Bleacher Report - Urban Meyer

BCS Busted (Rd 2): Debunking Every @INSIDEtheBCS Myth

Jay Hendry — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:59:17 -0500

Happy one year anniversary to me! Since my first article on this site was a BCS bashing piece that outlined a BCS doomsday scenario where Florida beat Alabama and was left out of the national championship, I figured I'd go ahead and make it a yearly feature.

Quick rundown of the old article—In that scenario, a Texas-Oklahoma rematch decided the national title. Luckily for the BCS, that didn't happen.

Fast forward to this year.

What a difference a year makes. There's no controversy, and everything's just peachy in college football.

Wait, what? That's not right. There's six freakin' unbeatens and only one of them is guaranteed to lose this week (either Alabama or Florida). The BCS still sucks, only now it has gained sentience and is trying to argue its case.

That's not a joke. If you're on twitter, you can follow it: http://twitter.com/INSIDEtheBCS. If you're not on twitter, what the hell are you doing? It's THE place to hang out on the Internets.

Anyway, back to the BCS. It has launched a Twitter to push its championships-by-computers agenda and to "debunk" the playoff arguments with comedic little gems such as "fans travel to bowl games" (Hah!) or "all 11 conferences are part of the BCS" (WHAT A LAUGHER!!!).

What a crock.

The BCS didn't stop at Twitter though. BCSkynet also launched a website called Playoff Problem (found at http://playoffproblem.com/ ) designed specifically as a smear campaign against a playoff system.

Well, I've had enough. As a Gator fan, you'd think that I'd enjoy a system that has put my team in two of the last three championships, with a chance to play in this one as well. I don't enjoy that at all, and neither should you.

Why?

Because the BCS is crappy, and there's nothing wrong with adding a few extra games to my college football season. So I'm going to go through every myth/argument that the BCS touts as a reason to keep a votes–decide–championships system and tearing it apart.

Myth One: A playoff would not reduce selection controversy or bias

FALSE! Yes it would. It's true that a college football playoff would still utilize some sort of rankings system for seeding/selection purposes; just look at basketball.

It's also true that there will always be a team left out in a system, but whether the team is the No. 5, No. 9, or No. 17, it's already less controversial than when the team is the No. 3 team.

Especially if the No. 3 team beat the No. 1 team head–to–head earlier in the season (2008, I'm looking at you). Any system that gives more teams the opportunity to prove that they are the best team in the nation reduces selection controversy.

As for selection bias, a 16 team playoff opens the door for all 11 conferences to play for a championship.

Wait! Every conference has the same chance to win a title? That's so fair!

I know, right? Nominate me for a Nobel Prize.

I already made a playoff that reduced selection controversy below the BCS' current level and I still have five Non–AQ slots left to fill! You wouldn't necessarily need to keep the two teams per conference rule, but it would limit rematches, so I'd approve if they kept it.

In my scenario, the Playoffs this year would include

AQs
ACC– Clemson/Georgia Tech
Big 12– Texas/Nebraska
Big East– Cinncinnati–Pitt
Big Ten (11)– Ohio St
C USA– ECU/Houston
MAC– Ohio/CMU
MWC– TCU
Pac 10– Oregon/Oregon St
SEC– Florida/Alabama
Sun– Troy
WAC– Boise St

Possible Non–AQs (order of likelihood)
Florida/Alabama loser
Texas (assuming Neb win)
Cinn (assuming Pitt win)
Iowa
Oregon (assuming OSU win)
Virginia Tech
BYU
Miami/Ga Tech (toss up, I couldn't decide who had a chance with a Clemson win)
Oklahoma State
West Virginia
USC

Apologies to:
Penn State (you lost to both Big 11 teams above you)
Oregon State (you lose, you're out)
LSU (three team rule)

Tell me you wouldn't watch a show where they whittled those twelve non–AQ teams to down the final five spots of a playoff. It would be so much better than selection Sunday.

Bonus: Yeah but how would you go about selecting teams?

Hmmm... how would I do that? How would I select teams to play in a playoff? There's 120 teams so I couldn't just use season records. I'd need some sort of ranking system... Oh hi, BCS, let me just borrow your formula.

Why wouldn't that work? It's already there. I don't hate the BCS because it ranks teams. I hate the BCS because it says the No. 3 team isn't good enough to play for a championship even if there's no hard evidence to support that claim.

Do I care about the controversy of selecting Non–AQ team five over Non–AQ team six? Not even a little bit. Neither of those teams won their conference anyway in my playoff system.

Myth Two: Playoffs would diminish the regular season

Did you see how many teams made my pipe–dream playoff? Sixteen.

Of the 120 teams only 16 move on. Of those 16, 11 are guaranteed spots for winning their conference. If you lose your conference you're fighting 109 teams for the final five spots.

In college, teams go 12–0 in the regular season regularly. Only two teams in NFL history have gone 16–0. Other sports feature throw away because you can completely clinch your seed in some years. There aren't enough games in college football for that to be the case.

The BCS would have you believe that Urban Meyer would sit his players against FSU in anticipation of the SEC championship. If he did that, you can call him Urban Fired. If he loses to both FSU and then to Alabama, he's left out of the playoffs (two game losing streaks cause rankings plummets).

College has too many teams fighting for too few spots for any sane coach to willingly lose a game.

Bonus: This goes double if the playoffs are played at home

I don't know where my hypothetical playoffs would be played. I'd have them play at the highest ranked team's field for each bracket, but the people in charge would probably assign something ridiculous.

Anyway, if coaches are fighting for potential home–field advantage, there's even less of a chance of anyone tanking a game. Meyer's not going to hand Saban the SEC title and home–field advantage for the playoffs. Furthermore, what if Florida didn't even get to play in the South after a loss? What if they ended up in Texas' bracket or Boise's? The regular season would still be just as intense as it currently is.

