A passion that breeds contempt

File this under vintage Americana --

Hailed by ESPN in January 2009 as the most prestigious college football program since the "modern era" began in 1936, the University of Oklahoma ended last season's campaign with a mediocre 8-5 record, finishing outside of the Top 25 for the first time since 1999.  So it came as some surprise when the Sooners received the #8 ranking in the USA Today preseason coaches poll (released August 6).  In fact six other schools that finished last season outside of the Top 25 -- North Carolina, Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Oregon and Auburn -- were ranked in the 2010 edition of the preseason poll, while four teams that amassed double-digit wins for '09 -- Cincinnati, Houston, Brigham Young and Navy -- were left out altogether.

The disposition to give historic powerhouse "name programs" the benefit of the doubt is nothing new, but the preseason national rankings, even when voted on by the head coaches, has always been an example of predictable futility intended to stir enthusiasm for the coming season -- as if that were necessary -- which, more than ever, only validates the growing contention that supports doing away with any such polling until after the first week has been played.

Nevertheless, a 5,000-point power rating system based upon numerous sources and a general gut feeling by the humble and well-intentioned purveyor of this blog, is likely equal to anything for which you would otherwise have to pay.  So debuting below for the first time, your preaseason Top 10 (because 25 is too much) according to The Eccentric Conservative:

Home of the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide

#1  Alabama, 715 pts.

#2  Ohio State, 635 pts.

#3  Texas, 610 pts.

#4  Boise State, 565 pts.

#5  Florida, 530 pts.

#6  Iowa, 485 pts.

#7  Texas Christian, 440 pts.

#8  Nebraska, 360 pts.

#9  Virginia Tech, 345 pts.

#10  Wisconsin, 315 pts.