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As
Expected
Many
Preseason Publications Predicted FSU Would Win The Title.
By
George Stahl
NEW
YORK (AQB)--Before the season started, Florida State was the consensus
No. 1 in the polls and in the preseason magazines. So it doesn't
surprise anybody that the Seminoles went on to capture their second
national championship.
It's
just that few expected FSU to have to beat Virginia Tech for the
title.
The
Hokies began the season ranked No. 14 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches
poll, No. 13 in The Associated Press media poll and No. 11 in a
preseason magazine "consensus poll." ArmchairQB.com devised
the consensus poll by combining the
preseason top 25 lists of six preview magazines.
Ironically,
in 1998, Tennessee's average preseason rank from the seven
preview magazines that AQB reviewed that year was also 11th.
Virginia
Tech entered this season ranked as high as No. 6 in the preseason
magazines Phil Steele's and
Athlon, but as low as No.
30 in The Sporting News.
Florida
State, meanwhile, was the preseason No. 1 in all the college football
previews, except for The Sporting News, Phil Steele's and Sports
Illustrated, all of which had the Seminoles at No. 2. The Sporting
News and Sports Illustrated had Penn State No. 1, while Phil Steele's
had Nebraska in the top spot.
Below
are the eight preview magazines
that ArmchairQB.com reviewed in August, with their preseason
rank and selected comments about Florida State and Virginia Tech.
Also included are notes and quotes from the college football previews
of ESPN magazine, Sports Illustrated and Sport magazine.
Remember,
hindsight is always 20/20.
FLORIDA STATE
Magazines
consensus: No. 1
AP: No. 1
ESPN/USA Today: No. 1
Preview
magazines:
Lindy's
Prediction: 1st ACC. Preseason
rank: No. 1
- "Picking
the Seminoles No. 1 is a bit like picking the Yankees. Everybody
knows they're the best team, now they just have to go out and
prove it."
- "The
final year of the 1990s should be much the same as the first nine
- at least 10 wins and probably 11 or 12. The verdict coming in
Game 11 in Gainesville, and/or Game 12 in New Orleans; the Seminoles
are Lindy's Football Annuals pick to win the national championship."
The
Sporting News
Prediction: 1st ACC. Preseason
rank: No. 2 (Penn State No. 1)
- "While
the linebackers corps and Weinke's health are concerns, Florida
State believes this team is its best since 1993."
- "If
Weinke stays healthy and plays at the steady level he did prior
to his injury, Florida State certainly is a contender for all
the Division I-A marbles."
Preview
Sports
Prediction:
1st ACC. Preseason
rank: No. 1
- "Bobby
Bowden will put an experienced, talented and hungry football team
on the field this year, one that should easily extend its NCAA
record of 10-win seasons to 13 consecutive seasons."
- "But
any weaknesses should be more than offset by one of the strongest
and deepest teams Bowden has ever put on the field."
Phil
Steele's
Prediction:
1st ACC. Preseason rank: No.
2 (Nebraska No. 1)
- "This
is Bowden's most veteran team ever, so the question is hardly
the ACC title but will they win the national title? The ACC real
race is for 2nd place."
- "If
they can get a win at the Swamp at the end of the year, they could
bring Bowden his 2nd National Title."
- "FSU
is loaded and figures to be atop the polls this preseason giving
Bowden an excellent shot at his second national title."
Street
& Smith's
Prediction:
1st ACC. Preseason
rank: No. 1
- "In
the end, though, expect Florida State to add to its collection
of championship trophies. ... That is a talent level their ACC
rivals can match only in their dreams."
Athlon
Prediction:
1st ACC. Preseason
rank: No. 1
- "The
Seminoles won't have any trouble extending their record streaks
of 10-win seasons and top-four poll finishes to 13. ... Spurred
by their 23-16 Fiesta Bowl loss to Tennessee in the national championship
game, the Noles have the incentive and the requisite talent for
another title run."
Football
Action '99
Prediction:
1st ACC.
- "Florida
State will compete for - and likely win - another championship.
At the very least, a 10-win season and a Bowl Championship Series
invite are a cinch. The ACC isn't nearly as competitive as in
years past, so don't expect any losses heading into Gainesville
on Nov. 20."
Jim
Feist's
Prediction:
1st ACC. Preseason rank: No.
1
- "Far
and away the ACC's premier team, the Seminoles 1999 season will
be a disappointment if they don't return to the national championship
game."
- "Those
who predict a Florida State national championship in 1999 aren't
exactly sticking their neck out, unless QB Chris Weinke's injured
neck limits his availability."
