Something's missing here. It's hard to put your finger on it, but there's no denying it's there. The final game in college football's 2008 season will be played tonight, and it's somewhat anti-climatic. It shouldn't be, but it is.
Somewhere, in all of this mess, there should be a few more games played. Like Utah vs. USC, and the winner takes on tonight's winner. Wouldn't that be something? Two extra games, and all of this nonsense would go away.
But it won't go away, and instead, it sits like a pit in your stomach. The outcome will supposedly crown a champion, but it really wasn't fair to begin with.
It's almost like election day in Cuba. You've got a ballot, but unless you're a registered member of the Communist Party, you can't vote. There's only one name on the ballot—Fidel Castro. Oh sure, there's an election, but the candidate is the only name on the list. So when he wins in a landslide, did he really win when there wasn't another viable choice?
Can the Cuban voter write-in a name? Sure, but he'll regret it for the rest of his life. This is their system, and Cuba really doesn't care what the people want—they've put themselves in charge of what's right for the people.
The AP represents the freedom fighters in Cuba, and while we hope they crown a different champ to make a statement—like a write-in name in a Cuban election—it will fall on deaf ears.
The BCS has done the same thing to America. They have determined that two teams are the best in the country by virtue of perceived conference strength. Utah, despite going undefeated, cannot be a BCS Title game contender. Utah is like capitalism to Cuba—it may look good on paper, but it's not right for the economy, so "no soup for you."
It doesn't matter what the people want, the BCS knows better. We all would love to see Utah play USC, and that winner play Oklahoma or Florida. Now that would be fair, more meaningful, and more logical. Instead, the teams get six weeks off while we, the masses, have to stare at the Orange Bowl's 15,000 or so empty seats.
The BCS Championship Games have been duds lately, if only because one team was significantly overrated and overhyped. If Florida smokes Oklahoma, does that mean Florida is the best team in the country, or does it mean the BCS once again, failed to find a worthy opponent for the Gators?
If Oklahoma smokes Florida, does that mean the SEC wasn't as strong as the BCS thought it was? Does Florida, a one loss team, really have a case to be crowned champion when Utah went undefeated?
The "best" team has the best record. Hard to deny undefeated. It doesn't matter if their conference is perceived as weak—the Utes still played everyone and beat everyone, and when given the chance to play against an SEC team who was undefeated in regular season, proved they could win. Convincingly. End of debate.
It doesn't matter that if the Utes were an SEC team, they would have never survived the grueling conference play. ALL conferences' play is difficult. While the MWC talent level may differ from those in BCS conferences, the level of competition is the same.
Two Little League championship teams have just as much competition between each other as two World Series teams. The intensity is the same. The parity is the same. LSU vs. Alabama is just as competitive as Utah and TCU.
So here we are, on the big day, and after the game, a BCS Champion will be crowned. We will congratulate the winner, console the loser, and then go on with our daily lives knowing that the final result was a result of two teams being "chosen" to play in the game.
Did they earn their lot? Yes, but no more so than Utah and USC. Critics will say that USC didn't take care of business against Oregon State, but did Florida take care of business against Ole Miss, and did Oklahoma against Texas? No. In fact, only Utah did and they still aren't in the game.
So much for fair campaigning.
Like a communist island sitting amidst a sea of democratic states, the BCS has made itself the ruling hand and decided what's best for the masses despite massive outcry. The masses are left out of the election process, and those who do vote, like the coaches who signed that BCS contract, are forced to write in one name as No. 1.
It's not their real choice—it's prescribed doctrine. It may not reflect what they really think and it doesn't matter what they think. They will vote as prescribed by the rules.
Who says America is the land of the free and the home of the brave? Only the AP can answer that.
84 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
Mitch at sportschatplace.com 6 months ago
Thanks Lisa, But the thing is we did have a ballot, we all had a voice. Never on the history of football and in the world has the fan had abigger voice than we do right now, but instead people decided to buy into ESPN, saying things like "even gameday said" . When people realize that gameday is part of the problem and championships are being won in Bristol, CT and not on the field, maybe things will change but it isn't going to happen soon. I said almost all year, of the 1 loss teams Florida's loss was the worst, and all I have heard was that they could have and should have won. Fact, of all of the 1 loss teams FLorida was the only one to lose at home, therefore, the worst loss.
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
We had a ballot? We had coaches voting for games they never watched. Some coach voted Oklahoma over Texas when Texas won that week.
I don't think you can say Florida is the worst- they have a fine team.
I'm just saying their lot is no better than some other teams' lot. There's no argument as to why they shouldn't be there, but rather, there is argument as to why they should be there OVER other teams. There is a difference.
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Robert Matthews 6 months ago
Florida earned their spot. Yes they lost to Ole Miss who has been proved by the rest of the season to not be a bad team. Florida has played near flawless football since.
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Mitch at sportschatplace.com 6 months ago
there Robert, what you just said is part of the problem, the Gators were ranked ahead of USC and Utah BEFORE Ole Miss did anything, so saying it after the fact is kind of like calling the winner of a horse race after the race is over.
Lisa, the fans have a strong voice, if we just say no, something is bound to happen, I don't see the fans saying no.
