[baymeadows3408]

Interesting fuel for the Willingham vs. Shaw comparisons... Willingham's top team (the 2001 Seattle Bowl) was ranked 20th; Shaw had six teams with better final ratings than Willingham's best.  Shaw's worst (last year) was better than Willingham's 1998 team.

That being said, I don't think we were the 21st best team this year.

BC

I wish Sagarin had data going back to 1995 so we could compare Willingham's teams.

In a hypothetical match up, I would have taken our 2001 team against all of our teams except the 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015 teams. I do think our 2012 team was better than our 2001 team, but not by much. The 2001 team was very good and should have beaten WSU and Georgia Tech. Combining the 2001 offense and the 2012 defense would have given us an elite team. 

I have had my quibbles with Shaw, but nobody as ever achieved the sustained success he has had. And when I do quibble with him, it's because I'm greedy and I want that success to continue to be in the national title hunt again.

[baymeadows3408]

Interesting fuel for the Willingham vs. Shaw comparisons... Willingham's top team (the 2001 Seattle Bowl) was ranked 20th; Shaw had six teams with better final ratings than Willingham's best.  Shaw's worst (last year) was better than Willingham's 1998 team.

That being said, I don't think we were the 21st best team this year.

BC

I wish Sagarin had data going back to 1995 so we could compare Willingham's teams.

In a hypothetical match up, I would have taken our 2001 team against all of our teams except the 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015 teams. I do think our 2012 team was better than our 2001 team, but not by much. The 2001 team was very good and should have beaten WSU and Georgia Tech. Combining the 2001 offense and the 2012 defense would have given us an elite team. 

I have had my quibbles with Shaw, but nobody as ever achieved the sustained success he has had. And when I do quibble with him, it's because I'm greedy and I want that success to continue to be in the national title hunt again.