As the hubbub at Ohio State continues to roll, I think we should ask a very fair question:
Are there any truly health college football programs?
I mean, Ohio State was the top of the Big Ten. They had been for about a decade, and then this one thing happens and, suddenly, their name is Mudd. So, when ESPN comes out with a health ranking system for college football programs, I’m intrigued.
I’m not going to go through the whole list or try to impugn what was written. I just want to ask a couple questions of teams that got really good rankings. That’s all.
Ohio State got the highest ranking possible on the list, but Jim Tressel is in a TON of hot water. Sure, they are going to be good, but recruiting has been really hurt by this scandal. Sure, some people won’t care, but there are parents who may not send their kids there just because of what “may” be going on or not.
Wisconsin got the next-to-highest score. Frankly, as far as I’m concerned, they’re the strongest team in the Big Ten. They don’t have any scandals looming AND they have a nice hierarchy.
Of course, Oregon got the highest ranking, but the Pac-10 ebbs and flows and Chip Kelly is no spring chicken. What if he up and retired tomorrow? How fast do you think the recruiting well would dry up?
Alabama, of course, got the highest rating possible, but Fickly Nickly is their coach. He could retire tomorrow without so much as a warning and, while they would have talent, they had talent with Mike Shula and look where that got them.
I’m not saying any of these teams are bad, but what I AM saying is–beware how strong you think your program is. It may be rolling along just fine, but it doesn’t take much to topple a house of cards.
photo credit: PhotoDu.de
