did last year and figured if basketball team could finish top 5, so could they going into this year being picked to finish in about the same position as basketball was going into last year.

I also think they've seen all the hype, excitement, and attention basketball has been getting that the football guys have looked at that and both felt less pressure as a result, but also motivated to provide themselves and the fans with something worth being as excited about as the basketball program has over the past year, both with Pope and now with Young and the potential they are building up to.