The "lesser" opponent here was #6 ranked, undefeated Utah that had actually played and defeated better competition than Alabama up to that point. Utah had 3 wins over currently ranked teams - Alabama had 1. The computers actually had Utah ranked higher than Alabama. The MWC had a great record against BCS conferences this year. Utah was not a team like last year's Hawaii that had played a super-weak schedule. A 2-loss team in that same conference managed to stay up at #11, so it wasn't like they were ranked that high by default.
Anybody else watching the Buffalo/Uconn game? Buffalo is +5 in turnover margin with 7 minutes left to go in the 2nd quarter. They're getting dominated on offense and defense, but are up 20 to 10 due to turnovers. Crazy.
I hate to see a team do everything right and get squeezed out because they aren't a name brand. Utah opened their season at Michigan, sure the Wolverines were weaksauce this year but they didn't know that when they made the schedule. They beat giant killer Oregon State. Went undefeated in a Mountain West conference that this year is AT LEAST the equal of the Pac 10 and badly beat the SEC team that was ranked #1 going into the last week of the regular season. O.k...ok...Just sayin'
while what he has done has been impressive, turner would probably be wise to strike while the iron is hot and get a better job. taking an undertalented team that hasn't won in forever and having a magical season where you win a few you shouldn't and make a bowl isn't something to build on, it's something to make the leap to the next level with. especially when you are getting tons of praise and getting your name out there. they beat temple on a hail mary, won 3 other games in overtime, and beat ball state with 2 fumble returns for touchdown. one of those was ball state just mishandling a shotgun snap and the other was down at the goalline, and i want to say the refs may have even missed a call that should have already given ball state the TD before they fumbled. the point is, he may do just as good of a job next season and end up 4-8 once the magic wears off, and now he's just the 4-8 coach of buffalo, instead of the big/popular name on the market. loyalty and believing in yourself are nice, but answering when opportunity knocks the first time is probably the smart move.
As a Utah alum (and Rockets fan) who grew up in Houston it warms my heart to see the Utes get some love on a Houston board.
So I'm in New Orleans early for some work that starts next week. Q: How do you tell a Utah fan from an Alabama fan? A: The Utah fan's wife is pregnant. (That's not a joke. In all my time in the NOLA, I've never seen so many pregnant women.)
I have to say that I agree with you on just about everything. His team did play Missouri pretty tough for a half, though (I believe they were down by like 3 at one point), and they just had a knack for keeping themselves in games, and finding a way to win most of them. It's hard to believe that's all luck. But as they say, if you play with fire.... That said, I think Turner Gill is a hell of a coach. i
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