Sunday, September 17, 2006

Big XII Rankings and other related comments

Did I tell you this conference is pretty ordinary? The Big XII went 5-7 against the rest of the world this weekend. The league lost every time it met a quality opponent this weekend, losing to such teams as Oregon, USC, TCU, Iowa, Arizona State, Toledo, and Washington State. I don't know if Washington State is a quality opponent, but it was a road game against a team better than Louisiana Tech. That's 0-4 against the Pac-10. At least a conference team didn't lose to anyone like Rice or Florida Atlantic.

Rankings:

1. TCU. Wait a minute, they're not in the Big XII! However, they've now won their last four games against Big XII teams. They'd more than hold their own with Texas and Nebraska, also. The Frogs go to Austin next year. This year, they are on a collision course with the BCS, with their last tough game being against the Fighting Utes in Salt Lake City. Big win in a defensive struggle against Tech yesterday.
2. Texas. Best of a mediocre bunch at this point. Hung half a hundred on Rice yesterday.
3 (tie). Nebraska. Didn't embarrass themselves at USC last night, and covered the point spread. Still the favorite to win the North.
3 (tie). Oklahoma. Got screwed yesterday at Oregon, but should not have put themselves in that position. Still have a chance to be really good if they can get their heads right with ball, and can learn how to tackle for an entire game.
4. Missouri. Only undefeated team left in the conference. They've Showed Me that they won't lose to a mediocre team. Better than expected.
5. Texas Tech. What happened to that high-powered offense?
6. Iowa State. Tripped up by archrival Iowa.
7. Texas A&M. Almost, and should have, lost to ARMY. Army lost to Arkansas State. Fran's lucky to not be calling realtors today.
8. Kansas. Tough loss in double overtime at Toledo.
9. Baylor. Props for taking the road trip to Washington State. Didn't come back with the win.
10. Kansas State. I can't move them up with this schedule they're playing.
11. Oklahoma State. See Kansas State.
12. Colorado. Didn't lose to Arizona State by as much as I thought they would. Still, they'll be the underdog in every game from here on out.

3 comments:

Zee said...

Woo hoo! TCU is finally ranked as something!

Here's what Coach Patterson has to say:

"All I hear about is do you think you belong," Patterson said.

"People have been underselling our kids for years. All everybody wants to talk about is the Big 12," he said. "I’m telling you right now. We’re not the Big 12, but just a Texas team playing with Texas players."

"I have a lot of respect for Mike Leach and his staff. Don’t get me wrong," Patterson said. "The bottom line is, I’d like to get a little bit here at TCU."


From - Rocky Mountain News

And from the Starlegram:

"I'm just telling you guys right now, I get tired of being treated like a stepchild in this state and this town. And my kids are, too," Patterson said. "All you guys sitting here in this room didn't think we could do it, so here you go. People have been underselling our kids for years."

He said TCU is doing the things and will continue to make improvements to facilities that will put it on the same scale as the other top programs in the country.

Ground has been broken on an indoor facility. Plans are in place to renovate Amon G. Carter Stadium. TCU players go to the NFL, and they leave Fort Worth with degrees.

"And all I hear is, do you belong?" Patterson said. "These kids deserve better than that."

"We gave them too much," Patterson said "We said we wanted to pitch a shutout."


And the fun stats from the same article:

Four straight victories against Big 12 opponents, including victories over Baylor and Texas Tech this season.

The Horned Frogs extend the longest winning streak in the nation to 13 games.

The nonconference victory over a Top 25 team puts TCU at the top of the list among non-BCS teams.

2 Times Texas Tech has been held to three points in the Mike Leach era. TCU is the first team to hold Tech to a field goal since Nebraska in 2000, Leach's first season at Tech.

2 Texas Tech failed fourth-down conversions. The Horned Frogs stopped the Red Raiders on their opening drive of each half, keeping Tech from establishing any momentum.

38 Rushing yards allowed by TCU. Although Tech isn't known as a running team, that wasn't even an option against TCU's swarming defense.

242 Total yards allowed by TCU against a Red Raiders team that had totaled 73 points in its first two games of the season.

John said...

If TCU loses to anyone other than Utah, there's something really wrong. They have a really good chance to beat Utah, also. If that happens, they'll probably be in Glendale to play the Big XII champion in the Fiesta Bowl.

Drinking the purple Kool-Aid....

John said...

I made an error. Missouri is not the only undefeated team in the conference. Kansas State and Oklahoma State are, also.