Most OverLoved Programs

[Steve19]

Nebraska gets a lot of love?!? From whom??

Well, for starters, Kansas State's entire season would have been much more of a disaster if they hadn't drilled Nebraska last year. Gotta be some love, or at least gratitude, in there somewhere. And, heck , just about everyone else they faced in the Medium 12 would have been equally satisfied by the game, oh, wait, I see, sorry, no, I'm being stupid, right, that's not love.

Note to Steve19: Lust is not love, lust is not love

 

[BuckeyeSoldier]

Nebraska gets a lot of love?!? From whom??

Tom Lemming

 

[Zurp]

My list would have to include (in the order that they happen to come to mind): Miami (UM), Florida State (FSU), Florida (UF), Central Florida (UCF), Florida A&M (FAMU), Florida Institute for the Blind (FIB), Florida Firefighters Against Robots (FFAR), Florida Mental Institute Against Firefighters Named "Steve" (FMIAFNS), and probably University of We Have Super Fast Speed and It's All Manufactured in Florida (whatever).

Seriously, I always thought the Florida teams got too much love. Here's my real list: Miami (FL), Florida State, Florida, Notre Dame, Baltimore Ravens, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Oklahomo, and John Elway.

 

[FadeproofBuck]

I'm going to say Miami, because they've been underacheivers for the last couple years(How do you have over 20 1st round draft picks the last 4 years and have only 1 national title to show for it?)

Plus I can't stand "The U", just irritates the hell out of me when announcers and sports anchors call them that.

 

[OilerBuck]

I may have a problem with people saying USC is OVER loved. in 2003 they exceeded expectations by a long shot and last year they lived up to them by winning out. I'd say you can't call them over loved until they start to underperform...or at least until they lose.

 

[Zurp]

I may have a problem with people saying USC is OVER loved. in 2003 they exceeded expectations by a long shot and last year they lived up to them by winning out. I'd say you can't call them over loved until they start to underperform...or at least until they lose.

I think that with the way the media has been talking about USC, it seems that they were expected to launch a successful full-scale invasion on the moon, or something, by now. National Champions is nothing compared to what the media is looking for.

 

[Wadcutter]

I think it's Notre Dame in a landslide, maybe Michigan #2. I'm judging this on true love, or long term love, as opposed to a romantic fling. All the team's mentioned here are in the upper tier in long term love, but no one touches ND. Take USC for example: they definitely have the most love right now, but that's because they have unquestionably been the best team in the country over the past three years. But no one, outside of legitimate USC fans, talked much about USC football for the nearly 20 years when they were in a down cycle. Iowa's another example; they're definitely top five in performance over the last three years. Iowa gets a little extra respect when they're good because they generally don't recruit at the same level as some of the others, but when they're fielding a mediocre or a bad team, no one cares about them. Notre Dame though, can run off ten mediocre seasons and still get the love (not necessarily over hyped, although that definitely happens, but over loved). Consider '02, when both OSU and ND had some ugly wins (and this was ND's only decent season in the last decade). The focus on ND was on the WINS, the focus on OSU was on the UGLY. No question in my mind, Notre Dame is tops in over-true-love.

Gotta agree with the finger on this one particularly if you go back very far. I can remember in the 60's and 70's that ND would schedule most, if not all, of the service academies, the University of Richmond, GT, a couple from the group of Purdue, NW, Sparty or Indiana (and this is when it truly was the Big 2 and Little 8) someone like BC and then USC and all you heard about was the mighty Irish. They would do this year in and year out and always be ranked top 10, often top 5, and the argument for all this love was that they would only lose a game or two a year. Not all that hard to do with that schedule. Going back over the past 4 decades I say ND, hands down.

 

[FritoBandito]

1. Notre Dame -- Knute Rockne, All-American; "winning one for the Gipper"; the Gipper elected President; Ara Parsegian; hiring Ty Willingham; Catholics; Irish; phony reputation for academic excellence; priests all over the campus, like a set from a Frank Capra movie; a golden dome backdrop; the sacrilege of Touchdown Jesus; a Fighting (probably alcoholic) Leprechaun; a Go-It-Alone TV deal.

2. USC -- hometown of half the sports broadcasters in the USA; a cupcake conference; 'Tailback U.'; John McKay; long string of flashy RBs named Ricky; O.J. back in the day; the Rose Bowl in their backyard; a lock for TV's 4:00 p.m. kick-off timeslot; starlet-wannabe cheerleaders; a pretend Trojan warrior on a white steed galloping across the field; perfect telegenic weather every Saturday; everybody's got a tan.

3. Oklahoma -- Bud Wilkinson; 50 straight wins; Barry 'bootlegger's son' Switzer; the wishbone; scores in the 70s; against a cupcake schedule; gunshots in the Athletics Dorms; a connestoga wagon, complete with crapping horses; a fight song they stole from Yale; the University of Oklahoma calling itself O.U. -- dyslexia?

 

[Yertle]

My list would have to include (in the order that they happen to come to mind): Miami (UM), Florida State (FSU), Florida (UF), Central Florida (UCF), Florida A&M (FAMU), Florida Institute for the Blind (FIB), Florida Firefighters Against Robots (FFAR), Florida Mental Institute Against Firefighters Named "Steve" (FMIAFNS), and probably University of We Have Super Fast Speed and It's All Manufactured in Florida (whatever).

Dude, how can you rag on FMIAFNS? The Horse Thieves kick ass!!!

