We're #46: AP Preseason Football Poll Reaction

8 comments so far August 16, 2008 by Darren K. Carlson

The Associated Press released their preseason football poll. And, like the coaches poll released earlier this summer, Georgia tops the list of teams. Among the 25 teams ranked, five are Husker opponents in 2008. Nebraska received one vote good for two points, and the 46th spot in the preseason. I can complain about the lack of any genuine accuracy in most pre-season polls (hello, no games have been played!), or claim that Nebraska is better than #46 (but hey, they were 5-7 last year), and worry about the fact that NU plays such a tough schedule (wait, this is the Big 12, brother!). But, I can guarantee you that NU head coach Bo Pelini isn't doing any of those things. Assuming he follows the polls, I suspect they only fuel his competitive nature.

Based on What?
Okay, so NU starts the year at 46th in the minds of football writers. So what? As someone who follows football intently (almost obsessively) and writes about it semi-professionally, I can't begin to tell you how little that is worth. The poll has Clemson at #9, Illinois at #20 and Pittsburgh at #25. What are the odds that a beat writer in Los Angeles really knows enough about those teams to say with any certainty at all that they are slotted correctly? Not good. There are people voting in this poll that can't name more than four players off of some of these rosters.

I put a little more stock in the coach’s poll, because they know more about football. And, I bet NU's coaching staff puts the ultimate stock in their opinion of their team. These things are for fans, not coaches. If anything, being #46 is either laughable or motivating to Pelini...probably both.

Are They Really #46?
Do I think Nebraska is #46 in the country? No way. Not even a little bit. That preseason ranking is based on last year's ugly failure, especially on defense. So, it's well earned in that regard. But that's it. By no means do I think it is a good way to forecast 2008. Honestly, I think Pelini and his staff have inherited a "just insert coaching here" situation. There is enough talent, will, support, facilities and a good home-heavy schedule to win right freaking now. If they bring the coaching, NU could be scarier than people want to admit.

And, don't think Pelini doesn't know it. He's said - as every good coach should - that he thinks his team can win every game they play. Will they? I wouldn't call that likely by any stretch of the imagination. But, I'm 100% sure they'll bust their butts trying. And, that is all any fan can ever really expect.

Gotta Earn It
Don't get it twisted. If the Husker fans want to see resurgence, their team will have to earn it. That poll I just spent 20 minutes bashing has some legit heavy hitters in it. Five of them are on the 2008 schedule for NU. Playing at preseason #4 Oklahoma and at #17 Texas Tech look like the stiffest challenges for NU. Home tilts against the #4 Missouri, #14 Kansas and #17 Virginia Tech makes for tough sledding, too. But, if Pelini and company can win some of those games en route to a great season, then nobody can say the schedule makers gave it to them.

So, even with all of my bluster about the AP Preseason Top 25, I can probably guess Pelini's take on such polls in one sentence. Come on and get some!

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