Myth three: They're students first! The extra games would hurt their academics.

Yeah right. Let's get two things straight. One, they're football players then students. Second, the bowl season extends from finals week until the first week of the spring semester anyway.

The playoff could start next week, or the week after. I don't really care. Even with the late start you end the same week that the national championship is currently played.

Plus, just like bowl season, each week you're whittling down the teams who are still practicing. The final week would only have two teams still practicing/traveling/acting like a football team, not the 24 or so that currently play after New Years.

Did you catch that? I'm killing the bowl season.

Urban Meyer Suspends Carlos Dunlap, Finally Takes a Stand

Franklin Crittenden — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:49:24 -0500

Thank you, Urban Meyer!

I would like to thank you on behalf of the thousands of young athletes who see college football players like Carlos Dunlap as role models, and see college football coaches as leaders and mentors.

I would like to thank you on behalf of all the young athletes you may have just discouraged from taking the wrong road in their future.

I also would like to thank you for those of us who still see college football as part of higher education and coaches as a real part of teaching young people about life.

Finally I would like to thank you for setting a good example for all of the other 85 or so football players under your tutelage in taking this stand.

For those who are not up to speed on this situation, Carlos Dunlap is one of Florida's best defensive football players, and he was arrested at 3:25 AM on Tuesday morning and charged with DUI.

He was driving erratically and after sitting through a couple of red lights, he was approached by police officers and was found asleep at the wheel with his vehicle still in drive. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and was released from jail later Tuesday morning.

Today, head coach Urban Meyer suspended Dunlap from playing in Saturday's SEC Championship game against Alabama. His future with the team may be in doubt.

Some will argue that college football is no different from professional football and that things are different today and coaches must make concessions in order to attract great athletes.

To that I say bunk!

I personally do not watch professional football anymore because it has become a cesspool of thuggery and for the most part has become a sport of individualism, hot dogs, and showoffs.

I love to see players celebrate a great play, but the choreographed antics of most of these players turns my stomach, not to mention their conduct off the field.

Every time a player is arrested and then is allowed back on the field in the next game we as fans all grow a little more cynical.

Every time we overlook these actions in order to win football games it is another brick in the wall of this Thunderdome world that today's professional sports exemplify. It is a world where anything goes as long as you are winning.

The message I see coming from professional football every day is that if you are good on the field, your conduct off the field is a non-issue.

I want sports heroes for me and my kids to be better than that, and so should you.

We are all human and all make mistakes, but some of the things that are forgiven and swept under the rug in today's NFL cannot be justified.

That sort of behavior and personal conduct is starting to seep into college football and from there it is just a step away from our high schools and even our little league sports.

Young people emulate their sports heroes on and off the field and someone has to eventually take a stand or risk losing what's left of what we loved about our young people being involved in sports like college football.

I for one admire the hundreds of college football coaches who still understand what the college experience and college athletics is supposed to be about. Coaches that want to win just as bad, but realize that they still have to look in the mirror at the end of the day.

Those coaches still expect their athletes to conduct themselves as representatives of the universities that are paying for their education and paving the way for their NFL futures, or where ever their free education leads them.

So, for those reasons I want to thank you, Urban Meyer.

My only regret is that it had to come to this in order for you to see the light and finally do the right thing. Every time you have cut one of your prized players a break you encouraged another young athlete to push his luck to the limit.

Judging by your past actions in these matters, I still wonder if you would have done the same thing if it were not for the close scrutiny Florida is under in these type of situations due to your past actions.

Every time you didn't make an example of a prized player who got in trouble you made it more difficult for parents all over the country to discipline their own kids.

How can I explain to my young athlete why he is being disciplined when ESPN is reporting that you didn't suspend or punish another one of your players adequately for their transgressions?

My son sees the success you and those players are having and questions why it is necessary to conduct himself any differently.

Maybe, just maybe, if you or coaches like you had stood your ground a long time ago Carlos Dunlap would be still part of the Florida squad and be able to participate in what he has worked so hard to accomplish.

Maybe you bare as much of the blame as he does.

Maybe if you had been a little tougher on the previous 24 Florida football players who have been in trouble at Florida since your arrival this incident might not have happened.

I can point to a dozen examples where you could have drawn the line way before now. The most recent was when Brandon Spikes attempted to gouge the eyes of a Georgia player just a few weeks ago.

Maybe if you hadn't made such a mockery of the Brandon Spikes situation by initially suspending him for only one half of the next game Carlos Dunlap might have been too afraid to party it up the week of the SEC Championship Game.

I am told you are a good person and love your players, and I believe that is true.

Sometimes when you love people the best thing you can do for them is create reasonable boundaries for their personal conduct and stick to them. It is called tough love, Urban Meyer—try it, it really works.

We have a saying at my house: If you make your kids afraid to bring home a C on their report card, then you will never have to deal with one of them ever bringing home an F.

You should take that rule and adapt it to your football program.

How about this?

If you make your players so fearful of being caught out after curfew, then you will never have to deal with one of them passing out drunk behind the wheel at 3:25 AM at a red light in front of a police car five days before the SEC Championship.

Just some advice from a nobody who still can look in the mirror at the end of the day.

Read more Urban Meyer news on BleacherReport.com

Dunlap, Robinson, and LSU's Troubles: Where's the Outrage, SEC Fans?

Joel Barker — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:36:32 -0500

My how a month changes things. It was only three short weeks ago that Lane Kiffin and three Tennessee Volunteers were publicly mocked and ridiculed at the thought of the freshmen holding up two men with a pellet gun.

Should there have been outrage? Absolutely!

Should there have been a public crucifixion of a coach who had pretty much nothing to do with it? Absolutely not.

