Does WVU need to run the table to get more respect?

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

In the ESPN Power Rankings, there are EIGHT teams ranked ahead of #21 West Virginia despite having lost already, and THREE teams ranked ahead of WVU despite TWO losses and TWO teams ranked ahead of the Mountaineers despite playing a Little Five conference schedule.

I guess WVU will just have to beat Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Baylor before the pollsters are convinced the Mountaineers deserve better ranking.

ESPN Power Rankings:

1. Alabama
   
2. Ohio State
   
3. Clemson
   
4. Washington
   
5. Michigan
   
6. Louisville despite 1 loss
   
7. Texas A&M
   
8. Wisconsin despite 1 loss
   
9. Nebraska
   
10. Tennessee despite 1 loss
    
11. Mississippi despite TWO losses
    
12. Baylor
    
13. Florida State despite TWO losses
    
14. Houston despite 1 loss
    
15. Boise State despite Little Five schedule
    
16. Miami despite 1 loss
    
17. Virginia Tech despite 1 loss
    
18. Oklahoma despite TWO losses
    
19. Florida despite 1 loss
    
20. Utah despite 1 loss
    
21. West Virginia UNDEFEATED
    
22. Western Michigan despite Little Five schedule
    
23. Arkansas despite 1 loss
    
24. Auburn despite TWO losses
    
25. Arizona State despite 1 loss

M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

 

[BigLickMountee]

In the ESPN Power Rankings, there are EIGHT teams ranked ahead of #21 West Virginia despite having lost already, and THREE teams ranked ahead of WVU despite TWO losses and TWO teams ranked ahead of the Mountaineers despite playing a Little Five conference schedule.

I guess WVU will just have to beat Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Baylor before the pollsters are convinced the Mountaineers deserve better ranking.

ESPN Power Rankings:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Washington
5. Michigan
6. Louisville despite 1 loss
7. Texas A&M
8. Wisconsin despite 1 loss
9. Nebraska
10. Tennessee despite 1 loss
11. Mississippi despite TWO losses
12. Baylor
13. Florida State despite TWO losses
14. Houston despite 1 loss
15. Boise State despite Little Five schedule
16. Miami despite 1 loss
17. Virginia Tech despite 1 loss
18. Oklahoma despite TWO losses
19. Florida despite 1 loss
20. Utah despite 1 loss
21. West Virginia UNDEFEATED
22. Western Michigan despite Little Five schedule
23. Arkansas despite 1 loss
24. Auburn despite TWO losses
25. Arizona State despite 1 loss

M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

I don't think respect hinges on running the table but winning the next three increases it. Win the next three there after and we definitely get noticed more. Just win. All the rest is just fodder.

 

[Orlaco]

We have been climbing in the rankings.

...so we're obviously getting more respect with each win.

 

[eerdoc]

In the ESPN Power Rankings, there are EIGHT teams ranked ahead of #21 West Virginia despite having lost already, and THREE teams ranked ahead of WVU despite TWO losses and TWO teams ranked ahead of the Mountaineers despite playing a Little Five conference schedule.

I guess WVU will just have to beat Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Baylor before the pollsters are convinced the Mountaineers deserve better ranking.

ESPN Power Rankings:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Washington
5. Michigan
6. Louisville despite 1 loss
7. Texas A&M
8. Wisconsin despite 1 loss
9. Nebraska
10. Tennessee despite 1 loss
11. Mississippi despite TWO losses
12. Baylor
13. Florida State despite TWO losses
14. Houston despite 1 loss
15. Boise State despite Little Five schedule
16. Miami despite 1 loss
17. Virginia Tech despite 1 loss
18. Oklahoma despite TWO losses
19. Florida despite 1 loss
20. Utah despite 1 loss
21. West Virginia UNDEFEATED
22. Western Michigan despite Little Five schedule
23. Arkansas despite 1 loss
24. Auburn despite TWO losses
25. Arizona State despite 1 loss

M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

We have been climbing in the rankings.

...so we're obviously getting more respect with each win.

Beat Texas Tech and TCU and we get noticed and talked about. Keep winning and they have to talk positively about us. Beat Okla and Te
xas back to back and we are a hot commodity.

 

[OlegeezEER]

The more we win the more respect we get. That's all we can do

 

[Buckaineer]

WVU just needs to work hard and eliminate mistakes and forget about everything else now. They have a very good football team with lots of talent.

 

[Orlaco]

WVU just needs to work hard and eliminate mistakes and forget about everything else now. They have a very good football team with lots of talent.

Generically insightful. Thx for sharing the cutting edge indepth opinion.

 

[autocarry]

Hard to get respect when conference sucks!

We are finally going to play a road game winning big would help respect

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

We are really just now entering the part of the season when rankings actually begin to mean anything and ..... we are ranked.

What is there to complain about?
Those teams above WVU will drop if they lose more and WVU will go up if they keep winning.

Don't worry ... if we finish with 2-3 losses on the season we will probably be ranked. If we finish with 1-2 losses we'll probably ranked fairly high.

 

[Buster68]

At 4-0, I wouldn't expect anyone to be betting the house on us. We need 8 more wins before we get mentioned in the same breath as the perennial powers. Why would anyone think otherwise?

 

[Buckaineer]

At 4-0, I wouldn't expect anyone to be betting the house on us. We need 8 more wins before we get mentioned in the same breath as the perennial powers. Why would anyone think otherwise?

Mentioned like "perennial powers" -Houston, Louisville, Wisconsin, Baylor, Ole Miss, Arkansas, North Carolina, Boise, or Colorado--all ranked ahead of WVU currently?

Why does WVU need to accomplish more than these programs before their accomplishments are acknowledged?

 

[steeleer]

WVU has done very little to impress voters the past 4 years. People don't trust WVU....and right now I can't blame them.

Personally I hope we keep getting underrated. Easier to be the hunter.

 

[Buckaineer]

Excuses excuses always against WVU.

The polls are about NOW- not four years ago. The playoff committee has not released a poll yet for a reason. It's about this season, what schools are doing now.

Other schools are getting the benefit of what they are doing now, so should WVU.

 

[steeleer]

Excuses excuses always against WVU.

The polls are about NOW- not four years ago. The playoff committee has not released a poll yet for a reason. It's about this season, what schools are doing now.

Other schools are getting the benefit of what they are doing now, so should WVU.

When you have a good run for a few years you get overrated (VT a decade ago) and when you have a bad run (us the past 4 years) you tend to get underrated. Right or wrong...it's how this goes.

With our history of crash-landing mid-season, I want to see what we do the next few weeks as well.
In my heart, I think this team is made of stronger stuff than we've been the past few years. Hopefully, Dana and this team will prove me right.

 

[CAJUNEER]

In the ESPN Power Rankings, there are EIGHT teams ranked ahead of #21 West Virginia despite having lost already, and THREE teams ranked ahead of WVU despite TWO losses and TWO teams ranked ahead of the Mountaineers despite playing a Little Five conference schedule.

I guess WVU will just have to beat Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Baylor before the pollsters are convinced the Mountaineers deserve better ranking.

ESPN Power Rankings:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Washington
5. Michigan
6. Louisville despite 1 loss
7. Texas A&M
8. Wisconsin despite 1 loss
9. Nebraska
10. Tennessee despite 1 loss
11. Mississippi despite TWO losses
12. Baylor
13. Florida State despite TWO losses
14. Houston despite 1 loss
15. Boise State despite Little Five schedule
16. Miami despite 1 loss
17. Virginia Tech despite 1 loss
18. Oklahoma despite TWO losses
19. Florida despite 1 loss
20. Utah despite 1 loss
21. West Virginia UNDEFEATED
22. Western Michigan despite Little Five schedule
23. Arkansas despite 1 loss
24. Auburn despite TWO losses
25. Arizona State despite 1 loss

M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

Just keep winning and the rankings will follow. Many of the teams you highlight benefit from a preseason ranking earning by being perennial winners. WVU used to benefit from the same system and will again if we just keep winning.

