Rifleman
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Recently, Dave Hart said that he believed that we will overachieve under Coach Jones. This made me wonder. What was the last Vol team that truly overachieved, VolNation? Second question, is Hart correct and, if so, what will that mean record-wise in 2013?
For my part, I think we have underachieved for a long time. Even our BCS Championship team did not really overachieve, in my opinion. I really think they were the most talented team that year. I would say the 1985 team that won the '86 Sugar Bowl, with Daryl Dickey at QB, is the only one that pops out immediately.
As to what overachieving might look like: I put together a table which shows the total Rivals recruiting points for the last 5 classes: 2009-2013.
Obviously, we've lost a lot of our recruits. Auburn has as well. Still, this is one interesting gauge to determine the relative status of each program.
TALE OF THE RECRUITING TAPE: 2009-2013
Obviously, Bama. :sick:
Interestingly, Florida is right there, with nearly as high a percentage of 4 & 5 star recruits.
Oregon and South Carolina jump out at me as teams that have probably overachieved.
Obviously, Vandy is an overachiever, and not just at sucking for once.
I think most of us agree that playing up to our recruiting ranking, considering the player attrition, would be overachieving. That would mean an 8-4 season and a bowl trip.
I would not consider 7-5 overachieving because one of the teams above us in recruiting, Auburn, has gone through a mini program implosion. However, if we can get the 8th win in a bowl I would still say we overachieved.
6-6 would be a meeting-the-most-basic-expectations kind of season. I agree with Hart and say we do better.
Note: two of our opponents have no ranked players per Rivals and are not listed. If we lose to one of those teams I will spontaneously combust.
It might be interesting to run these numbers again, with attrition, draftees and injuries subtracted from the totals. It would be best to do in late August once actual game rosters are set. Hopefully we don't lose anyone between now and then!
For my part, I think we have underachieved for a long time. Even our BCS Championship team did not really overachieve, in my opinion. I really think they were the most talented team that year. I would say the 1985 team that won the '86 Sugar Bowl, with Daryl Dickey at QB, is the only one that pops out immediately.
As to what overachieving might look like: I put together a table which shows the total Rivals recruiting points for the last 5 classes: 2009-2013.
Obviously, we've lost a lot of our recruits. Auburn has as well. Still, this is one interesting gauge to determine the relative status of each program.
TALE OF THE RECRUITING TAPE: 2009-2013
Obviously, Bama. :sick:
Interestingly, Florida is right there, with nearly as high a percentage of 4 & 5 star recruits.
Oregon and South Carolina jump out at me as teams that have probably overachieved.
Obviously, Vandy is an overachiever, and not just at sucking for once.
I think most of us agree that playing up to our recruiting ranking, considering the player attrition, would be overachieving. That would mean an 8-4 season and a bowl trip.
I would not consider 7-5 overachieving because one of the teams above us in recruiting, Auburn, has gone through a mini program implosion. However, if we can get the 8th win in a bowl I would still say we overachieved.
6-6 would be a meeting-the-most-basic-expectations kind of season. I agree with Hart and say we do better.
Note: two of our opponents have no ranked players per Rivals and are not listed. If we lose to one of those teams I will spontaneously combust.
It might be interesting to run these numbers again, with attrition, draftees and injuries subtracted from the totals. It would be best to do in late August once actual game rosters are set. Hopefully we don't lose anyone between now and then!
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