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Eric Willoughby 6 months ago
Lisa, nice article. Don't forget about Texas though, who only lost to TT, and also beat Oklahoma....I think you would have to let 2 more teams or so come in that playoff. But you are right on that they all deserve at the least that "SHOT" to be crowned as champ! In a way I feel alabama didn't fully come to play because the game had no real meaning to them....there was NOTHING to be won for them! The utes had something to prove! And they did....but are you really meaning to say that Utah is at the same talent level as other teams in the MWC? yes Utah v. TCU is evenly matched....thats the reason why Utah was not in the top 5! TCU and Utah may be the same caliber as an Alabama or UGA.....but Utah only has to play that caliber of a team once in 12 weeks while florida did it in 9 of 12 weeks this season....as did Texas and Oklahoma....USC scheduled tough out of conference games. The only advice I have for utah is to schedule out of conference tougher! I mean seriously, how many times do you have to see yourself a couple years back not get a shot, boise state twice, hawaii last year....HOW MANY TIMES before you learn......schedule SOMEBODY out of conference that will get you respect. By the time Utah played Alabama it was TOO LATE they had already been decided to be in the Sugar bowl and not the NCG! Now if Utah had played Alabama in week 9 or 10 and beat them.....all of the sudden they are the ones in the NCG, not watching it....or if they scheduled texas, oklahoma, usc, osu, psu, texas tech......ANYBODY....just not MICHIGAN and Oregon State.....your 4 biggest wins cannot by BYU, Michigan, Oregon State, TCU....and you only played one of those games on the road....and you about lost to a (3-8) Michigan football team! (won by 3 points)!
You are right though, they do deserve it.....but can they really say they put theirselves in a good position by scheduling so weak?
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
"But the thing is we did have a ballot, we all had a voice."
X-D (doubling over, it's so funny)
The vote totals of the AP, Harris, Coaches et al. say otherwise.
If there were an actual popular vote that determined the outcome, the BCS would be (in the dustbin of) history. Can you seriously claim otherwise, mitch?
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Mitch at sportschatplace.com 5 months ago
Scott, what if there were a weekend of games where no one showed up, no one tuned in,,,it could happen
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GatorJon 5 months ago
Mitch, in your comment to Robert you wrote: "the Gators were ranked ahead of USC and Utah BEFORE Ole Miss did anything, so saying it after the fact is kind of like calling the winner of a horse race after the race is over."
To what are you referring? Didn't Florida jump USC by virtue of the 51-21 thrashing of #4 LSU?
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Robert Matthews 6 months ago
Im sorry but complaining abut Utah and USC isnt going to change a thing. I understand the point but it wont change a thing this year. Its my firm beleive that if Utah goes 12-0 next year having won 25 straight games they are in the title game. However this isnt the first time that a team has gone perfect and been left out. Ask Auburn in 04 or Bama in 1966( these guys were the orignal guys who got screwed by voters.) If this game had been played Dec. 13 8 teams had a serious right to play. Florida, Oklahoma, Utah, USC, Penn State, Texas, Texas Tech, and Alabama. All one loss teams with the exception of Utah who was 12-0. In a fair world there would be a play off with randomly picked games. As of right now all but Utah, USC, Oklahoma, and Florida have been elimnated.
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J. Michael Morris 6 months ago
Utah has done this 4 years ago withthe same outcome. How many undefeated seasons capped by BCS bowl wins are needed to be deemed legitimate by the communist party faithfuls?
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Complaining won't. In America, you need to take legal action. Hence the anti-trust legislation. ;-)
Of course, some (hypocritical) fans claim that politics should be left out of their precious sport... as if it hasn't already intruded in a million ways already. Follow the money, and you'll see that only political action, specifically anti-trust action, is needed to bring the state of affairs to something resembling sporting competition instead of a beauty pageant.
"If this game had been played Dec. 13, 8 teams had a serious right to play: Florida, Oklahoma, Utah, USC, Penn State, Texas, Texas Tech, and Alabama"
I'd replace Texas Tech with Boise State, but otherwise you're spot on. What's so bad (or logistically difficult) about letting eight teams fight it out?
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
Robert-
Yes, Florida has played near flawless since their loss. So has USC since their EARLY loss as well. Utah has no loss. I fail to see why Florida has a better case for why they should be there.
Yes, Ole Miss beat them, but have your forgotten about Bama's season ender?. Florida's jump in the polls was also based on beating an undefeated Alabama in the CC. Alabama turned out to be not as good as everyone thought. So doesn't that also diminish the Gator's win in the CC? You can't have it both ways.
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Charles Keith 6 months ago
Lisa,
You can't have your cake and eat it too. Now you say that Alabama turned out to be not as good as everyone thought, but their two losses were to the National Champions and the undefeated team that you wrote this article about. (saying they should have got to play for the championship) That just proves the underlying theme of this article is that your mad because USC didn't get to play in the game, truth be known I bet you could care less about Utah. Your using them in the argument so not to look so biased toward the Trojans. If USC had of played in the game this article would have never been written. The BCS while not perfect it is the best system we've had and strength of schedule is an important factor in the system, whether perceived or proven. The fact is the PAC 10 is weak after the top two teams. The Big 12 and SEC with the conf. championship games have proven to be tougher schedules. Without Trojan blinders on you should see this to be a true statement. As far as the game between USC and Utah that you mentioned Texas should play over USC in this scenario, because of the reason submitted above. USC is a great team and will remain to be a top program with the recruiting Coach Carroll is doing, but they need to finish the season undefeated to have a shot in the championship game.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
"You can't have your cake and eat it too."
Actually, under the BCS system, its defenders say they can. They say (a) that the two best teams are in the title game every year without fail, and (b) the traditional bowls and conferences are happy.
I would argue that neither is the case, but then again I'm a playoff advocate, not a BCS defender. ;-)
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James Ringo 6 months ago
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? You got about the same chance of answering that question as the BCS has a chance of working.
