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The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: OrangeAfroMan on February 03, 2019, 04:15:41 AM

Title: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 03, 2019, 04:15:41 AM
I guess we could break them up into 2 categories, depending on the helmetness of your school:
1 - non-NC teams
2 - didn't win the conference, but were still cool/awesome/different/unique/noteworthy/sentimental
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-
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Here, I'll start.
I really liked those mid-90s North Carolina teams, with the great defenses.  But they never got over the FSU hump.

The 97 Gators - were #1 for a few weeks, but wound up being underdogs by the end.  Only Spurrier team to lose to UGA, but spoiled FSU's natty.  I played HS ball with the QB, and RB Fred Taylor and WR Jacquez Green finally got to be "the guy" at their positions and put up gaudy numbers.  Didn't even win the east, but wound up #4 in the country.

1999 Georgia Tech, especially QB Joe Hamiton.  He was small, but could do anything.  He was like a video game.  And the Tech offense that year was innovative - incorporating more than a little option with a lot of passing.  They had a great game vs #1 FSU early and lost too many games down the stretch, but they were entertaining.

1990 Gators - Spurrier's first year, ineligible for anything.  Into the first game, it was like "oh, okay, so we're going to throw the ball 400 times this year".  It was just fun, all the big plays.  Spurrier luckily inherited a salty defense, so 90 and 91 were legit teams.

Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Cincydawg on February 03, 2019, 05:35:18 AM
1983 Texas, incredible defense, in line for a national championship and lost their bowl game to an underdog by one point late after a muffed punt.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 03, 2019, 08:27:12 AM
2008 Toledo Rockets. 

This was one of the worst seasons that they have ever had in their entire history. They were completely inept. They couldn't move the ball. They couldn't stop anyone. They only won two Mac games. They had to fire the legendary alumnus Toledo Tom at seasons end. 

They were hilariously bad. Yet they still managed to find a way to beat Michigan.  

(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F1NTOPf6kLB8EK5xR2n32Pt9fgY=/0x21:500x354/1200x800/filters:focal(0x21:500x354)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/429170/toledo_michigan_scoreboard.jpg)
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: ELA on February 03, 2019, 09:04:16 AM
I'll second that Joe Hamilton team, and add the Woody Dantzler Clemson teams of the same era.  I feel like a watched a disproportionate number of ACC games at that time, due to those two teams.  Same era, Indiana, with Randle-El, for similar reasons.

I loved the like 2001-2003ish Colorado teams.  Running the ball, late season games in the cold on the grass.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Cincydawg on February 03, 2019, 09:45:09 AM
My favorite teams, in general, have been the out manned but gritty "lunch pail" types that aren't fancy but line up and come at you.  You might beat them, but you'll know you were in a contest.  Some of the Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State teams come to mind of course.  Back in the day, Arkansas vs Texas.

Watching some of the South Carolina teams under Spurrier was educational, if painful, seeing how much difference a good coach could make on game day.

Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 03, 2019, 10:18:44 AM
1992 - the year before the breakthrough Rose Bowl Championship. You could just tell they were onto something. They beat O$U and were looking pretty good for a bowl game until they lost a few games and then finally at NU (Evanston is a house of horrors) to finish 5-6. But, as I said, you could just tell they were getting there. It was King Barry's 3rd season - he started 1-10, 5-6 and 5-6 - and the 4th was something to behold, obviously.



I wonder if he would survive 1-10, 5-6 and 5-6 in today's climate??
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 03, 2019, 10:40:59 AM
My favorite teams, in general, have been the out manned but gritty "lunch pail" types that aren't fancy but line up and come at you.  You might beat them, but you'll know you were in a contest.  Some of the Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State teams come to mind of course.  Back in the day, Arkansas vs Texas.
Wild Bill's K-State teams were the underdog I enjoyed watching and rooting for
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: MarqHusker on February 03, 2019, 10:53:01 AM
Yeah, big fan of 1998 KSU team.  Bishop was the total opposite of ChadMay in terms of likability.

Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 03, 2019, 11:08:39 AM
My only problem with Wild Bill is that a lot of his kids (including Bishop) really didn't belong on a college campus, other than to play football. He certainly did not develop this trait in his years under Hayden. Speaking of, I really liked the 1985 Hawkeyes.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 03, 2019, 11:37:06 AM
Bill had to use whatever kids he could get by whatever means - I don't blame him or K-State

yup, a fan of Hayden and his Hawk teams - I was in Kinnick for a couple of those 85 games

I also enjoyed the Badgers back before the Huskers joined the Big Ten.

and of course have always had a soft spot in my heart for any and all triple option offense teams
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 03, 2019, 11:56:19 AM
Bill had to use whatever kids he could get by whatever means - I don't blame him or K-State
To me it diminishes what he accomplished. Sure, he didn't cheat that we know of (highly doubtful anyway), but there's very little chance he brings a Big Ten program back from the dead, like Tiller or King Barry did. A lot of those kids he had would not get in. Forget JuCo too. Not happening.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 03, 2019, 12:15:12 PM
I don't know about very little chance in the B1G

he was simply using everything at his disposal within the rules

I'd guess he would have been successful anywhere, maybe not quite as successful
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: ELA on February 03, 2019, 12:37:48 PM
I don't know about very little chance in the B1G

he was simply using everything at his disposal within the rules

I'd guess he would have been successful anywhere, maybe not quite as successful
I think he simply means no Big Ten school would have let him build the way he did.  Not that KSU, as constructed, wouldn't have been good in the Big Ten.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 03, 2019, 12:41:33 PM
I think he simply means no Big Ten school would have let him build the way he did.  Not that KSU, as constructed, wouldn't have been good in the Big Ten.  
This is what I meant. I think they could have made as much noise in the B1G as they did in the XII.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on February 03, 2019, 12:50:54 PM
 Not much to do in Manhattan Kansas. Kids didn't go there for the "wrong reasons." They just went there to play football. 
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Hoss on February 03, 2019, 01:06:32 PM
Are we supposed to be discussing teams besides our own? Seems like we should. 

