Winning Cures All

Colorado has had LSU on the 2011 and 2012 schedules for several years now, but it apparently was all a ruse as the contracts weren’t ever signed. So, instead of signing them, they push LSU off into the far far away future where LSU doesn’t even schedule games and added the all-too-common home-home-home series with Fresno State. I’m not even going to touch the LSU is tougher competition than Fresno State (especially with memories of 22-24 on the mind in 2001 when we were in the Fiesta Bowl. What happens if we had won that game?).

Colorado has scheduled tough non-conference competition and wore it like a proud badge of honor. If you’ve read the literature that has been produced over the past few years (like I have), you’ll often see statistics like “top 25 toughest schedule” and “top 20 games against top 25 teams” quite often. It helps justify a lower winning record. But the argument that Coach Hawkins apparently likes is the “wins matter more than strength of schedule.” Take 2007. 6-6 at the end of the season doesn’t help much. CU ended up where they were because of bowl tie-ins and no one caring that they played a tough schedule. No one respects the strength of schedule.

But no one seems to see the big picture of why Colorado would want to play Fresno State over LSU. It’s not really strength of schedule that’s at issue (or the sole reason), it’s recruiting. Colorado recruits heavily out of California compared to Louisiana. The talent is deeper and the connections are stronger. It even helps the Hawaii connection further. Plus, Colorado just signed some running back from California, and you think they don’t want to expand that?

Hey kids, this guy played here. Maybe you could play for us too?

As a footnote: The first preview of the Colorado season: 5-7 or better, depending on the breaks. I guess it’s a start. (But I agree it’s very realistic.)

Filed under: LSU, SMQ