How Michael Crabtree Can Ruin a Season

Today the new BCS rankings were let out and the computers had Oklahoma above Texas.

This placement settled the three way tie between Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech, and sent Oklahoma to the big 12 Title game against Missouri.

Had Oklahoma lost to Oklahoma state this past Saturday the Texas Tech would be the one headed to face Mizzou, because of their close defeat over Texas.

I never like to play the "If" game, but as I saw the results I thought about what couldv'e happened if Michael Crabtree had not made his stunning catch to beat Texas as time ran off the clock.If Michael Crabtree dropped that pass, or heaven forbid somebody tackle him, the season may have folded out a little differently.

First of all, Texas Tech would have fell in the rankings. Oklahoma would play them and have the dominant game hey did, but not get nearly as many style point, as Tech would have been an 11 or 12. With two losses, Texas Tech's season would be over and there wouldn't be a three way tie.  

Next, Texas would only have to survive the rest of their schedule having beaten four ranked teams, to stay No. 1 in the Nation. With their un-dented record, there would be no dispute over the higher ranked team after an Oklahoma win in Stillwater.

Texas would be on it's way to a Big 12 championship game, and possibly a National Title game.

The way the BCS is, one play can ruin a teams whole season, just like Michael Crabtree showed Texas on Lubbock. The fate of a team can come down to a blown call, one mental mistake, a half a second of confusion, one mis-communication, one ounce of energy for a second effort, and many more things.

The lesson Texas learned is a hard  one, the little things matter. Texas is out of BCS contention because of that one play, that one mistake, that one half a step.

Maybe this is the NCAA's reason for the system in place, it creates drama, energy, and the importance of a win, week in and week out. I'm starting to understand why, maybe this system isn't as bad or corrupt as we think.

Big games become biggger, underdogs seem like threats, evey play counts. It creates this hostile enviromment that can't be predicted. Expectations are bigger, standards are higher, and the unexpected becomes more, and more expected.

Yes, the the system is flawed, and yes it is unfair, but maybe that's what makes college football, college football.

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