USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll Released

[CatFromKC]

Looks like Arizona's starting to get some national recognition. No, we're not ranked, but the fact that some coaches would vote for us to be ranked says something.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/usatpoll.htm

Of Note:

1. USC
16. Purdue
18. ASU
20. Cal

Utah not ranked.

[HiCat]

Others receiving votes

Fresno State (9-3) 188; Oregon (5-6) 145; Utah (12-0) 103; Georgia Tech (7-5) 88; Wisconsin (9-3) 79; North Carolina State (5-6) 69; Bowling Green (9-3) 63; Penn State (4-7) 44; Colorado (8-5) 40; Minnesota (7-5) 34; UCLA (6-6) 24; Texas-El Paso (8-4) 22; Nebraska (5-6) 21; Kansas State (4-7) 20; South Carolina (6-5) 16; Notre Dame (6-6) 13; West Virginia (8-4) 12; Wyoming (7-5) 12; Clemson (6-5) 9; New Mexico (7-5) 9; Arizona (3-8) 8; Northern Illinois (9-3) 8; Southern Mississippi (7-5) 7; Toledo (9-4) 7; Washington State (5-6) 7; Iowa State (7-5) 6; Michigan State (5-7) 6; Memphis (8-4) 5; Washington (1-10) 4; Miami (Ohio) (8-5) 3; Maryland (5-6) 2; UAB (7-5) 1; Duke (2-9) 1; Kansas (4-7) 1.


Very interesting.

[bhanson]

Without a doubt, Bob Stoops votes for the Cats. Even Spurrier says that he always votes for Duke in the first preseason poll.

[HiCat]

Does that mean that "8" (for Arizona) is only Bob Stoops' vote?

[bhanson]

Does that mean that "8" (for Arizona) is only Bob Stoops' vote?

I don't know how votes are counted. Duke with 1 point is Spurrier putting Duke 25th. Not sure if Bob Stoops put Arizona at 18, or maybe he put them at 22 for 4 points, and Tomey also put them at 22 for 4 points.

Don't the coaches votes get published this year?

[barringer97]

Bob Stoops said on Sportscenter that he thinks Arizona will win 8 games this year...

[HiCat]

Bob Stoops said on Sportscenter that he thinks Arizona will win 8 games this year...


I wonder if he was being serious? Or was it just an older brother doing some PR work? Sibling rivalry pressure? Funny but great to hear.

[theLEGEND]

8 wins would be amazing. If we somehow get to a bowl game this year, the coaching staff and players deserve a big ol' pat on the back. To see the team grow from where we were only 2 years ago to where they were on the field yesterday is great, let alone all the way to Bowl-level. That would be "legendary" growth, you could say.

- Legend

[OCCAT]

He was serious. We are a much improved team!

Really enjoyed watching the Utah replay last night. Liked how we gave the #1 pick in the draft fits all night and doing it with a young team made it that much better.....

I want Utah bad. :fur: :fur: :fur:

We will bring the heat!!!

[Auercat]

Bob Stoops said on Sportscenter that he thinks Arizona will win 8 games this year...

Bob Stoops has also been a big supporter of the BCS since his team has managed to benefit most by it. And Bob Stoops is also the same guy who thought that Oklahoma would beat USC last year. ;)

Bearing Down on Nice Words From A Brother Who Isn't As Brilliant As He Thinks He Is :wink2:

Auercat

[barringer97]

Of course he thought that Oklahoma would beat USC last year...and I hope Mike feels the same way when Arizona plays USC.

[Morgan]

Purdue higher than ASU is ridiculous. I think ASU is about right and Purdue too high.

[Jason Scheer]

I know Auer he should have just told his team they were going to lose. Damn those coaches and their confidence :)

Please don't think the Cats will get 8 wins...

[TucsonDon]

Anyone else feel like Oklahoma at #5 is way too much credit for that program? I can't believe they are any higher than 9 or 10 in the writers preseason poll. I also feel like Iowa is due for a down year with a tough schedule, while Fresno State and Oregon may be underrated here.

[Jason Scheer]

I disagree on everything. Oklahoma has earned that ranking and it'd be wiser to overrank than underrank them as they have certainly earned. Supposedly the qbs ready to take over for White are plenty ready and they put out a good product with Stoops.

Iowa has a tough sched but so does everyone in that conference. Iowa has a very quality team and I am not really sure how you define a down year but Iowa should be making a pretty nice bowl game.

I'm sick of Oregon being "underrated." Until Belotti proves he can win with talent Ill take my chances that they'll be 6-5 7-4. Fresno St is underrated every year but they don't really play anybody and their conference is starting to improve..

[Jumbos]

Utah is underated in my opinion, they lost alot from last year but they were brilliant offensively. The games I saw them play their offense was up there with sc and cal. I think we can beat them but I think some here are taking them too lightly.

[OCCAT]

Too lightly? How many times did we cough up the ball to them last season and stayed with them all game??????? The #1 pick in the draft was leading that team and our "D" gave him fits all night.....