If so, another vote for the Fighting Synders from Manhattan. Nobody in the history of major college ball covered as much ground as Wild Bill IMO. KSU was flat broke when he started, and didn't have much hope of generating alot. I think he got them to the No. 1 ranking before they'd raised the funds for an indoor practice facility, and it was just a big, white toolshed, the likes of which some DII schools have nowadays. 

Dude was a master at hiring ACs too. They ran a ton of great coaches through there, and were schematically cutting edge for a long time. Dude re-invented his offensive identity three times during his tenure. 

That said, their fans are aholes.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 03, 2019, 01:47:52 PM
This is what I meant. I think they could have made as much noise in the B1G as they did in the XII.
what I meant was that if Synder was in the B1G and under the same rules, he would have been successful
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Cincydawg on February 03, 2019, 03:32:23 PM
I'd have to add to my group of hard nosed teams the teams that did pretty well from programs like NW and Stanford (which of late checked both boxes) and Duke and even Vandy.  I could add Purdue and even Georgia Tech (but won't).  If I'm watching a game on Saturday where I don't care who wins, I'll usually "pull" for the dog or the better academical kind of program.

I'm probably forgetting some solid academical types that are often pretty bad.  UVA and UNC and Cal?  Eh.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Kris60 on February 03, 2019, 07:07:14 PM
Some of the better Wisconsin teams
The 14 and 15 Michigan St teams
The Andrew Luck (and Toby Gerhart) Stanford teams.

As for my own school I’ll go with the 96 WVU team. A few weeks ago OAF posted what an unknown good defense that was and it was true. They got the hell after teams on D.

Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 03, 2019, 08:43:00 PM
I liked the late 80s Clemson teams.  Hard-nosed, running offenses and top 5 defenses.  If I believed in 2nd-favorite teams, they'd have been mine at the time.  They were the bullies of the ACC until FSU came along.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: ELA on February 03, 2019, 10:50:19 PM
Already gave my favorite non fan teams.  My favorite UM/MSU teams from my fanhood era not to win a Big Ten title would be...

2000 Michigan (1989-2004).  1999 is the easy call, but the way everything about that year was handled was more frustrating.  The 2000 team had manor defensive lapses, but for a program that seem muddied down offensively, compared to other top programs during my rooting period, I was willing to trade some defense for some offense, and getting Henson, Thomas, Terrell, Walker all out there.

2004 MSU (2004-2018).  Yeah, taking a 5-6 team over some 10+ win teams in 2010, 2014 and 2017.  2004 was fun as hell, and was better coaching and better injury luck (sometimes a little of both) away from being a Big Ten champ caliber team.  Was without their starting QB for September due to a torn ACL playing punt coverage in the Alamo Bowl the year before, lost 2 that way.  Choked away a huge lead at UM, and a late lead against OSU.  Lost a shootout at Hawaii.  But blew out #4 Wisconsin in November to remove them from the USC-Oklahoma-Auburn debate, and shut down a top 15 Minnesota team.  Had the best OL in my time rooting for MSU.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: fezzador on February 04, 2019, 07:47:08 AM
To me it diminishes what he accomplished. Sure, he didn't cheat that we know of (highly doubtful anyway), but there's very little chance he brings a Big Ten program back from the dead, like Tiller or King Barry did. A lot of those kids he had would not get in. Forget JuCo too. Not happening.
I completely get your stance, but to my eyes it doesn't diminish a thing.  Wild Bill stocked up on JuCos and borderline academic-eligible players, but a lot of his players were also borderline FBS caliber as well.  Manhattan is not an easy place to sell, even with considerably relaxed academic standards compared to many of its P5 peers (K-State is probably one of the 10 weakest P5 schools academically - at least it's not far off if it's not).  Before Snyder arrived in the late 80s, K-State had won less than 40 percent of its all-time games.  Today, it's still 100+ games below .500 all time, but it's in a LOT better shape than it was before 1990.  There were whispers of even permanently dissolving the football program for decades of ineptitude.  Don't think it wouldn't have happened, that's exactly what happened to in-state cohort Wichita State.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Cincydawg on February 04, 2019, 08:05:56 AM
My fav Dawg team would probably be 1966.  I was just learning to like the game, it was only on radio, they had a player named George Patton in the line and let him play QB at the end of their bowl game (he was HS QB running a single wing), and they beat undefeated Florida and Steve Spurrier that year.

I recall they lost to Miami (FL) 7-6 in an upset.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: CatsbyAZ on February 04, 2019, 08:16:32 AM
Virginia Tech’s Mike Vick quarterbacked seasons. Nobody quarterbacked an with arm AND feet like that before. It was a blast watching Tech through their undefeated 1999 (regular) season, having never cared to make a point to watch the Hokies before. Yes, Beamer land the foundations (and put up the drywall and paved the parking garage) for what we’ve known of Virginia Tech’s past quarter-century of winning, but it was Vick who electrified the big marquee that for miles around gave the program attention it’d never come close to having before.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: fezzador on February 04, 2019, 08:31:48 AM
It might not be too crazy to say that if Michael Vick wasn't a Hokie, the college football realignment dominoes might have fallen a bit differently.  They, along with Miami and BC, were the first 3 big-name schools to change conference affiliations (I think around 2005).
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on February 04, 2019, 08:47:03 AM
For me it has to be 1993 Ohio State for a number of reasons:

First, that was my freshman year at Ohio State so it was the first cfb team that I saw a lot of in person.  

Second, that season really marks the beginning of a still ongoing 25+ year stretch of Ohio State generally being a top team.  Consider, in 1993 the Buckeyes finished only #11.  Looking back, that isn't great because in the 25 years since (1994-2018) the Buckeyes have finished in the top-10 17 times.  At the time, however, they hadn't finished ranked higher than that since 1986.  

Prior to 1993 the Buckeyes hadn't really been a NC contender in my living memory, at least not a very serious one.  Back then a second loss was almost always the end of any NC hopes.  Ohio State's second loss prior to 1993:

Woody's last great team was in 1975.  They slaughtered UCLA in early October in Pasadena and won in Ann Arbor to finish the regular season 11-0 and ranked #1 but then lost a rematch against UCLA in the RoseBowl to barely miss out on an NC.  I know these things from books and google because I was born in 1975 so I obviously have no recollection of that season.  Woody's last three years (1976-1978) were not very good.  

