2010: Starting Unranked

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/rank?versionId=17&listId=352



http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=4804655





One guy doesn't mean anything especially this early. But how do you leave a team out when they've finished and played like they have the past four years? QB play is important but that shouldn't be enough. By that same justification, Wisconsin and Oregon St should definitely not be in his top 25.

We're losing a lot more than just a QB. I wouldn't put is in the pre-season top 25 either. There are way too many questions about us. If our young guys step up then ya we can have a good year next year but you can't bank on that.

Let's remember that the rankings are supposed to be a reflection of what each voter thinks the FINAL rankings will/should look like. If they were simply a continuation of the previous season, they'd just start with that season's final rankings.



I do not expect to garner enough votes from enough writers/coaches to get us into the initial polls. I hope to have the type of season where we flirt with the top 20, but I'm not expecting it. That being said, if we finish 9-3, we should be ranked. I don't think there is any real chance for us to beat TCU or FSU on the road. I think we'll have a good chance vs. UW in Provo and @ Utah-who still doesn't have a QB for their system and who lost more starters on O and D than we will. We'll beat our other 8 opponents. 9-3 or 10-2 is not out of the question.

byutx wrote:
Let's remember that the rankings are supposed to be a reflection of what each voter thinks the FINAL rankings will/should look like. If they were simply a continuation of the previous season, they'd just start with that season's final rankings.

Actually, this is one of the problems with the rankings. There is no guidance as to what the rankings should be. Some voters see it as how they will look at the end. Others how the teams look now. Others factor in last year (or even the last several years or entire school history).

Regardless of what Schlabach's view may be of what the polls are supposed to reflect , it's clear that in his eyes BYU still does not have a top 25 program. Even after being among the top 5 winningest programs and ranked over each of the last 4 years. :skeptic: