What are some of your favorite non-championship teams?

[OrangeAfroMan]

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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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.

[Cincydawg]

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.

[Brutus Buckeye]

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.  

[ELA]

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.

[Cincydawg]

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.

[847badgerfan]

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??

[FearlessF]

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

[MarqHusker]

Yeah, big fan of 1998 KSU team.  Bishop was the total opposite of ChadMay in terms of likability.

[847badgerfan]

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.

[FearlessF]

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

[847badgerfan]

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.

[FearlessF]

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

[ELA]

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.  

[847badgerfan]

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.