In Earle Bruce's first year, 1979, Ohio State finished the regular season 11-0 and #1 then lost by a point to USC in the Rose Bowl.  I'm sure I "watched" the game in the sense that I know my dad watched and I'm sure I was in the living room but I was four years old.  I do not remember the 1979 season or the 1980 RoseBowl.  

The next seven years of Earle Bruce's tenure the Buckeyes finished with three losses every year.  Those seasons (1980-1986) I was 5-11 years old.  I have memories from that era.  I remember the Rose Bowl after the 1984 season but I wouldn't have been able to tell you what year it was without looking.  

1987-1992:
Earle Bruce's last year (1987) was bad, the only redeeming thing being a major upset of the Wolverines.  Cooper's first year was a sub .500 disaster and his next four (1989-1992) included two unranked finishes along with a #21 and a #18.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Entropy on February 04, 2019, 09:27:58 AM
if KSU was in the BIG they probably would have had more money... and not a rural.   I think Snyder would have done fine.   At KSU, Hoss outlined what he walked into and how little KSU invested in football.   You have to be creative.   Whoever said he had many FBS players on his team would be correct.  He got more out of guys than any other coach in his generation.   
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Entropy on February 04, 2019, 09:28:18 AM
As for nebraska... 1993 was a season I really enjoyed.  You could just tell they were on the verge of something.   That combination of hope and overachieving is memorable.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Kris60 on February 04, 2019, 10:11:06 AM
Virginia Tech’s Mike Vick quarterbacked seasons. Nobody quarterbacked an with arm AND feet like that before. It was a blast watching Tech through their undefeated 1999 (regular) season, having never cared to make a point to watch the Hokies before. Yes, Beamer land the foundations (and put up the drywall and paved the parking garage) for what we’ve known of Virginia Tech’s past quarter-century of winning, but it was Vick who electrified the big marquee that for miles around gave the program attention it’d never come close to having before.
Vick was great but he wasn’t the pioneer of doing that. Watch some Major Harris highlights from a decade before. He was running and throwing out of an option I offense when Vick was in Kindergarten.
Syracuse had a string of some really good QBs doing that before Vick came along too.
Also, Fezz was giving Vick credit for VT’s move to the ACC.  Credit VA’s Governor for that. The ACC wanted Syracuse, not VT. The Governor of VA told UVA if VT wasn’t part of the package then then they wanted them to block it.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Hoss on February 04, 2019, 10:11:43 AM
1993 was fun...I was at UNL at the time, and the energy was palpable. We got to No. 1 late in the season, the first time we'd held the ranking since 1987. 

1988 was a memorable year as well. Had a bad loss to Troy Aikan's UCLA team in LA, but beat Texas A&M in the Kickoff Classic, defeated Barry Sanders' #10 Oklahoma State team 63-42 in a game that was 49-0 at one point. Beat Arizona State, a Top 20 Colorado team, and of course, won our last game against Barry Switzer when Chuck McBride sprung the 43 defense on him in the rain in Norman. 

The year ended with a thud against Miami in the Orange Bowl, but still a memorable trip. 
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Cincydawg on February 04, 2019, 10:43:26 AM
Vick was the first QB I saw who ran and threw at that level of effectiveness (and did it at the next level as well).

There was an earlier guy named Tarkenton who was elusive, but he rarely ran the ball for yardage, he ran around to gain time to throw.

Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Entropy on February 04, 2019, 10:48:21 AM
Vick still is the best run/pass or pass/run QB in my lifetime.   There have been good ones but Vick still stands out as the best.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: ELA on February 04, 2019, 11:04:28 AM
Vick still is the best run/pass or pass/run QB in my lifetime.   There have been good ones but Vick still stands out as the best.  
He's the only one where if you took away one, was good enough to be at least a very good college quarterback with just the other.  Russell Wilson is maybe the closest?  Elway was mobile for his day, but I don't think enough to beat you with his legs without the threat of passing.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 04, 2019, 11:08:09 AM
I don't think Wilson is anywhere near as fast as Vick was. I've read RW is about 4.6, where Vick was 4.2. RW knows the game though, and he's smart.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Hoss on February 04, 2019, 11:32:18 AM
He's the only one where if you took away one, was good enough to be at least a very good college quarterback with just the other.  Russell Wilson is maybe the closest?  Elway was mobile for his day, but I don't think enough to beat you with his legs without the threat of passing.
That's a good way to put it. 
The thought of him playing in today's offensive environment is the stuff of nightmares.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: rolltidefan on February 04, 2019, 12:34:06 PM
2011 lsu was a fun team to watch. probably the best non-nc team i can think of.

2005 bama was one of my favorites. they had no business being as good as they were. seemed like a team of destiny, but lost in ot to #5 lsu and then following week @ #11 au.

sticking in 05, that usc team was really fun as well.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Kris60 on February 04, 2019, 02:19:43 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJZFzdjjN5o (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJZFzdjjN5o)

Oh my God, you guys are breaking my heart with this Vick love. Take 5 minutes and acquaint (or maybe reacquaint) yourself with a Mountaineer legend.

Pardon the production value. School produced highlight videos in the 80s?  Yeah, they weren’t great. Lol.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 04, 2019, 02:30:58 PM
Excellent player without a doubt. He was Vince Young before Vince Young was.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Kris60 on February 04, 2019, 02:52:53 PM
He was honestly Vick before Vick.  He wasn’t as fast as Vick but, IMO, he didn’t take a backseat to him in elusiveness, arm strength, or any other physical attribute besides straight line speed.

The NFL just wasn’t opening up their arms to QBs like him yet and I’m sure there were other reasons too.  I’ve heard he could have never fully digested a NFL playbook or been a guy who was going to win a chess match at the LOS. Vick and McNabb may have been better at that part of the game. Idk.

But physically he was gifted and an outstanding college QB.  I’ll admit I bristle a little when I hear Vick being the first of his kind.  WVU fans described him as a left handed Major when he came along.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Entropy on February 04, 2019, 05:11:44 PM
I remember Major Harris.  Enjoyed watching him play.