Even I wrote about my discouragement with the apparent lack of rules for a bunch of freshmen at Tennessee. I still stand by the discouragement.

However, some on this and other sites decided to publish lies and edicts declaring that Lane Kiffin was something akin to Satan himself for not being there to hold the three fools' hands so they would not do something incredibly stupid.

Florida fans were absolutely giddy with this news. Georgia fans, oh they loved it. I would venture a guess that even some fans of the Mad Hatter in Baton Rouge were even pleased.

I know many a Bama fan that was enjoying the moment, although most of that fanbase showed restraint because they've been there before.

So I'm sure you can imagine my sheer amazement at the news of Carlos Dunlap's DUI arrest on Tuesday morning.

Carlos Dunlap. He's not a freshman. He's not some immature kid who has just realized his independence. No, he's an integral part of the No. 2 defense on the No. 1 team in the land.

According to some in the media, the quarterback of that team is the "greatest leader in the history of college football." According to some in the media, his coach is one of the best in the land.

And six days before the biggest game of the '09 season this guy is sleeping off a drunk in his car at 2:00 am. Wow. Just wow. Someone should tell the guy not to be behind the wheel while drunk, even if you are sleeping.

On the same day we hear from LSU that their program is under self-investigation for potential violations.

Not 24 hours earlier those same Bulldogs fans learned that one of their own freshmen, Montez Robinson, was arrested for underage possession of alcohol.

Yet, I do not see stories on this website with 10,000 reads and 400 comments proclaiming this to be the most egregious error in the history of the SEC. I do not see Mark Richt, Urban Meyer, or Les Miles burning in written effigy.

I wonder why that is? I wonder why there haven't been lies and innuendo thrown all over cyberspace like it's October of an election year.

I know why the outrage is not there. I understand completely.

I am not here to throw mud, stones, or any other compound object(s). I am here simply to state that those who call out other coaches and programs need to make sure their's is completely clean first.

The bottom line is that no one is completely clean. Not Florida, LSU, Georgia, or even Alabama. Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow can no more control a junior with a thirst for alcohol and good time than the Gainesville Police can.

LSU apparently couldn't control certain situations within it's recruiting circles. (Remember all those petty secondary violations that Tennessee reported?)

And Georgia could not keep a freshman away from partying at an age deemed too young by authorities.

I don't expect outrage now any more than I did when Lane Kiffin experienced his first bit of adversity at Tennessee. I do expect fans to be responsible and realize that this is the real world and things happen.

These things happen at every school in America—whether they be in the SEC, ACC, Big East, SWAC, MEAC, Big Sky, or MAAC.

Maybe next time something happens we can all express our disappointment without slinging more mud all over an already dirty landscape.

Read more Urban Meyer news on BleacherReport.com

Top 10 Candidates for College Football Coach of the Year

Kimberley Nash — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:22:29 -0500

It's not easy being a coach. Just ask the now departed Charlie Weis. These guys show up each week with a game plan and hope to high heaven that things go exactly as they are drawn up—if they do, gold. If they don't, well, be sure to duck on your way out of the stadium. However, each year brings forth a batch of coaches who defy the odds and find their way through to a season so fruitful, that you have to give them their props on a job well done. This season's crop has some familiar names but also a few that may not be quite as vaunted as the others—the top 10 candidates for coach of the year are....

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The SEC Championship: Is Alabama Ready To Take The Next Step in Saban's Process?

Franklin Crittenden — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:31:14 -0500

Looking back it all seems like a bad dream. Alabama had suffered through its most difficult period in over 50 years.

From 2000 to 2006 Alabama had four different head coaches and some of Alabama's players went through as many as three times that number in Coordinators and position coaches.

Alabama's rivals had a field day during this period. Teams like Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee had a combined record of 17-4 over the Crimson Tide during these trying times.

It was the worst of times and the Nick Saban entered the picuture.

Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, Al in December of 2006 and even though Alabama fans had greeted all of Alabama's past coaches with enthusiasm, the reception that awaited Nick Saban and his family was in the realm of a homecoming for a conquering hero.

Knowledgeable Alabama fans knew that when the University of Alabama hired Nick Saban, the nightmare was finally over.

The last time Alabama fans felt that way was when Paul "Bear" Bryant was introduced to the Crimson Tide faithful in 1958.

In three short years, Nick Saban has turned Alabama from an also ran into one of the nation's premier college football programs. The Tide has spent the better part of the last two years at the top of the polls and the BCS standings.

Nick Saban calls it the "process". The process is just a matter of getting everyone involved on the same page; the players, the coaching staff, the fans, the alumni, and the institution all working as one.

Saban's first year was spent finding out who wanted to be a part of that process among the young men already on campus. Most of them bought in from the start, others are now playing football someplace else.

The next step for Saban was improving the talent level in the Crimson Tide football program, this would take some time. Alabama had some talented players mixed in with the group Saban inherited, but in order to compete at the highest level, Saban had to sell Alabama to the nation's elite athletes.

His first recruiting class in 2006 was a mix of players that were recruited by the previous coaching staff with a few players Saban managed to bring in the closing days before signing day. Those players are among Alabama's junior class who on this year's 12-0 squad. Among them, are players like Rolando McClain.

Saban's next two signing classes were ranked No. 1 by most recruiting services. Among those classes were players like Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Jarrell Harris Nico Johnson, Dont'a Hightower, D.J. Fluker, A.J. McCarron, and many others that will become household names in the near future.

Saban is now working on adding another stellar group of athletes to his first two recruiting classes already on campus.

Saban surprised even the most optimistic of Alabama fans by leading the Crimson Tide to its first undefeated regular season since 1992, when Gene Stallings led Alabama to a perfect 13-0 record and its 12th National Championship.

Alabama went undefeated in the SEC in 2008 and was the SEC western division champion for the first time since 1999. Alabama came up short in the SEC Championship game and lost to the Florida Gators.

