What Defines A College Football Program?

[Red_Alert]

Does one team beating another make them a "Better Program" that year?

Who has the Biggest Program?

Who has the Best Program?

Discuss

 

[ThereIsNoPlace]

I don't know, OP, what do you think?

 

[rmilia1]

To me a great program wins titles ( conference and natty ) regardless of who the coach is , recruits at a great level regardless of who the coach is, stays at or near the top for an extended period of time .


Great programs
USC
Notre Dame
Florida St
Clemson
Georgia
Texas
Penn St
Nebraska
Michigan.
Auburn


Greatest programs
Oklahoma
Ohio St
Alabama

There is another list of teams who have had great runs through time but , to me, those runs weren't quite long enough or sustained well enough to make my list

LSU ( could change with another title or two )
Miami ( 2 decades is a long time but they just didn't do much before or after that stretch )
Washington ( just too many down years interspersed )
Florida ( Miami lite )
Wisconsin ( still ongoing but they'll eventually need a Natty and about 10 more years of real quality play )
Tennessee ( probably the closest to a great program that didn't make my list but the past 10 years have hurt )

 

[CJH9972]

A football team that represents a college.

 

[TheLonestarDUCK]

Uniforms lots n lots of uniforms!!!

 

[SideSwipe52]

I have to agree with "rmilia1".

 

[Deep Creek]

Program
noun

1. a set of related measures or activities with a particular long-term aim.
   

To me a great program wins titles ( conference and natty ) regardless of who the coach is , recruits at a great level regardless of who the coach is, stays at or near the top for an extended period of time .

For the most part, I agree with rmilia1. But, the "set or related measures" part seems to indicate that, if multiple down years appeared in succession, then nearly all of them were not "great" programs under said coach. Tradition was still there, but the program had gone down the shitter by the results compared to the standards or measures used.

Now, my team would love the results.

 

[Diego Roll Tide]

Steely Dan has to mention you in a song, specifically as a name for the winners in the world.

 

[outofyourmind]

Steely Dan has to mention you in a song, specifically as a name for the winners in the world.

 

[outofyourmind]

I'm pretty sure the more your fight song is hated, the better your program is.

 

[ralphiewvu]

I'm pretty sure the more your fight song is hated, the better your program is.

Unless your band plays it after every single freaking play no matter what happens.

 

[outofyourmind]

Unless your band plays it after every single freaking play no matter what happens.

Exhibit A, your Honor, of Oklahoma Derangement Syndrome.

 

[ralphiewvu]

Exhibit A, your Honor, of Oklahoma Derangement Syndrome.

No clue if you’ve actually sat by them. I have, in 2012 when fucking stills caught that 4th down td to beat us. I was the next section over, sat right behind Justin Browns parents. Good people. But even they commented how the band was annoyingly playing that crap song over and over.

 

[Diego Roll Tide]

I'm pretty sure the more your fight song is hated, the better your program is.

The exception is Rocky Top.

It’s just an annoying, obnoxious, meandering cacophony that’s every bit as bad when UT sux as when they’re good.

 

[batchaps4me]

Exhibit A, your Honor, of Oklahoma Derangement Syndrome.

Defense Exhibit A, your honor:

 

[HuskerinBig10]

I was going to say fanbase,

but I agree, fight songs is the best answer.

Cheerleaders in tight sweaters is tied for best answer.(No Oklahoma "that's a man, baby" cheerleaders tho)

 

[Voltaire26]

Does one team beating another make them a "Better Program" that year?

Who has the Biggest Program?

Who has the Best Program?

Discuss

Does one team beating another make them a "Better Program" that year? Nope, but beat them consistently does (see Michigan/ohio state).

Who has the Biggest Program? Probably Michigan

Who has the Best Program? Alabama or Clemson

 

[Voltaire26]

I was going to say fanbase,

but I agree, fight songs is the best answer.

Cheerleaders in tight sweaters is tied for best answer.(No Oklahoma "that's a man, baby" cheerleaders tho)

Don't put that last picture in @SlinkyRedfoot "Bang Order" thread ... I would short circuit

 

[Red_Alert]

A football team that represents a college.

So they are all equal?

W's/L's mean nothing and no college's program is bigger or better than another?

 

[Red_Alert]

To me a great program wins titles ( conference and natty ) regardless of who the coach is , recruits at a great level regardless of who the coach is, stays at or near the top for an extended period of time .


Great programs
USC
Notre Dame
Florida St
Clemson
Georgia
Texas
Penn St
Nebraska
Michigan.
Auburn


Greatest programs
Oklahoma
Ohio St
Alabama

There is another list of teams who have had great runs through time but , to me, those runs weren't quite long enough or sustained well enough to make my list

LSU ( could change with another title or two )
Miami ( 2 decades is a long time but they just didn't do much before or after that stretch )
Washington ( just too many down years interspersed )
Florida ( Miami lite )
Wisconsin ( still ongoing but they'll eventually need a Natty and about 10 more years of real quality play )
Tennessee ( probably the closest to a great program that didn't make my list but the past 10 years have hurt )

All of those programs you listed as "great" have had down periods (no "conference or national titles") depending on who the coach was at the time.