 

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

The more we win the more respect we get. That's all we can do

I think you nailed it. Also, as others said, if you aren't Alabama or Ohio State every year, pollsters are suspicious of your 4-0 record. Maybe at 8-0 WVU would be in the top 10, particularly if there are only 6 or 7 unbeaten teams by then, which is possible.

And, yes, other non perennial powers are ranked above WVU, even with a loss or two. Seems odd to me, though.


M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

 

[WVex-pat in GA]

Week 7 AP Poll projection from Campus Insider has WVU at #16.

https://campusinsiders.com/news/projected-ap-top-25-college-football-rankings-week-7-10-09-2016/

 

[Orlaco]

Week 7 AP Poll projection from Campus Insider has WVU at #16.

https://campusinsiders.com/news/projected-ap-top-25-college-football-rankings-week-7-10-09-2016/

We all bitch about teams with odd (undeserved) rankings... ...do you really feel like we're the 16th best team in the country?

I mean, like fans of other teams I'll take it (why not...at least we're undefeated) but my gut says we're more of a 35ish team. Now to dick on myself... ...I have not watched complete games of most teams ahead or behind us... ...so wtf am I comparing our team too?

 

[steeleer]

I would say that once you get beyond the top 5, you can see anyone beating anyone from 6th-25th. Frankly its a mess.

Right now, I would not want to see WVU play Washington. They scare me more than Alabama because they can literally do anything well. To be frank, I would like our chances against Clemson, Bama, OSU, etc because no one else looks unbeatable. I watched Washington play Stanford and that was frightening. If they make it in the playoff, I could see them winning. But that's also the kind of team that will have a WTF moment late in the year and get left out since the Pac 12 is otherwise awful this year.

 

[lenny4wvu]

I would say that once you get beyond the top 5, you can see anyone beating anyone from 6th-25th. Frankly its a mess.

Right now, I would not want to see WVU play Washington. They scare me more than Alabama because they can literally do anything well. To be frank, I would like our chances against Clemson, Bama, OSU, etc because no one else looks unbeatable. I watched Washington play Stanford and that was frightening. If they make it in the playoff, I could see them winning. But that's also the kind of team that will have a WTF moment late in the year and get left out since the Pac 12 is otherwise awful this year.

GR8 analysis. .[WVU]:clap:

 

[Darth_VadEER]

I see we are now @ 20. That seems fair considering we only have 4 wins, none high profile.

I'm not sure what this insecurity is all about.

 

[TexasforevEER]

Wins do help but ................heck, let's just see how things play out.

 

[~IRWT~]

In the ESPN Power Rankings, there are EIGHT teams ranked ahead of #21 West Virginia despite having lost already, and THREE teams ranked ahead of WVU despite TWO losses and TWO teams ranked ahead of the Mountaineers despite playing a Little Five conference schedule.

I guess WVU will just have to beat Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Baylor before the pollsters are convinced the Mountaineers deserve better ranking.

ESPN Power Rankings:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Washington
5. Michigan
6. Louisville despite 1 loss
7. Texas A&M
8. Wisconsin despite 1 loss
9. Nebraska
10. Tennessee despite 1 loss
11. Mississippi despite TWO losses
12. Baylor
13. Florida State despite TWO losses
14. Houston despite 1 loss
15. Boise State despite Little Five schedule
16. Miami despite 1 loss
17. Virginia Tech despite 1 loss
18. Oklahoma despite TWO losses
19. Florida despite 1 loss
20. Utah despite 1 loss
21. West Virginia UNDEFEATED
22. Western Michigan despite Little Five schedule
23. Arkansas despite 1 loss
24. Auburn despite TWO losses
25. Arizona State despite 1 loss

M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor

Little ridiculous and thin skinned. The respect will come with winning. We were unranked and now we are Top 20. Other than a 4-0 record we havent shown anyone outside the program that we are some juggernaut. Go out and dominate TT and TCU and then we'll become a legit conversation piece and potentially a Top 10 team.