A disappointed Alabama team went on to lose to No. 2 Utah in the 2009 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans to end the 2008 season on a sour note. Saban said that important lessons were learned in the final two games of 2008.

Even though 2008 ended on a sour note, there was now a new optimism at the Capstone. Alabama went into 2009 with ambitious goals of repeating as Western Division Champions in the SEC and returning to Atlanta for another go at the Florida Gators.

This year should have been a rebuilding season for the Crimson Tide with the loss of its starting quarterback, running back, most of the offensive line, and other key players. With the emergence of Greg McElroy at quarterback and Mark Ingram at running back, talk of rebuilding quickly turned into talk of championships.

Alabama patched up its offensive line with the addition of junior college transfer James Carpenter into a pretty solid group.

Alabama did return most of its top defense from 2008, but the offense was a huge question mark. That question was answered in the first game of the season when Alabama beat the highly regarded Virginia Tech Hokies 34-24. That remains the most points scored on the Hokies' stingy defense to date.

Alabama's disappointing finish to the 2008 season would be used as a motivating tool by Saban to refocus the 2009 team and accomplish Alabama's second undefeated regular season in a row.

That feat has not been accomplished by any team in the SEC since Bear Bryant's 1965 and 1966 teams did it over 40 years ago.

Now the Crimson Tide is in position again to take the next step.

Can Alabama take it to the next level by defeating the No. 1 and defending National Champions Florida Gators?

In 2003 while at LSU, Saban's LSU Tigers faced the exact same situation. LSU had finished 2002 with two disappointing losses in the SEC Championship Game to Arkansas and a loss to Texas in their Bowl Game.

Saban said later that lessons were learned that year as well. Saban led the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship in 2003 by beating Georgia in the SEC Championship and No. 1 Oklahoma in the BCS Championship.

Can Saban and the Crimson Tide use the lessons learned in 2008 to take Alabama to the next level in 2009 and win the SEC Championship? The winner of the SEC Championship earns a ticket to the BCS Championship in 2010 in Pasadena, Ca.

The Florida Gators would have to be considered the premier college football team in America since the arrival of Urban Meyer in 2004. The Gators won the BCS in 2006 and 2008.

Defeating the defending national champion Gators in the 2009 SEC Championship could be a tall order especially while they are still being led by Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Heisman candidate Tim Tebow.

That is the task facing Alabama next Saturday in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.

Florida and Alabama are the two best teams in the country right now. There is a slight possibility that the BCS could pit both Alabama and Florida in the BCS Title Game in a rematch no matter the outcome this Saturday.

That would be true especially if Alabama beats Florida in a close game.

I think in either case, that would be unfair to all involved.

Florida if favored by almost a touchdown in this game and seems to be at the top of their game.

These two teams are very similar and ranked at the top of so many statistical categories that I won't bore you with the list. Both teams are battle tested and come into this game undefeated and pretty healthy.

Alabama has lost Linebacker Donta' Hightower earlier in the year and Alabama's leading rusher, Mark Ingram sustained a hip injury in the Iron Bowl.

On the Florida side, Linebacker A.J. Jones is doubtful, but other than that everyone else should be able to play.

There has never been a No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup in the SEC Championship Game, so we will be seeing history made this coming Saturday at 4:00PM EST.

Last years game pitted the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide against then No. 4 Florida Gators. Florida won that contest and then went on to win the BCS National Championship by defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in Miami 24-14.

The Crimson Tide looks to take the next big step under Nick Saban by beating the Florida Gators and hopefully going on to play for the Tides' 13th National Championship in the process.

Maybe that is the true meaning of the word "process" that Saban often speaks about.

If so, maybe this is the year Nick Saban's "process" comes to fruition and the Alabama Crimson Tide takes another huge step towards making college football history.

Read more Urban Meyer news on BleacherReport.com

SEC Championship May Not Be the End All-Tell All of 2009

Ashton Gilstrap — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:18:54 -0500

Let me pose an interesting question to you:

What happens if this weekend's conference championship games shake up the BCS enough to necessitate a rematch between Alabama and Florida for the National Title Game?

This is how it could happen:

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Alabama manages to come back after a devastating loss in last year's SEC Championship Game to defeat Florida and become the No. 1 team in the land?

Everyone is assuming that the National Title game will be between the winner of the SEC championship and Texas, but what happens if Texas loses this weekend to Nebraska's stout defense in the Big 12 Championship?

There's still a handful of undefeated teams out there, but let's look to the 2007 National Championship Game—when LSU lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks but still managed to get into the National Title game and beat Ohio State.

The point is no other teams in the country will have the kind of strength of schedule that SEC teams have, and that strength of schedule is what could push a rematch between Florida and Alabama for the title game.

Now, obviously, this is just raw speculation. A lot of things would have to go right for it to happen, but if Texas and Florida lose, can it really be argued still that the Gators are not the No. 2 team in the nation and thusly earn their right to go to the National Title game?

Only the next week will be able to tell us this, but I don't think it's too far-fetched to not deserve to be written about.

The SEC is the strongest conference in football, about that there can be no argument. I refuse to even entertain the idea that any other conference can hold a candle to the top to bottom strength that is present in the SEC.

Who's to say it couldn't happen? I'd love to see it happen. As an SEC purist, I think that Florida and Alabama are the two best teams in the country, and regardless of the other undefeated teams, one can clearly see that none of these other teams would make it in the SEC.

The two best teams in the country should play each other for the Championship, rematch or not.

Read more Urban Meyer news on BleacherReport.com

Florida Gators: Been A Long Road

Mike Casella — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:57:23 -0500

Wayne Peace was the quarterback for the University of Florida back in the early 1980's.

So what?