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
James-
how very true. And aptly put.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
James, I think Charles has the answer. At least he thinks he does, based on his comment above. Plus, since his name is Charles, we can call him "BCS Chuck Would" ;-)
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Robert Matthews 6 months ago
Trust me Lisa I have in no way forgotten. However, Why would you take Oklahoma over Florida? Texas Tech got slaughtered by Ole Miss. Texas barely got by OSU. Why not Florida vs Utah instead of Utah vs Oklahoma? Im not saying Utah doesnt deserve to be in Miami. But its not happening this year. Maybe next year. Or the year after that. But this year the woulda, coulda, shoulda's, it aint right, its not fairs do not matter.
This year its Oklahoma vs Florida. Is it right? Probably not. But how do you plan to decide who gets taken out? USC, Oklahoma, and Florida have all played like champs since their loss. This is the champs of the 2 best BSC conferences going head to head for the national title. Does Utah deserve a shot? Absolutely. But right now its not happening. The world is a cruel, unfair place.
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
Robert-
How can you say the Big 12 and the SEC are the two best BCS conferences? Honestly. What proof do you have?
The SEC's second best team lost to the MWC champ. The Big 12's third best team lost to the SEC's fourth best team. Those are facts. It proves nothing, except that the SEC's fourth best team is better than the Big 12's third, and the MWC champ is better than the second best SEC team.
The only ones who are perpetuating that those are the two best teams are the fans of those teams and ESPN. Bama proved them wrong.
A "weaker" conference's champ is BETTER than the second best SEC team. The MWC is 2-0 against the SEC, and 6-1 against the Pac-10. Does that prove they are a better conference? NO, it just proves that six of their teams are better than six of the Pac-10 teams and two of their teams are better than the SEC's teams. Oregon beat Oklahoma State. So a 4th best Pac-10 team is better than a 4th place Big 12 team. Does that make the Pac-10 better? NO.
Don't lump individual team's performances under one giant umbrella, otherwise, you HAVE to ADMIT the MWC is better than the Pac-10 and SEC.
Please stop with the best conference BS. I never said I would take Oklahoma over Florida. What I am saying is the argument that those are the two best conferences is BS.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Robert,
Conferences don't make bowl games, teams do.
Or else all 12 SEC teams would be in there, because according to many (not all? GASP) fans, the SEC is the best conference for eternity and clearly a team from outside the conference is overrated.
"The world is a cruel, unfair place."
I'm sure this is the same argument used by George Wallace and his fellow segregationists when there was pressure to integrate universities (and also athletic programs) in the *cough* SEC and ACC.
The unspoken corollary to your statement about the world is: "and trying to change things is foolish, so know your place."
Sorry, Bob. Just because you're cruel and unfair (or at least you're defending the fact that the BCS is the current status quo, similar to 'separate but equal' before Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954) doesn't mean we need to be.
Right now it's not happening. But it will. Count on it. ;-)
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Roberto Alvarez-Galloso 6 months ago
Lisa, this is an interesting article that made me think about the Florida VS Oklahoma Game. While supporting Florida, it would be great to have another team like Utah. The BCS appears to be a monopoly when it comes to college football and it should not be that way. Roberto.
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
Roberto-
It is a monopoly. That's why the Utah Attorney General is mulling over filing an anti-trust suit against the BCS. Fasten your seat belts. I suggested they do that last week in my article about ESPN.
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Roberto Alvarez-Galloso 6 months ago
Thanks Lisa for your comments.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Lisa,
Glad to see you on board the anti-trust express. Please note my article "BCS, Y'all Just Got Served" for additional info... ;-)
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TheTas 6 months ago
Lisa always a fan, though new to Bleachers report. Totally agree with this article, hard to say for me. I am a Florida alum and Big fan. But, will feel like something IS missing when we win ( fingers crossed ) tonight. Yes, I agree an undefeated Utah should have been in this bowl, and so did Aubern a few years ago when they went undefeated. This is the hand we have been given and with all the screaming and yelling from Media, fans, politicians and coaches....BCS Dictators just are going to continue to ignore the fact that this system is not fair to all and doesn't provide a true Championship!
I know tonight is going to be a great game between two amazing teams, but whom ever wins this one will have to live with the shadow of Utah over them!
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
Auburn was the first victim. Cal and Oregon have been victims too. It's a crying shame. I root for the Gators too, but it's going to be a hollow win for me if they win. I'll still celebrate (LOL) if they do, but I feel badly for a team like Utah that got shut out of this.
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Irish Mike 6 months ago
Castro, Cuba, communist island....no. How about some parallels to the American political system? You're either on the inside, or you're on the outside...right or wrong. The BCS is much like our current 2 party political system. Florida and Oklahoma are your Obama and your McCain. Unfortunately, the Utahs, the USCs, the Texas, they are the Ross Perots, the Ralph Nadars, the Ron Pauls....the guys with good ideas, but no support to try and sway the status quo.
The end result is that the BCS, as well as the American political system, gives us the exact results that we want. Two arguably(emphasis here on argue) qualified candidates, with many qualified, yet seemingly unworthy, candidates looking from the outside in. It also gives Joe Q. Public, and sites such as B/R, the opportunity to generate far more interest and far more marketing of the product than the process itself(be it BCS or politics) could ever hope to generate on it's own.
Cuss it, diss it, and call it out for what it is, but from a marketing standpoint, it does more for the product than a caveman or a talking gecko could ever dream of.
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
Irish-
Interesting points. But in theory, all eligible voters have the freedom to vote for whomever they want. The coaches are under contract to vote for the winner of this game. Not who they think is the best team, but the winner of this game. But I like your style big time! :)
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Irish, see my point above, re: segregation and Brown v. Board of Education, which actually hits much closer to home in terms of college football–and college, period–than presidential politics (though I concede that there is also a point to opening up the latter system as well).
