Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Matthews

Behind The Veil: Analyzing Resumes In The SEC

Michael Matthews — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:06:18 -0400

Four weeks into the college football season, there has been lots of talk that the SEC has become a two-horse race between Bama and Florida. Some pundits say that LSU has struggled in too many games, that Georgia can’t play defense, and that Auburn hasn’t played anyone. But how much of what we believe rests on what name is on the jersey? What if, we looked only at the resume, then judged a team’s success without considering the brand?

Take a look below. Here are the seven SEC teams with one or no losses and their current resumes. Simply by looking at what has actually been accomplished, instead of who accomplished it, the SEC picture might begin to clear up; or it might get even more cloudy.

School A

4-0

1 conference win (home)

1 win vs. BCS opponent (neutral site)

2 wins vs. non-BCS opponents (both home)

School B

3-1

2 conference wins (1 home, 1 away)

1 loss vs. BCS opponent (away)

1 win vs. BCS opponent (home)

School C

4-0

1 conference win (home)

1 win vs. BCS opponent (home)

2 wins vs. non-BCS opponent (both home)

School D

4-0

2 conference wins (1 home, 1 away)

1 win vs. BCS opponent (away)

1 win vs. non-BCS opponent (home)

School E

4-0

2 conference wins (1 home, 1 away)

1 win vs. non-BCS opponent (home)

1 win vs. FCS opponent (home)

School F

3-1

1 conference win (home)

1 conference loss (away)

1 win vs. BCS opponent (away)

1 win vs. non-BCS opponent (home)

School G

2-1

1 conference loss (away)

1 win vs. non-BCS opponent (away)

1 win vs. FCS opponent (home)

Based on this, in my humble opinion, Schools A, B, and D have accomplished more. Each left home to play a game against a BCS opponent. Each are undefeated in conference play, and each have avoided FCS opponents. School B has yet to play a team not from a BCS conference, while School D has gone on the road two of the first four weeks of the season and recorded victories.

The least impressive of these seven teams, are Schools E and G. School E has not left its own backyard once, and the only BCS opponent it has played has been in-conference. School G has two wins, and neither of them are against a BCS opponent (and one is against and FCS opponent). Neither one of these resumes are very attractive, if you ask me.

As for Schools C and F? School F has a road win against a BCS opponent, and a 1-1 record in conference; the loss being on the road – a hard place to win in the SEC. School C has an unblemished record, but with two wins coming against non-BCS opponents, and having never left home, still has something to prove.

So, remove the names and colors that leave us all so blinded, and things might shape up differently. Which resumes do you find most impressive? Least impressive?

SEC Week Two: Three and Out

Michael Matthews — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:35:11 -0400

Two weeks into the season, what should we make of Auburn and Georgia, and is there still a clear favorite to win the SEC West?

1. So That's What an Offense Looks Like

Not even when Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown shared a backfield, did the Tigers do this much damage on the ground.

For the second consecutive week, not one, but two Auburn running backs eclipsed the century mark as the Tigers marched for nearly 400 rushing yards. While they have yet to play a "quality" opponent, their two victories do include one win over a 2008 Bowl team and another over a division foe.

If they can manage even half of their production against top SEC opponents, then the Tigers' stay at the bottom of the SEC West standings might be short-lived.

2. What Happened?

After putting up 600-plus yards of total offense in Week One, the Vols entered Neyland Stadium a two-touchdown favorite against the visiting Bruins of UCLA.

The problem is they forgot to bring that high-powered attack with them. The defense did its part holding UCLA to 186 yards of total offense and only one touchdown, but the offense sputtered all day—managing a pedestrian 208 yards and three interceptions from QB Jonathan Crompton.

This certainly takes some of the luster off of next week’s showdown with the Fighting Tebows.

3. Will the Real Georgia Bulldogs Please Stand Up

Against Oklahoma St., the Bulldogs clawed their way to a paltry 10 points. Against a South Carolina defense that was supposed to be considerably better than the Cowboys, the Dawgs put up more than respectable numbers.

Against the three-headed monster of Robinson, Bryant, and Hunter, the Georgia defense held strong—giving up only 24 points in a tough-fought road loss. Against the consistently mediocre offense of the Gamecocks, the UGA "D" gave up over 400 yards of offense and 26 first downs.

So which is the "real" Georgia team? Maybe this week's clash with the Hogs will give us a clearer picture.

Is Ole Miss the Fifth Best Team in the Country?

Is Ole Miss a good team? Yes.

Is Ole Miss a contender to win the SEC West? Sure.

Is Ole Miss the fifth best team in the country? Not even close.

After watching what Middle Tennessee St. did to Memphis this past weekend, Rebel fans have to be wondering how their Heisman dark-horse QB and vaunted defense performed in comparison.

The MTSU offense put up nearly 100 more yards of total offense than the Rebels did, and the defense kept the Memphis rushing attack under 100 yards—something the Rebels couldn’t do.

Now, I know the comparison game only goes so far, but it does have to open some eyes. Aside from that, do pollsters really expect us to believe that Ole Miss is better than BYU, LSU, Oklahoma, California, or even Ohio St.?

I’m having a hard time buying that one.

And the sad thing is, we won’t really know anything about this team until Sept. 24 when they travel to Columbia.

And based on the effort the Gamecocks showed on Saturday night in Athens, that could be when the question of Ole Miss’s legitimacy is answered.

SEC Week One: Three and Out

Michael Matthews — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:17:47 -0400

I’m trying something new this season.

Each week, I’m going to provide a little personal insight on three observations from the previous week. I will also identify one popular notion or opinion that I think needs to be thrown out, or punted away—hence the headline “Three and Out.”

Being that I do not have enough time or resources to do this on a national level, I will narrow my scope down to the SEC.

1.) The New Head Coaches Made Statements

While none of the three new coaches in the SEC played what we would call a real “quality opponent,” there is still something to be said about what coaches Mullen, Kiffin, and Chizik did on Saturday. For one week, they reduced their critics to a muffled murmur.

Tennessee racked up over 600 yards of total offense. Yes, it was against Western Kentucky, but for a team that struggled to gain even a first down last year, that is a massive step in the right direction.