Contrary to popular belief, the Gators have not always been that dominant team. In fact, there was a time that they were referred to as, "The Choking Gators."

I know. I've spent most of my life as a fan and alumnus.

But, they came into their own beginning in the 1980's.

As a student, I'd go to every home game for five years. I'd go to many away games too.

I can clearly remember Wayne Peace quarterbacking Florida. I can also clearly remember the moaning and groaning of fans who thought our offense was too conservative.

Peace used to have this patented pass play where he'd sort of sprint out to his right or left and throw to a receiver just off the line and wide on either side. Kind of a "sideways" pass.

The offensive coordinator called it "stretching the defense horizontally." It was sort of a unique offensive concept. We weren't too familiar with it, but we'd adjust to the move, much to the chagrin of many of the Gator faithful.

That offensive coordinator used to get "killed" by the press and fans as being too predictable.

Oh, little did we know.

Now, that same man is called "the best offensive mind in the N.F.L."

And he was recently fired after a long run as the head coach of an N.F.L. team. He's the same man now on most team's "short lists" of potential head coaches.

The team was the Denver Broncos. And the man is Mike Shanahan.

Funny how things work out.

Read more Urban Meyer news on BleacherReport.com

BCS Bowl Predictions: Final Week

Brian Nelson — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:52:09 -0500

This week featured some of the most compelling and meaningful games of the season.

Oklahoma State's buckling at the Bedlam game had by far the most significant impact on final BCS destinations. The Cowboys lost 27-0 to the 6-5 Sooners. It's amazing this team was just one win away from the "exclusive" BCS.

Just like the Big 12 itself, OSU was vastly overrated.

Perhaps, the nation should have paid more attention to what last year's bowl results were telling us. The Pac-10, the SEC and the MWC are for real and the Big 12 seemed mediocre.

The big winners this week were Boise State and the SEC.

Boise State seemed to be on the outside looking in until Oklahoma State fell.

The SEC manhandled the ACC over the weekend. Florida was too much for the Seminole defense and two mid-tier SEC teams whipped both ACC division champions.

Alabama survived another close call. This week pulling it out at the last minute against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Props to the Tide and to Greg Mcelroy who looked terrific.

Although, I am very surprised the Tigers called two running plays during the one minute drill. I think the idea is to run plays that stop the clock and that actually move the chains.

The biggest loser this week aside from the ACC and Oklahoma State may have been the Big East. Pitt's loss to West Virginia takes a lot of glimmer off next week's de facto conference championship game.

In addition, if Texas were to somehow fall to Nebraska next week, it will be increasingly difficult for Cincinnati to pass up TCU in the Final BCS standings.

Either way, I see Pitt winning next week. Dion Lewis and Pitt's explosive running game will prove to much for Cincinnati's suspect run defense.

Here is how I see the BCS Bowl playing out on selection Sunday:

National Championship Game: Texas vs. Florida.

Texas does not deserve to be in this game. I know they were victims of the system last year and this will be a killer match-up, McCoy vs. Tebow, two major powerhouses. The ratings will be through the roof. Which is probably all the BCS cares about anyway.

The BCS should really take a stand on Texas' schedule. They certainly have no problem doing it with non-BCS teams. That hypocrisy will cost them one day. Big time.

Playing for the Crystal Football, Charlie Strong exposes Texas weak running game and the Gators' disciplined secondary keeps McCoy in check. Shipley returns a punt for a touchdown but the defending champions prevail, again.

Florida 27, Texas 17

Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Ohio State

Ohio State continues their pathetic January play by folding to Jeremiah Masoli and Chip Kelly's brilliant offense, who always seem to play better and better as the year progresses.

Oregon 28, Ohio State 20

Orange Bowl: Pitt vs. Clemson

Dude, seriously could this game get any uglier? The Orange Bowl, with the third at-large pick, selects Pitt in order to avoid a Clemson-TCU rematch.

Four-loss Clemson advances to the Orange Bowl automatically after knocking off Paul Johnson's Yellow Jackets.

Pitt knocks off Cincinnati with their stellar run game and terrific defensive line play. They do the same to Clemson despite 250 all-purpose yards from C.J. Spiller.

Pitt 13, Clemson 10

Fiesta Bowl: Penn State vs. Boise State

By losing Texas to the National Championship Game and Oklahoma State due to deficiency, the Fiesta Bowl has the honor of selecting two at-large teams. Knowing that their last pick will inherently be a less desirable non-BCS team, the Fiesta selects Penn State over the more deserving Iowa Hawkeyes, banking on the pull of Joe Pa and the strong, traveling fan base of the Nittany Lions.

While Iowa travels well too, the Fiesta views Penn State as the higher octane offense that can keep up with the Boise State Broncos.

Despite TCU's stronger resume, the Fiesta Bowl pulls from past experience and opts for the more proven commodity in Boise State. A team that has historically traveled better than TCU.

The Big Ten's woes in BCS games continue.

Boise State 42, Penn State 31

Sugar Bowl: TCU vs. Alabama

I love the Tide and suffer from Tebow-fatigue. But even a very talented, well-coached and well-balanced like this year's Alabama won't get by Urban and Tim in the national championship semi-final.

While Mcelroy and Julio Jones looked terrific against Auburn on Friday, Alabama's passing game won't be strong enough to keep up with Tim Tebow and Riley Cooper, despite Mark Ingram hobbling to 100 plus rushing yards.

Once again, the Tide will have to "settle" for another Sugar Bowl with another inferior MWC team. Saban learns his lesson from last year and does not provide any bulletin board fodder by discounting the MWC.

But he still overlooks TCU and their capable run defense.

The Tide faithful lay claim that they would've demolished TCU had Andre Smith suited up.

