https://www.hornsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/landscape.jpgIt is my pleasure to bring to you the first installment of “The Landscape,†an analysis and comparison of the nation’s major Division 1 FBS programs. The recent FBS border realignment seemed to add fuel to the never-ending battle between conferences to be deemed as the strongest. I have to make one point clear, however: I am not here to make predictions, a lesson learned from just one year here on the 40 acre campus. Using Texas as an example, I’m not here to work my way through the upcoming schedule and boldly predict that we will play, say, Oklahoma tough for three quarters and wear them out in the end to be victorious. Mack Brown is clueless to what the final score of this year’s Red Rivalry matchup will be, so it is not my place to assume the position of genie for any CFB team in 2012.
Truth is, CFB storylines are abundant across America, some good, some bad. As a contributor to HornSports, my vision is to expose readers to news outside of the Big 12. Readers will be able to see how, in my opinion, teams within the new-look Big 12 stack up against CFB powerhouses nationwide. “The Landscape†will be a weekly update of the current state of CFB. I will look at injuries that teams may be facing and take into account a team’s performance in order to assess each team a letter grade representing their outlook for the rest of the season. In the interest of treating all teams fairly, I will grade them on the same criteria that I have created. The criteria is as follows:
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Current record (Under/over achieved)
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Coaching (Strength of staff/Head coach)
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Injuries or Suspensions Issued
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Strength of Schedule
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Personnel (Depth Chart)
All 5 criterion involve many variables, such as momentum when a team begins to click, that will be explored and discussed. By no means is my opinion right, and I encourage readers to express their own opinions. As you will see in my bio, I strongly believe that one’s knowledge is expanded tremendously when it is challenged by others. I would like to facilitate discussion about CFB with “The Landscape.†There’s only about 51 hours until kickoff here in Austin, so let’s get ready for an all-in fight amongst D1 FBS teams to earn a spot in the national championship game.
Until next week, Hook ‘em!