Now let's be clear, right off the bat. What happened, happened. Nothing we can say or do can change that.
Now that we're clear on that, let's begin.
Big 12 Mess
The biggest news from last week actually happened after everything was finished on the field. The BCS rankings decided the Big 12 South Division, putting Oklahoma in the Big 12 conference championship game and excluding Texas from it.
Numbers and phrases had been thrown around everywhere...45-35 (Texas over OU)...Neutral field...39-33 (Texas Tech over Texas) and 65-21 (OU over Texas Tech)...28-24 (Texas over OK State) and 61-41 (OU over OK State).
In the end, it all amounts to a fundamental problem with the system. Even though I'm happy with the outcome (I'm a native Oklahoman and a Nebraska fan; there's no love for Texas in there anywhere), I can still admit that something has to change.
Texas beat Texas A&M (4-7), and Oklahoma beat No. 12 Oklahoma State (9-2). As an admittedly-biased Nebraska fan, that speaks enough for me.
And the No. 1 team in the country is...
Though there's a struggle for No. 2, America's No. 1 team asserted its authority and made it clear it deserves that ranking (and earned them the picture for this article, for my friend Cameon).
Top-ranked Alabama shut out bitter rival Auburn, 36-0. The defense was stifling, forcing three turnovers and keeping the Tigers from evening finding the end zone with just 170 total yards allowed. The offense was consistent, led by senior quarterback John Parker Wilson and powerful runners Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram. The duo led the team to 234 total yards rushing, making things simple for Wilson, who was 8-of-16 for 134 yards and a touchdown.
The Tide controlled the ball, holding it for more than half the game, only getting one penalty for four yards, and not having any turnovers.
The game was thought to be a possible trap game for the Crimson Tide, but Alabama eliminated any doubt in voters' minds that it belongs at the top with a decisive victory. 'Bama showed why it's the only legitimate undefeated team in the country.
Bring on Florida.
Marketing schemes
Speaking of the Gators, they crushed cross-state rival No. 20 Florida State, 45-15.
Florida amassed 502 total yards of offense, crowned by Tim Tebow's performance of 260 total yards and four touchdowns (three through the air, one on the ground).
The Gators forced four turnovers and dominated the Seminoles the entire game, allowing Florida State to convert on only three of their 14 third-down situations.
Nevermind that most of Florida State's talented wide receivers were either in jail or on the way, the Gators did enough for the "unbiased" news media to fawn for another week as the Gators sustained their No. 2 spot in the AP poll (No. 4 in BCS).
Which begs the question: Why did the sportswriters vote Florida No. 2 in the first place? My thought: marketability.
How nice is it going to be for ESPN and the other various respected sports outlets to market a No. 1 versus No. 2 SEC championship game? It opens doors upon doors of possibilities for creativity.
They could talk about every other No. 1 vs. No. 2 game that's happened over the years (three of those belonging to Nebraska and Oklahoma). They could theorize how, if Oklahoma got beat by Missouri in the Big 12 championship and Florida beats Alabama in the SEC championship, the national championship could be an SEC title rematch game (because Texas likes to be forgotten, anyway). They could just make an ad that says: "NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO. SATURDAY." and everyone would watch it just because.
This love fest must stop. Yes, the Gators look great. Yes, they are a very deserving team because of what they've accomplished. But what about the Big 12 teams?
Boy, wouldn't things be nice for Florida and the media if those pesky Big 12 teams weren't there?
12 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Daniel Howie 7 months ago
Yep, the SEC lovefest by the media is very evident in the AP poll: Alabama #1 Florida #2. And the media is also writing off the Tide. It may not be as pretty to watch or as marketable as a high-powered offense, but I believe that defense is still important. Which is why I hope Venables comes up with a defensive scheme closer to the one against Tech than the one against O State. Really? Don't rush more than 4 until the 4th quarter? Really?