Periodic
magazines:
ESPN
magazine (Preseason rank: No. 1)
- "If
Weinke proves durable, FSU should come away with its first undefeated
season since 1950. That would mean Bobby Bowden gets 1) his 300th
career victory on Oct. 23, compliments of son Tommy and Clemson,
and 2) that second national championship, Jan. 4 in the Sugar
Bowl."
Sports
Illustrated (Preseason rank: No. 2; Penn State No. 1)
- voted Penn
State No. 1
- "The
Bottom Line: If the Seminoles can avoid their usual costly slipup
and Weinke can stay healthy, the Sugar Bowl should come calling."
Sport
(Preseason rank: No. 1)
- "Florida
State, led by quarterback Chris Weinke, still has what it takes
to win it all."
VIRGINIA
TECH
Magazine
consensus: No. 11
AP: No. 13
ESPN/USA Today: No. 14
Preview
magazines:
Lindy's
Prediction: 2nd Big East. Preseason
rank: No. 12
- "With
Syracuse and Miami in Blacksburg, and no other Top 40 teams on
the slate, the schedule is favorable enough for a shot at not
only the Big East title, but even the Sugar Bowl. Tech must avoid
upsets that have plagued it in the past."
- In the beginning
of the magazine, where Virginia Tech was ranked No. 12, Lindy's
said: "With the annually great special teams and solid defense,
this team has the BCS bowls quaking again.".
The
Sporting News
Prediction: 2nd Big East. Preseason
rank: No. 30
- "Again,
defense and special teams will be Tech's trademarks. The offense
has too many questions to expect a league title."
- On Virginia
Tech's schedule: "It's challenging. The Hokies start with
four non-conference games, including a visit by Clemson and a
trip to Virginia. Three of the last five games are on the road.
A home game November 13 with Miami may decide the conference title."
Preview
Sports
Prediction:
2nd Big East. Preseason rank: No.
13
- "Virginia
Tech's weakness going into '99 is a potential future strength,
as redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Vick was one of the top
five QB recruits in the country in '97."
- On Virginia
Tech's schedule: "You've got to like it. The Hokies play
six games at home, including Clemson, Syracuse and Miami. The
road course looks quite manageable with the stiffest tests likely
to come at Virginia and West Virginia."
- "there
doesn't seem to be a way the boys from Blacksburg will miss out
on a seventh straight bowl bid this season. And, with a little
luck and slightly improved offense, it could be a big one? Can
you say BCS?"
Phil
Steele's
Prediction:
1st Big East. Preseason rank: No.
6
- "The
Hokies are loaded in '99 on both sides of the ball and have a
schedule that gives them a solid shot at ending up unbeatean and
in the Title Game. Their toughest two opponents are at home and
the only tough road trips are Virginia and West Virginia. I like
the new QB Vick and Tech is no stranger to playing in Alliance
games. This is their best team yet."
- "This
looks like Frank Beamer's best team yet. ... I will actually put
them in the national title contenders category."
Street
& Smith's
Prediction:
1st Big East. Preseason rank: No.
10
- "Beamer
has never had a more talented receiving corps or a more promising
quarterback than redshirt freshman Michael Vick."
- "Tech
has won four straight over Miami. If the Hokies can run that streak
to five with a victory November 13 in Blacksburg, they will probably
claim the Big East title and represent the league in the Bowl
Championship Series for the first time since 1996."
Athlon
Prediction:
1st Big East. Preseason rank: No.
6
- "But
the team, including members of the defense, are intrigued by the
ability of Vick, who seemingly has all the tools (arm strength,
foot speed and big-play bravado) to make the greatest impact."
Football
Action '99
Prediction:
2nd Big East.
- "Virginia
Tech will give Miami, Fla., a run for its money and win at least
nine games."
Jim
Feist's
Prediction:
1st Big East. Preseason rank: No.
8
- "arguably
the nation's most underrated program ... coach Frank Beamer's
troops promise to be in the thick of another Big East title chase."
- "QB
Al Clark's absence could hurt."
- called Virginia
Tech "college football's Rodney Dangerfield."
Periodic
magazines:
ESPN
magazine (Preseason rank: No. 9)
- The magazine
compared Virginia Tech to then-national champion Tennessee and
said "the boys from Blacksburg can make such a run [to the
national championship]."
Sports
Illustrated (Preseason rank: No. 17)
- "The
Bottom Line: If Vick helps the offense catch up with the defense,
Virginia Tech will be looking at 10 wins this season."
Sport
(Preseason rank: No. 8)
- "With
one of the nation's best defenses and a furious approach to special-teams
play, Virginia Tech could easily be a Bowl Championship Series
party-crasher."
- The magazine
asked if Virginia Tech is America's most exciting team.
Click
here to see ArmchairQB.com's review
of the preseason college football magazines.
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