The Tigers from Jackson State University were pumped to be the first SWAC team ever to take a jab at an SEC. Mississippi State started slow, but pulled away from their in-state foe in the end. SWAC teams pride themselves on defense, and the Bulldogs were able to muster up 45 points.

And then there’s Auburn. They beat a team that went bowling in 2008. They also had two backs rush for over 100 yards. If they can produce even half of that type of rushing attack against SEC opponents, they will be much improved from a year ago.

2.) Hyped QB’s Struggle on the Road

Joe Cox, Stephen Garcia, and Jevan Snead all struggled on the road this week.

Cox, the heir to Matthew Stafford, looked sharp early, but then faded quickly. Completing only half of his passes for 162 yards, Cox was unable to get the Bulldogs in the endzone after the first quarter.

His fumble in the fourth quarter also proved costly as the Cowboys took a 14-point lead and held on for the victory. It is a difficult task, filling the shoes of a Matthew Stafford, but if Cox keeps looking like this, he’ll have a hard time against those vaunted SEC defenses.

The Garcia-led Gamecock offense mustered only seven points. Garcia, who was expected to show some growth since last season, managed only 148 yards and no touchdowns.

He was also sacked three times and intercepted once. If the Gamecocks are going to contend in the east this season, Garcia is going to have to show more improvement.

And then there is Jevan Snead. For a quarterback who is a projected first round draft pick, Snead looked rather pedestrian for three quarters against a middle-of-the-pack CUSA team, completing just over 50 percent of his passes for 175 yards.

Snead’s two touchdowns came late in the fourth quarter, but his two early interceptions kept Memphis hanging around longer than most anticipated. The Rebels did not look like a national contender on Saturday (despite the lopsided score), and Snead did not look like the mistake-free QB they need to lead them to Atlanta.

3.) Alabama Has Emerged as the Top Contender in the West

With another impressive victory over a top ACC opponent, Bama has emerged from the cluster of teams in the SEC West.

Va Tech QB Tyrod Taylor had no answers for the Bama defense, which looks like it hasn’t missed a beat since last year. Bama QB Greg McElroy looked poised and avoided costly mistakes—something he will have to keep doing against stronger and faster SEC defenses. For now, Bama has to be considered top dog in the crowded SEC West.

OUT: The LSU-Washington Game is an Indicator That we Will See More of What we Saw Last Year From Les Miles and Crew

I could not disagree more with this sentiment that is spreading around SEC country.

On the surface, I will agree that the final score might send up a red flag. But one must only look at the box score to see the whole story. And it is not what’s IN the box score, but rather what is NOT.

Nowhere in the box score will you see the name Russell Shepard. Nor will you see the name Reuben Randle. Nor will you see a number greater than zero in the interception column of third-time starter Jordan Jefferson’s line.

And if you stayed up till nearly 1:00 am CDT and watched every snap of the LSU-Washington game, there are a few other things you might have (or might not have) noticed:

· At no point in the game were Keiland Williams and Charles Scott lined up in the same backfield. This is something that was worked on considerably during spring and summer practices, and it is a package that will be used this season.

· Trindon Holliday had one (as in a singular) carry, and it was out of a basic ace formation. You can rest assured that he will get more touches, and that those touches will come from a variety of formations.

· Jordan Jefferson only threw the ball 19 times. And this isn’t because he doesn’t have the arm or accuracy.

· The defense rarely blitzed, and were able to put pressure on Jake Locker. The only QB in the SEC with the ability to get out of trouble like Locker was able to has a Heisman trophy—the others are far less accomplished.

The Tigers traveled 2500 hundred miles—by far the longest road trip made by a FBS team on opening week—and played a team that, due to NCAA rules, had no restriction on practice hours.

This is because the University of Washington is on a quarter system, and classes have not started yet. Because classes have not started yet, the 20-hour rule (made famous by Rich Rodriguez) did not apply to the Washington football team. These are two favors that weighed heavily against LSU.

But all apologies aside, the Washington team that LSU beat on Saturday is a far cry away from a Memphis, or a Western Kentucky, or a Jackson State, or a Charleston Southern.

This was a formidable opponent.

And I do not say this because LSU escaped with an eight-point win over a team that went 0-12 in 2008. Ole Miss fans need to simply look in the mirror to see what a new coach and a new quarterback can do for a program (no, Jake Locker isn’t “new” but he wasn’t around for more than half of those twelve losses).

No, this is a Washington team that will make noise in the Pac-10 this year.

Mark my words, by season’s end, this “early season escape” will be a “quality road win” for the Tigers.

Why? Because you will see the Washington Huskies in a bowl game.

Other rants…

On the national level, I have one thing that has been bothering me.

I have heard and read opinions throwing the BYU win over OU aside because of the injury to Sam Bradford. They say that, had Bradford been healthy, BYU wouldn’t have won that game.

I have one question to ask those that share that thought: How did Bradford get injured?

Did it happen in practice? No.

Did it happen the previous week? No. How could it—this was opening week.

Sam Bradford was injured because BYU made him injured. Their defense was in his face the entire first half—knocking him on his rear often. To downplay the BYU victory because of the Bradford injury takes credit away from the BYU coaching staff and players. It was their game plan and their execution that put Bradford on the sideline.

Did they intend to hurt him? I doubt it. But they did intend to get in his head by being physical and taking advantage of that young offensive line.

So, please, lets give credit where it is due. Kudos to you BYU for playing a de facto road game against a top three opponent and coming out with a win.

Three Problems with the NFL Schedule

Michael Matthews — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:43:05 -0400

The release of the 2009 NFL schedule on Tuesday has brought with it many questions from fans.

Why are the Cowboys featured in six primetime, nationally televised games?

How, after last season’s implosion, did the Browns get back on Monday Night Football?

Is the NBC Football Night in America line up of games superior to ESPN’S MNF line up?

While the surface of the heated discussions focuses on what teams will be on and when, there are some deeper issues surrounding the 2009 schedule. You will find little argument against the NFL being the country’s most popular and profitable sports league.

Yet, even the best have a few hiccups from time to time. Here are three glaring setbacks with the 2009 schedule.

