Ok. My turn...
People really need to stop jumping on Tebow. The guy has done nothing wrong. I am as tired as everyone else is of the constant media coverage of the guy, but that really isn't his fault. He is as overrated as any player in the history of college football, but again, that is not his fault. I find it rather ironic that he is the Heisman front-runner this year with his numbers being what they are considering the Heisman trophy he already won came leading a four-loss team. Where was his famed leadership that season? For whatever reason, the media has really latched onto Tebow and the Florida Gators since he arrived.
As for the topic of the thread, there are a couple points I would like to make.
Firstly, the thread ignores the season preceding the four-year run. In the case of Nebraska, the 93-94 season was one in which Nebraska was undefeated in the regular season and lost in the title game 18-16 to FSU. Personally speaking, I am still very bitter about that game. There was a ridiculous number of personal foul calls against the huskers and William Floyd fumbled before he crossed the goal line.
Additionally, the 96-97 season in which Nebraska did not win the title, it was the first year of the Big 12 and Nebraska was in line to play for the national championship yet again until they were upset by Texas in the first Big 12 title game.
Over the course of the five-year run by Nebraska, their cumulative record was 60-3. Florida's current run of four years has resulted in a record of 40-6 thus far. That is three more losses in 23 fewer games.
Nebraska was undefeated in all three of their championship seasons in the 90s. If Florida runs the table this year, it would be their first undefeated title of their run. They lost a game in each of their titles the last three years. They were basically the most attractive one-loss team in those two seasons.
It's also interesting that LSU lost two games in their title season. The real dominance of the SEC in the last few years has been their dominance in the minds of the media and their dominance of overrated Ohio St. teams in title games.
As for the 95-96 team...
Nebraska was still in the Big 8 at that time. Four conference teams finished in the top 10 that year. None of those teams lost to anyone other than each other (bowl games included). Nebraska clobbered each of those teams and each of those teams finished 1-1 against the other two. Nebraska then went on to destroy Florida as we all know. It really is impossible to compare teams from different eras, but you have to start by comparing them to their contemporaries. I don't really see how you can argue that a team that lost a game is better than an undefeated team that blew out four of the other top 10 teams in an undefeated season.
You know what else is crazy, keep going on that 60-3.
1992 9-3
1998 9-4
1999 12-1 (finished season ranked #2)
2000 10-2
2001 11-2
That is an astounding record for 10 years. 111-15 over ten years and playing in 5 of the 10 National Championship games, that is absolutely mind boggling. Now think back to how many games that we lost. How many were close? Nearly all of them.
It just makes you think about how far we fell, and how quickly. Glad to have a feeling that we are on the right track. But 60-3 or 111-15 might not ever happen for anybody again.
Florida State was 108-12-1 (admittedly slightly better than ours) in the 90s with 2 NC and NU was the dominant team of the time because of the three undefeated NC they won. Simply amazing.
Florida over their 5 seasons, even assuming they go undefeated this year would wind up 58-9. That might not look like a huge difference, but figure that out per season.
Florida: 11.6 wins 1.8 losses
Nebraska: 12 wins 0.6 losses
That is an average of a game and a half better record each season, with a stronger schedule.
No, Nebraska was more dominant. I also remember digging up some info before about the talent of that era, something like 21 of the 24 starters in that Fiesta Bowl played in the NFL. That doesn't even count Frazier. Amazing stuff.
P.S. I have been drinking by myself and went stat nerd. Sorry guys.