re: How badly do we need 2016 FB to be great?

quote:

---

Nick Saban, Paul Manieri, and John Calipari beg to differ

---

All 3 win the title every year?
All 3 win the SEC every year?
All 3 make the postseason every year?

I beg to differ.

quote:

---

Clearly every year is fricking ridiculous, pinhead.

---

You said it, not me.

quote:

---

But if you think about it, just about every year at least 2/3 of those coaches are in the post season, have won a title (whether it be the SEC or an SEC Tournament or the SEC Championship), and it seems that at least 1 is pushing for the big boy title.

---

And you picked three of the greatest coaches in their respective sports to make your point. They are obvious outliers. Again, you cannot EXPECT to win a title, conference title, or even make the postseason in every single year. It just doesn't happen, not even for the elites like LSU.

I enjoy following the athletic programs of my alma mater, but I don't NEED any of these teams to have athletic success to be my saving grace. I'm not a Bama fan.

I think i'll continue anyway

2008-2009
Saban: SECW champion, lsot in the championship to Florida
Mainieri: SEC Conference tourny champion, CWS apperance

2007-2008
Saban (First Year @ Bama): Saban Sucked
Mainieri : (First year @LSU): Nothing

I feel bad you actually took the time to do all that, only to provide more support for me.

You pick arguably the three best coaches in their respective sports to form an argument that ANY team should expect to do one of those three things, year in and year out. Very few collegiate teams should have those sort of expectations. The only ones that should have those expectations EVERY YEAR are the teams with legendary coaches like Saban or Calipari.

ETA: your findings also show that not even those coaches can do it every year. There are scattered down years throughout your entire list. So back to my original point, it is unfair to put those type of expectations on our teams every single year like the majority of LSU fans do.

Your point was "The fact is, you're not going to win a title or the SEC or even make the postseason every year." Those stats show that you can win a title or the sec or make the postseason every year (at least pretty much every year).

My point was, and still is, that it is very doable--as showed by those stats. I agree with you that the expectations are unrealistic and often detrimental, but its not unheard of for top tier programs to dominate like that. Yeah, as 1 school we won't do that in all three programs. But we certainly have the potential to do it every year in football and baseball.

quote:

---

Those stats show that you can win a title or the sec or make the postseason every year (at least pretty much every year).

---

LOL

When you have a legendary, once-in-a-lifetime coach, sure it is possible. But youre using 3 of the greatest to make a generalization about all teams/coaches. What you are suggesting is not feasible outside of Kentucky/Duke basketball or Alabama football or LSU baseball.

I'm using three present-day coaches in the current SEC to make my point. And they've done it the last 7-9 years. I'm not pulling old historic coaches like Bear Bryant or Skip Bertman. I am using coaches who are currently doing what you said can't be done.

You know why they are legendary, once-in-a-lifetime coaches? Because they win the SEC, make the postseason, and compete for titles every year. Which you said was not doable.

quote:

---

I just don't know if we can handle another disappointment.

---

God gives us just a bit more than we can easily handle, so we grow spiritually, instead of merely sinking into the material successes and pleasures life offers.

everything is a gift from God. Gratitude is the key.

PS. I don't know how old you are, but I still remember my family all around the TV when LSU lost the national championship 21-0 and Lee was antsy to get in when the score was just 9-0 and I was hopeful he would come in and throw the ball.
THAT was disappointment.

For 2016 to be top notch Harris has to play well. That may be more than God is willing to give us.
The rest of the team is pretty good. Rashard Robinson to return and play at the highest level would be nice too, since I am asking for a miracle.
15-0. And Bama loses to both UTk and LSU.

Reposting from the SECR, courtesy of SummerOfGeorge

We will break this down into last 10 year average, last 5 year average and last 3 year average to see which programs have gotten better/worse. Rank is SEC Rank, () is average national rank over the period.

Numbers are from the Director's Cup Standings

Directors Cup

LAST 10 YEAR AVERAGE
1. Florida (4)
2. Texas A&M (12)
3. Georgia (15)
4. LSU (16)
5. Tennessee (25)
6. Alabama (26)
6. Arkansas (26)
8. Auburn (27)
9. Kentucky (30)
10. South Carolina (41)
11. Missouri (46)
12. Vanderbilt (53)
13. Ole Miss (63)
14. Mississippi State (88)

LAST 5 YEAR AVERAGE
1. Florida (3)
2. Texas A&M (10)
3. Georgia (16)
4. LSU (18)
5. Arkansas (22)
6. Alabama (23)
7. Kentucky (25)
8. Auburn (32)
9. Tennessee (34)
10. South Carolina (41)
11. Missouri (46)
12. Vanderbilt (50)
13. Mississippi State (62)
14. Ole Miss (65)

LAST 3 YEARS AVERAGE
1. Florida (3)
2. Texas A&M (11)
3. Georgia (13)
4. Kentucky (19)
4. LSU (19)
6. Arkansas (22)
7. Alabama (23)
8. Auburn (33)
9. Tennessee (38)
10. South Carolina (43)
11. Missouri (47)
11. Vanderbilt (47)
13. Mississippi State (51)
14. Ole Miss (60)

Difference in 10 year Average vs. 3 year Average
1. Mississippi State +37
2. Kentucky +11
3. Vanderbilt +6
4. Arkansas +5
5. Alabama +3
5. Ole Miss +3
7. Georgia +1
7. Texas A&M +1
9. Florida +0
10. Missouri -2
10. South Carolina -2
12. LSU -3
13. Auburn -6
14. Tennessee -13


Observations
- Mississippi State has done a great job upgrading the depth of their department. From 2006-2010 their average rank was 113. Their average rank from 2011-2015 was 62. That's really good work by Byrne and Stricklin.

- Tennessee is the opposite. From 2006-2010 their average was 15. From 2011-2015 their average rank was 34. That is a department wide collapse.

- Auburn had a smaller decline. From 2006-2010 their average was a rank of 23. From 2011-2015 their average was a rank of 32.

- Alabama and Arkansas are almost mirror images. Their 10 year average is 0.50 different, 5 year average 1.40 difference and 3 year average 1.00 different.

- Florida, Texas A&M, Georgia and LSU were consistently 1-4 in every measurement cycle

Ranking SEC Athletic Departments : MSU and UK improve, AU and TN drop

TLDR: LSU was consistently #4 in every measurement cycle.

We can do better, and we will do better. Golf, gymnastics, and tennis will trend up with their improved facilities.