1.) An NFC South team loses a home game for the second season in a row.

The London game is a novel idea, but there are major issues in its execution. Saints’ coach Sean Payton was quick to call out the league last year, despite beating the Chargers in Wembley Stadium. The league has taken some measure to ensure fairness between the two teams playing.

Both Tampa Bay and New England will host games the week prior to London, both will have a bye the week following, and both will be at home when they resume play in Week Nine.

Yet, the obvious problem with this year’s game is that Tampa Bay is considered the “home” team. This marks the second consecutive year that an NFC South team will lose a home game—in 2008 the Saints were the “home” team.

With eight divisions, you would think that the NFL might do a little more to create equity when selecting the teams for the London game.

Now in its third year of existence, the match up has or will feature two NFC South teams (New Orleans, 2008; Tampa Bay, 2009), two AFC East teams (Miami, 2007; New England, 2009), one NFC East team (New York, 2007), and one AFC West team (San Diego, 2008). Something has to be done to include teams from other divisions.

I do not know much about the inner working of the league scheduling office, but something tells me that it cannot be incredibly difficult to spread the participation in this game out more equitably.

2.) What did the Falcons do to deserve this?

At first glance, the Falcons’ schedule appears to be just another tough schedule that is the result of the cross-divisional rotation used by the NFL in determining non-divisional games.

The Falcons, who not only have to play NFC South division foes New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Carolina twice (remember, the NFC South did not have a team below .500 last season), draw the AFC East and NFC East in the rotation - two of the most competitive divisions in 2008.

If that isn’t bad enough, with a closer look, you can see that the Falcons’ road to the postseason is undeniably bumpier than any other team in the league.

“How so?” you might ask.

The Falcons have the daunting task of facing four teams coming off bye weeks. That means that a quarter of the Falcons’ schedule will be played against teams with an extra week’s preparation (not counting Week One).

On top of that, Atlanta has its bye week during Week Four (the first week for byes), and finishes the season with 12 straight games. Two of the four games against bye-week teams come back-to-back in Weeks Six and Seven.

A road game on Monday night against New Orleans is sandwiched in between those weeks and a Week Nine match-up against rested Washington. The football gods (or the league office) surely seem like they want to make sure last year’s success wasn’t a fluke.

But Atlanta isn’t the only victim of this scheduling faux pas. Four teams (Denver, Jacksonville, Baltimore, and Tennessee) face three teams coming off bye-weeks, while four more (New Orleans, Detroit, St. Louis, and Houston) face two teams.

The most perplexing thing about this scheduling issue, however, is that nearly half the teams (15 in all) will not play a single game against a team coming off a bye. In a league of 32 teams, such disproportionment raises a red flag—especially when if you look at not only what teams, but what divisions benefit, and are hurt worst, from this anomaly.

Worst hit: AFC South

The AFC South teams play eight games against teams coming off a bye week. The peculiar thing here though is that those eight game are divided between three teams—Indianapolis is one of the 15 teams that does not face a bye-week team.

That means Jacksonville, Houston, and Tennessee are playing one-quarter of the league following its bye week. Absurd.

Honorable Mention: NFC South

Atlanta, as already established, plays a whopping four games against bye-week teams while division rival New Orleans faces two. Tampa Bay adds to the total with one making it seven games in all for the NFC South against teams coming off bye weeks. Carolina escapes without having to play a single bye-week opponent.

Most Benefited: AFC East

Total number of opponents coming off a bye week: ONE. That’s right. Between the four AFC East teams, only Miami plays a rested foe. New England, Buffalo, and New York are all spared the task of having to deal with that extra preparation.

Honorable Mention: AFC North

While the Ravens must face three bye-week opponents throughout the season, they are the only AFC North team that has to face even one. Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Cincinnati do not play any teams coming off bye weeks.

Honorable Mention (II): NFC East

Dallas, New York, and Washington each have to deal with one bye-week opponent, while Philadelphia has none.

3.) The scheduling formula does not clearly single-out wild-card teams.

One of my biggest issues with the NFL scheduling formula in whole is that, while it great for determining division winners, an awkward whole exists when singling out wild-card teams.

Within a division, teams play six divisional games, plus four games against a division within conference, plus four more games against a division out of conference. That equals 14 games against like opponents.

When teams play that many games against similar competition, then the better record usually indicates the better team.

But the same is not true when comparing wild-card teams from separate divisions. In that case, two teams could have no common opponents, and one team could have an arguably easier schedule than another team with an equal record.

Here’s an example:

Let’s hypothesize and consider two AFC teams—one that finished 10-6 and another who finished 9-7. The 10-6 team is from the AFC North. That means their non-divisional schedule included teams from the NFC North and the AFC West.

The 9-7 team is from the AFC East. That means their non-divisional schedule included teams from the NFC South and the AFC South.

By the record alone, the team from the AFC North performed better. But is record an accurate means of measuring which team is better. The team from the AFC East would have played arguably better competition on its way to a 9-7 record, while the AFC North team would have played the four worst teams from 2008.

When you bear this in mind, the 10-6 record does not seem as convincing.

Consider a similar scenario. The same teams from above both finish 10-6 and played each other. The AFC North team won, and therefore wins the tiebreaker. Should that one game trump the total body of work?

This is the problem with determining wildcards—there is no accurate and reliable measuring stick for comparing teams from separate divisions.

By addressing these issues in future scheduling, the NFL could make what is already considered the best American professional sports league even better.

Ranking The Best Months in Sports

Michael Matthews — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:04:19 -0400

What’s the best month is all of sports?

To answer this question, a few criteria have to be taken into consideration.

A.) Even though sport is a global phenomenon, this list will focus primarily on the sports and leagues that garner most attention and generate the most interest in America.

B.) Football is King in America. Don’t believe me? Look at ratings and revenue over the last decade.

C.) The beginning and end of a season generate more buzz and interest than the middle legs. This is especially true for those regular seasons that offer more than 80 games (I’m looking at you NBA, NHL, and MLB).

D.) Playoffs and championships generate more interest than the beginning and end of a regular season.

E.) Cyclical events are not considered (sorry WBC, Olympics, and World Cup).

