(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote: Let's be honest: the only thing Louisville can hang its hat on is the win over Florida.
I disagree, but even if what you say is true, then that is a pretty damn big peg
(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote: Otherwise, you can't look at last season as anything other than a disappointment for them. They nearly handed the game away to UNC; they only beat FIU by a touchdown; they nearly lost to a winless Southern Miss team; they BARELY beat USF by 2; the beat UC in overtime by 3; and, beat Rutgers by a field goal.
#1. It would be absurd - if not idiotic - to call an 11-2 season a "disappointment". That statements seems even more ridiculous considering that the season ended with a BCS Bowl win over a team ranked in the top 5. No one thinking logically/objectively can look at last season as anything other than a success for UofL.
I know you don't like UofL (you have stated as much over on the AAC boards), but I highly doubt that if UofL and UC's season were flipped, you'd be calling the Bearcats season a "disappointment".
#2. Look at every game you listed. Yes, UofL also handed the game away to UNC. But they still won. Yes, UofL only beat FIU by a touchdown. But they still won. Yes, UofL nearly lost to USM in a game that had 3 inches of water on the field. But they still won.
The point is nothing you typed in the above paragraph actually matters. So what if the games were close? They still won those games and they also won when it mattered the most (@Rutgers, UC, vs Florida in the Sugar Bowl). I'll take a team that squeaks by each week and wins versus a team that blows out opponents but chokes when it actually matters any day of the week.
(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote: That's SIX games they easily could have lost, and instead of being 11-2, they easily could have been 4-8.
But in this reality, they won all six of those games. So a hypothetical message board 4-8 season really doesn't matter
(04-16-2013 11:09 AM)MickMack Wrote: I give them all the credit in the world for putting the beat down on Florida, but let's not act like they're world beaters. They've conquered one thing: the hype machine.
#1. UofL does not own or operate ESPN, Athlon, The Sporting News, Lindy's, Phil Steele, Sports Illustrated, etc. If those businesses want to hype UofL, then it is their own doing.
#2. If you are referring to UofL fans hyping the team, then I'd say the have good reason to. Pre-season top 10-15 ranking, a potential Heisman candidate at QB, coming off an 11-2 season and the program's second BCS bowl win, kept Coach Strong and held off Tennessee, returned almost the entire team, etc. There are a lot of reasons for the fans to be excited for the upcoming season (just like UC fans have a lot of reasons to be excited about Tuberville and Bearcat football).