TCU 31, Alabama 17

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College Football's 11 Best 11s For December: The SEC Rules The ACC

BabyTate — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:44:21 -0500

During the final week of the regular season each season, arch-rivals in the two conferences who define southern sports meet to settle their differences.

The two leagues are the Southeastern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference, SEC and ACC to friends and foes alike.

Arrogant and powerful, each conference considers itself head and shoulders above any other in the primary college sports, the SEC in football and the ACC in basketball.

All apologies to the other BCS conferences, PAC10, Big10, Big East, and Big 12 but, until you can wrest the National Championship in each sport away from the two conferences it is the reality of the current situation.

Fans recognize Alabama taking on Florida in SEC football, and Duke and UNC battling in ACC basketball, make the sports world come to a stop. However, it is the inter-conference rivalries in football that create the extended family atmosphere.

This situation happens in the states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina when the Gators meet the Seminoles, the Yellow Jackets meet the Bulldogs, and the Tigers take on the Gamecocks.

The basketball season is young so, the jury is still out as to who is the boss of who this year. Not so with football.

Saturday's results proved the SEC is clearly superior to the ACC in football this season.

Ga Tech, pride of the ACC and ranked No. 7 in the BCS poll, was beaten by a middle-of-the-road Georgia, 30-24.

Clemson, who face the Yellow Jackets for the ACC title in Tampa next week and feature possible Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Spiller, received a beatdown from Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks, 34-17.

Florida State, for years the big gun of the ACC, was mauled by No. 1 ranked Florida 37-10 in a game never as close as the final score indicates.

Bad blood between blood relatives in these three situations.

And there is always next year.

The 11 Best 11s

Ranking This Week Ranking Last Week

1. Texas 1.

2. Alabama 2.

3. Florida 3.

4. Texas Christian 4.

5. Boise State 5.

6. Cincinnati 6.

7. Oregon 9.

8. Ohio State 10.

9. Iowa 11.

10. Penn State N/R (On The Porch)

11. Oregon State N/R (On The Porch)

On The Porch: Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Va. Tech, Nebraska, LSU

Alabama presented a case for becoming No. 1 with an inspired 26-21 comeback victory over arch-enemy Auburn. The Crimson Tide will will meet Florida this Saturday to determine who is the Champion of the SEC.

Tennessee pulled out a 30-24 overtime win at Kentucky while LSU needed an extra period to subdue Arkansas, 33-30. Mississippi State surprised high-riding Ole Miss in Egg Bowl action, 41-27.

While the SEC settled their differences, the PAC-10 provided some of the best action of the weekend.

Southern California and UCLA, two schools who know a thing or two about rivalries, staged a magnificent contest in the Coliseum for nearly 60 minutes.

The final moments created the stir when Bruin head coach Rick Neuheisel called time out, apparently to cramp the Trojan victory celebration. Trojan overseer Pete Carroll did not appreciate the gesture and responded with a "bomb" pass play for a touchdown.

Properly incensed over the matter, the Bruins attempted to start a rumble. Cooler heads prevailed and the Men of Troy went home with a 28-7 win over their crosstown rival.

Houston showed no mercy to their city rival, the Rice Owls. Leading 59-0 at halftime, the Cougars went on to a 73-14 act of destruction.

The Apple Cup was settled early on as the Huskies dominated Washington State 30-0.

In the desert battle between Arizona and Arizona State, the Wildcats scored on a last second field goal to escape the clutches of Dennis Erickson's nasty boys defense.

Stanford put a merciful end to the season of Notre Dame and the much-maligned Charlie Weis. Behind the powerful running of Toby Gerhart, the Cardinal overhauled the tiring Irish in the second half for a 45-38 victory.

Boise State took the pistol offense of Nevada and clobbered the Wolfpack with the handle, 44-33 while TCU destroyed hapless New Mexico, 51-10.

Brigham Young had to work overtime to defeat Utah 26-23 in the Battle of the Beehive State but it was the remarks of the Cougars' star quarterback Max Hall that made the most noise.

"I don’t like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything,” Hall said. “It felt really good to send those guys home.”

“I think the whole university [Utah] and their fans and the organization is classless,” Hall said. “They threw beer on my family and stuff last year and did a whole bunch of nasty things. I don’t respect them and they deserved to lose.”

Max, tell us how you really feel.

In Big 12 action, Texas withstood a furious Texas A&M attack to pull out a win on Thanksgiving evening, 49-39. The Oklahoma Sonners blanked the Oklahoma State Cowboys 27-0 in the Bedlam series.

Kansas fell to Missouri 41-39 in the Border War, Texas Tech defeated Baylor 20-13, and Nebraska punched out Colorado 28-20 despite some good news around the Hawkins family household. Coach Dan will be back for another season as head coach in Boulder.

Around the Big East stories circulated concerning the demise of Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe following another losing season, this one punctuated by a Friday loss to Rutgers by the tune of 34-14.

Illinois bowed to Cincinnati 49-36, Syracuse fell to UConn 56-31, and in the Backyard Brawl Pittsburgh fell on the final play of the game to West Virginia, 19-16.

The ACC-Big East showdown between South Florida and Miami ended with the Hurricanes rolling to a 31-10 victory. In other action, Boston College downed Maryland 19-17, N.C. State handed UNC another defeat 28-27, Wake Forest escaped Duke 45-34, and Virginia Tech destroyed Virginia, 42-13.

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Tim Tebow Says Goodbye to Gator Nation Against FSU and Bobby Bowden

James Walker — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:49:14 -0500

When it was all said and done, the Florida Gators defeated the Florida State Seminoles in The Swamp as most predicted. However, that story-line was the second most important of the day for the Gator Nation; by far it will always be remembered as the day Tim Tebow said goodbye to The Swamp.

