VictorsValiant said:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=dw-notredame080606&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
I can't believe you guys are complaining. How many other teams get so much attention from sellout writers and ESPN after an OK 3 loss season? I would like to see two consecutive winning seasons. Apparently, that hasn't happened in a while.
"an Ok 3 loss season"
3 wins against ranked teams, beat two other teams that werent ranked but went to a bowl game, and beat 5 teams that finished the year 5-6 (Pitt, Mich State, Purdue, Tenn, and Stanford)
Quality Wins: Pittsburgh, Michigan, Purdue, BYU, Tennessee, Navy, Stanford
Pittdburgh was coming off a Fiesta Bowl year, and was the favorite to win the Big East. The game was being played at Pitt, and Pitt was favored by 3 points. Michigan was ranked #3 at the time, and the game was played at ann arbor. Michigan also had wins over Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan State when MSU was ranked #11. Michigan was a 7 point favorite. Purdue was 2-1 at the time and ranked #22. The game was being played at Purdue, and ND was a 3 point underdog. BYU was just 3-3 at the tme, but was coming off a 2 game winning streak. Notre Dame had just lost to USC the week before. Tennessee was just 3-4 at the time but had losses to #6 Floridaby 9, #5 Georgia by 13, and #5 Alabama by 3. They had already beaten the #3 team in the country in LSU, at baton rouge. They averaged giving up 14 points a game coming into the game, but ND scored 42 points. Navy came into the game 5-3, but their losses were to Maryland, Stanford, and Rutgers by a combined 16 points. They finished they year averaging 34.2 points per game and letting up just 14.5. Notre Dame won 42-21. Stanford came into the game 5-5, and fighting for a bowl bid. They had wins over 2 bowl teams, and other wins against Arizona, Oregon State, and Washington State. They lost to UCLA in OT when they were undefeated and ranked #8.
Key Losses: Michigan State, USC, Ohio State
Michigan State came into the game 2-0, and averaging over 45 points a game. They were leading by 21 points late in the 3rd quarter, and managed to win in OT. They had many close losses this year. They were ranked #11 and lost to rival Michigan in OT. Against OSU, they were leading by 10 with little time left in the 2nd quarter, but a Field goal was blocked and returned for a TD when they only had 10 players on the field. Against Northwestern, they threw 2 pics inside the 10 yard line, missed 2 field goals, and had a fumble returned against them for a TD. Thats 5 times in scoring position! With 5 seconds left, they threw a pic inside the red zone against Purdue in a 28-21 loss. In a 9 point loss aginst PSU, they threw 2 pics inside FG territory, missed a short field goal, and had a punt that was returned against them for a TD. USC simply averaged 50 points a game during the regular season, and Notre Dame nearly beat them, giving up a TD on the last play of the game. Notre Dame was a 12 point underdog. USC went 12-1 last year, and was the most talented team in the country by far. Ohio State was ranked #4 and was playing in their 3rd Fiesta Bowl in 4 years. They were favored by 4 and a half points and had two of the speediest receivers in the country, as well as a mobile QB. One call cost ND the game (Zibbys fumble return) and Ohio State won 35-21.
So much for an OK 3 loss season victorsvaliant. Michigan had a pretty OK 5 loss season
