So I have been thinking about our odds of being ranked going into next season. Given our performance in 2012 first reaction is no-way-in-hell, we don't deserve to be ranked. But knowing how the media (namely ESPN) would benefit by hyping up 2 ranked teams doing battle on 8/31,would the return of LT3, Loeffler hire, and defense, be enough ammo to bump us into the 24-25th spot for the sake of ratings?
I personally wouldn't be surprised.....
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I could see it
Simply just for the hype of that first game. Maybe somewhere in the low 20s, and the excuse would be 'strong defense' and some talking points about 'Beamer ball'
Due to
'Due to the fact that the Hokies have really only had Bud Foster going for them this past handful of years, we have decided to rank them 22nd in the preseason polls. This is solely based on the fact that we are deathly afraid of Bud Foster, and none of us here at ESPN wants to be choked out with our own intestines due to underestimating him.'
Don't forget the impending discussion of the "offensive transformation" that everyone is expecting. I agree with the original post, strong odds that we get a pity ranking just to increase ratings and buzz.
Honestly
I'd settle for a OLine transformation. The new OC seems to want to play the same ball as Beamer has for a long time. I am not expecting that to change much. I seriously doubt we will be ranked. But we will be hungry... BEATBAMA
Definitely agree. If we could get some blocking up front, we could be a lot more solid. I'm more excited about Grimes coming than Loeffler, honestly. I just keep imagining what the running game could have been with a bit better blocking, or what the passing game could have been if Logan had gotten even an extra half second on each play.
I just think ESPN is going to gin up some narrative about how much better we should be, not that we as fans should expect it or believe it, but they'll say it...
I don't think we will be, but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if we were because of exactly what you said. In the end it doesn't matter though, if we #BeatBama then we'll be around 10th by week 2.
No idea
But it strikes me as highly unlikely that we would be ranked at the start of next year. I don't believe we were ranked going into FedEx Field to play #1 USCw a few years ago. So that angle (hyping the opening context) may not be valid. Although lots has changed in the media landscape since then.
Better question though: Just how far from unranked would be jump up after we #BEATBAMA?!?!
There are some major differences though. In 04, we lost KJ and DLo early not to mention some other guys that we lst like EW and I believe Jake Grove. Additionally, Bud's d was pretty bad in 03, especially in November and the bowl. Noone thought we would be able to turn that around in a year like Bud did. This year, the core components are coming back and we have a QB that with a good year could play himself back into a top 10 pick. As much as we all loved Bryan after 04, he wasn't going to be a NFL QB.
I didn't intend
to draw the comparisons between the two squads so much, in terms of players lost or perceived talent level. But more that we were playing the #1 preseason team in the country (like i'm sure we will be next year, in a reloading Alabama), and that that didn't persuade any voters to push us into the realm of the ranked, purely to make the match-up better. In any case, point taken. And most especially, #BEATBAMA!
I hope not
My fear is that a preseason ranking would hurt us if we lose to bama. I think we would be fighting an uphill battle if we drop from the rankings after a week 1 loss. However, if we do lose, and we start the season unranked, our upcoming games would hold more weight and with decisive wins, it would outweigh the bama loss. To be ranked an immediately lose would come across as another tech team being seen as overrated. But to start unranked and to win out with a bama loss would seem more as an improved tech team that corrected mistakes and evolved.
You're forgetting one thing...
#BEATBAMA
But, just in case we forget to #BEATBAMA, I don't know that it will really matter much either way, whether we were ranked at #23 or unranked, no-one outside of Hokie Nation expects us to win that game anyway.
Don't worry, I'll remind them to #BEATBAMA
...maybe we should give them a post-it note or something
I think we will be ranked in the 20s
Sept. 1
Being ranked after the Bama game is all that matters to me... Just sayin
AMEN!!!
I agree.
Here's the real question...
If we lose in a really tight game, whether or not we're ranked before the game, will we be ranked after for playing 'Bama close?
Not immediately, but it'd help later (week 4 or so if we dominate the other OOC games).
Hypotheticals
That include a loss to Alabama do not concern us! #BeatBama!!
Just kidding man. It's an interesting question. And I have no idea as to the answer. But again... #BeatBama
I want to be ranked
on September 1.
Random guess
#23- ESPN will want a ranked matchup to open the season. 2004 was much different aside from the turnover- no one thought we would be any good or even compete in the then new-look ACC (how crazy is that with hindsight). I bet if we lose by three or less, we will only drop to #25.
Doesn't matter
What matters is being ranked 1 or 2 in the final BCS poll. Nothing else means anything.
I still think it helps WHEN (not if) we #BEATBAMA. If we start ranked in the high 20's, after the win I see us breaking the top 10. Going in unranked after the win think we end up in the teens. So the question is, does an unranked ACC team that goes undefeated end up in spot 1 or 2?
Even if we aren't ranked heading into the Bama game, we will be afterwards!
VT plays it's best early when it's outside of the top-15.
Other than...
this past season you must mean. But you are right, nothing like a little disrepect to get the players motivated, i.e. 38-0 in 2011.
I'd rather us not be ranked and everyone put the team down before the game. The more the media tells us we aren't good the better. Make em hungry.