Keep in mind that the BCS as status quo is only a dozen years old and nothing or no one guarantees it a long life (or even health).
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BabyTate 6 months ago
Wow! Now it is clear to me, all of my articles vanished right after you brought Castro into the equation! It's a plot! I'll probably find all of my work in the School Book Depository!
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
BT...it's a conspiracy I tell ya. ( I have all your stuff saved, by the way. Someday it will be worth a mint!)
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JoeGator Gator 6 months ago
USC is about to topple from their poorly propped-up position at the top of the media-mind-set pile. Two BCS championships in three seasons for the not-so-tradition-laden Florida Gators. Oh my! The sky is falling for Lisa Horne and the Old School faithful.
King Pete is deposed. Long live King Urban.
It must be a communist plot.
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
Joe-
You must have forgotten I'm a Gator fan, but oh well. It's OK. By the way, Cuba is 90 miles from the keys. Coincidence? I think not. ;p
Go Gators!
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JoeGator Gator 6 months ago
I have not forgotten that you purport to be a Gator fan... and I am a HUGE USC fan as well.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
So you're a monarchist? You're still anti-democratic, then ;-)
Joe, I would argue that Florida's back-to-back basketball titles are not only more impressive (having been achieved by playing through six consecutive games in a knockout tournament), but also officially recognized by the NCAA, while the football team's titles are not (nor ever will be) recognized under the current system.
On the plus side, Miami's and Florida State's football titles aren't recognized either, and they don't have the basketball accomplishments...
Signed, a UCLA alumnus (despite beating us both years in the Final Four in hoops, y'all have a ways to go to catch up in total hoops titles)
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GatorJon 5 months ago
Joe, I will try not hold your claim of being a USC fan against you.
I still don't buy Lisa's claim to being a Gator Fan because she does not condone or participate in chants of "S-E-C, S-E-C,..."
(Lisa, I will have you know a SEC chant even broke out amongst the 90 or so Gator fans at the Seattle Gator Club's BCS party at a local sports bar. Of course we were all fairly buzzed and chanting it at no one in particular because it was hard to find any OU fans at the bar.)
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JoeGator Gator 5 months ago
Yes, I'm a USC fan like Lisa is a Gator fan (as a device to trot out when convenient in a discussion). You know, like,
"I'm a HUGE USC fan so it pains me to say that the Trojans display the "team spirit" and diva behavior of a TV episode of "Big Brother". Hey, trust me, I'm a HUGE fan."
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Matt Burris 6 months ago
If conferences weren't considered when ranking teams, can you imagine the land-grab mentality of big-name programs as they rush to schedule the weakest games they could find? Washington, Washington State, Western Kentucky, Army, The Citadel, etc. would be inundated with scheduling requests from top-tier teams in an effort to go undefeated year in and year out all because everyone thinks Utah deserves to be the champion even with the weak schedule they had.
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Matt Burris 6 months ago
Sorry, brain hiccup. That first sentence should be "If schedules weren't considered when ranking teams, can you imagine the land-grab mentality of big-name programs as they rush to schedule the weakest games they could find?"
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
Matt-
Have you seen the Big 12, ACC and SEC schedules? It's already happening. Western Kentucky's dance card is probably filled til 2020 because this year they are a real FBS team instead of probationary.
Oh wait..was that sarcasm in your comment? Hilarious!
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Three letters, Matt:
R.
P.
I.
Put that in your bracket and smoke it.
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Matt Burris 5 months ago
Scott: There's a reason why RPI is used to a lesser extent in college football compared to college basketball.
If you want, there's some kid from Maryland that came up with a ranking system of his own, perhaps you can use THAT to make your points for your favorite team if it happens to favor it.
At least both the BCS and AP has it right, rewarding the #1 team for going through a stronger schedule and winning compared to those ranked below.
Also, I don't smoke.
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jason hughes 6 months ago
whats the deal with cuba, why hate them there is something fishy about this, ironic that the bcs title game will be played about 60 miles from cuba.
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
How astute of you to notice! You're the first!
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Long John Silver 6 months ago
Lise
the only thing worse than a wrong answer - is to acknowledge that it is the right answer
Jason is just wrong mate -
havana - miami (opa locka) - is about 228 miles
even giving him the benefit of the doubt - lets check the closest city in cuba from miami - which happens to be Maranzas - which is still 179 miles ....
astute would not be my choice of compliment -
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Long John Silver 6 months ago
Matanzas - that was !
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
I read the closest area of Cuba to the Keys is 90 nautical miles. There may not be an actual city in Cuba to start from, and the closest Key island may be a tiny piece of land. But technically, there is 90 miles separating the US from Cuba. Unless I read it wrong, of course. If so, my bad.
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Johnie Murphy 6 months ago
Until Division One decides to join all other levels of football with an actual playoff to determine its national champion, it will always be open to ridicule and deserve all the respect any Thursday Night television show deserves.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Word.
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Chris Schmidbauer 6 months ago
I like the premise of this article, but I still can't wrap my head around why you think USC is deserving to be mentioned in the same breath as Utah. USC lost to a team that finished 9-4. I am not knocking Oregon State, but Texas, imo, is far more deserving of a beef than USC. Texas lost to Texas Tech and beat a team that is on of the two NC contenders. I can see the Utah argument. The MWC was no worse than the level that the some of the Big 10, ACC, or Big East teams are at. But USC is the least deserving of the one loss teams. No real signature wins outside of the bowl game, and you know of all people that I am a staunch Buckeye supporter. Ohio State despite finishing 10-3 still was not as good as advertised. If anything Texas deserves to be in a playoff game with Utah, not USC. Otherwise great article though about the limitations of the coaches poll.