But Vick was... well Vick.    Husker fans have a lot of great things to say about Turner Gill and Tommie Frazier.  Both are legends and some of the best to ever play their positions.   Gill was closer to a Harris or a Vick, ...where Frazier was more a a run first player.  Nebraska fans adore both of them.  But I'd have to take Vick over them as well....  (I'll be banned from Lincoln for saying that...)   That doesn't change my appreciation for what Gill or Frazier meant to UNL or how great they were as players.   

again, jmo.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 04, 2019, 06:19:18 PM
Wisconsin hasn't won any national championships in football, so I'll stick to non-conference champions.

The 2005 Badger team that beat Auburn in the Capital One Bowl. The Badgers had a shot at winning the conference title, but consecutive losses against two very good teams, at Penn State and against Iowa, at the end of the season ended that dream (Penn State played in the Rose Bowl; Iowa beat Florida in the Outback). That left the Badgers deep underdogs to Auburn, a team that itself just missed the SEC championship game after an OT loss to a very good LSU team (which lost the SEC championship game and crushed #9 Miami in the Peach Bowl).

This was John Stocco's junior year and Brian Calhoun's only season for the Badgers. Joe Thomas was a junior, and Owen Daniels was a senior. Calhoun was as exciting a Badger to watch as any I can remember--not the best, but fun to watch.

This was Alvarez's last team, and Paul Chryst was the OC. This was at the peak of the "the Big Ten can't hang with SEC speed" years, and Wisconsin was given "no chance" against the mighty Auburn Tigers.

There were no unforgivable losses on the season (though the 51-48 loss at Northwestern was tough to take), and the Badgers won one of the more memorable games against Minnesota, with Jonathan Casillas blocking a punt then recovering it in the end zone for a last-minute win (same day as the Bush-Push and Michigan's last-second win over Penn State: http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/110482/why-oct-15-2005-was-the-wildest-day-in-college-football-this-century).

Then there was the upset win over Auburn. It wasn't a blowout, but it was decisive, with John Stocco taking a knee in the red zone for the 14-point win. What I remember most about it was Chryst's inside screens to tight ends and wide receivers (Daniels and Orr) for big chunks of yards.

It was also the first Wisconsin win over an SEC team in a bowl game (and the Badgers lost to Georgia to end 2004 and Auburn to end 2003; the Badgers were 0-4 against the SEC in bowl games; they are 3-2 since).
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: 847badgerfan on February 04, 2019, 06:24:33 PM
^^^

I'm glad you put that team in this, because I was going to do it myself. Man, I wish he had that final win against Iowa. I was at all of the games, but that one hurt. I was at NU too, and it sucked, but not like that Iowa loss. Also went to Illinois and Hawaii that year. Did not make it to the bowl game.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: bayareabadger on February 04, 2019, 06:44:25 PM
Wisconsin hasn't won any national championships in football, so I'll stick to non-conference champions.

The 2005 Badger team that beat Auburn in the Capital One Bowl. The Badgers had a shot at winning the conference title, but consecutive losses against two very good teams, at Penn State and against Iowa, at the end of the season ended that dream (Penn State played in the Rose Bowl; Iowa beat Florida in the Outback). That left the Badgers deep underdogs to Auburn, a team that itself just missed the SEC championship game after an OT loss to a very good LSU team (which lost the SEC championship game and crushed #9 Miami in the Peach Bowl).

This was John Stocco's junior year and Brian Calhoun's only season for the Badgers. Joe Thomas was a junior, and Owen Daniels was a senior. Calhoun was as exciting a Badger to watch as any I can remember--not the best, but fun to watch.

This was Alvarez's last team, and Paul Chryst was the OC. This was at the peak of the "the Big Ten can't hang with SEC speed" years, and Wisconsin was given "no chance" against the mighty Auburn Tigers.

There were no unforgivable losses on the season (though the 51-48 loss at Northwestern was tough to take), and the Badgers won one of the more memorable games against Minnesota, with Jonathan Casillas blocking a punt then recovering it in the end zone for a last-minute win (same day as the Bush-Push and Michigan's last-second win over Penn State: http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/110482/why-oct-15-2005-was-the-wildest-day-in-college-football-this-century).

Then there was the upset win over Auburn. It wasn't a blowout, but it was decisive, with John Stocco taking a knee in the red zone for the 14-point win. What I remember most about it was Chryst's inside screens to tight ends and wide receivers (Daniels and Orr) for big chunks of yards.

It was also the first Wisconsin win over an SEC team in a bowl game (and the Badgers lost to Georgia to end 2004 and Auburn to end 2003; the Badgers were 0-4 against the SEC in bowl games; they are 3-2 since).
Was thinking that team and 2009. Also can’t forget Brandon Williams being a beast 
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: ALA2262 on February 04, 2019, 07:01:05 PM
2010 Bama. SEC office killed this team with the 6 byes. Lost 3 of the 6 games. Played the entire season uphill on an uneven playing field. Debatably Saban's most talented team with TWELVE first round draft choices. Ref who did the Cap One Bowl against Michigan State was quoted as saying it was the best CFB team he had ever seen. As an 18 year veteran of the Big 8/12, he had done 1995 Nebraska games.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 04, 2019, 09:08:49 PM
That Bama team reminded me of the '94 Gators, who were preseason #1.  But ended the year with the "Choke at Doak".  Lost the game (in a tie), like Bama lost to eventual NC Auburn, but was good enough to get that big lead, 31-3 (24-0 for Bama).
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: CWSooner on February 04, 2019, 11:30:07 PM
I sure liked the '62 Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl against USC, but USC came back to win.

It's hard for me to pick out favorite teams that I wasn't rooting for, so I'll stay close to home and say the 1967 Oklahoma Sooners.

They were Chuck Fairbanks' first team, and they were very good.  Wins over Wazu (21-0) and Maryland (35-0) to open the season, then lost 9-7 to Texas in a game in which the usually reliable kicker missed 3 makeable FGs.  Won the rest to finish as Big 8 champs and a trip to the Orange Bowl--#3 OU vs. #2 Tennessee.  The game was as close as the rankings, but Tennessee missed what would have been the game-winning FG with 7 seconds left and OU won 24-26.

