Uconn

[Briancuse]

You're describing teams, not a program.

Don't get me wrong, Clemson has a great program, but it isn't as strong as programs at schools like Michigan, Ohio State, FSU, etc., even if they've had a better last couple of years.

I am a Michigan fan in addition to being a Cuse fan, what has Michigan won in recent memory? Clemson has become a top program.

 

[Alsacs]

You're describing teams, not a program.

Don't get me wrong, Clemson has a great program, but it isn't as strong as programs at schools like Michigan, Ohio State, FSU, etc., even if they've had a better last couple of years.

Clemson is closest rival to Alabama in the nation.

Their player facility is a palace.

Top 10 brands in college football right now.

Alabama
Ohio State
Florida State
USC
Michigan
Notre Dame
Clemson
Texas
Oklahoma
Florida

 

[djorange1989]

You're describing teams, not a program.

Don't get me wrong, Clemson has a great program, but it isn't as strong as programs at schools like Michigan, Ohio State, FSU, etc., even if they've had a better last couple of years.

There is a difference between historical blue bloods and who is a better program now. Clemson is a mega football program now. 10, 11, 11, 10, 14(lost title game) , 14(won title game). that's their win totals the last six years, and they appear to be on their way to another 14 or so this year. Putting Michigan State(even with a maybe) on your list ahead of them is nuts, to use one example.

 

[TexanMark]

You're describing teams, not a program.

Don't get me wrong, Clemson has a great program, but it isn't as strong as programs at schools like Michigan, Ohio State, FSU, etc., even if they've had a better last couple of years.

IMHO...Clemson has spent themselves into Top 10-15 program status.

 

[TexanMark]

Making his son an honorary captain for the coin toss of the Clemson game?

I like your thinking...hopefully SU makes a nice retro Jersey with his name on it to wear for the toss:
BURTIN

 

[orangenauburn]

Trust me...Cuse is treating the Burton's with respect.

Go on ...

 

[nzm136]

One thing I learned throughout the conference expansion madness was that it was incredibly reactionary. Look no further than what the B12 did by inviting West Virginia over Louisville. That made zero sense on just about every level, but at that specific moment in time when the music stopped and a chair had to be sat in, WVU was ranked in the top 10 and UL was in year 4 of their post-Petrino malaise. So the B12 passed on a school that was dying to join, was investing heavily in athletics, and was 400 miles closer to the conference center, because WVU was more of a "football school" for 6 weeks that fall.

Point being that while I don't disagree with your assessment of programs historically, there was a lot of real-time decision making that either didn't take that into account, or was using completely different criteria (see: B1G adding Rutgers and Maryland).

I know my alternate universe scenario for UConn is a total stretch, at best.

There were other factors at work. For instance, WVU was gleefully willing to burn bridges.

 

[nzm136]

Clemson is closest rival to Alabama in the nation.

Their player facility is a palace.

Top 10 brands in college football right now.

Alabama
Ohio State
Florida State
USC
Michigan
Notre Dame
Clemson
Texas
Oklahoma
Florida

I'm pretty sure Auburn is the closest rival to Alabama.

And no, Clemson doesn't have a stronger program than Texas. If Clemson wandered in the desert for a decade, nobody would consider them "elite."

THAT is the mark of a program (vs a team).

 

[nzm136]

IMHO...Clemson has spent themselves into Top 10-15 program status.

Who do they replace?

 

[nzm136]

I am a Michigan fan in addition to being a Cuse fan, what has Michigan won in recent memory? Clemson has become a top program.

What has Notre Dame won recently? Are they not a top 15 program?

And nobody is saying that Clemson isn't a top program. I'm only saying that they don't have a better program than the likes of Texas, Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Alabama, etc.

 

[KaiserUEO]

The ND board had no problems seeing him leave the ND DC job to being the coach at UConn.

Which shows you how stupid they are.

Diacco can recruit NJ, PA, OH and the like.

Nobody wants to go to storz...duh, and I doubt the kids he could get for N are going that far when they have closer options with a higher winning probability.

Being a HC might've been too much for him anyway.

I realize Dino has 'his guys' but a guy like Diaco would kill it here if we start winning 7 or 8.

 

[Alsacs]

I'm pretty sure Auburn is the closest rival to Alabama.

And no, Clemson doesn't have a stronger program than Texas. If Clemson wandered in the desert for a decade, nobody would consider them "elite."

THAT is the mark of a program (vs a team).

I was talking about program. Not actual rivalry.

Clemson is the program closest to Alabama nationally.

Texas isn't relevant as much as you think. They have done nothing since Mack Brown.

Clemson is more relevant than you think.
They have been dominant for multiple QBs now.

