Do teams underachieve or does the media overassess?

by Getoffmyvols on Jun 6, 2009 1:53 PM EDT

This is a thought I’ve kind of bounced around in my head for a little while now and decided to try and put it out there.

Today when I was reading through the Heisman Pundits most overrated coaches in college football, there was one line that really struck a chord with me. In his blurb about Mark Richt, whom he has rated as the 8th most overrated coach in the country, he says

“Nice man. Program is very good. But will he ever win big when he’s supposed to (like 2008)?”

This sort of thing really bugs me. When MSM types spout off on when a team is supposed to be good and criticize a coach for not having their programs succeed at the highest level when they are “supposed to”.

To me it seems more like the Media monster likes to detract from the fact that their predictions and preseason assessments really have no validity or accuracy. Now I’m being a little hypocritical here because I sink my teeth into just as much preseason literature as the next fan, and I constantly feed the very beast that I’m being critical of. But what bothers me is when a program or coach gets blasted for having what if looked at objectively could really be seen as a decent season, just because they didn’t live up to your inaccurate predictions.

I realize I’m quoting a blogger who was just trying to fill the hours and get some hits. But this could also be used to describe Bruce Pearl’s squad this year. Did they underperform? Or did we simply over assess? Looking back on the year you could make the argument that we could have seen it coming. Losing your top 4 guards from the previous year as well as an experienced post player coming into his junior year and you’re supposed to improve as a team?

In general I think we just need to be careful when we judge a coaches worth based on how they perform when they’re supposed to be good vs. when they’re not.

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Comments

It's a good thought.

Per Mark Richt, the expectation was if you have a Future #1 draft pick at quarterback, a Heisman contender at RB, decent line (although injury plagued) and receivers like Massoquoi and AJ Green, there are going to expectations, inside and outside of the program. Add in the fact that they were the hot team at the end of 07 after dismantling Hawaii, and it was a recipe for lofty predictions. Injuries on the lines, tough conference, and hell, they went 10-3, not exactly a failure.

As for UT hoops, I think the expectation was that we had gotten progressively better each season, that this past season would be no different. But you lose your top 2 scorers and leaders and propel a bunch of freshmen and inexperienced sophomores into big roles and you’re bound to take a step back. This upcoming season is going to be the real tester for the Vols. Flordia will remain down with Calathes leaving early, Kentucky is tough, but doesn’t have Calipari’s ~~violations~~ fingerprints on the program yet, and nobody in the West (save for LSU) to really challenge what should be the best Vols team in Bruce’s tenure.

by Volorado on Jun 6, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions