College Football’s Biggest Surprises of 2008 (So Far)
November 27, 2008
This year has been typical in that there have been many surprises for fans to talk about. Let’s recap a few of the biggest be they good or bad.
1. Alabama
Everyone said not if, but when Nick Saban would return the Crimson Tide to national prominence and BCS bowls. Most thought he was at least a year or two away from making that happen. Alabama’s ascent to number one this year has to be at least one of the biggest surprises.
1. Michigan
Help me understand how hiring Rich Rodriguez is a good thing. They fired Lloyd Carr why? I don’t believe anybody saw this train wreck coming, especially the people that hired Coach Rod.
1. The sudden and complete downfall of Tommy Bowden
Clemson was supposed to be a contender this year. Instead, their miserable start cost Bowden his job and Clemson their hope for reaching the next level.
1. Tennessee
Picked to finish in the top 20, but instead struggling not to finish at the bottom of the SEC with their worst record in decades. Like Bowden, Fulmer joins the unemployment line with this plummet.
1. The Big 12
Yes, many expected Oklahoma to be good, but nobody expected so many teams to have such great seasons. The SEC is good, but the Big 12 is GREAT. Never before have so many teams been so close to making it to the top from this conference.
1. Oregon State
By beating USC, the mighty Beavers are going to the Rose Bowl ahead of USC with a win over cross-state rival Oregon. Anybody who said they saw Oregon State beating out USC for the Rose Bowl, raise your hand. Yeah, that’s what I thought.
1. Auburn
Picked by some to win the SEC West, picked by all as a top 20 team, Auburn will be sitting at home this bowl season and perhaps looking for a new coach. Tuberville’s experiment with the spread proved to be a disaster. Now he’s trying to simply spread the blame.
1. Ole Miss
There’s not a man on the Ole Miss roster that’s ever been to a bowl game. At the beginning of the season there was reason to expect this year would be different. Houston Nutt proved one school’s problem could be another school’s solution. The defeat of Florida cost the Gators a number one ranking and may qualify as the year’s big upset.
1. Tim Tebow
How can a former Heisman winner be snubbed the following year by the Unitas Award by not even being nominated? John Parker Wilson over Tebow? And we expect them to be rational?
1. Vanderbilt
The little team that could. Vandy hasn’t been to a bowl game since 1982 but will be there this year. Coach Bobby Johnson proved that the school’s confidence in giving him the time he needed to restore the program was not in vain.
Honorable Mention: Notre Dame
Most figured Notre Dame would continue to be an underperforming team, but few figured they would suck THIS bad. Charlie Weis deserves the Golden Foot to the Lead Butt for this season and should be shown the door. Many doubt it will happen, however.
I number these top 10 all number one because it’s up to you to decide the order. Depending on the area of the country you live in and the team you pull for, I’m sure the order will change.
But as Lee Corso says so often, “Not so fast my friend.” The season is far from over, and more surprises await. The biggest story may still be unwritten.
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