As each Senior was introduced prior to the game, the 90,000+ people in the stands cheered and waited until the last player ran out of the tunnel to greet his coach and parents. Fittingly, No. 15 was the last name called, and when Tebow's name was announced, the crowd in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field roared like never heard before.

It was an appropriate tribute to the greatest Gator, and quite possibly the greatest college football player in the history of the NCAA.

When the game actually begun, the Gators were fired up and ready to do battle with their in-state rivals. In years past, Florida State was a big-time annual event for in-state bragging rights, but today it was simply a stop on the road to Atlanta and Pasadena.

The only difference with this game was it was Tebow's last in The Swamp.

Tebow's production was typical. He passed for 221 yards and three TDs going 17 of 21. He also rushed for 90 yards on 15 carries scoring two TDs. It also kept him in the running for this year's Heisman Trophy.

When Tebow walked off the field in the fourth quarter, he did it in his legendary unselfish manner. He was replaced by future starting QB John Brantley, and he stood on the sidelines cheering like the fans that were in the stands.

The week preceding today's game saw several tributes to Tebow. ESPN's College Gameday crew was on campus for the game, and of course they were there to pay homage to Tebow. Each tribute was nicely done, but none could capture what Tebow has meant to the University of Florida or the college football world.

Coach Urban Meyer was emotional during his weekly press conference this past Tuesday as he described how it was coaching and working with Tebow. It was more personal than professional for Meyer the past four years, and it has been refreshing to see a strong relationship between coach and player.

If Tebow was nervous or feeling meloncholy during the game, it didn't show. He led the Gator offense like he always did with the skill of an experienced Field Marshall. He passed, he ran, and he scrambled. When it was all said and done, he was victorious.

Even though the Gator fans celebrated the win, they also felt sorry that their beloved Tebow would never play football in The Swamp ever again. History had arrived, and it was bittersweet.

There are two games left for the Gators, and both have championship implications.

First is Alabama. Both the Gators and Crimson Tide are undefeated, ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively, but one will lose and one will go on to Pasadena for the National Championship.

No matter what happens in the coming weeks, the Gator Nation can fall back on the memories Tim Tebow provided. The book is almost over, but two chapters need to be written to complete the story.

Unfortunately, we can't skip to the end to see how it ends.

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Chomp! Chomp! Florida Batters Florida State in Tim Tebow's Finale

Alex Ferguson — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:00:22 -0500

On weekend that saw Florida's BCS rivals Texas and Alabama (nearly) fall to in-state rivals, Florida showed how it was done against Florida State, hammering the Seminoles by the 'close' score of 37-10.

Yesterday we at the VFA made the point that winning rivalry games was often a question of who 'wanted it more'.

Now, we'd like to correct ourselves. We're quite aware that both sides 'want' to win. It's obvious—college football players don't exactly go out to lose, do they?

But get this: If you impress during a rivalry game, then everyone gives you the thumbs up on Thanksgiving Weekend, even if you were playing a defense as horrific as Florida State.

Florida State's problem isn't about speed. The speed that Florida State (as a team) has—in our view from watching an awful lot of teams this season—is second to none in the country.

But defense-wise, it's second to about everybody. I think that even Indiana would be disappointed with scoring under 30 against the 'Noles if the two met up. That is the poverty of FSU's defense.

Mind you, Texas A&M and Auburn's weren't great either. But it was Florida who exploited the weaknesses of Florida State's—as they did last year—and you have the feeling that had the 2009 matchup been in Doak Campbell, the result would have been exactly the same.

And to make matters worse for the Bowden-ers, Florida's defense was so dominant that the touchdown in garbage time late on in the game was a little bit on unjust side. Still, it was one heck of a catch, and well worth Youtubing!

And Tim Tebow, was, well, Tim Tebow. There was one horrible fumble late on in the game that the Tebow-haters enjoyed (and we still can't believe that the SEC officials didn't call him for an offensive facemask too), but otherwise, you can hardly complain with 17-21, 221 yard, 3-touchdown effort, could you?

We doubt that he'll put up the same gaudy numbers against Alabama going against a fearsome defensive front, but we think he'll do pretty well.

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Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: You Survived, Alabama

Alex Ferguson — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:56:00 -0500

Alabama scored their first win in Auburn since God was a boy. We saw no toilet paper on trees. No screams of "Go To Hell, Alabama!" after the game, and everyone (apart from 10,000-20,000 Alabama fans who made the trip to Jordan Hare Stadium) went home a little bit sad.

In fact, it wouldn't have been easy to sort out this BCS mess if Alabama had lost, because then if they beat Florida (who we can confidently predict won't play as badly as Texas or Alabama did over the last two days), who would face Texas (who we confidently predict will hammer Nebraska next week) in the National Title game? Would Boise or TCU have their wish? Or would it be Cincinnati? Or...? Or....?

Anyway, we know about rivalry games that they are always going to be battles. They generally aren't won by 400 points by either side, and it's all about passion and, as we Brits say, "wanting it more."

There's no question that both teams wanted it more. The tackles were flying from all directions.

The problem with Auburn is that they couldn't stop Alabama's final drive, and quarterback Chris Todd, who had played very well up to around the second quarter, finally ran out of "playing well" gas.

But let's get this straight: did ANYONE see an Alabama team that might beat Florida in the SEC game?

Alabama was held to just 73 yards rushing by the Tigers, with fairy dust around Mark Ingram suddenly eliminated in the game that really counted. Ingram looked second class against a distinctly second-class (for most of the year, anyway) Auburn front.

Auburn battled like Tigers, but it was not to be. But does anyone seriously think that Alabama's going to win the SEC Championship Game after this performance?

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Alabama Faces Florida in the SEC Title Game For The BCS National Championship

Franklin Crittenden — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:28:21 -0500

Yes, you read that right. It wasn't a poorly conceived headline and it wasn't a typo.

