Sometimes (well, how some is 75%?), I like to fit in an old adage into one of these columns, and ... you guessed it ... this is another one of those moments. The old-time phrase this go-round is that patience is a virtue. Long-time suffering will bring forth fantastic wealth, fame, and supermodels in the end.
Oops. Sorry, thought out loud there for a second. Patience is supposed to get you through the bad times and reward you with good karma. I mean, look at Florida Gators football coach Urban Meyer. He bided his time at Bowling Green and Utah before hitting the veritable jackpot in Gainesville. Now he has a stockpile of talent and two national titles over a three-year stretch.
But patience can have its drawbacks. Early, sufficient, and sometimes surprising success can lead to what I would call "high-expectation" patience. This is when you expect to see results, but might run into more disappointment than you prepare for. In today's "what can you do for me now?" world, that patience is thin, at best. However, there are a few examples of that hope and hype still at the forefront of college football.
Patience Case No. 1: Bob Stoops
Being a Big 12 guy, I've known the extent of mental anguish that has been supplied by Oklahoma over the past decade. The Sooners owned Texas until recently. Nebraska hasn't been a factor since around 2002. Even more personally, OU ruined Missouri's season single-handedly in 2007 (and, to a lesser extent, 2008).
However, outside of the Plains, Stoops hasn't made a ripple in the national waters after beating Florida State in January of 2001. "Big Game" Bob has since been beaten by LSU, stifled by Florida, blown-out by USC, and shocked by Boise State. But every year, the talent continues to flock to Norman, giving Boomer Sooner fans hope that this will the year of the return to glory.
Problem is ... Texas has caught up, Nebraska is catching up, and some "small fry" is always waiting in the wings for their big win (BSU, TCU, BYU). We'll find out how much longer Stoops can drive the wagon before the boosters circle it.
Patience Case No. 2: Jim Tressel
Ohio State was in a mediocre way when they fired John Cooper in 2001. The Buckeyes sloshed around the Big Ten, and, worse, they couldn't beat Michigan. Then, in comes Tressel from nearby Youngstown State. He gets on campus, calls out the big arch-rival, and proceeds to beat undefeated and unstoppable Miami for the championship in January of 2003.
It seemed like sweater vests would be the next big fashion throughout the eastern Great Lakes. Then, slowly, the rest of the CFB world caught and past him (as well as the rest of the conference). The speed of the SEC, the offensive schemes of the Big 12, and the overall talent of USC boosted several teams ahead of OSU in the national title pecking order. This was extremely evident in the back-to-back BCS Championship shellackings to Florida and LSU.
Problem is ... the overall talent is still not funneling into (or staying in) the Midwest. Terrelle Pryor could develop into an all-time talent over the next couple of years, but who else will stick around to help combat the speed of, well, everyone else? Oddly enough, Tressel might need some help from his biggest rival to raise his own perception.
Patience Case No. 3: Pete Carroll
The weather's usually bright and sunny in SoCal. The bright lights and bright stars of L.A. might be eclipsed by Carroll and his swagger-filled band of USC Trojans. Over the last eight years, I'd say that no one has had more talent (players and coaches) than USC. That might not be more evident than the run of 2003-2005, where the Men of Troy won a championship, shared another one, and would have gotten another full one if not for one more minute and Vince Young.
Every preseason, the question hasn't whether the Trojans might be a championship contender, but where they will start in the top five. However, the last few years, the follow-up question has been "which cupcake will derail USC's title dreams this season?" That inquiry was answered early in 2009. Last Saturday's loss at Washington marked the fourth straight year that a sub-par Pac-10 foe has taken down mighty Troy early in conference play.
Problem is ... you don't know where the hiccup is going to occur. It could happen because of an undersized running back, or to a 40-point underdog, or to a team that went winless the previous year. The bottom line is that, from 2006 on, it has happened. Now, the expectation is alive that this will happen every year. Can Trojan fans wait for Carroll to reverse the fortune?
Patience Case No. 4: The Mid-Major Plea
Ever since the BCS was formed in the late-'90s, the distinction between championship contenders and also-rans has grown stronger. Fact is, though, the schools relegated to second string during this stretch have been fighting back ever so slightly. From Greenville, South Carolina to Boise, Idaho, there are upstarts that provide us followers with early-season shockers and upsets.
These are the teams that provide hope to the "patient" playoff screamers that want to see this system busted up (yours truly among them). They're the ones who take down the powerful Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, or Virginia Tech. And once that happens, the doors are open to the possibilities of what could be without the constricting bowl system.
Problem is ... most of these squads fade in the long run. BYU had the setup to not only crash the BCS party, but maybe challenge for the national title. Now, one loss later, all of those dreams are done. Last year, East Carolina got off to the hot start, but tailed off after September. All it takes is one blemish, and more familiar conference opponents are looking to take a bite out of the next big thing.
Other problem is ... even when a team goes undefeated, they don't necessarily get the most luxurious opportunities. Sure, they do get into a BCS bowl game, but isn't that more like a pat on the head than a hearty handshake? Utah, Boise State, and others can win all the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls they want, but if you're a fan of the mid-majors, that thin patience may have to thrive on shreds.
Can patience be rewarded? Sure. Vanderbilt finally got back to a bowl game in 2008. But can patience be trying, ruthless, and disappointing? Absolutely. The Commodores are 1-2 so far this season.
September 23, 2009
Eric Engberg:
I think the problem with a lot of the mid-majors who seem to fade away after a month or so is they do not have the overall depth to combat injuries to key players. Last season ECU lost some key players on defense early on and their backups were not nearly as talented.
For the most part schools like Florida, USC, Oklahoma, etc. all have Freshmen and Sophs who were 4-star recruits sitting on the bench waiting their turn to play.