Time for part two of this brief three part series comparing MLB teams to their equivalents in NCAA football.
AL Central
Tigers: Virginia Tech Hokies
Like the Hokies, the Tigers are usually competing for a spot at the top of their division. Both teams also have experienced, highly touted coaches in Jim Leyland and Frank Beamer. Another thing….their conference/division is usually not thought of too highly, as the AL Central is usually the weakest division in baseball, just like the ACC is in football.
Indians: Tennessee Volunteers
They’re normally a pretty solid overall team, but a disastrous coaching tenure (Lane Kiffin for the Vols and the end of Eric Wedge’s time with the Tribe) sent them to bad lows. They look to be on the right track to future success though, but both are young teams that need guys to step up in the future.
White Sox: Arkansas Razorbacks
They’re always in contention, but when they go to take the next step, more often than not, they fall flat on their face. Both teams also have experienced coaches that are either loved or reviled, depending on your allegiances. Both coaches are also rumored to be going to the next hot job that comes along as well.
Twins: Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns are almost always the class of the Big 12, much like the Twins are the class of the AL Central. The Twins and Longhorns are both usually very well coached, with Ron Gardenhire and Mack Brown leading the teams. In their most recent season, each team also had a rare off year and didn’t contend for supremacy in their league.
Royals: Iowa State Cyclones
Generally, a pretty bad team and the doormat of the league. They’ll go on a hot run on occasion and make you think that they’re going to put together a nice run, only to fall back to mediocrity soon there after. Many casual fans can’t name any players on their teams either, but the diehards can.
NL Central
Brewers: South Carolina Gamecocks
After hovering around mediocrity for a few years, they’ve made the jump back to contention in a heartbeat thanks to some new faces in town that are helping out the old-timers (Marcus Lattimore with the Gamecocks and Zack Greinke with the Brewers). They both also play in a division with a prominent power that has scuffled lately to open the door for them.
Cardinals: USC Trojans
The Cardinals and Trojans normally run their divisions, but both have struggled recently due in part to a hot new kid on the block (the Brewers in the Central and Oregon/Stanford in the Pac-12). Both teams were coached by legends, but USC lost theirs (Pete Carroll), and the Cardinals may lose theirs (Tony La Russa).
Reds: Stanford Cardinal
Both teams are rich in tradition, but really struggled in their leagues until recent years, when they experienced a renaissance. They both have a star who is among the best in their sport, with Andrew Luck leading the Cardinal and Joey Votto dominating at first base for the Reds.
Pirates: Indiana Hoosiers
Both teams are perennially bad, and it seems like forever ago when both teams were good. But there is new leadership in town (Clint Hurdle and Kevin Wilson respectively), and with young talent coming along (most notably, Andrew McCutchen in Pittsburgh and top quarterback recruit Gunner Kiel choosing the Hoosiers), both teams could be competitive again in the near future.
Cubs: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Their fans are fiercely loyal, and anything less than a championship feels like a disappointment. Unfortunately, neither team has sniffed those lofty heights in years. They bring in tons of new talent every year (the Cubs through free agency, and the Irish through recruiting). and yet, they can’t reach the promised land. It’s totally coincidental that both teams are in the same midwest region as well.
Astros: Virginia Cavaliers
They were a pretty good team once upon a time. Then, they blew everything up and fell back to the depths of the league. The teams each have new leadership running the show (Mike London at UVA, and Brad Mills in Houston), and they’re hoping to turn things around with young talent and compete in a league that they can win.
