USAToday gives USU football an A+

swordsman1989 · Post by **swordsman1989** » January 13th, 2022, 1:46 am

USAToday came out with its final grades for every college football team this year. USU was one of seven programs to score an A+, joining Baylor, Cincinnati, Georgia, Michigan State, UTSA, and Wake Forest. San Diego State earned an A. Air Force and Utah both earned an A-. BYU and Fresno State earned a B+. The Donks earned a C+.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-car ... 13143.html

Chatman · Post by **Chatman** » January 13th, 2022, 4:35 am

I’d give it an A. It’s tough to feel good enough about the season go get an A+ when you lose to BYU and Boise.

swordsman1989 · Post by **swordsman1989** » January 13th, 2022, 5:56 am

Chatman wrote: ↑
January 13th, 2022, 4:35 am
I’d give it an A. It’s tough to feel good enough about the season go get an A+ when you lose to BYU and Boise.

Given last season and pre-season expectations, but ending up with 11 wins, a conference title, two P5 wins, a bowl win, and a top 25 ranking, I think it is a good grade.

Chatman · Post by **Chatman** » January 13th, 2022, 8:08 am

swordsman1989 wrote: ↑
January 13th, 2022, 5:56 am

Chatman wrote: ↑
January 13th, 2022, 4:35 am
I’d give it an A. It’s tough to feel good enough about the season go get an A+ when you lose to BYU and Boise.
Given last season and pre-season expectations, but ending up with 11 wins, a conference title, two P5 wins, a bowl win, and a top 25 ranking, I think it is a good grade.

Yea incredible season. I’m just pointing out that an A+ season in my mind would need to include beating those rivals and also doing better than 3-3 at home.

Sl7vk · Post by **Sl7vk** » January 13th, 2022, 8:15 am

I'll give it an A+.
I felt that 6-6 would have been a great year for Anderson, and so 11-3 with a conference championship banner and a LA Bowl victory is nothing short of miraculous.

FloridaAggie13 · Post by **FloridaAggie13** » January 13th, 2022, 8:35 am

Just an A+??

(I can't express myself without swearing) national media screws us again!!

Chatman · Post by **Chatman** » January 13th, 2022, 8:38 am

I’ll be controversial for a minute. The grade actually cheapens the program suggesting this is the ceiling or best it can do. I don’t believe that. An A+ would be a one loss season, beating rivals and being in a NY6 bowl. That’s the ceiling.

NVAggie · Post by **NVAggie** » January 13th, 2022, 9:13 am

Based on the criteria of the article, I think an A+ is absolutely correct. I also would give us an A+, not because I think it is our ceiling, but because I think we far exceeded my expectations for this season. We had a brand new staff. We had a terrible 2020 campaign (even gave up at the end). 2019 wasn't much better. 2021 was an A+ year for sure. Of course, my expectations will now be higher for next year and a repeat performance may only garner an A- or B+. We need to win in-state and we need to start beating Boise more consistently. We should be beating them at home every time and competing on the road with the occasional win.

FloridaAggie13 · Post by **FloridaAggie13** » January 13th, 2022, 9:25 am

If the criteria were a bell curve, we wouldn't have even been on the chart.

HomeTown · Post by **HomeTown** » January 13th, 2022, 10:30 am

Chatman wrote: ↑
January 13th, 2022, 8:38 am
I’ll be controversial for a minute. The grade actually cheapens the program suggesting this is the ceiling or best it can do. I don’t believe that. An A+ would be a one loss season, beating rivals and being in a NY6 bowl. That’s the ceiling.

In my opinion, A+ doesn't mean ceiling, but only refers to the results compared to expectations or program averages. Before the season, I would have been ecstatic with 8 wins and satisfied with 6. Dreaming of 11 wins in August was just unthinkable, but that's what they accomplished! It's an A+ from me for sure.

ViAggie · Post by **ViAggie** » January 13th, 2022, 10:39 am

Obviously these grades aren't based on statistics or the strength of the teams we lost to. HOWEVER, all three loses were to teams with a winning record and teams who made bowl games going 1-1 (bozo bowed out). So not bad, I'd give us an A-, solid A would have been a one loss season. A+ should be reserved for no losses. BUT beating two PAC12 schools on the road and spanking a 19th ranked team, also on the road, should account for something.

JSHarvey · Post by **JSHarvey** » January 13th, 2022, 12:57 pm

ViAggie wrote: ↑
January 13th, 2022, 10:39 am
Obviously these grades aren't based on statistics or the strength of the teams we lost to. HOWEVER, all three loses were to teams with a winning record and teams who made bowl games going 1-1 (bozo bowed out). So not bad, I'd give us an A-, solid A would have been a one loss season. A+ should be reserved for no losses. BUT beating two PAC12 schools on the road and spanking a 19th ranked team, also on the road, should account for something.

I tend to agree. Grading against expectations I can see a very high grade (A or A+).
Grading against criteria then an A- grade seems to fit. The three losses (particularly Wyoming) were simply painful compared to the rest of the year and would suggest a grade lower than A- is appropriate, but the Conference Championship, the major bowl win, and beating two P5 teams bump the grade up dramatically.

Regardless of the grade I'm thrilled with the season - and while I'm looking forward to next year I am wondering how does the team live up to the much higher expectations that naturally follow a year like this one?

In any event, GO AGGIES!!!!!!

OrangeCountyAggie · Post by **OrangeCountyAggie** » January 13th, 2022, 3:57 pm

Chatman wrote: ↑
January 13th, 2022, 8:38 am
I’ll be controversial for a minute. The grade actually cheapens the program suggesting this is the ceiling or best it can do. I don’t believe that. An A+ would be a one loss season, beating rivals and being in a NY6 bowl. That’s the ceiling.

Spot on.

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