[socalstanfan1]

For the record, I'm not bothered by being ranked #21.  As Winflop mentioned, we really are replacing a lot of starters the D.  I think what does happen though, is when Alabama or Ohio State or USC (when it is rolling) loses starters like we have this year, the assumption of pundits around the nation is that the team will simply replace them because their depth is so great.  So they will start the season ranked high which, particularly in the old BCS system, was critical to getting into the top bowl games.  We are still at the stage of proving that we can weather such large departures of players and keep winning. 

It takes time to get rid of an old set of assumptions, and even more time to replace them with a more positive set of assumptions.  So Shaw can legitimately play the "chip on our shoulder, we've been disrespected" card for a bit longer.

[socalstanfan1]

For the record, I'm not bothered by being ranked #21.  As Winflop mentioned, we really are replacing a lot of starters the D.  I think what does happen though, is when Alabama or Ohio State or USC (when it is rolling) loses starters like we have this year, the assumption of pundits around the nation is that the team will simply replace them because their depth is so great.  So they will start the season ranked high which, particularly in the old BCS system, was critical to getting into the top bowl games.  We are still at the stage of proving that we can weather such large departures of players and keep winning. 

It takes time to get rid of an old set of assumptions, and even more time to replace them with a more positive set of assumptions.  So Shaw can legitimately play the "chip on our shoulder, we've been disrespected" card for a bit longer.