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Jeff S 6 months ago
I think Texas should be in this championship game. But then i remember their loss to Tech, and how Ole Miss beat Tech who beat Florida... No matter what spin you put on it, a playoff is needed.
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Chris Schmidbauer 6 months ago
I get the Ole Miss comment. But bowl games are always a hard thing to use as justifying who gets into a championship game, especially when the NC game participants are already chosen for the game before the bowl game. I agree with the need for a more playoff oriented post season, but I just think of any of the one loss teams, USC is at the bottom of the list. That is my opinion though.
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Lisa Horne 6 months ago
Texas kind of lost some steam after the Fiesta Bowl for me. They have a good argument, no doubt. But they didn't dominate Ohio State. USC dominated Ohio State AND its co-champ, Penn State. They finished stronger.
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Chris Schmidbauer 6 months ago
See I guess where I have the problem is you deal in double standards alot when you debate college football. You made a comment to me in another article the other day about that the Big Ten did not impress anyone but Midwest sports writers. But now you are using the Ohio State win and Penn State win by USC as reasons as to why they finished stronger. I agree the Fiesta Bowl was much closer than most experts thought, but there was one big difference between the Texas/OSU game and the USC/OSU game. That difference is Terrelle Pryor. USC faced him every now and again. Texas faced him every down. Now I am not saying that Pryor makes up a 32 point difference. But you have to admit his prescence on the field changes many things USC did on defense. In fact every time Pryor touched the ball agains SC, he ran for 7+ yards. But my main problem with your argument is your and the rest of the country's bipolar attitude towards the Big Ten. It either is weak or it's not. You can't have it both ways.
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Aaron Wade 6 months ago
Pretty sure Fidel's not in power any more. Just saying.
I do agree that we need a playoff system. It would really add excitement to the season and it would lengthen the season, which would be good for advertisers who would then have more games to peddle their products.
To me, it should be the winners of each "big conference" and then a few (like 2 or 3, whatever it takes to fill out a 12 team bracket) teams who didn't win their conferences and at least half of them must be from a non "big conference". Then, the 2 teams with the best records get byes and we play on.
Seriously, if the new President wants a playoff system, we should get one.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
"Pretty sure Fidel's not in power any more. Just saying."
Neither is Vladimir Putin. X-D
...
(wiping tears from eyes after fit of laughter)
So, you take communist stagecraft at face value, then?
Seriously, though, Aaron, a playoff is inherently more meritocratic (if not democratic) than the current system. I see nothing of value in the arguments put forth by defenders of the status quo *other* than that it's the status quo. Sorry, but more is needed in defense of such a shoddy system than "it's already in place".
Glad to see you're aware that things can be quite a bit better and that you're in support of a playoff.
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Jeff S 6 months ago
I don't know how people can still make the arguement that the MWC is substancially weaker than other conferences. 3 Teams in the top 25 and could've been 4. Air Force came on strong at the end of the season, til they lost in their bowl game...
And Eric, I'm not sure how you are justifying Florida playing a Alabama "caliber" team 9 out of 12 weeks. Have you looked at their schedule? They only played 2 teams that ended the season with over 10 wins 3 if you count the bowl game, which, happens to be the same number of 10+ win teams utah played. They scheduled Citadel 11th week. I think that speaks for itself.
Also for those saying "play harder ooc schedules" Don't you think we try? Why would a BCS team want to come to utah to play? Give me one incentive they have. It's a lose lose situation for them. They lose the game they look foolish, ruin chances of a high BCS standing by losing to such a "weak" team. But if they win, they were expected to win. If I was Alabama, Florida, USC I souldn't want to schedule anything OOC that wasn't a sure thing either...
The ACC and the Big East are a JOKE
The MWC deserveseither of their automatic bids...
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Lee Ann Bias 6 months ago
It would be nice to have a playoff, but logically how could you do it? If it's based on rankings then we would still have the same people complaining about the same things they complain about now. The only real fair way to do it would to be have the conference champions of all conferences play each other, but then how do you decide which conference plays which? How do you decide?
You could have a 3 lose team in the Championship game.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Lee Ann,
Take six highest-ranked FBS conference champions (the five left out should've won more games, huh?)...
Sprinkle in two highest-ranked at-large teams (for seasoning). Note: Must use BCS measurements, the AP has forbidden use of their measurements for playoff cooking. ;-)
Mix thoroughly and serve in four BCS-size bowls (Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange) for quarterfinal entrees.
Two courses remain: Semifinals and Final, at a 5th "Final Four" site (which would change each year... heck, one year it could be that new Cotton Bowl/Cowboy Bowl thingy in Dallas).
Serve with a smile (cans of whoop-a$$ optional).
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Rob Jackson 6 months ago
Well I read as many comments as possible so that I wouldn't duplicate someone else, but the game is about to start. So apologies if I'm repeating another comment.
The AP didn't vote Utah nor Boise State #1 after December 13th, 2008. Why are you saying that the Associated Press are "the freedom fighters" now?
The root of all this perceived evil is money. If bowl games never existed, then there probably be a playoff system already in place.
I could ramble on, but the game is about to start.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Just so you're clear, Rob, the AP has excused itself from this fight. Or don't you remember the controversy after 2003? ;-)
The BCS rankings could serve a purpose in a playoff system. Indeed, I would argue more of a purpose (and less possibility for SNAFUs and FUBARs) than currently is the case.