Utah will get smoked like a :smokin:.

[catgrad97]

Arizona's going to surprise a lot of people this year. So will ASU...just not in the same way. I'm not sold at all on Koetter returning the program to prominence with Sam Keller behind center.

[HiCat]

"Arizona's going to surprise a lot of people this year..."

I'm getting that feeling too after reviewing all of the recent articles and posts. Irrational fan exurberance?? Who knows..

[Itamicbomb]

Welcome back, Steve Spurrier. Does anyone know how they pick which coaches get to vote and which don't?

I feel like any team with Adrian Peterson on it and the best coach in college football is worthy of no worse than 10th; 5th doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

Florida State's offense was bad with Rix and Jeff Bowden calling the shots last year, this year, it will be atrocious and with Cromartie out it's going to be a long year in Tallahasse. At least Chief Ocela is safe, since there are no NCAA championships.

[ice]

Anyone else feel like Oklahoma at #5 is way too much credit for that program? I can't believe they are any higher than 9 or 10 in the writers preseason poll. I also feel like Iowa is due for a down year with a tough schedule, while Fresno State and Oregon may be underrated here.

Oklahoma might have gotten demolished in the Orange Bowl, and they may not have deserved to be there, but they still went undefeated last season and have still been one of the best programs in the nation over the past 5 or so years. Oklahoma still has a very good team, Adrian Peterson is still going to run all over people, and I think making them the #5 team in the preseason poll is pretty fair.

[TucsonDon]

I disagree on everything. Oklahoma has earned that ranking and it'd be wiser to overrank than underrank them as they have certainly earned. Supposedly the qbs ready to take over for White are plenty ready and they put out a good product with Stoops.

Iowa has a tough sched but so does everyone in that conference. Iowa has a very quality team and I am not really sure how you define a down year but Iowa should be making a pretty nice bowl game.

I'm sick of Oregon being "underrated." Until Belotti proves he can win with talent Ill take my chances that they'll be 6-5 7-4.
Oklahoma is one of the national powers, I agree, and they have the respect of everyone, but they were blasted by USC at the end of the year, and lost 7 starters off that defense which gave up 55 in the Orange Bowl. It is true that Peterson will run wild again, but they will start either a freshman in Bomar or a career back-up in Paul Thompson at QB. Their schedule is not very tough, so they probably will win 9 regular season games or so, but I don't think they should be in the top 5 to start the year.

A down year for Iowa will be defined when they lose to Iowa State the 2nd game of the season, and then go on to a 7-4 campaign. Kirk Ferentz is a brilliant coach, but I see them dipping this year as compared to what they've been in the past two.

Oregon has a fine QB, excellent recievers and the best D-Line in the league. They get 'SC and Cal at home, and it wouldn't surprise me if they won both of those games.

[Jason Scheer]

A career backup to who? A heaisman winner. I don't think getting blasted by the national champion is a sign of a downfall. Oklahoma did lost starters on defense but they also gained guys and are loaded. If they go 9-2 in the Big 12, you don't think they should be in the top 5?

Iowa went 9-2 last year and is returnign their qb among others in what should be a very good Iowa team. You're basing your Iowa prediction on the basis if one upset loss, something that I just don't see happening.

Also Oregon usually has a fine qb and good recievers and talent on defense and it results in nothing. Belotti hasn't proven he can win with talent and I dont expect it to change this year. You wouldnt be surprised if they beat both SC and Cal? Bull. In other words you think Oregon is basically the top team in the conference?

[GoJacks]

That Poll is garbage.......Spurrier voting for Duke says it all.....!

Go Jacks Go Blue

[S_Boiler]

Purdue higher than ASU is ridiculous. I think ASU is about right and Purdue too high.


Why is it so ridiculous to have a 7-5 team with 20 returning starters plus both kickers ranked at 16? Brandon Kirsch was a top 15 QB and has proven more than formidable with his feet and arm. I think you'll be surprised judging by a lot of the comments on here.

S

[barringer97]

Why is it so ridiculous to have a 7-5 team with 20 returning starters plus both kickers ranked at 16? Brandon Kirsch was a top 15 QB and has proven more than formidable with his feet and arm. I think you'll be surprised judging by a lot of the comments on here.

S


Because he is an ASU fan...

[Espo]

Does anyone else think that they should do away with the preseason poll? I think that it is a joke and that you really can't rank these teams until at least 3 games into the season. These polls are based soley on what was done last year and that isn't indicative of what will happen this year. I think its time to scrap the polls till later in the season.

[Itamicbomb]

The preseason poll's sole purpose is to ramp up media coverage and public excitement over the upcoming season which, judging by how there's always a debate over how teams are raked, it does a very good job of doing. It's something ESPN can cover to get them primed for the year.

[Jason Scheer]

The Harris poll wont come out until the season has begun and teams have played a couple games though I am not sure of the exact date..I realized I posted this in the wrong thread...