 

[Wvu21795]

Hopefully the administration is working Dana up a new long-term deal!

 

[WVex-pat in GA]

Moved up spots in the Coach's Poll without playing a game this week. I'd say someone respects WVU.

 

[eers1foru]

At this point no one expects us to run the table....Period! We don't get respect in the rankings because I think the people voting think its not a matter of IF we lose, but WHEN we lose. Does anyone seriously think we make it through this thing undefeated? Have you guys even been paying attention to what is normal for a WVU team under Dana? I see improvement in our team from last year to this year. But this time last year I was saying the same thing and the wheels fell off with an 0 for October. This is the pattern. We are about to hit that stretch of games where an 0 for is possible. If we make it to the OU game unbeaten people will be screaming our name as a playoff contender. Now lets look at what it would take to get there: 1) Beat TTU at their place while they have the best offense in the country. Sounds easy right? Our defense is yet to be tested by someone who has no problem chunking the ball downfield forty times a game. And our offense doesn't score well from the red zone. This game is scary!!!
2)TCU that is all I need to say. 3)OSU set up pretty much as a rerun of TTU. Another scary game on the road. WE HAVE TO SCORE BETTER FROM THE REDZONE!!!

If we make it through those three games unbeaten the chatter will go through the roof! If the past is any indicator we are just as likely to hit a skid and back into another WHO Gives A Crap bowl for fifth place in the league. I hope this is the year we get that monkey off our back. But we are thin on defense and with the way our bye weeks set up I don't see us being healthy enough on that side of the ball to finish undefeated. And quite frankly our offense still needs to get into the end zone on a more consistent bais.

 

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

At this point no one expects us to run the table....Period! We don't get respect in the rankings because I think the people voting think its not a matter of IF we lose, but WHEN we lose. Does anyone seriously think we make it through this thing undefeated? Have you guys even been paying attention to what is normal for a WVU team under Dana? I see improvement in our team from last year to this year. But this time last year I was saying the same thing and the wheels fell off with an 0 for October. This is the pattern. We are about to hit that stretch of games where an 0 for is possible. If we make it to the OU game unbeaten people will be screaming our name as a playoff contender. Now lets look at what it would take to get there: 1) Beat TTU at their place while they have the best offense in the country. Sounds easy right? Our defense is yet to be tested by someone who has no problem chunking the ball downfield forty times a game. And our offense doesn't score well from the red zone. This game is scary!!!
2)TCU that is all I need to say. 3)OSU set up pretty much as a rerun of TTU. Another scary game on the road. WE HAVE TO SCORE BETTER FROM THE REDZONE!!!

If we make it through those three games unbeaten the chatter will go through the roof! If the past is any indicator we are just as likely to hit a skid and back into another WHO Gives A Crap bowl for fifth place in the league. I hope this is the year we get that monkey off our back. But we are thin on defense and with the way our bye weeks set up I don't see us being healthy enough on that side of the ball to finish undefeated. And quite frankly our offense still needs to get into the end zone on a more consistent bais.

You could be right. But we both hope you're wrong.


M anhandled Missouri, 26-11

O rdinary against Youngstown, 38-21

U nnerving miracle goalline tip/interception escapes BYU, 35-32

N o quit against Kansas State, 17-16

T rample Texas Tech

A nnihilate TCU

I mpale Oklahoma State

N ail Kansas

E radicate Texas

E rectile dysfunction Oklahoma

R oll over Iowa State

S uffocate Baylor