Sr. OT Bob Kalsu led a gritty offensive line.  He went on to get drafted by the Buffalo Bills, and I believe he was the team rookie of the year.  He then entered the Army to meet his commitment from ROTC and he became the only active professional athlete to be killed in Vietnam.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: rolltidefan on February 05, 2019, 11:39:08 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJZFzdjjN5o (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJZFzdjjN5o)

Oh my God, you guys are breaking my heart with this Vick love. Take 5 minutes and acquaint (or maybe reacquaint) yourself with a Mountaineer legend.

Pardon the production value. School produced highlight videos in the 80s?  Yeah, they weren’t great. Lol.
another wvu gem is the pat white and slaton teams. those were fun to watch.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: rolltidefan on February 05, 2019, 11:46:41 AM
2010 Bama. SEC office killed this team with the 6 byes. Lost 3 of the 6 games. Played the entire season uphill on an uneven playing field. Debatably Saban's most talented team with TWELVE first round draft choices. Ref who did the Cap One Bowl against Michigan State was quoted as saying it was the best CFB team he had ever seen. As an 18 year veteran of the Big 8/12, he had done 1995 Nebraska games.
the byes didn't help, for sure, but i can't blame that season on those. that team, while arguably the most talented that year and maybe ever for bama, was unfocused and to injured throughout the season.
the byes didn't effect us in the usce loss. playing @ #10 arky, vs #7 uf the 2 weeks before probably did more.
and for the au loss, anytime you're up 24 and lose, you deserved it. so much fluky stuff happened in that game, though.
lsu game might have been byes. but lsu was a top 10 team and it was @ lsu, so not like it was a crazy upset. same with au and usce. that was just a tough schedule all around. usce, arky, lsu, au, msu were all top 25 teams, also played uf and psu.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 05, 2019, 12:04:55 PM
I sure liked the '62 Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl against USC, but USC came back to win.


One of the more mis-remembered games in Badger lore. USC had a huge lead and extended it to 42-14 in the 4th quarter (42-14) before the Badgers came storming back with 23 unanswered points, closing the gap to 42-37. The Badgers forced one final punt and, having already forced a safety on one fumbled punt attempt, narrowly missed blocking the last one as time expired. A buddy of mine's dad, Elmars Ezerins, was the player who had the chance at the block.
This is a quote from Pat Richter's Biography:

Quote
They accomplished their task handsomely--they made Wisconsin proud--and they provided a valuable lesson for everyday life: Never quit trying while there is a chance to reach your goal...Staring humiliation square in the face, they battled until they won everyone's admiration and respect...They played their hearts out and lost the game but they captured the hearts and praise of their fans...
Over time, it became clear that the 1963 Rose Bowl was not just a moment that Badger fans cherished. It was a game that was a treat to watch for the millions of television viewers.
"Most people looked at is as an entertainment event instead of who won and who lost," said Richter. "Ron and I left the next day to go to the Hula Bowl and we were guests on a local TV show there with a couple of USC players. And all the people could talk about was this great comeback by Wisconsin. At some point, the USC guys said, 'Hey, wait a minute. We won the game!"

Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Kris60 on February 05, 2019, 12:06:08 PM
another wvu gem is the pat white and slaton teams. those were fun to watch.
Yeah, they were. My point was Vick wasn’t the first of his kind. He may have been the best version of it, but he didn’t pioneer it. What set Vick apart in my eyes was his speed. Not only was he the fastest QB I had ever seen but, to this day, he might be the fastest player I’ve ever seen.  I just didn’t think he revolutionized the position.  The dual threat QB had been around a while but no one ever had that speed before (or since).
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: rolltidefan on February 05, 2019, 01:04:48 PM
vick's quickness was more important than his speed.

he was blazing, don't get me wrong, but so was young, white, cam, pryor, johnny football, etc.

but his quickness to change direction was elite for any position. only qb off top of my head that comes close is probably kyler murray. his quickness was more a threat than his outright speed. he'd go from standing tall in pocket to a full sprint in a flash and be 5 yds downfield before anyone else registered he left pocket. vick was that way too.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Cincydawg on February 05, 2019, 03:43:43 PM
Did y'all see where Bolt ran an informal 4.22 at the Super Bowl?

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2818947-watch-usain-bolt-tie-nfl-combine-40-yard-dash-record-at-422-seconds

He slowed up near the end because there was not enough run out space.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 05, 2019, 05:10:59 PM
I thought the thing that set Vick apart was the frozen ropes he could throw, even deep.  Scorching line drives being spat out from his hand...option QBs have always been fast, but they were normally lobbing the ball deep to a TE or, more recently, some tall WRs, etc.  Vick looked like he threw a football 90 mph, not a guy who could throw a baseball 90 mph and happened to play QB.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: ELA on February 05, 2019, 05:17:17 PM
I thought the thing that set Vick apart was the frozen ropes he could throw, even deep.  Scorching line drives being spat out from his hand...option QBs have always been fast, but they were normally lobbing the ball deep to a TE or, more recently, some tall WRs, etc.  Vick looked like he threw a football 90 mph, not a guy who could throw a baseball 90 mph and happened to play QB.  
Yeah, that was my point.  He's the only guy that if you just took his arm, and put it on a statue, that's still a damn good QB; and if you took his legs and put them on a guy who couldn't throw, he'd still be a good QB.  Russell Wilson is probably the closest off the top of my head, those two guys would still have been NFL QBs even without being athletic, and were athletic enough to be good college QBs without the arm.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: ALA2262 on February 05, 2019, 05:54:37 PM
the byes didn't help, for sure, but i can't blame that season on those. that team, while arguably the most talented that year and maybe ever for bama, was unfocused and to injured throughout the season.
the byes didn't effect us in the usce loss. playing @ #10 arky, vs #7 uf the 2 weeks before probably did more.
and for the au loss, anytime you're up 24 and lose, you deserved it. so much fluky stuff happened in that game, though.
lsu game might have been byes. but lsu was a top 10 team and it was @ lsu, so not like it was a crazy upset. same with au and usce. that was just a tough schedule all around. usce, arky, lsu, au, msu were all top 25 teams, also played uf and psu.
You need to rethink the USC loss. Steve Spurrier getting another week to prepare for Bama and the USC players getting an extra week of rest and healing time while Bama was playing @ #10 ARK and vs #7 UF, had EVERYTHING to do with the loss.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Kris60 on February 05, 2019, 07:23:11 PM
I thought the thing that set Vick apart was the frozen ropes he could throw, even deep.  Scorching line drives being spat out from his hand...option QBs have always been fast, but they were normally lobbing the ball deep to a TE or, more recently, some tall WRs, etc.  Vick looked like he threw a football 90 mph, not a guy who could throw a baseball 90 mph and happened to play QB.  
See, I think Major’s arm was was right there with Vick. He had a cannon. A couple of the throws on that highlight reel show that. Physically, he was a NFL QB. Mentally, I don’t think he was and the NFL at that time just wasn’t  welcoming to dual threat guys.
And I still see Vick’s differentiating characteristic as his speed. I think guys like Major and Tommie Frazier had the same elusiveness and quick twitch, in a crowd, escapability. But when Vick tried to turn a corner he turned the corner on someone. He outran angles.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: CWSooner on February 05, 2019, 09:00:54 PM
One of the more mis-remembered games in Badger lore. USC had a huge lead and extended it to 42-14 in the 4th quarter (42-14) before the Badgers came storming back with 23 unanswered points, closing the gap to 42-37. The Badgers forced one final punt and, having already forced a safety on one fumbled punt attempt, narrowly missed blocking the last one as time expired. A buddy of mine's dad, Elmars Ezerins, was the player who had the chance at the block.
This is a quote from Pat Richter's Biography:
Heh! I don't think I've ever read any account of that game.  I just have my 8-years-old-at-the-time memory to go by.  We got back from my grandparents' house, where I had watched Alabama beat Oklahoma 17-0 earlier in the day, at some point in the second half.  I remember loving the Badger comeback, but I have gone all these years thinking that Wisconsin took the lead near the end, only for USC to take it back again.