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jason hughes 6 months ago
sorry i was thinking of south florida and the keys in general not really trying to be a geography major
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Ethel Lair 6 months ago
I am a fan, but do not know how the system works. I know baseball best and a little about the other sports and learning as I go along, by being a fan.
I do think the system for choosing who should be in the championship game is not fair. It seems like the media has too much influence (like ESPN).
I liked your article and even writing as a fan of Florida you were still fair. I like that because it shows you are a true writer. I am trying to be fair when I write.
It is only hard to be fair to Boston (Sox's) when I write about baseball. (LOL). I wish everyone involved in selecting teams for championship games were as fair as you when you wrote this article Lisa.
I think they should do play off games something like the rest of the sports. NFL has a fairer system and so does other sports.
Why do they choose the teams they do when others have just as good or better records? I don't understand it all.
They say all is fair in love and war but not college football apparently. Why can't the fans or teams themselves speak out and do something about it.
Maybe it is like politics where money and popularity (big schools big money) have some effect on who they choose to play?
I hope it changes because rooting for Penn State team all year and seeing them not have a chance to even be considered is wrong.
Utah you say no losses? Then that is why folks may choose not to watch college football. I think where teams are ranked during the season is also unfair.
So, if I watch college football I'll just watch and root for my team or the underdog if they are not playing. Forget the championship game as it is just a show put on by the media!
Thanks Lisa for writing this article it helped me understand things a lot better about the system.
PS: Sorry, I just turned on the game and started rooting for the underdog and it usually helps them and just now OSU got a touchdown and the game is tied! It is the fourth quarter with about twelve minutes to play but its tied non the less.
Guess I should always root for underdogs (unless its my team LOL). Lot of game to play yet so best be quiet. Just kidding about my influence helping them win.
UPDATE: Fla. Percy Harman? just got hurt and he seems to have been one of their key players. Pray he is OK don't like to see anyone hurt. Sorry to add commentary to comment Lisa
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Darren Jones 6 months ago
Hi Lisa - I really liked this article. I've actually believed for some time that Fidel Castro is major "behind the scenes player" in college football. Putin too. I've heard it all goes back to the cold war and a series of covert meetings in Prague between Breshnev, Woody Hayes, Bobby Bowden, Keith Jackson and Howard Hughes (although I could never figure out what he would have been doing there). I have an uncle who swears he has evidence.
I'm new to BR and having a lot of fun. I can't write like you can, but if you get a chance, check out what I've written about the BCS. Gray Ghost liked it.
Keep up the good work.
Darren
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Darren,
Shave that beard and put a hounds-tooth hat on that creaky ol' noggin and he might actually fit in the SEC quite well...
X-D
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Ethel Lair 6 months ago
UPDATE: Lisa, I was wrong Florida winning and its all but over. It is now 24-14 with 2:26 to go.
So enough of my rooting for underdogs. Next time I will let it to the pro's like yourself to guess who the winners will be.
I'll still probably root for the underdog some of the times. It depends on whose playing what sport and what game. LOL
I do root for Tim Tebow (not sure I spelled that right oops) because I liked him when I saw him doing an interview. He seems like a class act young man.
Til next time PEACE Lisa
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Gray Ghost 6 months ago
I remember Boise State feeling as though they should have a shot at whoever when the beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Hey, they ran the table too. We need a playoff.
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Carson Howell 6 months ago
Exactly, this has been happening since the BCS started....Utah thinks they got screwed?
Utes fans should ask AUB fans about their 04' season...
I think the Tigers beat 4 ranked teams during the regular season?...HIGHLY ranked Tennessee twice?
Ended up beating VT...
Thats getting screwed...
Go gators...
Guess that whole deal about the "SEC's offenses being so poor that the defenses just looked good" became invalid when UF and Ole Miss both outscored and held to of the most productive offenses in the country WELL below their averages..
SEC #1 yet again(i know Lisa hates conference talk)
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Gray Ghost 6 months ago
Carson, I'm going to address the conference issue in a future article.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Funny, I don't see "SEC" jerseys on sale anywhere... just individual teams'... ;-)
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Jad Semaan 6 months ago
I'm just throwing this idea out there to see what you guys think in an effort to solve the problem of crowning a national champion in a fair manner. I'm sure it's been proposed in some shape or form previously, so I apologize beforehand. But why not host a 128-team single-elimination tournament similar to a tennis Grand Slam after the regular season?
Here's how I think it can be done: You add eight more teams to the FBS to arrive at a total of 128 schools. Then you even out each conference to have ten teams each, and then everybody plays a nine game regular season against everybody else in their conference. One conference would have eight teams, but those teams can just play two more games against other conference teams with the rematches being decided via a lottery for parity. So there would be twelve conferences of ten schools each with one eight-school conference and a nine game regular season (work with me here, I'm just trying to get the creative juices flowing).
Based on their records, strength of schedule, etc., the top 32 teams after the regular season are seeded for the tournament. Then the rest of the teams are randomly drawn in order to fill out the bracket, and a seven-round single-elimination winner-take-all tournament would decide the national champion. Seeds would be ordered so that the #1 seed would face the #32 seed in the third round, the #2 seed against the #31 seed, and so on.
Everybody would have a chance to win the NC, and there is incentive to do well during the regular season so that one can obtain a high-seeding for the tournament. And you could have a game for third place as well, with cash bonuses going out to the teams who make the quarterfinals or round of 16. Plus, higher-seeded teams could have home-field advantage as a reward for their efforts. The problem of going undefeated would be solved, as you could lose during the regular season but still have to win seven games in a row during the tournament. Plus, the best teams in the country would be playing each other in the later rounds, adding even more excitement and generating mega-bucks for everybody involved.
