From: davem@uvmark.uucp (Dave Meeks)
Subject: Re: The REAL top five
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 92 17:13:50 GMT
Organization: VMARK Software, Inc.

In article <ASH.92Nov9083043@ulysses.mr.ams.com> ash@ulysses.mr.ams.com (Alan Harder) writes:
>
>1. Florida State
>2. Alabama
>3. Michigan
>4. Miami
>5. Notre Dame
>
>No, I'm not a Florida State fan.  In fact, I hate them and their
>stupid cheer and tommy-hawk chop.  It's just that I think they have
>the strongest team in the country.  Miami was lucky.  Alabama, I'm now
>convinced, could beat anyone with their defense.  Michigan has an
>offense that won't quit.  Miami has the luck of the, er, well they
>have luck.  Notre DAme is now playing as well as anyone.  As for
>Washington, they beat Nebraska, but then couldn't do anything this
>week.  Go figure.  Nebraska just might belong in the top five.  Texas
>A&M.  Um, well, um, who knows?  Maybe they're good, maybe not.  It's
>too hard to tell right now.
>

Why is it that everyone talks about "Luck" with Miami's wins???  "Luck",
as it seems people are defining it, exists in most games.  In any of the
Miami games that were close (FSU, Arizona, PSU), we could easily point out
some of the bad "Luck" they had that could have blown the game open.  Also
remember that the best FSU and PSU could have done with their respective last
second FGs was tie the game.  And, Arizona was attempting a 50+ yarder, as
I remember.  And, for all that was said about "luck", Miami managed to hold
the mighty FSU offense to just 16 points, and Arizona to only 7.  That was
Arizonas lowest point outing of the season, and FSU's second lowest.  Miami
has also held Iowa to it's lowest, Florida A&M to it's lowest, Penn State to
it's lowest, TCU to it's lowest, and with W. Virginia, they were held to their
lowest as well, until the late 4th quarter TDs.  And it was still their 3rd
lowest.  That says a lot about the Miami defense, if you ask me.  When you
hold 5 of your 8 opponents to their lowest scoring of the year, and 
2 others to one of their worst, that says something.  In fact, with the 
exception of FSU and PSU, no team has scored in double digits against Miami's
starting team,  (VT and WV both scored late TDs).

In comparison, as great as Alabama's defense is (and it is pretty awesome),
they have only held LATech, Tulane, and Tennessee to season lows.  Michigan,
they have held Notre Dame, Houston, Indiana, and Minnesota to their lowest
(but allowed Iowa their highest).   Granted, this isn't the only, or 
necessarily the best measurement of team defense, but it adds to it..

As far as luck goes...  What about it..  What if ND or Michigan gets a last
second FG??  One team gets the loss instead of tie.  As for Michigan,
if not for some Michigan luck, they would have lost that game.  As for
FSU, well, with a little more luck, they might have lost the Clemson, and
GTech games as well..  

The point is, Miami has beaten FSU, Penn State, and Arizona, two of which
are top 10 teams.  They also beat a very good West Virginia team and a 
previously ranked (though overrated) Iowa team.  That is 5 teams that were at
one point ranked, 3 of which were ranked in the top 10, two are currently
in the top 10.  No one else in the top 5 has beaten 3 top 10 opponents 
(even that were there at some point).  Alabama has only beaten 1 team that 
is still in the top 25. Michigan, they haven't beaten anyone in the top 25.   
FSU, they have beaten NCState (#14), NCarolina (#25), as well as talented 
Clemson, GTech, and Virginia.  And, Notre Dame has only beaten BC, while 
tying Michigan and losing to Stanford.  

>Of course, I could be wrong.

Well, it's possible...  
-- 
David T. Meeks            || "New shadows tugging at the corner of his eye
VMark Software, Inc.      ||  Jostling for attention as the sunlight flares
uvmark!davem@merk.com     ||  Through a curtains tear, shuffling its beams
davem%uvmark@merk.com     ||  As if in nervous anticipation of another day"