I know that last Saturday's loss was hard for all of us to take, especially with the lopsided nature of the game. It sure gave you the impression that we’re not quite as far along as we thought and, although I still think that’s true, I also think it’s worth pointing out that what we’re trying to crack into is actually a very small and elite group of programs.
We’ve ascended to heights unseen around here since 2006, but there’s still another step to take. The scary part is that there’s no guarantee we ever get there because college football royalty has evolved into a very select group. Consider the teams that have made playoff appearances:
What I’m trying to illustrate here is that by just making the playoff itself doesn’t elevate a program to elite status. We’re trying to break into a group of programs with long-established systems and cultures, consisting of Alabama, OSU, Oklahoma, and Clemson. You don’t get a seat at their table just by winning your conference. What Jim is trying to do is really, really hard!
We’ve advanced from a middle of the road B10 team to among the top 10 or 12 programs in the country. And you know what? That was probably the easy part! But we’re not that far away. Talent isn’t a problem; we’re stocked there. Last Saturday we got a look at one of the elite with their afterburners on. That’s the level we have to reach. It’s a process and the final step will be the biggest one yet. By the middle of October I think we’ll have a pretty good idea of whether or not we’re still marching on.
We’ve ascended to heights unseen around here since 2006, but there’s still another step to take. The scary part is that there’s no guarantee we ever get there because college football royalty has evolved into a very select group. Consider the teams that have made playoff appearances:
- Alabama (4x)
- Florida St
- Oregon
- Oklahoma (2x)
- OSU (2x)
- Clemson (3x)
- Washington
- MSU
- Georgia
What I’m trying to illustrate here is that by just making the playoff itself doesn’t elevate a program to elite status. We’re trying to break into a group of programs with long-established systems and cultures, consisting of Alabama, OSU, Oklahoma, and Clemson. You don’t get a seat at their table just by winning your conference. What Jim is trying to do is really, really hard!
We’ve advanced from a middle of the road B10 team to among the top 10 or 12 programs in the country. And you know what? That was probably the easy part! But we’re not that far away. Talent isn’t a problem; we’re stocked there. Last Saturday we got a look at one of the elite with their afterburners on. That’s the level we have to reach. It’s a process and the final step will be the biggest one yet. By the middle of October I think we’ll have a pretty good idea of whether or not we’re still marching on.
