The worst part is, we may never know who has the better team, Florida or Michigan. Not like it matters. Ohio State could play the Indianapolis Colts and still drop 42 points. What matters is that we have a college football system we created to solve problems- instead it has just created more questions. Beyond the arguments of Michigan fans there are severe problems with the system that propose many different questions.

The Detroit Free Press with the help of BCS guru’s published an article today outlining the numbers of voters who were swayed last week. A rough estimate showed that 120 voters from the Harris Poll and the Coaches Poll changed their vote. Fine, I can deal with that- Florida is a good team- but what’s to say this won’t be a different, more unfair situation later?

Who says that next year 120 voters won’t change their vote to a team lower in the polls? Maybe putting a two-loss team ahead of a one loss team? Who says 150 voters won’t change their votes? Or all of them? Who says a one-loss team ranked fifth in the nation because a poor strength of schedule couldn’t jump four spots because all of the voters wanted them too? You know the voters compile 66 percent of the BCS formula.

Across the board, coaches and Harris Poll voters across the nation said they didn’t want to see a rematch between Ohio State and Michigan. I’m sorry, tell me in the BCS rule book where it says voters are supposed to vote for the most appealing title game? Voters aren’t being asked to vote on what is appealing or not. They are asked to vote on the top 25 teams. If they want to vote on what is appealing they should go to Hot Or Not.com.

We’ve already seen what a flip-flop of votes can do to the system when people want to see a more appealing match up. This year at least. What happens next year when it happens to another team? To your team? What happens when another year of college football is wasted because of more unnecessary controversy?

Almost every year they change the BCS to fix potential glitches- usually after they happen. This year they expanded a game to give 10 teams a shot at the BCS and give mid-majors another shot- but still the potential flaws are still there. If only 10 teams can go to BCS games and there are guaranteed spots to six conference winners, Notre Dame if they are in the top eight , any team in the top four and any mid-major in the top 12- there are ways where the system mathematically cannot work. Yes it is highly unlikely, but lets not wait until hit happens to realize that the system is #### up.

Another major flaw nobody seems to be talking about is how an 11-1 Wisconsin team is not allowed to go to a BCS game because Ohio-State and Michigan are already in one. I’m sorry since when does winning 11 games and only losing to the No.2 team in the nation on the road in September by 14 points mean you aren’t worthy of a top tier bowl game? People will argue that Wisconsin had a weak strength of schedule, but Boise State did too, but we have different rules for Boise State because they are a mid-major. Their strength of schedule doesn’t matter. Wisconsin’s does. And what would have happened if Wisconsin finished in the top four? Do they still get neglected from a BCS game? And why didn’t Wisconsin even get a shot at Ohio State? All those voters keep saying Michigan had their chance to play OSU, but Wisconsin didn’t- what if 150 voters decided it was time to see Wisconsin in the national title game? Again highly unlikely but lets not wait until something like this happens to change the system.

I’ll agree that the BCS has produced some lights out matchups over the years but so have regular bow games in the past. Had this been 1994 Ohio State would be headed to Pasedena to play USC, in a great game. If they won they would have the national title, no controversy there. Florida would get the automatic bid from the SEC and go to the Sugar Bowl and play the next best at-large team- Michigan. So if OSU lost, you could have a national champion waiting in the shadows.

Instead we are left wondering what should be the national championship game?

Should Jim Tresell had voted? Should coaches be allowed to skip voting?

Should we base or system on voting and people’s often biased opinions- or should we get more standard criteria?

Should you have to win your conference to make it to the BCS title game? Its never said so before?

Should you have to lose a game early rather than late? Or do you just have to play better teams?

Do you have to play 13 games? Have a conference championship game? Or have to play all your teams in your conference like the Pac-10 did this year?

Are there too many discrepancies?

What about Notre Dame? Why do they have special rules? They don’t even have a conference? Navy doesn’t have special rules why do they have an unfair advantage?

What about Rutgers? Why were they so low at 8-0 this season, is it because they sucked in the past? How is that fair?

How is any of this fair? Why am I still typing? Why are you still reading?

Your not the NCAA, and your not a magic 8-ball. You cant answer these questions and neither can they.

Lets get a system that can.

I can't help but notice that ESPN is behind the times when it comes to throwing out names of Heisman candidates. It shouldn't bother me, except for the fact that ESPN has a stranglehold on the whole Heisman award show, stat tracking, and fan polling to the point where it majorly influences who is in the running from the beginning of September to the end of December.

Tedd Ginn is currently on their list of Heisman hopefuls along with some other clowns who don't deserve to be there. Don't believe me? Take a look for yourselves- the stats don't lie- and Ginn isn't even the best receiver on his team. Here is how Ginn stacks up with three other receivers in the NCAA- all of whom are not on ESPN's prestigious list of Heisman knockouts.

