Fading into Obscurity
2008 July 8
I was reading the Orlando Sentinel’s recent preview of this year’s Florida State team when it occurred to me, just how far off the national radar the Seminoles have fallen and that started me thinking about other teams that have played their way into relative obscurity. Yes, people in northern Florida still care about the ‘Noles but no longer do they demand the kind of national attention they once did. But Florida State is hardly alone.
I want to hear from the LSW readers, what programs you think have fallen from a place of national prominence and importance to a place of regional significance or less?
Here are a few of my offerings:
- Miami (Florida) – This is a pretty remarkable fall really given how recently the ‘Canes have been relatively successful. Randy Shannon’s first year brought a 5-7 mark and the first time that Miami missed a bowl game in a decade. Some remain optimistic that Shannon can turn the program around and allow Miami to once again dominate the recruiting hotbed that is South Florida. With stiffer competition being offered from Florida and other SEC schools for recruits in South Florida, backyard recruiting could mean sink or swim time for Shannon and for a program that was once a perennial power
- Nebraska - This is a no-brainer. Growing up in the early 90s, Nebraska was a team that was always on the national radar but since Frank Solich, the hand-picked successor to Tom Osborne was fired after going 58-19 in six seasons in Lincoln, the program has sputtered. Bill Callahan proved that he has no business coaching at any level, going 15-17 in Big 12 conference play in four dreadful seasons and Sam Keller came in last year and to the dismay of Husker Nation, showed the world that Dirk Koetter was right in choosing Rudy Carpenter over Keller at Arizona State, the decision that forced him to transfer in the first place. Former LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini will now look to rebuild the program and may have a tough time recruiting outside the state of Nebraska where the once-proud program has little to no meaning to big-name recruits.
- Penn State – This selection may come as a bit of a shock considering that the Nittany Lions won a BCS bowl game in 2005 and are winners of their last three bowl appearances, which included an Outback Bowl win over Tennessee. But think about the last time Penn State was really nationally relevant. By comparison, Big Ten rivals Michigan and Ohio State spark national interest every season while the national coverage Penn State receives focuses primarily on JoePa’s future in Happy Valley. While Nebraska and Miami have uphill battles to climb, Penn State has the benefit of being two good seasons from being a national powerhouse again.
Vote here
Personally my favorite out of all those is Penn State.
Miami is nice. But, it would be good to see a resurgence in their dominance of one of the ’slower’ conference.
Why Bama of course. Except for the coaching carousel, nothing has gone on in t-town over this decade. no major bowls, no SEC chanpiomships, nothing. however, greatness is around the cornder every year. hope springs eternal at the Capstone.
second, i would say Notre Fag. yeah, they made the sugar a couple of years ago (which they quickly showed they didn’t belong, thanks to my tigers spankin that ass) but how long can this charade last? who has been giving blow jobs to who at nbc for this exclusive bullshit.
TENNESSEE! (kidding, couldn’t help myself, Jai & Co.) I think Tennessee will go 10-2 this year.
I would have to agree with #2 and say Notre Dame. No one respects them or fears the mystique like they used to.
@2, What is the “Capstone”. I’ve heard that term used before on this site but I’ve never figured it out.
I really debated putting Notre Dame on that list but I don’t think you can ever put them on the list as long as they have their own deal with a network. As long as every single one of their games is televised nationally, they will always be on the national radar, for better or worse. As much as I love beating up on Notre Dame, I purposely left them off the list after some deliberation.
Notre Dame is God’s football team.
Then God is angry with Notre Dame
@4, They’re talkin about my grave, bitch.
I don’t know if you could call them a power, but Iowa has fallen in recent years. Another team that was good for a number of years but have since fallen on hard times is Kansas State.
@9 fuck Iowa. they were pretty decent for a few years, then all the NFL rumors about that hot shot coach they got (no not hayden fry) and then all of a sudden they’re back to being so-so. they are like the Maryland of the Big 11 (remember when “Coach Fridge” was all the hype)…Bammer fans, be wary…Saban was still the LSU coach during the Cap One game a few years back, even after he decided to go to the fins. everyone was distracted, the team played like shit, but still came back to almost win it, only to have the defense take the last play of the game off…thanks coach….way to have your head in the game.
fuck k-state too.
@4–Capstone is what dentists put over bammeroids rotten teeth.