I now stand officially corrected.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: rolltidefan on February 06, 2019, 09:05:08 AM
You need to rethink the USC loss. Steve Spurrier getting another week to prepare for Bama and the USC players getting an extra week of rest and healing time while Bama was playing @ #10 ARK and vs #7 UF, had EVERYTHING to do with the loss.
nah. it was early in season and was the first, maybe 2nd team that had a bye before us. not enough time for us to be worn down and them to get major benefit of bye.
did the bye help them, i'm sure it did. they got an extra week of prep, etc. but by itself it's not part of the whole "the byes did us in" dialogue. in the end, the byes were bad. but that loss was already in the books before the byes really took effect.
imo, we played sloppy and disinterested and entitled and usc came to play. those would have happened with or without their bye.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 06, 2019, 11:57:45 AM
Heh! I don't think I've ever read any account of that game.  I just have my 8-years-old-at-the-time memory to go by.  We got back from my grandparents' house, where I had watched Alabama beat Oklahoma 17-0 earlier in the day, at some point in the second half.  I remember loving the Badger comeback, but I have gone all these years thinking that Wisconsin took the lead near the end, only for USC to take it back again.

I now stand officially corrected.

You're far from alone. Many people have a vague memory of Wisconsin winning the game because so much focus was paid to the dramatic comeback that USC's (!) win was almost lost in the shuffle. It was also a rare 1 vs. 2 match up in the Rose, so it got even more national attention than usual.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on February 06, 2019, 12:36:39 PM

It was also a rare 1 vs. 2 match up in the Rose, so it got even more national attention than usual.
It wasn't just a rare 1vs2 Rose Bowl, it was the first 1v2 Rose Bowl.  All 1 v 2 Rose Bowls:

This was also an era when the BigNine (then BigTen) almost always won.  The original BigNine/PCC agreement started for the 1946 season (1947 Rose Bowl).  The BigNine/BigTen won the first six (1947-1952) and 12 of the first 13 (1947-1959). Going into the 1963 Rose Bowl the BigNine/BigTen was 13-3.  The participants:

I'm sure the 1963 Rose Bowl is very big in Wisconsin lore in part because it would be 31 years before the Badgers returned to Pasadena.  Consequently, that game was the last great moment in Badger Football History for more than three decades.  From 1963 through 1992 the Badgers were only ranked 17 times (out of 448 polls), that was a dark time for Wisconsin Football.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 06, 2019, 07:21:34 PM
I remember Major Harris.  Enjoyed watching him play.

But Vick was... well Vick.    Husker fans have a lot of great things to say about Turner Gill and Tommie Frazier.  Both are legends and some of the best to ever play their positions.   Gill was closer to a Harris or a Vick, ...where Frazier was more a a run first player.  Nebraska fans adore both of them.  But I'd have to take Vick over them as well....  (I'll be banned from Lincoln for saying that...)   That doesn't change my appreciation for what Gill or Frazier meant to UNL or how great they were as players.  

again, jmo.  
would have been fun to watch Vick beat out Crouch in 99 and 2000
probably get the  win in Manhattan in 2000, Crouch had a tough day.  Vick was much better as a passer
Vick may have won a hypesman and a MNC at UNL
would have saved Frank Solich, but I'd guess Solich wasn't willing to recruit Vick
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: fezzador on February 07, 2019, 08:56:02 AM
Not gonna lie, but it would have been fun to watch Vick orchestrate a triple-option offense.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Entropy on February 07, 2019, 11:18:44 AM
Not gonna lie, but it would have been fun to watch Vick orchestrate a triple-option offense.
just for clarity...  Unlike Oklahoma who ran a true triple option, UNL ran a double option.  

Nebraska ran basically 5 types of option, which accounted for about 25-30% of the playing calling.  They were the Arc, Belly, Speed, Veer and Wall.   Any FB dive was actually a called play rather than a read by the QB.   I would describe UNL as an I-formation power team that also ran the option.   The big plays came from the option, but like a deep pass, you don't run it every down.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 07, 2019, 01:31:53 PM
Crouch obviously ran that offense very well.  Was very fast, quick,  and had better than average moves.

Vick was faster, quicker, better moves and a helluva lot better passer.

