This morning, I took a few minutes off from snickering at yet more Nittany Lion justice, Penn State’s continuing inability to sell out Beaver Stadium, and Anthony Morelli’s getting yanked out of the Big 33 game (and yet he STILL thought that he should have been the MVP) to study the just-released ESPN/USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
The Top 10 includes all of the usual suspects (in order, USC, Oklahoma, LSU, Georgia, Miami of Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Texas, Ohio State, and Florida). Our hugely overrated hoopie friends come in at #11 — amazingly ahead of both Maryland (#20) and Virginia Tech (#32) — two teams that each should have kicked the Mountaineers asses by early October. The next Big East, or even soon-to-be Big East, Conference member in the rankings is Louisville at #31 (also ahead of Virginia Tech… say, who suddenly pissed off ESPN down in Blacksburg?).
 
I guess that I was a little surprised that somebody actually voted for our rebuilding Panthers. We came in at #44 (2nd or 3rd in the Big East, depending on whether you count Louisville or not). But then again, if you look at the whole range of Division I-A teams this year, that might be about where I’d put us. Sure, we’re way down from last year. But at least we’re still ahead of Boston College (#48).
 
And just in case any Nittany Lion fans stumble across this site, how does life feel way down at #58 (8th place in the Big Ten)? So how’s that Big Ten Conference thing working out for you? And just how the hell did you guys get ESPN to rank JoePa as the 8th best coach of the past 25 years (ahead of Eddie Robinson, Bobby Bowden, and Steve Spurrier)?
 
Don’t worry. I’m sure Anthony Morelli will fix things next year, when Michigan finally rotates back on to your schedule.

Hail to Chas’s dropping a post in front of this one before lunchtime.