BCS Should Stand For BS

As we count down, thank God (just kidding, I love these bowl games), to the final BCS game, my thoughts begin to drift toward what could have been. As a professed Penn Statefan (my formative years shaped by the images of Joe Pa pacing the sidelines, and helmets that looked like, well, our recreational helmets) I release my inner boil to a steam of whistles and whirs. Yes, I am crying foul!

Is it me, or does it seem that several teams get what amounts to be a HOME GAME? Now look, I am not ignorant (at least to those who know me), I understand all the tradition that goes along with bowl games, but I tire of hearing the famed, "Grandaddy of them all" regarding the Rose Bowl, or what the new name should be, the "USC Bowl."

I respect USC, sort of, and I know I am angering USC fans (sorry), but here is the argument. Every year the winner of the Big 10 plays in the Rose Bowl, home to the USC Trojans. It bears repeating, home to the USC Trojans. Perhaps my emotions are getting the better of me right now, but I say this year's bowl game between the PAC-10 and Big 10 winners would have been a different game if it was played at, say, Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis. That sounds like a good spot for a bowl game; America’s great Midwest, wholesome Indiana, where tourists would have a great time touring the Fairgrounds, the zoo, Indy Motor Speedway, or even the Repertory Theatre.

Of the 34 bowl games this year, a bowl game where there seemed to be a home team (a team either within the city or state) the records of these teams was 10-5. Tonight’s game notwithstanding, the other 18 games were played at a neutral site, thereby providing each team an equal opportunity.

I think the Big 10 and PAC-10 should rotate bowls; one year in Pasadena, the next year in Indianapolis, and so on. Or even move winners of Big 10/PAC-10 to the Sugar Bowl.

I know, I know, the tradition, plus people wouldn’t travel to Indy like they would Pasadena. I understand the whole big game nice weather/vacation/celebration event atmosphere. I am just trying to point out that Penn State went 2,600 miles while USC went 11. So count your blessings Trojans fans.

Let’s take this year. How convenient it was for USC to have 12 days to prepare for a home game against Ohio State early in the season, yet 12 days and a travel date with Oregon State proved otherwise; the same team that Penn State throttled. And they had 2 weeks to get ready for Notre Dame, at home of course. It just seems curious that non-conference games have two week preparations. And if they don’t get two weeks, you can bet the game is in Pasadena.

Don’t get me wrong, USC is a talented team. Being in the BCS conversation every year is a good thing, and a 5-1 record in Rose Bowl games since 2003 (23-9 overall?), but I tire of hearing their name being Deified in sports journalism circles. I would love to see USC play Florida in Miamifor the BCS title, and then at the end of the game when USC loses, hear the cries and laments of USC fans who would say the game would have been different if played in Pasadena. You gotta love home field advantage, right Trojans?