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SportMonk 7 months ago
I agree. Everyone seems too quick to write off the Tide. I've had a few opportunities to watch them this season, and I must say that they've impressed me more than Florida. Alabama's defense is far better than Florida's, no matter what ESPN thinks, and I think it'll show on Saturday.
On a totally different side note, I may get to go to Kansas City (wearing crimson, of course)! I'm really excited. Early Christmas present from the parents. We'll see, though. I'm still looking for a ticket, but it should be pretty awesome. I was in KC for the Big 12 Championship in 2006, when it was OU-Nebraska. That was the most fun I've ever had at a football game, even though we ended up losing to the Sooners.
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Daniel Howie 7 months ago
Lol, I was also at the 2006 Big 12 Championship, and just wrote a little about the experience on your profile page.
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daniel cox 7 months ago
monk, nice wrap-up. i like the sarcastic tone running through this as well.
the big-12 has definitely been the best conference this year. the sec had a down year. the best teams seperated themselves and florida gets a little credit for losing early and blowing out everyone. the showdown in atlanta for the sec championship will be a doozy.
ok has looked great lately. i just don't understand how ok can be ranked ahead of texas when texas beat them. just doesn't add up for me. ok's loss came earlier than texas', so they get the benefit. in college football, if you're going to lose, you better lose early. those late-season losses can kill a team's chances. i wonder if that affects how schedules are built in the future.
did you say texas tech would win the pac-10 five times? listen, usc is in the conference, so that's who they play. schools can't exactly jump from conference to conference so easily. are they guilty of playing in a weak conference? yes. are they a bad team? no way. in fact, they could make the case that on paper, and on a field given a chance, they're the best team in the country. no way texas tech beats usc 5 times out 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 times. that defense would manage the tt offense. that's how i see it.
clemson went with that dude because no one else wanted the job. they're no longer a premier school and it's not a job anyone wanted.
watch out for the acc in the coming years. that conference is YOUNG. it's got some good coaches in there and you're going to see it turn around soon. the qb at nc state just won one of the conference awards and he's a freshman. watch out for the acc.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Thanks for the comments, Daniel!
Yah, I'm not entirely sure the Big 12 South situation could have EVER been solved without someone being angry. Both sides had extremely convincing arguments (Texas had the head-to-head, Oklahoma has a stronger schedule and has been playing better football--including key late wins against Tech and O-State) and neither one is a clear victor for me. But the choice has been made, and personally I'm kinda happy it was the Sooners.
I don't know if USC could make a case that they're the best team in the country. Sure, they're playing pretty good football, but I don't think they stand a chance against Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma or Texas, which is why they're ranked after those teams. Frankly, I don't think USC is even going to beat an impressive Penn State team in the Rose Bowl, with home-field advantage and everything.
Yah, it's a shame about where Clemson is these days, but Swinney looked to me like a very promising coach. He's got as a good a shot as anyone to turn that program around, I guess.
Yah, that's been pointed out to me by others as well, and it kind of scares me. The ACC is breeding a lot of great talent that will make it a premiere competitor in a year or two (maybe they'll be the Big 12 of the 2010 season), but I would hope it is ONLY because they are young that the conference is so mediocre this season. I'll give them this: at least they're the best conference in men's basketball.
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Trey Murphy 7 months ago
I agree that the SEC is always touted as the greatest conference in the country. In the past, most of they teams have been so good that all they do is destroy each other's seasons by playing each other all of the time. This season that honor goes to the Big 3 (maybe even Big 4) in the Big 12. Unfortunately these three teams (I'm sure you know who they are, and if you don't, you shouldn't be on this website) have the unfortunate situation of being in the same division. This being the case, a lackluster team in Missouri gets the pass to the Big 12 championship game. Playing across from the Tigers will be a far more talented and better coached Oklahoma team. I, for one, would much rather see a rematch between Oklahoma and Texas (no offense Red Raider fans, I loved watching yall this year). I believe that these two teams would be a better game for EVERYONE than what we are going to see on Saturday. This matchup would put more butts in the seats, put more butts in front of the televisions across the country watching the game, thus bringing in more money for the Big 12.
