BlogPoll Roundtable XI

Time for me to stop neglecting the BlogPoll's weekly Roundtable discussions. Vijay from iBlog For Cookies hosts the action this week and offers up some interesting questions:


1. The Envy Poll
Name the five teams, other than yours, whose accomplishments you respect / envy the most. Use whatever criteria you feel is appropriate (wins, titles, consistency, academic integrity, competitive integrity, NCAA violations, general thuggery, mascot intimidation factor ...).

I've got no problem with NC State's upper-lower-middle class status in the college football world, though I would obviously be lying if I said I didn't envy the accomplishments of certain others...

Notre Dame -- For its status as an elite program for decade after decade (of all the attributes of a big time program, consistency is probably the one I respect the most). The Irish aren't the only ones who've sustained success over a long period of time, but Notre Dame is the first school that pops into my head when I think "tradition."

Alabama -- Another school with great tradition, and they've been to an incredible number of bowl games.

Southern Cal -- Dominant today, but also a school with a very good past.

Texas -- The flagship school in a state with gobs of prep talent. Good fans, great facilities, huge resources. Austin rocks, too.

Michigan -- Another school with consistent greatness through the decades, and like others on this list, "well-rounded": national titles, Heisman winners, etc.


2. Admissions
With regard to Question #1, what is the most damaging criticism of your program that you will admit is a legitimate criticism? That is, what negative trait does the most damage to the overall respect level of your program (in your eyes, or to others, interpret as you will).

We're criticized for talking big without actually accomplishing anything, and unfortunately, that's pretty close to the mark. Chuck Amato set some lofty goals when he arrived here, but despite his success during the Philip Rivers era, Amato has never led the Pack to a top-3 finish in the ACC.

These days, I'm starting to doubt that we'll ever be the consistent winners that Amato insisted we would be.


3. Unrelated Discussion Question
Who do you think is the best player in the history of your program? Tell us a little about him (especially if he's not a household name). Feel free to pick someone from 50 years ago that none of us has seen play.

The nominees are...

Roman Gabriel -- Two-time All-American, a first round draft pick in both the AFL and NFL drafts in 1962. Had a good NFL career.

Ted Brown (1975-78) -- An All-American and the ACC's all-time leading rusher with 4,602 yards (5.4 YPC). No ACC player has scored more touchdowns than Ted Brown (51). Brown rushed for 1,000+ yards three times.

Torry Holt (1995-98) -- Ranks second in the ACC behind Peter Warrick in career receiving yards. Holt was awesome in 1998, racking up over 1600 yards receiving, including two 200-yard games. A consensus All-American in 1998 and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (of which he was robbed by Troy Edwards).

Philip Rivers (2000-03) -- Over 13,000 career passing yards and 95 TD passes, both of which easily top the ACC record books.


I'm going with... Philip Rivers. I'm sure you're shocked. With his senior season still fresh in my memory, I couldn't convince myself to pick anyone else. In 2003, Rivers put together the most brilliant back-to-back performances you will ever see.