 

[retro44]

IMHO...Clemson has spent themselves into Top 10-15 program status.

yup and that includes bundles of 20's so the recruits have posted...

And this is when they started to shoot up in the polls.

 

[CuseOnly]

I'm pretty sure Auburn is the closest rival to Alabama.

And no, Clemson doesn't have a stronger program than Texas. If Clemson wandered in the desert for a decade, nobody would consider them "elite."

THAT is the mark of a program (vs a team).

You are talking about having a brand, not a program.

Like it or not, Clemson is a stronger program than Texas and over the last decade would pretty much wipe the floor with them. And you could argue that given a bit more time will be as big a brand or bigger.

 

[Scooch]

There were other factors at work. For instance, WVU was gleefully willing to burn bridges.

I imagine the university of Petrino and Pitino was not going to let any bridge stand in their way of landing in a power conference. Remember this was three years before their ACC invite.

 

[TexanMark]

Who do they replace?

Someone like Michigan State, Nebraska and even Miami

 

[nzm136]

Someone like Michigan State, Nebraska and even Miami

Those were all maybes, and it still wouldn't put them in the top 15.

 

[nzm136]

I imagine the university of Petrino and Pitino was not going to let any bridge stand in their way of landing in a power conference. Remember this was three years before their ACC invite.

Don't get me wrong, UL isn't overflowing w/ saints.

The ship that is WVU athletics was just captained by Oliver Luck.......

 

[nzm136]

You are talking about having a brand, not a program.

Like it or not, Clemson is a stronger program than Texas and over the last decade would pretty much wipe the floor with them. And you could argue that given a bit more time will be as big a brand or bigger.

You're talking about a team.

A brand is an ability to sell. Texas absolutely has that (not that you said that they didn't)

A good team can win in a given year (everyone has these, depending on the year)

A program is how long a school can keep its up when it has them, and it's how quickly it can weather its downs. Texas is far better positioned to perform well in this regard than Clemson.

Clemson has had better teams over the last decade because Texas has been down, and because Clemson has one of its best coaches ever. But I would expect Texas to win more than they lose against Clemson in the long run. They have a better past, and they have better organizational infrastructure on the whole (vs a pound for pound level)

 

[nzm136]

I was talking about program. Not actual rivalry.

Clemson is the program closest to Alabama nationally.

Texas isn't relevant as much as you think. They have done nothing since Mack Brown.

Clemson is more relevant than you think.
They have been dominant for multiple QBs now.

You're using a tiny sample size. Use a small enough sample size and numbers will say whatever you want them to (see RU fans immediately after the '06-'07 season)

 

[Alsacs]

You're using a tiny sample size. Use a small enough sample size and numbers will say whatever you want them to (see RU fans immediately after the '06-'07 season)

Since 2010 Clemson is 80-13 that is nothing like Rutgers at all.

Clemson is a top 10 program.

They sellout their stadium no matter their record.

They have the cool entrance that has been known for a while.

They aren't Virginia Tech with Vick which would have been the way better comparison. Clemson has sustained it.

They are a top 10 brand nationally.

They have always had the talent and players in the NFL now they are sustaining excellence.

 

[TexanMark]

I'm pretty sure Auburn is the closest rival to Alabama.

And no, Clemson doesn't have a stronger program than Texas. If Clemson wandered in the desert for a decade, nobody would consider them "elite."

THAT is the mark of a program (vs a team).

OT:. Funny I have banner ads showing up here for buying into condos next to Bama's Football stadium. Condos start at about a half million and go up towards 2 million. Insane you would pay that to be able to live next to a football stadium.

 

[RandomGuy]

yup and that includes bundles of 20's so the recruits have posted...

And this is when they started to shoot up in the polls.

And this guy. Guess he asked for hundreds...

 

[elimunelson]

Since 2010 Clemson is 80-13 that is nothing like Rutgers at all.

Clemson is a top 10 program.

They sellout their stadium no matter their record.

They have the cool entrance that has been known for a while.

They aren't Virginia Tech with Vick which would have been the way better comparison. Clemson has sustained it.

They are a top 10 brand nationally.

They have always had the talent and players in the NFL now they are sustaining excellence.

Definitely. But it took a LONG time for them to shed the underachiever status. I really hope Dabo leaves for Bama.

 

[TheCusian]

How do you go from mediocre to name brand? Sustained success + Money
How do you from name brand to mediocre? It's much harder to fall out of the elite club than to get into it. Clemson is on it's way. Texas is fine - since the money and fans aren't going anywhere. But give me Clemson success over the past 10 years over Texas any day of the week.

The problem Uconn has is they will never catch up on money, unless a miracle happens and they get invited to a P5. Without that $ and sustained success is impossible. We face the sustained success problem and have a money problem - but it's not even close to as severe as a team outside of the P5.