There are still some problems to sort out that people may object to, like rearranging the conferences, the bowl games (though those could still be held before or after the tourney) and a 16-game season for the finalists, but the minor details could be tweaked in order to make the system plausible. I doubt the current BCS system will change however, and with the tradition of bowl games, rivalry games, historical conferences and revenue as a prime motivator, I don't see any playoff format being adopted in the near future, let alone a large-scale tournament such as this. But it's a suggestion in an attempt to crown a national champion that everybody equally and unilaterally recognizes, so let me know what you guys think.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Jad,
With Western Kentucky joining the Sun Belt next year there will be 120 FBS teams. Why not just have 12 conferences of 10 teams each: as you say, full conference schedules, no conference title game, nine game regular season (ok, ten games if USC absolutely *has* to play Big East member *cough* Notre Dame, Florida has to play Florida State, Georgia has to play Georgia Tech, etc.).
The 32-team playoff would work if the season were in fact shortened by two games (as well as the conference title game). I'd say instead that a 16-team playoff with a twelve-game season would also work (and allow not only full conference schedules of nine games, but also for three non-conference games).
Just to repeat the point, though, that 120 teams is fine, there's no need to start with 128 unless you plan to start the tournament with every team participating (128 to 64, etc.)... ;-)
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Dave 6 months ago
maybe utah should just cancel the 2009 season. no point in even playing the games if they are just going to be dismissed by you BCS homers. its funny how you people act like we knew michigan was going to suck ass when we scheduled the game...
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Jeff K 6 months ago
Ok, this explains a lot. Dave obviously from reading the other posts that you've made today, you may be better off going to Yahoo or Facebook, somewhere that people just shout obscenities at each other. Here people like to make points, have discussions, debate valid issues. Dave we understand you are upset, your Utes went undefeated and don't have a National Title to show for it, it happens to someone every year, it's even happened to SEC teams.
"you people act like we knew michigan was going to suck ass when we scheduled the game"
This is ignorance. It doesn't matter what you thought when you scheduled the game, Michigan did suck this year, and you beat them, sorry that didn't work out better for you. Do you think if they didn't suck you would have still beaten them? You can't say that for sure.
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Dave 6 months ago
jeff,
you are just like the "global warming" proclaimers. if it snows in iraq and vegas its because of global warming. if its hot, its because of global warming. so here you are, proclaiming utah doesnt deserve a NC because they dont schedule tough teams outside their conference (oh wait, they did, but michigan sucked so you dodged that bullet) and since they cant "just join" the SEC you will always have an trump card to dismiss anyone not in the SEC from making a claim to a NC.
"you cant say that for sure" wow, great line. i think it applies to ALL of your SPECULATIONS. yet you still act like you are some kind of expert. what a joke. fact is utah was UNDEFEATED, you BCS homers cant take that away. 13 games and every team they played (cept Bama) was coming after them with everything they had trying to knock them off, and NO one did.
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ss 6 months ago
Lisa, you are absolutely correct we need a couple more games…if this isn’t the year that calls for change, we’ll never have one.
A very simple solution:
1) Each conference figures out how they will pick their conference champion.
2) ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big 10, PAC 10, SEC all get auto BSC bids as they do now, 2 at large slots open for other conferences or Independents
3) BCS First round: Top 8 teams (if you didn’t win your conference take your complaints to your next conference meeting. At large slots follow today’s rules
2008 final BCS rankings before playoffs:
1) Oklahoma
2) Florida
3) Texas
4) Alabama
5) USC
6) Utah
7) Texas Tech
8) Penn State
9) Boise State
10) Ohio State
11) TCU
12) Cincinnati
19) Va Tech
2008 BCS Playoff Teams:
1) Oklahoma
2) Florida
3) USC
4) Utah
5) Penn State
6) Boise State
7) Cincinnati
8) Va Tech
Round-1 Games: Jan 1st
1) Oklahoma vs. Va. Tech (Orange Bowl)
2) Florida vs. Cincinnati (Fiesta Bowl)
3) USC vs. Penn State (Can’t mess with Rose Bowl tradition)
4) Utah vs. Boise State (Sugar Bowl)
Round-2 Games: Jan 8th & 9th (Soldier Field Chicago…suck it sun lovers, this is football)
1) Oklahoma vs. Penn State (Jan 8th) Tonight
2) Florida vs. USC (Jan 9th) Tomorrow night
BCS-NC Game: Jan 15th (Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Rose, annual rotation)
1) Penn State vs. USC (Sorry Oklahoma, I’m a Big Ten homer)
National Champion: USC (at the Rose Bowl next week)
Texas, Alabama, OSU…take it up with your conference.
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ss 6 months ago
oops, just noticed I had USC beating PSU in the first round and coming back to make a run to the NC game...see how easy it is to forget about the MWC and WAC...Utah plays Oklahoma and moves on to play USC for the NC.
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Jared Cox 6 months ago
I'd love to see a playoff system, watching the two top SEC teams play each other nearly every year would be great! :) Do ya'll realize the last time an SEC team was in the NC and lost Nebraska was running the option and was good (1997)? Oh, and Auburn should have had a chance (2004), even though I hate the barners. By the way congrats Gators, go SEC!!!
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Aaron Smith 6 months ago
All of this reminds me of a story.
