In the interest of sparking an off-season college football debate, I'm throwing my team (and myself to a lesser extent ) under the bus. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes had an extremely disappointing season last year with a relatively easy schedule. They finished 6-6, and missed out on a bowl invite. This year they return 10 of 11 starters on offense, and a very strong defense which always plays well under Defensive Coordinator Norm Parker. They should be greatly improved. But here's where you get upset.
Take a look at the schedule for 2008:
2008 Hawkeye football schedule (home games in bold):
Aug. 30 vs. Maine
Sept. 6 vs. Florida International
Sept. 13 vs. Iowa State
Sept. 20 at Pittsburgh
Sept. 27 vs. Northwestern
Oct. 4 at Michigan State
Oct. 11 at Indiana
Oct. 18 vs. Wisconsin
Nov. 1 at Illinois
Nov. 8 vs. Penn State
Nov. 15 vs. Purdue
Nov. 22 at Minnesota
It's really almost an embarrassment. Seven home games, only five on the road. The toughest road game is at Illinois, an overrated team from last year that Iowa beat. There's no Michigan, and no Ohio State. Penn State, Purdue, and Wisconsin all have to come to Iowa City.
Surely the non-conference games must be tougher right? There's Maine and Florida International (both in Iowa City) those are both very winnable to say the least, and Iowa State is always a tough rivalry game, but this year it's (you guessed it) in Iowa City. Following the Iowa State game they do have to go to Pittsburg, but it seems like every year Pittsburg is supposed to be greatly improved, but they never are. They're like the Arizona Cardinals of the College ranks.
Now granted I've already admitted this is my team, so it's a biased opinion, but it is very conceivable for Iowa to finish 10-2 or better, possibly with a share of the Big Ten title, and an invite to a BCS game. So go ahead, send me your hate. SEC fans tell me how much tougher your conference is. Criticize the Hawks for such a cupcake schedule. This year I'll be fine with it, because I'll be in Pasadena while you complain about how your team got screwed by the BCS!
Everyone who is a fan of the Big Ten, the Pac 10, and the Rose Bowl, please cheer for West Virginia and Missouri this weekend! Everyone who thinks the BCS is a joke, please cheer for West Virginia and Missouri this weekend! Screw it, everyone please cheer for West Virginia and Missouri this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, don't get me wrong. Both teams have had a great year, and I personally would like to watch those two teams in the BCS Championship game. But the Rose Bowl needs this game. College football needs this game! This is without a doubt the craziest college football year I've ever seen, and because Hawaii will not play in the Championship game, I don't think any team can fairly justify saying they undeniably deserve a berth in the championship game. So let's bring back the one thing the BCS is trying to get rid of, Tradition.
Of course Ohio State fans are hoping to slide into that #2 spot and play for redemption from last year's loss to Florida. And if they make it good for them. But USC is clicking right now, and I'd be willing to bet that the USC game will be a tougher game than either West Virginia or Missouri.
And while I'm at it, since the Associated Press is no longer a part of the BCS, let's just say that West Virgina and Missouri play a horrible championship game, lots of penaties and turnovers, and Ohio Sate just crushes USC in the Rose Bowl. They could still win a share of the national title, just like USC did in '04.
Then again, the way this year has gone, both teams will lose, Ohio State will get snubbed, and we'll have Georgia vs. Kansas in the Championship game. How great would that be? Two teams that didn't even make their conference championship game playing for the national championship!
Like most of you, I was watching the Oregon vs. Arizona game last night and saw Dennis Dixon go down with an injury, which basically ended any type of offense the Ducks had the rest of the night. They showed a stat in the 3rd quarter that said before his injury Oregon's offense averaged 9.3 yards per down, after the injury it was 3.0. That brought up a couple questions for me. First, is Dixon really that good? And is Oregon's offense really that bad without him? Maybe he does deserve the Heisman.
While I was thinking about this, ESPN went to commercial, and what are they advertising? It's a ad campaign for Dixon for Heisman. Really?!?! Is that what this award has become? Are the leading candidates going to start mudslinging? Do they have to go out and kiss babies and shake hands with voters? I remember thinking the Times Square ad was in poor taste, but a national television ad? I'm officially off the Dennis Dixon for Heisman campaign, and it has nothing to do with him, his performance, or his injury. It's the University of Oregon's Athletic department for buying the ad and trying to buy the school a Heisman trophy, again.
Glenn Dorsey for Heisman!! Or whoever else isn't playing for Oregon.
I'm an avid sport fan, but I'm a college football fan first. I'm a Iowa Hawkeyes, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bulls, and LA Angels fan. I also love the UFC, and think boxing is a dying sport. I'm a horrible golfer, but I like to drink while driving a golf cart and the golf course is the only place that lets me do that. I live in Milwaukee now after living in Iowa and Long Beach, CA. And without a doubt, Wisconsin people are the undisputable kings of tailgating. Even Brewer games people tailgate like it's a college bowl game.
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