Alabama and Florida are actually playing for the BCS National Championship on December 5, 2009 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA.

Oh sure, they are playing for the SEC Championship as well, but lets face it, the winner of this game will most likely win the BCS National Championship game when it's played in Pasadena, CA on January 7, 2010.

So for all intents and purposes, this game between the two top teams in the SEC will decide who is to be crowned the BCS National Champion in January. The BCS Championship game itself is just a formality.

Why do I believe that you ask?

Because for the last 11 years, no matter who the opponent has been, the SEC Champion has beaten all comers in the previous BCS Championship games—that is when they were allowed to participate.

So I would have to say that if the SEC Champion were to lose to whomever the BCS chooses for an opponent in the BCS title game, it would have to be considered an upset of monumental proportion.

Every time the SEC plays in the BCS Championship game, they win.

The SEC was not invited in 2004 or 2005, thus giving USC and Texas a chance to win those two titles. But based on the SEC's record in the BCS game, I would have to call those titles illegitimate. The same goes for 1999 through 2002.

Please don't bother telling me about USC. If USC played in the SEC they would be a good team, but someone in the SEC would hang at least one loss on them in the regular season every year, not to mention a possible second loss in the SEC Championship game.

Just the fact that USC doesn't have to contend with a conference championship game should disqualify them from consideration in the BCS, in my humble opinion.

Imagine if they had to face Pac-10 powerhouses Oregon or Stanford for a second time in a conference championship game? I think about half of those national championships they claim would not exist. When I call them powerhouses, I am of course just being funny.

If playing in the Pac 10 is not easy enough, the Pac-10 makes it even easier by avoiding a championship game. If the Pac-10 wants to be respected, they should add a championship game and bring some real competition like Utah and Boise State into their conference.

Everyone knows the SEC is the premiere college football conference in the nation.

The names at the top of the SEC elite have changed over the years from Tennessee to LSU to Florida, back to LSU and then back to Florida again, but the results are always the same. Lets face the facts, the winner of the SEC, if invited, always wins the BCS Championship.

This brings me to Alabama.

It just so happens Alabama has been handicapped during the BCS years, but Alabama is back and they are again operating at 100 percent. Give Nick Saban one more year to recruit and Alabama will be a running like a three deep team shredder operating at full bore!

What does that mean to the SEC and the BCS?

It means that there is about to be a new sheriff in town with a chip on his shoulder and a bad attitude.

Over the past few year, Alabama and its fans have had to sit on the sideline and watch while all the other teams have had all the fun.

Well, guess what? The fun is almost over for some of the teams who have enjoyed this free ride thanks to the folks over at the NCAA.

I am not going to sit here and tell you that Alabama is one of the greatest football program in the country. I don't have to, because it is a fact .

Alabama is only second to Notre Dame by the thinnest of margins in the all time rankings and that is about to change within a blink of an eye.

Alabama is on its way to the top again while Notre Dame continues to struggle.

When Alabama wins its next national championship they will surpass Notre Dame and Alabama will once again be the college football program all others are measured by.

I hope you noticed that I said when. That was not a slip of the lip because I feel confident Alabama will win the national championship.

In fact they will win more than one in the near future.

Now before everyone starts thinking I am being arrogant or cocky, let me say this, I will not have a thing to do with it.

I am an Alabama fan, just like thousands of other Crimson Tide fans, the only thing I am going to do is support the team and the coaches and sit there with a big smile of my face and watch it all happen.

Next Saturday the Florida Gators will be the only thing standing in Alabama's way of becoming the next national champion and the premiere college football program in the country.

The Crimson Tide have caught up with the Gators and are now in position to surpass the defending national champions and represent the SEC in the BCS Championship game in January.

The Gators are very good, but the Alabama team they will face is head and shoulders better than last year's team that took them down to the wire in the 2008 SEC Championship game.

The Florida Gators' better bring their A game and a little luck if they intend on pulling this one out like they did last year.

I would suggest that anyone who loves college football tune in at 4:00 EST on December 5, 2009 on CBS and watch Alabama make history. Until then, now would be the time to give your opinion.

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Miss Fine Fitness: A Quarterback's Vision

Ronnie C Wright — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:09:24 -0500

As she tanned on the beach, flawlessly nude, glowing under the sun, he saw Miss Fine Fitness. In an instant, she represented his lifelong fantasy as she posed perfectly naked along the Florida shore during summer break.

Her luscious lips without lipstick and hair flowing without care forever cemented this marvelous moment from real-time into real memory. The rush, the thrill, the energy—it all moved this eighteen-year-old soon-to-be college football star to experience new adventure and excitement.

The girl was there, in plain view as he began his run along the coastline in St. Augustine.

On this breathtakingly beautiful morning, in 2006, Tim Trudough suddenly felt the temperature rise inside of him. He had to stop and pay attention to the curves on the bare figure as she listened to music completely unaware of the athletic artist's gaze.

He is a quarterback. He is used to facing all sorts of rushes, but this, this was a different rush. He recalled games when he scored on a running play and felt an organic high—pure elation. The band was playing the fight song, the crowd was cheering, and teammates were jumping up and down.

Now—this!

Today, Tim Trudough was scaling a new mountain, a truly personal Mt. Everest. He'd been through all the skull sessions, the practices, the weight training—all of it—yet none of it had prepared him for Miss Fine Fitness.

He was always on top. His favorite position was being on top. Today, his world was upside down and spinning all around, moving in and out like the waves.

He excelled at everything, even in the classroom he competed against the intellectuals.

Man! This was virgin territory—outside the usual playbook. This was not the ordinary read a leader encounters on the field of play. This time he was taking one giant leap from imagination into reality.

The football field is one thing—this is another. Balance weighs in the balance. This is a right verses right dilemma. "What should I do?," he asked himself.

(to be continued...)

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