USA Today Coach's Poll Out

[Vandy Vol]

What you probably heard moaning about was the inconsistency. That's how it's normally done, as evidenced this year, and every other year Auburn doesn't finish on top. Not necessarily #1, but at least Top 5.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/year/2011/week/1
The three major 2011 Preseason Polls had Auburn ranked 19th, 23rd, and unranked.

Of course Auburn's 2011 ranking wasn't going to be typical of previous defending champions.  If I recall correctly, they returned the least number of starters than any other Division I team.

No other teams defending their national titles had such a huge loss of experienced players, at least from what I can recall.

[AUChizad]

Of course Auburn's 2011 ranking wasn't going to be typical of previous defending champions.  If I recall correctly, they returned the least number of starters than any other Division I team.

No other teams defending their national titles had such a huge loss of experienced players, at least from what I can recall.

The whole reason we're talking about it now is because Bama is facing similar depletion, yet are ranked #2. No, they didn't lose as much as we did, but the difference between starting out #2 and starting out unranked or 23rd?

[Vandy Vol]

The whole reason we're talking about it now is because Bama is facing similar depletion, yet are ranked #2. No, they didn't lose as much as we did, but the difference between starting out #2 and starting out unranked or 23rd?

See the contradiction there?

[Kaos]

The whole reason we're talking about it now is because Bama is facing similar depletion, yet are ranked #2. No, they didn't lose as much as we did, but the difference between starting out #2 and starting out unranked or 23rd?

Are you forgetting they have Brodie McTattoo?  All questions are now answered. 

He done gonna break out an' be a dayum star, brothah.

[AUChizad]

See the contradiction there?

Comprehension fail.

"Similar" is not the same as "equal".

I am conceding that we were more depleted, but not by as much as implied by our preseason rank vs. theirs.

Not that it matters enough to warrant talking about it as much as we already have.

[Vandy Vol]

Comprehension fail.

"Similar" is not the same as "equal".

I am conceding that we were more depleted, but not by as much as implied by our preseason rank vs. theirs.

Not that it matters enough to warrant talking about it as much as we already have.

Not by as much?

Alabama is returning 7 offensive starters, including the starting QB.  In 2011, Auburn returned 3 offensive starters, not including the starting QB (which so happened to be a huge aspect of the offense).  So Bammer returned more than twice as many offensive starters this year than Auburn did last year, and that's not even considering the impact of losing Cam.

The returning defensive players are closer, with both teams returning 4 defensive starters.  But again, there was the impact of losing Fairley.

But let's not forget that Auburn was ranked 120th in regard to returning starters.  Dead last.  Alabama's not ranked dead last this year in that department.  And yet you're still surprised that Auburn received no love in preseason rankings?  Has there ever been any other defending national champions which ranked dead last for returning starters, yet still held onto a top 10 preseason ranking?

Sure, maybe Alabama shouldn't be #2, but my main point is that Auburn's 2011 preseason ranking wasn't that absurd, especially when you look at where they ended up in the final rankings.

[AWK]

Not by as much?

Alabama is returning 7 offensive starters, including the starting QB.  In 2011, Auburn returned 3 offensive starters, not including the starting QB (which so happened to be a huge aspect of the offense).  So Bammer returned more than twice as many offensive starters this year than Auburn did last year, and that's not even considering the impact of losing Cam.

The returning defensive players are closer, with both teams returning 4 defensive starters.  But again, there was the impact of losing Fairley.

But let's not forget that Auburn was ranked 120th in regard to returning starters.  Dead last.  Alabama's not ranked dead last this year in that department.  And yet you're still surprised that Auburn received no love in preseason rankings?  Has there ever been any other defending national champions which ranked dead last for returning starters, yet still held onto a top 10 preseason ranking?

Sure, maybe Alabama shouldn't be #2, but my main point is that Auburn's 2011 preseason ranking wasn't that absurd, especially when you look at where they ended up in the final rankings.

Final Auburn rank 2011: Awesome.

[RWS]

Losing Cam Newton, who is arguably one of the best college QBs to play the game, coupled with losing nearly the entire offense around him will most certainly bump you down the list. Given the results of the 2011 season, how would it have made the preseason poll anymore credible if they had ranked AU #1? It would have been just that much more inaccurate. Bottom line, the preseason polls/predictions are stupid and pointless. I don't know why people get their panties in a bunch over them.

[Kaos]

Losing Cam Newton, who is arguably one of the best college QBs to play the game, coupled with losing nearly the entire offense around him will most certainly bump you down the list. Given the results of the 2011 season, how would it have made the preseason poll anymore credible if they had ranked AU #1? It would have been just that much more inaccurate. Bottom line, the preseason polls/predictions are stupid and pointless. I don't know why people get their panties in a bunch over them.

I couldn't hear you over the sound of the lambs screaming....

[Vandy Vol]

Final Auburn rank 2011: Awesome Better than Vanderbilt.

Fixt.

[Snaggletiger]

In my mandatory 10 minutes of PF on my drive home yesterday, all 3 calls I heard were complaints about how they could possibly rank LSU higher than the Tahd.  On the way in to work this morning, I heard one call to our local sports talk show.

"Lemme git this straight.  El S Hugh done lost their quarterback and we done outrushed em' 3 to 1 in Nayshunul champeenship game an basically crushed em'....an they's gonna' rank em' higher then thuh Tahd?  I don't see the reasonin' behind thet.  Whutchu' thank?"

[Jumbo]

And Brian Bosworth

Underrated movie.

[GH2001]

In my mandatory 10 minutes of PF on my drive home yesterday, all 3 calls I heard were complaints about how they could possibly rank LSU higher than the Tahd.  On the way in to work this morning, I heard one call to our local sports talk show.

"Lemme git this straight.  El S Hugh done lost their quarterback and we done outrushed em' 3 to 1 in Nayshunul champeenship game an basically crushed em'....an they's gonna' rank em' higher then thuh Tahd?  I don't see the reasonin' behind thet.  Whutchu' thank?"

And they would have a solid point......IF THIS WERE LAST SEASON!!

[dallaswareagle]

Underrated movie.

Everytime I watch it, afterwards I go out and kick someone ass.










10 year olds should not be on the street that late at night anyway.