F.) Major college sports matter (especially in certain regions).

G.) Variety matters. The more you have to choose from, the better.

So, based on the above criteria, this is how the rankings play out.

12.) August

What’s Going On:

· NFL pre-season

· MLB regular season

· NASCAR regular season

· PGA Championship (Golf)

August has little to offer the sports fanatic’s palate – unless you’re a die-hard MLB or NASCAR fan. The NFL pre-season creates a lot of buzz and anticipation, but how much do fans really care about meaningless games? Golf closes out its series of Major championships with the PGA Championship, but the anticipation of that event is partially contingent on what Tiger has done in the three majors leading up to it.

11.) July

What’s Going On:

· MLB regular season

· MLB All-Star Game

· Regular season NASCAR

· British Open (Golf)

· Wimbledon Finals (Tennis)

July offers a few more major events than August, but the meat of month still relies heavily on the MLB and NASCAR seasons. Things get kicking in the U.K. with the All English Lawn Championships at Wimbledon and the British Open Championship, but the interest levels of those events lie in the fates of the sports’ high profile players – Nadal and Federer, Tiger and Phil.

10.) February

What’s Going On:

· Super Bowl

· NBA regular season

· NHL regular season

· College Football Signing Day

· College Basketball regular season

· Daytona 500 and beginning of the NASCAR season

Yes, February is home to what is arguably considered the most high-profile annual sporting event, but that’s not enough to get it higher than the ten spot. NASCAR kicks off its regular season with the other “Super Bowl.” Football purists get a small fix thanks to National Letter of Intent day. Basketball (college and professional) and hockey get into the heart of their regular seasons.

9.) May

What’s Going On:

· Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes

· NBA Playoffs

· NHL Playoffs

· French Open (Tennis)

· The PLAYERS Championship (Golf)

May gifts us with the NBA and NHL conference finals – which usually makes for high-stakes drama. Even those who don’t know what a furlong is tune in the first Saturday in May for the Run for the Roses. Two weeks later, all eyes are on the Preakness as America watches to see if we will enter June with a chance at witnessing a Triple Crown.

If that doesn’t quench your thirst, there’s the drama of the red clay at Roland Garros. And for those who enjoy watching the weak crumble under pressure, there’s the infamous 17^th at Sawgrass.

8.) March

What’s Going On:

· March Madness (Conference Tourneys and the NCAA Tourney)

· NBA regular season

· NHL regular season

There isn’t a whole lot going on in March, but this is a case of quality over quantity. When men (and women) across America are taking four-day weekends during the third week of March to watch what is arguably the two most exciting days in all of sports, you know there’s something special going on. After all, there’s a reason we call it March Madness.

7.) December

What’s Going On:

· NFL regular season

· College Football Conference Championships and Bowl Games

· NBA regular season

· NHL regular season

· MLB Winter Meetings

Ah, December. With the NFL regular season winding down, teams fight it out for division titles and wildcard spots. In the college ranks, there are conference championship games at the beginning of the month while the latter days are littered with bowl games. There are always stories and trades that grab headlines during baseball’s winter meetings, and the NBA never fails to give us a titillating X-Mas match-up.

6.) January

What’s Going On:

· NFL Playoffs

· BCS Bowl Games and College Football National Championship

· College Basketball regular season

· NBA regular season

· NHL regular season

· Australian Open (Tennis)

College Football crowns its (mythical) National Champion this month. The NFL enters playoff mode. Tennis has its first Grand Slam championship of the year. College basketball begins conference play, while the NBA and NHL chug along in their regular seasons. There’s a little something for everyone (unless you only live for baseball).

5.) October

What’s Going On:

· MLB Playoffs and World Series

· NFL regular season

· College Football regular season

· NBA pre-season and regular season

· NHL pre-season and regular season

In October, MLB crowns its champion during the Fall Classic while players and coaches in the NBA and NHL begin their quest for the crown. All the while, Saturdays and Sundays (and Thursdays and Tuesdays) leave plenty for the football fanatic during the brisk days of fall.

4.) June

What’s Going On:

· NBA Finals

· Stanley Cup Finals

· US Open (Golf)

· MLB regular season

· Wimbledon

· College World Series

· Belmont Stakes

· NBA Draft

The NBA and NHL crown their champions in the month of June. Omaha, Nebraska plays host to college baseball’s championship. Horse racing has its third leg of the triple crown, and depending on how things went in May, America could be crossing its fingers to witness something it hasn’t seen since 1978. Then there’s golf’s US Open and the opening rounds at Wimbledon. And if that’s not enough, you can still get a daily dose of baseball.

3.) September

What’s Going On:

· NFL regular season

· College Football regular season

· MLB regular season

· US Open (Tennis)

· NASCAR Chase begins

Another month of less is more. The NFL season kicks off during September, and in a league built on parity, the beginning of the season means the road to the Super Bowl officially begins (just ask the Arizona Cardinals). Not to mention, the college kids strap on the pads this month too.

If the beginning of football season isn’t enough to whet your whistle, the MLB season is winding down, and the push for those precious playoff spots gets hot. Oh yeah, and in New York they have this little thing called the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

2.) November

What’s Going On:

· NFL regular season

· College Football regular season

· College Football Rivalry Week

· NBA regular season

· NHL regular season

· NASCAR crowns series champions

Although the NBA and NHL officially begin in October, November is when the ball really gets rolling. In the NFL, the contenders begin to emerge as the pretenders begin to show their true colors. College Football enters the twilight of its regular season, which culminates in the ever-intense rivalry week. Good thing the grass begins to die in November, because you’d be hard pressed to find a fan willing to leave the confines of his man cave.

1.) April

What’s Going On:

· NBA regular season and playoffs

· NHL regular season and playoffs

· College Basketball Final Four

· College Hockey Frozen Four

· MLB Opening Day

· The Masters

· NFL Draft

The list says it all. April is the only month of the year where an all-around sports fan can have a little bit of everything. The playoffs begin in the NBA and NHL. Opening Day is one of those unofficial holidays that are celebrated every year. Then there’s the widely watched Final Four, and the lesser-watched (but highly entertaining) Frozen Four.