Crouch's head had a few issues, but obviously Vick was in need of a better head.  Too much for Solich to overlook.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Entropy on February 07, 2019, 01:42:11 PM
Solich was also a lazy recruiter.   He enjoyed practicing and game plans a lot more than recruiting.      The entire recruiting experience seemed like a hassle to him....  Good example of this was a story I heard while he was still HC.  UNL was bringing recruits to camps and placing them in the dorms next to the railroad tracks.   You have to be more thoughtful.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 07, 2019, 03:08:19 PM
hey, I lived in those dorms for a year

Solich perhaps didn't enjoy the drama.  Driving to Omaha to pull crybaby Crouch back to the team as a freshman probably wasn't his favorite moment as a recruiter.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 07, 2019, 08:11:23 PM
I randomly loved one of Nebraska's RBs in '99 - Dan Alexander.  Dude was as wide as he was tall, and was faster than he should've been.  He just looked funny as a ball-carrier, but was really good.  I wish they gave him all the carries.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 07, 2019, 09:23:51 PM
Solich liked him as well.  At 6-feet, 255 pounds, 5 percent body fat and 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash, he was impressive.

Many thought Correll Buckhalter should have had more carries.  Buckhalter had a much more impressive NFL career.

Alexander went 21-108 in the Fiesta vs the Vols

for the season Alexander had 134 for 865 avg 6.5  Buckhalter had 111 for 662 avg 6.0

Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 07, 2019, 09:33:13 PM
As for nebraska... 1993 was a season I really enjoyed.  You could just tell they were on the verge of something.   That combination of hope and overachieving is memorable.  
for the Huskers the 83 season and failed 2-point conversion will always be my fav non-champ team
1981 and 1982 were also special
came a long way in 81 after starting 1-2 with a win over the Sooners, first since 78
82 was Rimmington's season, helluva team, robbed by zebras vs PSU
those teams were obviously special to me because I was a freshman at UNL in 1981, didn't miss many games
nice 4 year run
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: rook119 on February 09, 2019, 04:08:12 PM
The Chad Pennington Marshall teams - the MAC was pretty freaking great from about 1997-05. They had IMO the best conf championship games, December weather, home game CCGs, rivalaries, etc. Why did Marshall ever leave this conference for away games at Rice?

Bit of history during Marshall's undefeated season they were 11-0 going into the game w/ WMU (ranked #12). They got spanked and were down 23-0 in the 3rd quarter and mounted a furious comeback to win 34-30 on a last sec TD. If they would have lost they wouldn't have gone to a bowl game.

PSU 1994 - I guess there have been better offenses if you go by yardage and PPG, especially today. But they played the most asthetically beautiful offense that I have ever seen.

Arizona last year - RIP Khail Tate.

Alabama - the Paul Palmer years. Bama was much more lovable when they'd go 9-3 or 10-2 and had their cute little QB/RB/WR hybrids

As far as Major Harris goes, I think he was better than Vick. Unfortunately in Major's final year, WVU had one of the worst OLs in D1 (it was almost PSU in the Hackenberg years bad) and spent the entire season running for his life.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 09, 2019, 04:39:03 PM


Alabama - the Paul Palmer years. Bama was much more lovable when they'd go 9-3 or 10-2 and had their cute little QB/RB/WR hybrids

David Palmer?
Paul Palmer was the mid-80s RB from Temple who finished 2nd in the Heisman.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Entropy on February 10, 2019, 12:01:38 PM
92 bama was a team I enjoyed watching.  Loved that defense.  Still my personal favorite of all time not tied to UNL.  
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: MrNubbz on February 10, 2019, 04:24:28 PM
What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Being a Browns and Indians fan pretty much all of them
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 10, 2019, 10:28:01 PM
the Minnesooota Vikings have 6 or 7 I remember fondly

especially the purple people eater teams of the 70s
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Hawkinole on February 12, 2019, 11:11:23 AM
1960 Iowa, 8-1. Co-Champs of the Big Ten, and AP #1 three weeks until defeated by Minnesota, who went onto the Rose Bowl. Minnesota finished AP #1; Iowa finished AP #3. Final AP rankings were before the bowl games, and Minnesota lost the Rose Bowl.

I was just 3 so I didn't see any games. I like the team for what it represented.

Wilburn Hollis an African American AP All American played QB for Iowa, when there were almost no black QBs. His passing was not good, completing 35% in 1960; he was known for his running. I remember Butch Caldwell, a black QB who played at Iowa in Iowa's atrocious 1970s;and I thought he was one of the first D-1 black QBs, but no. I had no idea at the time Iowa crossed that barrier in 1959-61 seasons.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: ELA on February 12, 2019, 11:18:37 AM
Really changing it up, I'll take the 2001-02 Pistons.  The year before they started their great 6 year streak.  They were decent, but never great throughout the 90s with Grant Hill, but had just done a sign and trade with Orlando to at least get something back for him, rather than losing him in free agency, and wound up some a couple of nobodies in Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins.

Instead the shocked everyone with Jerry Stackhouse, and a bunch of guys nobody wanted to win 50 games, and nearly have the #1 seed in the East.  They just had a ton of guys with roles, Ben Wallace, Clifford Robinson, Chucky Atkins, Jon Barry, Michael Curry, Corliss Williamson, Zeljko Rebraca.  In a sport that is superstar dominated, the fact that that roster finished second in the conference is crazy.  I remember being mad when they tinkered with it, but it turned out for the best, won a title two years later when they traded Stackhouse for Hamilton, traded picks for Rasheed Wallace, drafted Mehmet Okur, signed Chauncey Billups, which relegated Atkins to a backup, drafted Tayshaun Prince.  But my high school years 98-02, was my prime NBA fanhood, the guys I was friends with at the time were really into it, I played a ton of basketball then, we watched it every Friday night, but the Pistsons weren't good.  So for that to all come together my senior year of high school, kind of my last year with that group of friends, really added to the whole thing.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: MaximumSam on February 12, 2019, 12:55:46 PM
2005 Ohio State - They had very close losses to eventual champion Texas and 3rd ranked Penn State.  They had some of my favorite players, including AJ Hawk and Donte Whitner.  No slouch on offense, either, with Troy Smith throwing to Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: bayareabadger on February 12, 2019, 01:08:59 PM
I’ll start with a small 2005 Wisconsin addendum and then 2009.


