Got so many thoughts and just feel like venting. Sorry in advance for blowing up the boards:
I alluded in my last dissertation (as @SolDevil so eloquently and accurately put it) that ASU IMHO will never be an elite program. What is an "elite" program? I'd categorize an elite program having ALL of the following:
-Large amounts of tradition built upon generations and generations of excellence
-National brand recognition that anyone would instant recognize
-Amazing current state of the program including a coach that constantly has his team in the playoff picture
-Vast amounts of money from boosters with very deep pockets never hesitating to open up their wallets
-High end recruiting on both a regional and national level
-Top of the line facilities
-A resume of national titles, conference titles, Heisman winners, All Americans
-A great track record of putting players into the NFL in the early rounds of the draft leading to long careers in the league
1. Based on this criteria, i think only a small handful of schools could be truly considered "elite" in all areas at the moment. Those would be only:
-Alabama
-Ohio State
-Michigan
2. Then you have the other schools that have the "pedigree" to be elite but just are lacking in some areas. These are the types of programs where you conceivably could just bring in the right coach and get back to being elite:
-LSU
-Texas
-USC
-Florida State
-Auburn
-Florida
-Georgia
-Tennessee
-Oklahoma
3. Then you have some programs that have been consistently performing at a high level for years but just really lack that pedigree that would ever truly make them an "elite" school like:
-Michigan State
-Wisconsin
-Oregon (up until this season)
-Stanford (up until this season)
-TCU
-Baylor (We'll see what happens with Briles gone in the coming years)
-Louisville
-Clemson
4. You also have some programs that despite so many natural advantages, just seem to do less with more like:
-Ole Miss
-Arkansas
-Texas A&M
-Oklahoma State
-UCLA
-Washington (up until this year of course)
5. Then you have some programs that once were elite but just seem too far removed from ever realistically being seen to be back there like:
-Nebraska
-Miami
-Penn State
I think realistically I could see ASU being in group number three somewhere down the road but don't ever see them being in group #1 or #2. Granted I'd be thrilled to be mentioned in with those in group #3 which is not only attainable but I think it could be conceivable with the right trajectory and consistency.
What do you think?
I alluded in my last dissertation (as @SolDevil so eloquently and accurately put it) that ASU IMHO will never be an elite program. What is an "elite" program? I'd categorize an elite program having ALL of the following:
-Large amounts of tradition built upon generations and generations of excellence
-National brand recognition that anyone would instant recognize
-Amazing current state of the program including a coach that constantly has his team in the playoff picture
-Vast amounts of money from boosters with very deep pockets never hesitating to open up their wallets
-High end recruiting on both a regional and national level
-Top of the line facilities
-A resume of national titles, conference titles, Heisman winners, All Americans
-A great track record of putting players into the NFL in the early rounds of the draft leading to long careers in the league
1. Based on this criteria, i think only a small handful of schools could be truly considered "elite" in all areas at the moment. Those would be only:
-Alabama
-Ohio State
-Michigan
2. Then you have the other schools that have the "pedigree" to be elite but just are lacking in some areas. These are the types of programs where you conceivably could just bring in the right coach and get back to being elite:
-LSU
-Texas
-USC
-Florida State
-Auburn
-Florida
-Georgia
-Tennessee
-Oklahoma
3. Then you have some programs that have been consistently performing at a high level for years but just really lack that pedigree that would ever truly make them an "elite" school like:
-Michigan State
-Wisconsin
-Oregon (up until this season)
-Stanford (up until this season)
-TCU
-Baylor (We'll see what happens with Briles gone in the coming years)
-Louisville
-Clemson
4. You also have some programs that despite so many natural advantages, just seem to do less with more like:
-Ole Miss
-Arkansas
-Texas A&M
-Oklahoma State
-UCLA
-Washington (up until this year of course)
5. Then you have some programs that once were elite but just seem too far removed from ever realistically being seen to be back there like:
-Nebraska
-Miami
-Penn State
I think realistically I could see ASU being in group number three somewhere down the road but don't ever see them being in group #1 or #2. Granted I'd be thrilled to be mentioned in with those in group #3 which is not only attainable but I think it could be conceivable with the right trajectory and consistency.
What do you think?
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