For NFL enthusiasts there’s the draft – an excuse to sport that team jersey during the spring. And who can deny the drama that is Amen Corner at Augusta. Yes, April offers a robust buffet; and that’s why it’s the best month in all of sports.

Five Suggestions for the Next BCS Cycle

Michael Matthews — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:48:53 -0500

Following the 2010 BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena, the Bowl Championship Series will enter its fourth cycle as major college football’s premier postseason entity.

And as much as we whine, cry, plead, beg, threaten, boycott, etc., the truth is that we will undoubtedly live through at least four more years of BCS-mandated college football.

Don’t believe me?

ESPN and the BCS have 500 million reasons to tell you otherwise.

Let’s face it. The BCS is here to stay—at least for now.

With that in mind, I offer up five suggestions that might make the next BCS cycle a little more palatable.

1) It’s time for some conference reshuffling.

This tends to happen every seven to 10 years, and come the turn of the next BCS cycle, the time for a conference reshuffling would be right on par.

Here’s what I suggest.

ACC

Just underwent a minor makeover. While it might be a conference that is perceived as being “down,” there are some highly competitive programs that will be right on track come 2010.

Big Ten

Add a 12th team already. Eleven is such an odd number (both literally and figuratively). College football nation would love if you guys had a Conference Championship, and there are plenty of good Midwestern cities to choose from as a host site—Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago.

The only bad thing? No more nifty “11” hiding in the Big Ten logo (I always thought that was mighty clever).

So then? Who does the Big Ten add?

Most fans would propose Notre Dame.

But that brings up complications. You’d then have a school that plays football in one conference, every other major sport in another conference, and hockey in a third conference.

No, Notre Dame is not the answer.

The answer is...Iowa State.

Yes. You read that correctly. IOWA STATE.

It makes sense geographically.

(And it’s the snowball for the rest of my plan.)

Big XII

Have to replace Iowa St. (and I’m sure many Big XII fans would welcome that idea).

Iowa St.’s replacement?

Arkansas.

As a former Southwestern Conference member, Arkansas belongs with Texas, A&M, and Oklahoma. Hell, Arkansas has played Texas three times since 2002 anyway.

Former rivalries would be renewed, and the addition of Arkansas would rejuvenate a weak North Division (in comparison to the South Division).

SEC

Have to replace Arkansas.

Arkansas replacement?

Wait for it...

You're going to love this one...

Tulane.

Yes, Tulane.

Why Tulane?

Well, for one, it was a charter member of the original Southeastern Conference and brings more SEC titles to the table than Arkansas.

Secondly, it provides a balance between the West and East Divisions. The East has its rigorous academic institution in Vanderbilt. Tulane would act as a balance-maker in the West.

Thirdly, in brings in a real (as in historically established) in-state, in-conference rival for LSU, and completes the two-school trifecta for the three East Division states (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama).

Pac-10

No need for a shake-up. Pretty solid foundation that has held strong for decades upon decades.

However, if some tweaking were to be done, I would propose adding Fresno St. (consistently competitive program with one of the most underrated coaches in the country in Pat Hill) and either a San Jose St. or Hawaii (for geographic purposes...and, can you get much worse than Washington and Washington St. at this point?).

Mountain West

Small conference perceived by many to be on the rise, and is actually better than some BCS conferences. The Mountain West can solidify itself as a top conference by adding at least one and possibly three more teams—making it a force for the BCS to reckon with.

With the additions of Boise St. and Nevada, the competitive level of the conference would rise exponentially. Throw in a New Mexico St., Utah St., or Idaho (every conference needs a patsy or two), and you have a 12-team conference that can arguably be considered one of the top conferences in the nation.

(No, I’m not crazy. Have we not learned anything from 2004 Utah, 2008 Utah, and 2006 Boise St.?)

Big East

This one is a headache.

This biggest problem with the Big East is while it only has eight schools with football programs, it is a 16-team basketball conference. We simply can’t just add on four more teams.

So this is what we do.

Let’s start with Notre Dame. They’re already a member of the Big East in every major sport aside from hockey. Simple solution.

Then there’s Villanova. Bump them up from FCS status and have them play with the big boys. (Hey, if South Florida can go from an idea to a relevant program in less than a dozen years, 'Nova can figure out a way to compete on the FBS level.)

That would make the Big East a 10-team conference, which is exponentially better than a weak eight-team conference.

WAC, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt

The WAC is left mildly depleted. CUSA would have to replace Tulane and could do so with Louisiana Tech. The Sun Belt absorbs whatever is left of the WAC. The MAC is fine as is.

2) Make the Mountain West a BCS Conference.

Even without my proposed additions of Boise St., Nevada, and Idaho/New Mexico St./Utah St., the Mountain West has proved it is a quality conference.

It currently has nine teams (one better than the current Big East) and has enjoyed more BCS bowl victories (despite not being a BCS Conference) over the last five years than the ACC.

Let’s not get confused. The addition of the Mountain West would not mean the expulsion of another conference. It would simply mean seven BCS conferences instead of six.

There would still be three at-large spots (one more than the original BCS plan).

And imagine if the Mountain West was guaranteed BCS money every year.

Upgraded stadiums. Upgraded practice facilities. Upgraded film review rooms.

Eventually all of that leads to upgraded players and upgraded coaches (not that some of the teams necessarily need much upgrading in those categories).

It would only help college football. I honestly see no negative effects of adding another quality conference to the mix.

3) Drop the BCS National Championship Game and just add a fifth Bowl.

One of the initial “cool things” about the original BCS was that one of the four major bowls served as the National Championship.

It was cool to Virginia Tech fans with bags of Sugar; Oklahoma fans with fistfuls of oranges; Texas fans with roses between their teeth.

Bring that back.

Keep the five-game formula—just add another bowl.

So Glendale, New Orleans, Miami, and Pasadena will no longer have the pleasure of hosting two high-profile games a year.

So what? You still have one, and every five years you’ll have the National Championship.

I, like many fans, think that if a fifth bowl were added, it should be the Cotton.

Reason One: It’s one of the oldest existing bowl games.

Reason Two: Its name hasn’t been hijacked and replaced by some corporation (i.e. the Chick-fil-A Bowl—formerly the Peach Bowl).