There was a person who applied for a position with a reputable company. They claimed the company had biased hiring practises for that position and that they were being excluded. If that person would of read the "fine print" of the application they would of noticed that there was a clause that stated the position which they were applying for required that the applicant be apart of the local union. "I am qualified for this job!" they shouted to Human Resources, but they were told time and again. You may be qualified, but the position has a clause that you are yet to meet.
Utah, you have 9 months until kick off 2009. Join the "Union" and quit your whinning.
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Dave 6 months ago
wow are you an idiot. just like unions, the BCS conferences dont just let you "join". the MWC was created by the best teams in the WAC and a few outsiders to try and get respect. ask the PAC-10 how they like us...
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Actually, it's more like an African-American applying to study at the University of Mississippi (although you can use virtually *any* SEC–or ACC–member, for that matter) and being denied admission despite the required grades.
Due to one particular clause in the "fine print": Must Be White (and preferably Southern Baptist).
Legal action was taken to overturn 'separate but equal', and Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 began a process of de-segregation that continues to this day.
The BCS is similarly maintaining a 'separate but equal' system in which revenue (and the chance at a title through meritocratic means... i.e., winning on the field...) is monopolized by one group within FBS at the expense of the other group.
BCS, your days are numbered. Quit defending a status quo which is legally and morally repugnant and stop barring the doors to those *you* (BCS supporters) deem inferior.
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Doug Kraus 6 months ago
Good article, but the interesting thing is you didn't mention anything about the winner of VT and Cinci playing up. That is just another wrong piece of the puzzle. Can anyone honestly tell me that VT and Cinci were better than Boise State? There were a dozen or more teams better than either of those two who didn't get into the big dance hall.
They need to figure a way to put a playoff system that utilizes all the down time between conference championships and the bowl games.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Good point, Doug.
It depends on how willing the BCS is to re-assess which conferences get automatic berths. Unless all eleven conferences have equal access (in which case Utah and Boise State have just as much claim as Virginia Tech and Cincinnati), I would have to say that the BCS (or a playoff system) would have a major flaw.
The BCS rankings (before bowls) could be used, but again, that would give Utah and Boise State more cause to be in an eight-team playoff than either Virginia Tech or Cincinnati. A sixteen-team playoff would allow the latter two (if not all 11 conference champions) a guaranteed spot, but there will always be a controversy about which teams get into a playoff.
The difference is that instead of arguing over which two teams make the final, we can argue over which two (or more) teams miss an eight-team playoff. I'd much rather see the latter debate every year, though I suspect some fans can't make the distinction between the two scenarios.
That's their loss...
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Leo Donelon 6 months ago
Be happy that the crying worked in 2003. Nobody but USC fans are buying it anymore. In 03 the writers said BCS was wrong and they didn't want anything to do with the BCS. Yet they have agreed with the BCS #1 every year since. The AP knows that if they do this for USC again their creditability goes out the window. Get off your duffs and fix the Rose bowl the Tradition is killing your argument. The last time a USC team was in the big game a Big 12 team beat them. Three straight SEC national championships are sticking in your craw. Even Pete Carrol knows the talent in the south. Joe McKnight and John David Booty Louisiana Boys. He is recruiting Louisiana hard this year. USC is hopping the AP is their own peronel Marketing department filled with USC media alums. It might have worked if USC was undefeated, but then the would have been in the game. Washington and Washington State had how many wins. The boat has left the dock with Notre Dame waiting at the Pier. USC may be next if they don't start going east more. History is peception and perception is reality. Resent history is remembered more. The SC star running back Emanuel Moody a bit part in this game. Percy and Tim were the stars.
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Scott Pusich 5 months ago
Leo,
I see the SEC's efforts at 'going west' have paid off so well... I was also unaware that there were 12 teams participating in the championship game the past three years. I guess Arkansas was the key to victory this year, huh? Go Razorbacks! Wait, aren't they a C-USA team?
X-D
"Resent [sic] history is remembered more [sic]."
No doubt. You've already forgotten 2005. No SEC team in that one. 2004... nope. Hmmm... 2002? zilch. 2001? Uh, sorry. 2000? No dice. 1999? Nega-tory. How bout 1998? Oh, there you go! Vols rule!
Go SEC!
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Leo Donelon 5 months ago
Current history prevails. Oh well three championships for SEC in a row. Is USC the only team that can stop that? Wait they lost a crystal to Texas!! The years you talk about, the Big Ten had yet to be exposed. Which promotes the question, how good were they back then. USC got its rep by beating up on the Big Ten in the Rose. Now its been shown that a lot of other teams can do the same. Does it water down USC's wins over the Big 10; I’m guessing the voters are wondering. Oh yea Arkansas, hang your hat there, the voters aren't buying, based on Arkansas’s history in the SEC. Keep the things as they are and in time it may change back. That's not guaranteed. 5 BCS championships for the SEC, the PAC 10 has how many?
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Robb Humphrey 6 months ago
Lisa, you are my new hero!
You have opened the door to my project of the new system, ready for use in 2010 (because let's face it, it isn't going to be implemented in 09), something so hot, something so daring, something so...economic, yet stimulated.
Again, sorry for the suspense, but it's going to take me a few more days to collaborate all the data and get everything into the article. Thank you SO much for your thoughts as a head writer. You have no idea how motivated I am now that my solution will be viewed and might even be logical enough to be presented to a NCAA Committee. Hmmm...?
...and for all of you that like to disagree on us who are trying to make a difference, assist the little guy, and fight for your right to good football, I guess YOU can shut up, sit down, and watch a 6-6 team play a 7-6 team in the Mr Blue Bowl for a BCS Title.
Robb
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