2005 was kind of fun,  upset a Michigan team we thought was going to be better, after going 5-0 dropped a weird shootout to Northwestern. Were 8-1 when facing a powerhouse Penn State team,  obviously upset Auburn in the bowl. 

Two big things were John Stocco and Brian Calhoun. Stocco came  in as a quarterback everyone kind of hated, and with a really good skill position group, he set the school record for yards in touchdown passes. Calhoun was a Colorado transfer  Who was a revelation as a workhorse runner and passed catcher, putting up some really impressive numbers.

The 2009 group was vital to the direction of the program.  Bert came in not exactly on the hot seat, but it was getting kind a warm after the team had failed to meet expectations two years in a row. The QB situation was unclear, a prolific runner left as kind of a mess.

But that team stabilized things. Scott Tolzien showed up and was good. John Clay was a conference offensive player of the year (not a great one, but whatever). The receivers we’re solid. The tight ends were great. The run defense was great, the pass defense awful. Watt and Schofield led the front. The secondary was kinda a mess. 

The team got toa a soft 5–0, then lost to great OSU and a  good Iowa team in annoying fashion.  Then the badgers won four more in a row, including revenge against Michigan. They tripped up in the  Final game against Northwestern, but popped Miami in the bowl game to get to 10 wins. 

 That stabilized things, showed that Bret had built a team with mostly his guys, and prevented Barry‘s hand off from becoming a disaster. 
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: bayareabadger on February 12, 2019, 01:09:30 PM
2005 Ohio State - They had very close losses to eventual champion Texas and 3rd ranked Penn State.  They had some of my favorite players, including AJ Hawk and Donte Whitner.  No slouch on offense, either, with Troy Smith throwing to Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn.
 That team was good as hell. 
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: FearlessF on February 12, 2019, 01:48:23 PM
I’ll start with a small 2005 Wisconsin addendum and then 2009.


2005 was kind of fun,  upset a Michigan team we thought was going to be better, after going 5-0 dropped a weird shootout to Northwestern. Were 8-1 when facing a powerhouse Penn State team,  obviously upset Auburn in the bowl.

Two big things were John Stocco and Brian Calhoun. Stocco came  in as a quarterback everyone kind of hated, and with a really good skill position group, he set the school record for yards in touchdown passes. Calhoun was a Colorado transfer  Who was a revelation as a workhorse runner and passed catcher, putting up some really impressive numbers.
2005 Michigan game was my first visit to Madison.  As a Husker, was familiar with Ex Buff Calhoun - helluva RB
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: bayareabadger on February 12, 2019, 06:57:37 PM
2005 Michigan game was my first visit to Madison.  As a Husker, was familiar with Ex Buff Calhoun - helluva RB
That game was so damn fun
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on February 12, 2019, 07:42:41 PM
92 bama was a team I enjoyed watching.  Loved that defense.  Still my personal favorite of all time not tied to UNL.  
Not that it happens often, but when or if anyone questions how good that defense was, you don't have to cite the defense's statistics - show them the QB Jay Barker's stats:
132 of 243 (54.3%) for 1,614 yards...7 TD, 9 INT.....112.2 rating
Probably the worst non-option QB season of any great team, maybe of any very good team.  That's how good the defense was - they went 12-0 with that QB play.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: rolltidefan on February 13, 2019, 09:29:20 AM
13-0

:93:

we didn't have a 1000 yd rusher either, though we did have some really good rbs. and palmer was electric in return game.

but that d was stout.

probably my favorite play of all time is the teague running down thomas and stripping the ball, and it isn't in the record books because it was nullified by an offsides penalty.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: Kris60 on February 15, 2019, 07:47:20 PM
13-0

:93:

we didn't have a 1000 yd rusher either, though we did have some really good rbs. and palmer was electric in return game.

but that d was stout.

probably my favorite play of all time is the teague running down thomas and stripping the ball, and it isn't in the record books because it was nullified by an offsides penalty.
Hell, that is one of my favorite plays.  As an adult I don’t hate teams anymore.  But back in my youth I hated teams and I hated Miami and no one personified what I hated about them anymore than Lamar Thomas.  He was the mouthiest, showboating thug on the team. When Teague pantsed him in front of the whole country it made my day.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: CatsbyAZ on February 19, 2019, 06:54:53 AM
Oh I got another good one - Ty Willingham’s 0-12 2008 Washington Huskies.

Very entertaining wondering week by week whether they’d win a single game (No!). Their best chance came with a road trip Vs 1-10 Washington State in the crApple Cup (as that particular edition is known). A wooly hatted Willingham trotted his Huskies into the snowy air and held the lead for most of the game before allowing a long late pass that set up the Coug’s tying FG, all before getting outlasted in OT.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: MarqHusker on February 19, 2019, 08:15:17 AM
That Wazzu team under Wulff  was historically awful.  They were brutalized often and had one of the worst statistical teams in P5 of the past generation. 

I believe that was same yr of Weis' epic offensive disaster at ND. 
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: rolltidefan on February 19, 2019, 11:06:02 AM
don't you mean nd's "decided schematic advantage" offensive year?
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: SFBadger96 on February 20, 2019, 08:33:55 PM
ND was 3-9 in 2007 (also the year they ended the 43-year win streak over Navy). Half a game worse than the Huskies the same year under Willingham (4-9). In 2008, they actually made it all the way to 7-6, and a bowl win (!) (over Hawaii). Weis made it another year, finishing 6-6 in 2009, and fired immediately after the loss to Stanford Thanksgiving weekend.

Willingham had a .229 winning percentage at Washington. That's bad.
Title: Re: What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?
Post by: rolltidefan on February 21, 2019, 06:02:53 PM
ND was 3-9 in 2007 (also the year they ended the 43-year win streak over Navy). Half a game worse than the Huskies the same year under Willingham (4-9). In 2008, they actually made it all the way to 7-6, and a bowl win (!) (over Hawaii). Weis made it another year, finishing 6-6 in 2009, and fired immediately after the loss to Stanford Thanksgiving weekend.

Willingham had a .229 winning percentage at Washington. That's bad.
was going to make a joke about that being a decent batting average, but it isn't even that.