Reason Three: Starting in 2009, the Cotton Bowl will be played in the state-of-the-art New Texas Stadium, with a seating capacity at or near 100,000.

Reason Four: Dallas is a large enough and cool enough city to host such a big game (even if most residents think roses come out of their rear ends).

A fifth bowl game would eliminate the weeklong hiatus, and a champion would be crowned Jan. 4 or earlier.

4) Any at-large team must be ranked in the top 10.

As it currently stands, any at-large from a non-BCS conference must finish the season ranked 12th or better.

Well, I say take that rule and slap it across the board.

Sorry Illinois, but that was one stinker of a Rose Bowl in 2008. You only got there because the traditionalists on the Rose committee wouldn’t take a better non-Big Ten team.

I’m all for keeping conference tie-ins for conference winners, but after that, we need to drop our old ways and provide the best possible matchups.

I know some out there would argue that conference tie-ins should be dropped altogether, but I disagree. If a team can fight and claw its way through its conference and end up on top, it deserves a chance to play in a big game on a national stage.

It gives teams something to play for even after they’ve dropped a couple of early, non-conference games.

5) Put together a committee of coaches, college presidents, media members, and former players and figure out a better way.

Earlier, I said we need to get over the fact that things aren’t going to change any time soon.

That doesn’t mean we can’t look toward the future.

Something eventually needs to be done with the way we crown college football’s national champion.

Some propose a playoff.

I, myself, have proposed an alternative solution that does not involve a playoff.

Either way, get together and figure something out. We are not dumb enough to believe that what you are giving us is the best you can do.

The Myth Of Conference Allegiance

Michael Matthews — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:21:49 -0500

There is no such thing as “conference allegiance”.

There. I said it.

Hell. I’ll say it again.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CONFERENCE ALLEGIANCE.

Is my point clear?

Ok, one more time, just for good measure.

THERE * IS * NO * SUCH * THING * AS * CONFERENCE * ALLEGIANCE!

Ok. That should do it.

Why would someone make such a bold and essentially improvable claim such as this, you might ask.

Simple.

Because “conference allegiance” doesn’t exist.

It doesn’t.

It is an idea manufactured by big media and manifested by the fans.

Listen to ESPN radio. Watch College Football Final. Listen to any sports-talk know-it-all with a microphone in front of his buffalo-wing-stuffed face. You’re bound to hear the words “SEC fan” or “Big Ten fan.”

Excuse me?

Every year during bowl season we witness Oregon fans rooting for USC, Miami fans pulling for Florida St., Oklahoma St. fans cheering for Oklahoma, even (gulp) Bama fans supporting LSU?

Why?

Because if those teams perform well it makes the conference look good?

Because if the Pac-10 goes 5-0 in bowl games, it trumps the fact that Washington and Washington St. went a combined 2-475 in 2008?

Because if Oklahoma wins the National Championship, Iowa St. will have a reason to celebrate a stinker of a season?

It’s ridiculous.

And it’s ridiculous to the power of 37562 in the SEC. Especially among it’s fans.

I should know. I am a fan of an SEC school.

Notice I DID NOT say, “I am an SEC fan.”

Why?

Because “SEC fans” are jokes. They are fickle. They transparently clutch on to the success of successful schools. And, for some unknown reason, put “conference allegiance” before school allegiance.

Why on earth should an Auburn fan want to see Alabama win the Sugar Bowl?

Look, I get the idea of wanting to see your conference perform well against other big conferences. Trust me I do. Bowl games and regular season out-of-conference games are a good measuring stick to see how well a conference performs against the rest of the nation’s top programs.

But (and this is the key point of this entire rant) there is a fine line between “conference pride” and “conference allegiance.” And it’s that line that so many “SEC fans” have blindly and naively crossed.

This is what I mean.

This is how Webster’s dictionary defines the two terms:

Pride: “That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-gratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.”

Allegiance: “The tie or obligation, implied or expressed, which a subject owes to his sovereign or government; the duty of fidelity to one's king, government, or state.”

(For all intents and purposes, replace the words “sovereign”, “government”, “king” and “state” with the word “conference”.)

Notice how the latter uses terms like “obligation,” “owe,” and “fidelity”? See anything like that in the former?

Didn’t think so.

“Pride” is selfish in nature. It is attached to the individual. And to take pride in something is done so at the free will of that individual.

“Allegiance” implies that, beyond my own volition, despite my hatred for School A, and due to geographic location and affiliation, I must/have to/am required to root for School A. I have no choice in the matter.

Um?

You want to have conference “pride”? Go right ahead.

If you love the SEC/Big XII/Pac 10 so much you’re willing to throw aside deep-seeded rivalries? It’s your prerogative, Bobby Brown.

But to tell me, that because I am a fan of an SEC school, I am obliged to root for any other SEC school during any out-of conference game, due to some mythical “conference allegiance”?

No. Sorry. Not going to happen.

And that’s why conference allegiance does not exist.

Because no one is obligated to cheer for any team other than their own.

The SEC/Big XII/Pac 10/Big Ten, etc. is not going to force any fan base to pull for their hated rival in a bowl game due to some fabricated conference allegiance.

It’s not going to happen.

I’m sure Vanderbilt would appreciate any demonstrated conference pride thrown in their direction, but to assume they having the backing of every fan from every school in the SEC is just naïve (and not to mention downright ignorant).

As a fan of an SEC school, I will be honest and tell you that I hope Florida wins the National Championship.

My reason? Because I’d much rather see Florida win the National Championship than Oklahoma. This (much like pride) is merely out of selfishness. I’d feel better if Florida won.

That’s it.

It’s that simple.

Not because I am a fan of an SEC school and, therefore, must follow an unwritten rule about “conference allegiance” and, by obligation or fidelity, root for an SEC school in the National Championship.

That’s because there is no unwritten rule regarding “conference allegiance.”

But, because big media throws conference strength down our throats, this fabricated idea of “conference allegiance” has blossomed. Fans are so worried about how well their conference looks against other conferences, that they drop real allegiance that they should have (to their school), and adopt this mythical allegiance to anything conference.