Being an Clemson man, I also completely agree that Clemson made the right decision in hiring Dabo Swinney as the head coach. His youthful enthusiasm is a perfect fit for the direction this program needs to go, and he is the perfect guy to move this program in the right direction. GO TIGERS!!!
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SportMonk 7 months ago
Or, my personal favorite solution: Let Nebraska play in the Big 12 championship, haha. We could all try to forget that Oklahoma already obliterated us this season. Let's not forget that Nebraska and Missouri tied for the Big 12 North, but Missouri held the head-to-head tie-breaker. Poor Huskers.
I'm excited to see how Swinney will turn the program around. I'm sure he'll pull in a hefty recruiting class because of his enthusiasm and the optimistic feeling of the program returning to prominence. They'll be back soon. And hey, they've got a bowl game after everything that happened!
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
Why doesn't Penn State get any love? Oh right...a loss at home to a decent Ole Miss team isn't nearly as bad as a road loss to an underrated Iowa team who has lost 4 games by a total of 12 points, in bad conditions, by one point, and Iowa didn't supply us with heaters. I guess beating Ohio State at Ohio State (where they have lost 4 times in the past 8 years) is a cakewalk as well. I guess blowing out the then No. 12 Michigan State Spartans isn't as good as blowing out overrated previously No. 15 Florida State Seminoles. Anything Penn State does isn't nearly as impressive as what UF does. Both teams average over 40 points per game, allow just over 10 points per game, and Clark and Tebow have very similar numbers. Still, Florida is clearly better than PSU, right? The media is SO unbiased that they have two teams of the same caliber at completely different levels. Total bull. Penn State should have as much of a shot at the NC as Florida...its just not fair.
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Isaac Luber 7 months ago
STOP CALVIN!!! NO ONE LIKES YOU AND YOU ARE A TROLL!!! WHEN YOU DIE THE WHOLE WORLD WILL JUMP FOR JOY!!! STOP RESPONDING LIKE AN @$$ TO EVERY ONE OF MY COMMENTS. STOP GOING ON MY PROFILE JUST SO THAT YOU CAN RESPOND TO ALL OF MY COMMENTS!!! YOU ARE A F***ING PIECE OF $***!!! GO TO HELL!!! STOP ANNOYING ME!!!
Sorry Sportmonk, but whenever I write an article or make a comment, he comes and insults me and makes fun of me or Penn State. He's just a moron and it gets annoying after a while.
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SportMonk 7 months ago
I agree about Penn State being underrated, Isaac. Like I said in another comment on this one: "Frankly, I don't think USC is even going to beat an impressive Penn State team in the Rose Bowl, with home-field advantage and everything." I think Penn State is going to roll over the Trojans. And though I agree Penn State should have just as much shot at the championship as Florida, the two best teams in my own opinion are still going to make it.
And it's OK about Calvin. I applaud you for calling out trolls, man. They're so annoying.
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Cameon Shiflett 6 months ago
Monk,
I remember reading this but unfortunately didn't comment. But it did not go unnoticed. Especially since it had JP and my other guys in the picture. :)
The Tide was still not given enough credit...even from the Florida game. It will never be enough. It's getting annoying. Ha.
Great article as always. :)
Roll Tide,
Bama Chick
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SportMonk 6 months ago
Thanks, Cameon. Turns out I was right, though, huh? CBS used the AP rankings so they could say "NUMBER ONE VERSUS NUMBER TWO" and all that the whole game.
I was cheering hard for the Tide. Sorry it didn't turn out how most of us wanted. :( And sorry Alabama got robbed in the polls. They played very well and proved why they were No. 1 for so long, but the pollsters weren't watching the game apparently.
It seems like everyone but the teams that got in got robbed. It's a bad season in a bad system.
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