How come nobody likes a football program on the rise?

[GoldCard]

This week's Sports Illustrated cover got me, thinking again about something I've thought about for years now. Gonzaga is trying to win a national title, and they've been media darlings ever since they made back-to-back regional semifinal appearances in the late 90s. Now they have a title contender this season and they're on the cover of SI.

I can't help but thinking how I've never seen a football equivalent of this. In fact, most talking heads in sports media go out of their way to trash football teams that have a good season if they aren't already members of the established elite. And with the advent of the BCS, and now the Playoffs, this kind of thing seems to have gotten worse.

Does anyone here think that SI would put Louisville football on the cover of the Cards are undefeated, say, 10 games into the season?

 

[Rob_deVille]

That would mean they would have beat Auburn, Clemson and Florida State. That would definitely make some media noise one way or another.

 

[Tavtiger]

Maybe they feel safer in basketball. You can lose a few games and still be in the running. The way the football playoffs are set up one bad game late and your probably done. The worm turns so quickly in football they don't want to take a chance on the up and comers. Clemson has beaten LSU,OSU and OKL in three straight bowl games but the media still snickers and brings up that slapping we took from WVU several years ago every time. It was a damned good one but my point being they have a few teams in their club they feel are safe bets. I believe Louisville will make some noise in the ACC, but getting the media to fall in May take a lot longer.

 

[real2it]

Originally posted by Tavtiger:
Maybe they feel safer in basketball. You can lose a few games and still be in the running. The way the football playoffs are set up one bad game late and your probably done. The worm turns so quickly in football they don't want to take a chance on the up and comers. Clemson has beaten LSU,OSU and OKL in three straight bowl games but the media still snickers and brings up that slapping we took from WVU several years ago every time. It was a damned good one but my point being they have a few teams in their club they feel are safe bets. I believe Louisville will make some noise in the ACC, but getting the media to fall in May take a lot longer.

I agree with this 100% winning takes care of it all but it has to be sustained winning. Look at the run Miami had or even FSU neither program was a blue blood but they got the respect because they won and they won at a high level over the period of a decade. UL might have been able to accomplish this type of respect had CBP not left the first time or if Krags could have kept the momentum going but he didn't. So the National perception of the UL program took a big hit because of 3 bad years. Miami hasn't been relevant for a few years now but they still have the cache of championships to throw around. But then you look at a program like Pitt who also has championships but has gone an even longer period without being on the National stage and they have been relegated to the up and coming programs talk.

I believe Clemson is on the verge of crossing the line but hiccups like the WV game has hurt them as the above poster alluded too. The ACC needs to start winning games outside of the conference to change the overall perception of the league. Do that then the rest will take care of itself...all about winning baby!!!

 

[baseball32fan]

Football is more "good ole boys" mentality. It takes longer to be accepted because tradition is much more revered in football.

 

[ULCard17]

As the other posters said, you need to be a tried and proven winner to earn their respect. And 1 loss can knock us out of the title hunt. Look at how many people wrote off Ohio State and the Big 10 last year after a really dismal start to the season. OSU and the Big 10 ended up proving us all wrong.

 

[Hedgerunner]

I like football programs on the rise. I remember the Miami Hurricanes, when Howard took over a team that many wanted to be dropped as a football school. I remember the 5th down game against Tulane, when the CANES won the game on 5th down because the REF.'s thought 4th down was coming up. That was the beginning of the DYNASTY! Had Howard stayed at Miami he would have been a legend, but instead Jimmy Johnson, Dennis Erickson and Butch Davis took what Howard started and ran with it. At this time I can see the Ville, in the same position as the CANES in the early years. CAN YOU KEEP IT GOING?

 

[Lawyer Mike]

Only problem is that miami is in Miami and Louisville is in the middle of BIG and SEC lands... not easy to get the talent.

 

[tkdcoach]

Originally posted by Lawyer Mike:
Only problem is that miami is in Miami and Louisville is in the middle of BIG and SEC lands... not easy to get the talent.

True, but one reason other than its own actions that Miami isn't really that "Miami" in the last 8 years or so, is that Louisville has been successful recruiting in south Florida. Very successful. Starting NFL rookie QB successful (but it was far from limited to landing the great Teddy Bridgewater and began all the way back in the late 80s).

I like where we are today; in more of a position of strength financially than ever, with attendance growing against the national trend, and with the ties to a good football league in the highest level.

Whether that is enough to sustain good recruiting from year-to-year remains to be seen.

Certainly, coaching stability will be helpful, if we get it. It seems that CBP's wandering days may be over and since he is not a rising star the sort of ambition that drove him and CCS to other opportunities might not even be a factor. Our AD did a real nice job keeping Coach Grantham.

Say whatever you will about our head Coach (I have), if he sticks somewhere that program will be a power.

Things that haven't happened yet.

 

[Raleigh2Miami]

I love seeing football teams rise up.

For example, a school with a "blue blood" pretentious political juggernaut down the road....

Going from struggling to beat Tulane,Tulsa, Memphis.... playing in a rented minor league baseball stadium...

...To winning BCS bowls and being a contender!

I love it. Gives hope to those of us that have endured years of heartbreak, seen sparks of greatness, and swam in perpetual mediocrity.

I would love to see a Louisville, Virginia Tech, or someone NEW win it all. I'd love to see my school win it all.

Jealousy and complacency are mindsets of the weak and hopeless.