And while we’re discussing the intricacies of the word “allegiance,” let’s examine the difference between allegiance to school, and allegiance to conference.

Now, you would think that school allegiance would be the most important, right? That if any obligation existed, it would between a fan and his or her SCHOOL.

Well, not in the hearts of those SEC fans who follow the unwritten (mythical) rule of “conference allegiance.”

Auburn and Bama share a mutual in-state hatred for each other (or at least I thought), yet, come bowl season, I notice that many an Auburn fan (not all, mind you) voicing their support for Bama.

Why?

I thought you guys “hated” each other. Why would you want your in-state rival to win such a prestigious game? Because a win for Bama is a win for the SEC, and then, in turn is a win for Auburn?

Man, my head hurts.

Apparently, in the SEC, conference allegiance trumps school allegiance.

I have been accused of not being a “real fan’ because I wanted to see Bama lose the Sugar Bowl more than anything. I wanted it more than Bret Michaels wants the next big-breasted former stripper/adult film star with a bad dye-job and a propensity for vomiting.

I wanted them to look like chumps on a national stage.

And they did. And I was happy.

And why wouldn’t I want this to happen?

If my school convincingly wins its bowl game, and Bama gets run over in theirs, my school looks better – doesn’t it? Wouldn’t something like that sway a top recruit over to my school if he was on the fence?

And while we’re at it, let’s stop pretending as if coaches care about their conference outside of they way they use it to politic for a spot in the big game.

I don’t care if Urban Meyer wants to drop a few tips to his buddy and former defensive coordinator. He has no allegiance to the SEC. His obligations are to Florida, the players that play for Florida, and the coaches that coach for him at Florida, that, as soon as the season ends, will go out trying to recruit players that are also considering other SEC schools.

I don’t care is the staff at Alabama talk to coaches at Oklahoma. Just like I’m sure Urban Meyer doesn’t care

In fact, if I was a Bama fan, I’d be rooting for Oklahoma on Thursday night.

Why?

Think about it. Florida and Bama both recruit heavily in the state of Florida. Take Tim Tebow for instance. What two schools was he considering his senior year of high school?

You guessed it – Florida and Alabama.

Now, lets assume Florida does win the National Championship (like many Bama fans want them to do), and evaluate the following hypothetical example:

A Five-Star recruit is on the fence between Florida and Alabama (sound familiar?).

He goes to visit Florida. He walks into The Swamp and sees Championship banners for 2007 and 2009 (not to mention 1996). He peers through a trophy case at two gorgeous crystal footballs. He’s told he can come to a school and be a part of a team that has won championships – both the SEC and National variety.

Then he goes to visit Bama. He walks into Bryant-Denney Stadium and sees the 1992 National Championship Banner. Maybe he thinks, “Has it really been that long”? He peers through a trophy case at the “Insert Third-rate Media Organization” National Championship Trophy from 19……(you get the idea?).

National signing day draws near. He’s on the fence. Now, what school sounds more appealing?

One where they have won championships in the last five years.

Or.

One where they talk about winning championships, but haven’t actually done it in over a decade.

So, I ask again; Why on earth would a Bama fan root for Florida?

Isn’t that directly against what is best for your school? Isn’t there a major conflict on interest between school allegiance and the mythical conference allegiance?

Maybe I’m just crazy.

If Florida does win the National Championship, the TEAM (not the conference) will be given a big, sparkling trophy. That trophy is going in a trophy case in Gainesville, FL.

Nowhere else.

It will not make a regional tour a la the 2004 Boston Red Sox World Series Trophy.

It will not be cut up in to twelve pieces and sent to the four corners of the southeast like the Brits did William Wallace.

You won’t be able to take a vacation to Nashville, Fayetteville, Auburn, Starkville, Oxford, Athens, Tuscaloosa, Columbia, or Lexington and see the 2009 National Championship Crystal Ball.

If you go to Knoxville you’ll get to see one. If you go to Baton Rouge, you’ll get to see two. But those were rewarded to those schools, NOT the SEC.

And you can take the passage above and insert the towns/cities of Lawrence, Stillwater, Waco, Lubbock, Manhattan, Ames, Boulder, Lincoln, College Station, and Columbia (MO this time) and apply it to “Big XII” fans if Oklahoma happens to win.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to tell anyone who to root for. But whoever you do pull for in whatever football game you are watching, both tonight, tomorrow, or 26 years from now, do it for selfish reasons.

Do it because you hate Team A, or like Player X. Do it because your sister’s boyfriend’s cousin’s aunt’s second husband went to that particular school.

But don’t do it out of any “conference allegiance.”

Because in the real world of college football, it doesn’t exist.

A Tale of Two QBs: The Divergent Paths of Ryan Perrilloux and Juan Joseph

Michael Matthews — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:19:05 -0500

In November of 2004, in St. John Parish, Louisiana, a young quarterback was leading his high school team to a dominating 50-6 win in the quarterfinals of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association's football tournament.

Meanwhile, on the other bank of the Mississippi River, high-profile quarterback Ryan Perrilloux's East St. John Wildcats were closing out an embarrassing 62-42 loss in their quarterfinal game.

Perrilloux would then go on to play recruiting musical chairs with Division I powers Texas and LSU. He would be awarded the 2004 Hall Trophy as the nation's most outstanding high school football player.

Perrilloux would be named USA Today's "Offensive Player of the Year," "National Offensive Player of the Year" by Columbus, Ohio's Touchdown Club, Louisiana's "Mr. Football," and Gatorade's "Player of the Year." He was a Parade All-American and was invited to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

After Les Miles' hiring at LSU, Perrilloux would commit to LSU with expectations of grandeur.

We all know the rest of the story. After years of immature actions and a complacent attitude, the highly-touted recruit would be dismissed in May of 2008 after only starting two games for the Tigers.

But what about the other quarterback in this story? The one that would eventually lead his West St. John Rams to a Class 2A Louisiana State Championship. The one that entertained only one Division I scholarship offer. The one who played in the giant shadow of the great Ryan Perrilloux. What happened to Juan Joseph?

On Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, the Millsaps Majors will line up on Harper Davis Field in Jackson, Mississippi as the D3Football.com No. 4-ranked team in the nation, and the top seed in the Division III Football Tournament South Region. They will field an offense that averages over 445 yards and 44 points per game.

And they will be led by a 6'1", 188-pound senior quarterback that has passed for 28 touchdowns, run for four more, and is eighth in the nation in total offense. That quarterback is Juan Joseph.

Under the tutelage of former Alabama head coach Mike DuBose, Joseph has flourished in the spread offense run by Hal Mumme pupil John David Caffey. Both Caffey and DuBose made it clear in a Clarion-Ledger piece in October of 2008 that "Juan could play for most anybody. He's what you want, especially in the spread offense."

But it isn't just the talent that makes Joseph such a successful signal caller for the Majors—it's his leadership too. Caffey recalls a bad Tuesday practice earlier this season. He was about to walk over and chew out the offense, but before he could get a word in, Joseph simply said, "Coach, I got this."

According to Caffey, Joseph handled the situation better than he even could. The Majors had great practices the rest of the week and won that Saturday's game by more than 42 points. That's the kind of leader he is.

But at a school like Millsaps, success on the field is only half the battle. Joseph admits that the academic load caused him to have to make adjustments in his study habits. But just as he as on the football field, Joseph has persevered. As a business administration major with a concentration in finance and marketing, he's currently riding a 3.2 GPA at one of the most strenuous liberal arts colleges in the South.

With the talent, physical tools, and leadership ability that Joseph possesses, many wonder what he's doing at a Division III school—an NCAA division that offers no athletic scholarships. He passed up an opportunity at Alcorn State—alma mater of NFL great Steve McNair—to play at a school and in a division where, as he puts it, "you play because you love to play."

It is obvious that Joseph loves to play. That's why the Majors have their eyes set on their first-ever national championship.

That might also be why fellow St. John Parish native Ryan Perrilloux doesn't.

An Alternative Championship Solution for College Football

Michael Matthews — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:26:07 -0500

The BCS chaos of the last few years has resulted in many an uproar among the die-hard fans of college football. Cries for a playoff can be heard all the way from Los Angeles (when it's convenient for Pete Carroll) to Athens, GA.

One could talk to any true fan of college football from anywhere in the nation and get a wide variety of playoff-style solutions. Some call for an eight-team format (thank you Mr. President-Elect), while others favor a 12- or 16-team bracket.

Nevertheless, followers of the game are fed up with what many tag as the "Mock" National Championship set up by the Bowl Championship Series. Something must be done.

Even with the national outcry, commissioners and presidents continue to hide behind a wall of excuses—classes, exams, travel, etc. And while they won't publicly admit it, it is globally known that the precious greenback is the root of all of the fuss.

With that in mind, I offer you, the fans and the figureheads, an alternative championship solution for college football.

May I present: The Bowl Championship Conference.

Here's how it works.

* First, pre-scheduled non-conference games are eliminated (I know, I know. Just hang on—I'll get to that.). Each team in the FBS opens their season with conference play. A total of 10 weeks are set aside for each conference to complete its regular season.

These 10 weeks would ensure every team at least one bye week. It would also allow the SEC, Big 12, ACC, CUSA, and MAC the opportunity to play their full regular season schedules, as well as their championship games. It ensures the Pac-10 its full round robin. It even gives the Big Ten the option of adding a ninth game to its regular season schedule.

* The current BCS formula would be released after week six (rather than the eighth week as it is currently). Following the completion of conference play, a committee (very similar to that used in the basketball and baseball tournaments) will seed the six BCS conference champions and four at-large teams (a total of 10, which is equal to the current BCS allotment) into two five-team divisions of the Bowl Championship Conference.

Criteria for this selection process would include BCS ranking, AP ranking, geographic considerations, and strength of schedule. The same rules regarding non-BCS schools would apply, as well as the stipulation that no more than two teams from a single conference would be allowed. Additionally, if a conference sends more than one team, those teams must be placed in separate divisions.

* The next five weeks of the regular season are set aside for BCC play (more on the rest of the schools later). Each division plays a full round robin schedule, with each team playing two home games and two road games (determined by the committee). One team per division, per week, would have a bye.

* The National Championship would pair the two division winners. The other four BCS bowls would match teams across the divisions to fill out the rest of the BCS bowl lineup. Tiebreaking rules for each division are as follows:

1. Head-to-head

2. Point differential in BCC games

In this system, the strong emphasis on conference play is upheld. The quality of football in November and December would be incredible. It would also allow for a same-conference National Championship, but it would be determined on the field.

The television rights for something like this would be astronomical—one network would pick up one division, another network the other division, and a third the bowl games. Money could not be an excuse. The bowl system would remain intact (more on this later). The regular season would not be extended.

Above all, the championship would be settled on the field.

What about the other 109 teams?

Good question.

Currently there are 33 bowls. That means 66 teams go bowling every year—that's more than half of the teams in college football.

Under this system, the number of bowls would be reduced to 29—the five BCS bowls and 24 others.

A placement committee will then assign the remaining 109 teams to one of four pools.

Pool A

A 16-team pool is selected from the remaining top teams in the BCS standings. Teams play two home and two away from within the pool. During bowl season, the top eight non-BCS bowls select teams from Pool A to fill their bowl slots.

Pool B

This pool is similar to Pool A but with lesser-quality opponents. The remaining BCS-ranked teams, as well as other at-large teams, are pooled together. Teams play two home and two away games within the pool. During bowl season, the middle eight, non-BCS bowls select teams from Pool B to fill their bowl slots.

Pool C

Sixteen more at-large teams are selected. Teams play two home and two away games within the pool. During bowl season, the lower eight, non-BCS bowls select teams from Pool C to fill their bowl slots.

* Teams must have at least a .500 record in conference play to be eligible for Pools A-C.

Pool D

The remaining teams are placed in Pool D. Teams play two home and two away games within the pool. These teams are not eligible for bowl games.

The integrity of the bowl system is kept in place. Tie-ins might vary and be subject to change, but the overall system is still intact.

This is just an idea and is by no means meant to be taken uber-seriously. Everyone has their solution—this is mine.