compete for a national championship, would you consider the season a failure? Some would. Or what if South Carolina doesn't win the East? That would be considered a major disappointment to a lot of people out there.
Here are some of those tease teams we've seen in this league over the past couple of years:
Georgia: The Bulldogs have been notorious for underachieving. In Mark Richt's second season, Georgia went 13-1, winning the SEC. The Bulldogs repeated as East champs in 2003 and won the SEC again in 2005. During that four-year span, the Bulldogs went an impressive 44-9. Georgia was bringing in some of the best recruiting classes in the SEC and it seemed like the Bulldogs would regularly compete for a national championship. However, Georgia has had double-digit victories just twice since 2005 and hasn't made it back to the SEC championship. Last season was the ultimate low point when the Bulldogs went 6-7, the first losing season since going 5-6 in 1996. This season, Georgia has a slew of talent, thanks to a stellar recruiting class that featured a group of Georgians dubbed the "Dream Team." If not for injuries and attrition on the offensive line and at running back, the Bulldogs would be battling South Carolina for the role of preseason favorite in the East. But there is talent to make a run. Can the Dawgs scrap the underachieving bug in 2011?
Ole Miss: Recent Ole Miss teams have been a little disappointing after that deadly preseason hype. After Houston Nutt's impressive 9-4 first season -- a season in which the Rebels upset eventual national champion Florida and won six straight games to end the season -- many had the Rebels competing for much more than just back-to-back Cotton Bowls. The Rebels entered the season ranked eighth in the country and rose as high as fourth before faltering during the middle of the season and losing to Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. However, Ole Miss won its second straight Cotton Bowl. Last season, Ole Miss wasn't picked to bring home any trophies, but the 4-8 season was far from what was expected. The Rebels touted a much-heralded defense and brought in former Oregon standout Jeremiah Masoli to run the offense. Neither lived up to expectations and Ole Miss won just one conference game.
Florida: It's not like Florida consistently underachieved under Urban Meyer, but in 2009, everyone and their mother had Florida playing in back-to-back national championships. The Gators had what some considered Florida's best defense ever and had Tim Tebow back for his senior season. Even without Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, many figured Florida's offense would be fine. Well, the offense was rarely explosive or intimidating and the Gators were eventually blown out by Alabama in the SEC championship. Florida throttled Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, going 13-1, but most of the Gator Nation's excitement left when those national championship hopes were destroyed. Before 2010, people expected John Brantley to blow up Florida's record books with his passing numbers, while running another explosive Meyer offense. Along with a mighty recruiting class, Florida had the look of a SEC contender. However, Brantley never fit into the spread attack and Florida's offense limped through an 8-5 season that included a blowout loss to Florida State, the first to the Seminoles since 2003.
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