EARLY IN MY writing career, I was geeked to land a small piece in a preseason mag. I’d grown up buying stacks of them, sitting on the beach and poring over every page. So to get a byline in one, it was kind of a big deal. Then reality set in when a crusty old scribe growled at me in a press box in late August: “Congrats, kid. Now gather as many copies as you can and burn ’em. Because I guaran-damn-tee all that stuff you wrote will be wrong.”
Sure enough, he was right. Not all of my predictions were wrong, only enough to make me want to quietly ignite a backyard bonfire. That first bunch of whiffs hurt like losing to BYU on a Hail Mary thrown by the backup QB in his first college game. (Amirite, Nebraska?) But we get used to it. Yep, we still boldly state our August picks (Auburn? Georgia? Title contenders!) and still lamely try to figure out how we could be so off in December—like 10-teams-that-started-in-the-Top-25 but-disappeared off. But hey, at least Bama didn’t let us down. What a guy, that Nick Saban. (Amirite, Les?)
So what else did we nail and what did we completely miss? Here are 25 things we thought we knew entering 2015. While you read, I’ll grab the lighter fluid.
1. Urban Meyer and his three QBs will cruise to the College Football Playoff.
Braxton Miller became a receiver, put a Labor Day B-button spin move on VaTech ... and vanished. Cardale Jones won the starting job, got lost somewhere in the red zone ... and vanished. J.T. Barrett took over, got the Bucks moving ... and vanished for a week after an OVI. With Jones and Miller headed to the NFL, I’m sure we’ll all think OSU is somehow better off.
Esta historia es de la edición January 04,2016 de ESPN The Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 04,2016 de ESPN The Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The Rape Allegation Against Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals Fame's Protective Shield
To be the world’s most famous athlete means Cristiano Ronaldo can appear on screens everywhere yet somehow elude the fallout from a rape allegation.
Michelle Waterson Reps More Than Herself In The Cage
MMA is a violent and unforgiving sport. But instead of shielding her young daughter from her career, Michelle Waterson is bringing her along every step of the way.
Kyler Murray Owns His Future In A Way No Other Rookie Has
As Kyler Murray decides which sport will win his talents, at least one thing is clear: He owns his future in a way no other rookie has.
Kyle Kuzma Turned A Sneaker Obsession Into A Legit Business Opportunity
No eight-figure shoe deal? No problem. The Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma walked his own path to sneaker supremacy.
Bryce Harper Is One Very Big Deal
He’s baseball’s best-known face and now its richest player. In this exclusive interview, the All-Star talks rejecting $300 million, recruiting Mike Trout and becoming a Phillie for life.
Kyler Murray - Will Past Be Prologue For The Possible Top NFL Draft Pick?
Sizable expectations? Kyler Murray’s got a few: go No. 1 in the draft, become a franchise player and—oh yeah— completely blow up decades of doctrine about short quarterbacks.
Eternal Champions
Seven months ago, Brazilian underdogs Chapecoense boarded a plane to play in the game of their lives. Instead, their biggest moment turned into a tragedy no one can forget.
What's In A Name?
With the founder of Bikram yoga facing assault allegations, it seems simple: Studios should distance themselves from his name. But it’s not so easy.
One Formula For Change
To inject excitement back into its races, Formula One needs more than a tweak or new twist—it needs to correct its course.
All About The Goals
U.S. national team hero and Chicago Red Stars defensive midfielder Julie Ertz shares her secrets for keeping her world-champion mindset.