Although I agree that Iowa has taken over the BIG10 media lovefest, it won't last long. They don't have the gameday environment, recruiting base, fan base, or tradition to maintain an over-loved football program. No offense Hawkeye fans, just this guy's opinion.

I think Tressel is a plus for the media. His clean cut, wholesome, no nonsense attitude is what is starting to define OSU football. The grit and determination to win the exciting close games is going to make OSU a fan favorite. The style of offense will obviously work against this. That's why I think OSU is a wash.

 

[BB73]

The ESPN GameDay Crew except for Lee Corso
The ABC halftime crew (James, Shrek, etc.)
The crew that announced the game (Griese and company)
Trev Alberts and Mark May

I hadn't seen that reference, but it's funny, and it makes sense since he's green, being a Domer.

If Aaron Taylor has a major job as a football analyst this fall it will be inexplicable.

Historically, ND has to win this contest of too much love. It comes from the fan base and the history of success. Media members who say "college football is better when ND is in NC contention" are lazy fools looking for an easy story (that means you, Tony Kornheiser).

Right now, the USC lovefest is a little tough to take, but they have earned a lot of credibility the last 2 years. But commentators that said the 10-2 USC team should play the 14-0 Buckeyes after the 2003 Fiesta Bowl were on drugs (including Herbie, the dumbest thing he's said on camera in my book).

Spurrier's Florida teams were overloved, and I also think we'll be returning to sick levels of Gator-love under Urban Meyer.

FSU got a lot, but 14 straight top-4 finishes, even in the weak ACC, will earn some attention. But Bobby Bowden's good 'ole boy persona gets lapped up by too many media members.

Oklahoma under Stoops has been pretty overhyped lately, but I think the reality dose in the Orange Bowl might temper that some for a while.

I don't think Nebraska's overloved by anybody besides Trev, except for the Osborne farewell NC in 97. But as far as recruiting, Lemming is now a shill for his buddy Callahan, but most football fans don't really know who Lemming is.

I thnk Texas, Georgia and Tennessee are treated about right.

I can't be unbiased about scUM or Cryami.

 

[EngineerHorn]

3. Oklahoma -- Bud Wilkinson; 50 straight wins; Barry 'bootlegger's son' Switzer; the wishbone; scores in the 70s; against a cupcake schedule; gunshots in the Athletics Dorms; a connestoga wagon, complete with crapping horses; a fight song they stole from Yale; the University of Oklahoma calling itself O.U. -- dyslexia?

That, sir, was one of the best things I have ever read on a message board. If I overheard you say that at a bar, I'd buy you a beer. I now dub thee "Honorary Longhorn"

I have a few others to add if you don't mind:
Brian Bosworth, spying on your arch rival's practices, Switzer porking his assistant's wife, Switzer just acting on the fact that he is hellspawn, trailer parks, uncle-dads, acting as a destination for Texan traitors, and so many more.

Please understand that this is all the smack I have given the outcomes of the last 5 TX-OU games, so I hope you folks understand my enthusiasm.

 

[HabaneroBuck]

Please understand that this is all the smack I have given the outcomes of the last 5 TX-OU games, so I hope you folks understand my enthusiasm.

No problem. As methomps accurately pointed out, you could add the fact that 3 out of 4 (or whatever overwhelming ratio it was) analysts predicted an Oklahoma/(Big 12) victory in the Orange Bowl last year, and the darlings summarily embarrassed themeselves and everyone who believed in them in a grand fashion rarely seen on the national scene. I think it is safe to say that Oklahoma will not be fawned over so unabashedly anytime soon!

 

[NikTungsten]

When will the media stop with their lovefest for Auburn? I just read an article on si.com stating that Auburn had a legitimate claim to the NC last year. Until they begin to play a legit D1A schedule year in and year out they dont deserve to be considered for a NC. Home games against LaTech, LaMonroe, the Citadel and an away game at powerhouse MissSt does not inspire me to give Auburn any credit. Those teams have combined for a grand total of 2 winning seasons between 2000-2004, and yet the media continues the love. I cant imagine tOSU trying to pad their schedule with weak D1A teams and/or D1AA teams and expecting to get any national respect.

NikT

 

[1998_OSU_Grad]

Trev Alberts really fanned the flames for Iowa over the past few years. Can't blame a guy for loving the college where he grew up, but I got pretty sick of hearing him complain about OSU and Iowa not playing each other that year.

Of course, I'd rather have the 2004 game erased from my memory.

When will the media stop with their lovefest for Auburn? I just read an article on si.com stating that Auburn had a legitimate claim to the NC last year. Until they begin to play a legit D1A schedule year in and year out they dont deserve to be considered for a NC. Home games against LaTech, LaMonroe, the Citadel and an away game at powerhouse MissSt does not inspire me to give Auburn any credit. Those teams have combined for a grand total of 2 winning seasons between 2000-2004, and yet the media continues the love. I cant imagine tOSU trying to pad their schedule with weak D1A teams and/or D1AA teams and expecting to get any national respect.

NikT

Love for Auburn has jumped considerably, but the USC love still outweighs it tremendously. In 2003, USC had enough love to take a share of the title. In 2004, USC had enough love to take the entire title, and squelch any thoughts of sharing w/ Auburn.

 

[BB73]

Bud Wilkinson; 50 straight wins

Just so we don't falsely add to the myth, OKlahoma's record streak was 47 straight from 1953-1957. They started the '53 season with a 28-21 home loss to ND, a tie at Pitt, and then won 47 straight (including 2 NC's) before a 7-0 loss to ND in Norman.