A Coach's Dilemma: “Cupcakes” or Tough Competition?

It is a tough call: Do you play tough BCS/FBS competition, or do you schedule a “cupcake” team from the FCS (formerly I-AA) to start your season?  This is a serious question that one has to grapple with, especially if the team is in rebuilding mode.

When a team is in a tough conference like the SEC, ACC, or Big 12 where wins are hard to come by, one is tempted to play subpar competition to give one more wins before hitting the conference schedule.  Scheduling one of the lower division teams doesn’t always assure a win, either—just ask Michigan from the 2007 season! 

If a school chooses this path, does it benefit them?  “A win is a win,” some will say, but if one really wants to contend for a conference championship or even a national championship, or just make their team a tougher and more “battle tested” team, does playing the cupcake team help to get you there?

I think if the FSU vs. Wake Forest game is any indicator of the answer, I would have to say, “No, it doesn’t help a good team get better.” 

I will admit this was a very, very ugly game on Saturday night in Tallahassee.  I think FSU is a good team, but playing and romping on the cupcakes really did not seem to prepare them for the rigors of the ACC season to come.

It didn’t seem to help them on the path to win Championships, and now they are feeling defeated, unsure of themselves and their capabilities.

After their two romps over subpar talent (when compared to FSU)—one being 69-0 against WCU—FSU was exuding a cocky confidence, thinking they “were back” to the FSU of old!  The media fell for it by ranking them No. 24 in the nation.

I do think that FSU is a very good team, but how much better would they have been if they played a decent or even strong team out of the gates?  Personally, if I was a voting member of the media, I would have held out until they played some decent competition before making them No. 24. 

I honestly can say I don't blame Coach Bowden this year after losing as many as 11 starters. Why not play it safe? By the way, he is competing with Joe Pa for the most wins ever by an active coach.

BUT if he had played better competition, those same freshmen who started would have some incredible experience that could benefit them for their future careers and ultimately make their team stronger and tougher this year and years to come. 

What do you gain when you thrash a Western Carolina 69-0?  Well, you bulk up your stats to lead the country in some areas, but the subpar competition gave them a false sense of security.  They did get experience, but that experience was the wrong kind of experience.

After these wins, they must have thought that winning would be easy, and they began to think they were better than they really were! 

FSU is not alone.  Apparently many of the ACC teams did the same.

BC played Kent State.  MD picked on Delaware and almost lost, and then did lose to Middle Tenn.  UNC took on McNeese St. and almost got beaten too.  GT hit Jacksonville St. and then later in the season Gardner-Webb.  VT took on Furman and later Western KY.

Clemson was brave to schedule Alabama first, but then added SC State to "make a statement" (54-0!).  UVA scheduled Richmond, a FCS finalist contender last season, but they have to be given props for the courage to take on No. 1 USC!

Jim Grobe is to be admired because Wake, on the other hand, stayed with the FBS/BCS teams all season and last.  Baylor is turning out to be a good team, and Ole Miss is no slouch either!

Last season, WFU opened up with BC and then Nebraska and started with an 0-2 record. Many people talked about how bad they were and how the prior year’s ACC Championship was a fluke, but Grobe kept plugging and they pulled it together because they had also been tested early.  It ultimately helped them to get to 9-4 and win their bowl game.

This year's biggest test should be Clemson, and by the time they get Clemson they will already be tested and ready (Baylor, Ole Miss, FSU, and Navy). 

FSU: Live and learn...after your Southern Conference “cupcake” romps and the Wake Forest “Smack Down,” you have a tough Colorado team heading your way!  CO will be a big test, and hopefully you can pull it together to rise to the challenge and make the ACC proud.

My point is that if you schedule tougher competition and let the "chips fall where they may," it just might help you to have a special season. It may give you some losses too, but scheduling all the “cupcakes” will ultimately not prepare you for the speed and tough competition of the major conferences.