Tedd Ginn - WR OHIO STATE 331 yards from scrimmage; 5 touchdowns

Mario Manningham - WR MICHIGAN- 463 yards from scrimmage; 7 touchdowns

Calvin Johnson - WR GEORGIA TECH -447 yards from scrimmage; 7 touchdowns

Robert Meacham - WR- TENNESSEE- 585 yards from scrimmage; 5 touchdowns

want some non BCS affirmations that Ginn is either overrated by ESPN or isn't playing as well as he can?

Johnnie Lee Higgins- WR- UTEP - 493 yards from scrimmage; 6 touchdowns.

How about from non- BCS schools consistently getting pummeled by BCS schools?

Jared Dillard WR- Rice- 516 yards from scrimmage with 7 touchdowns; including scores against UCLA, Texas, Houston, and Florida State. Not bad competition. So what if they lost to Army? He picked up his game by reaching pay dirt three times!!!!

And what about Sidney Rice from South Carolina?

161 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns.

In one game!

But ESPN.com is right Ted Ginn is the best receiver in the nation. Which is why he is currently the only receiver among this list mentioned in their weekly Heisman hopefuls list compiled by Chris Spielman. Sorry Chris, maybe you shouldn't have quit your day job with the Detroit Lions- although I don't blame you.

Jon Gunnells is a journalism senior at Michigan State University who is about to watch the first Tigers playoff game of his life in 56 minutes. He would also whomp on Chris Spielman in all things college football. He can be reached at gunnell2@msu.edu or by hitting the pound key on your Verizon Wireless phone.

A few more quick thoughts (and some not so quick thoughts)  I had while doing the Ickey Shuffle in front of my mirror:

I was reading a blog earlier where this blogger was ranting about talkative sports announcers. For the most part nothing beats a running commentary by John Madden where he turns a routine shovel pass commentary into a 45 second discussion with Al Micheals about snow shovels but tonight one announcer proved me wrong.

Tonight in overtime of the Pistons Grizzlies game Pistons announcer said "Tayshaun got him from behind." It might be the fifth grader in me but, does anyone else find that funny? The only other better awkward announcing mishap occured this football season during the Michigan Indiana donnybrook.

Since Michigan was up by nearly a dozen touchdowns they put in wide reciever Doug Dutch who sees less action than the backseat of my Ford Focus. As Dutch saw more and more action - and ultimately made more mistakes the announcers started shifting their focus towards Dutch's play using a play on words with his last name.

It went something like this:

Anouncer 1: Dutch just dropped a pass, that means Dutch is in Lloyd Carr's Oven.

Announcer 2: Dutch will have to get another catch to get out of the oven

two plays later

Announcer 2: Dutch makes the catch and he is out of the oven.

Announcer 1: Wait a penalty on Doug Dutch, Dutch is back in the oven.

I kid you not folks. I can not make this stuff up. I realize though this probably has zero comical value because (a) you are not nine. and (b) you had the be there. By the way you ever notice when someone says "you had to be there" that its a sort of forshadowing that whatever they are going to tell you or whatever they did tell you was a waste of time. Yeah. In case I forgot... you had to be there. I know there has to be more of these announcer slip ups though so if anyone knows of any let me know I would love to hear them. And no that Ball State student

Another quick note on announcing. Rick Mahorn keeps mentioning the Pistons rebounding prowess. He has said it like nine times tonight . I give it five minutes before he reaches Jay Bilas NBA draft status with the phrase "tremendous upside".

Staying with college football I noticed that a few Texas players have some off the field issues specifically Romance Taylor and Cedric Griffith. Now while I am usually pretty knowledgeable about college football... BUT there are 117 teams and nearly 100 players on each squad... .the least the AP could do in their stories is refer to them by thier numbers or overall rating in NCAA '06 so I can properly guage a teams chance of winning without them.

By the way why doesn't NCAA '06 have the flea flicker - other than because it's the only play I would ever run. Tecmo Bowl had it.

This guy didn't get loose off the flea flicker he's running away from the Dutch Oven.

I'm still watching the Pistons Grizzlies 9 hour extravaganza - the teams still haven't scored 100 points and Im starting to realize that the Suns would have had about 267 by now, but still can't beat the Spurs or Pistons. The way both those teams are owning their conferences right now is there any doubt in anyones mind that they will return to the championship? You can make a case for the Heat, Spurs maybe the Mavs or Cavs but why bother?

I just noticed that Chauncey Billups is incredibly clutch. My boss thinks that Rasheed is more clutch but I think he is wrong. Even so... is there a bad option for the Pistons when they are in a clutch situation. Its like they each inherited part of Larry Birds soul when he left the game. Except for Darko. He inherited Kurt Rambis's awkward demeanor.

Poor Darko.

Okay theres number 10 for Rick Mahorn - rebounding prowess is officially a sports cliche. If this was wrestling someone surely would have hit him with a chair or thrown salt in his eyes by now.

 

 Rick Mahorn has tremendous upsides repetitive sports cliches are not one of them.

Pistons finnally hit the 100 point plateau meanwhile I think the DJ for the Grizzlies is on coccaine. He wont stop playing music at inoportune times. During time outs yeah, but during injuries, and gameplay... c'mon. They just got done playing Cypress Hill's Rap Superstar when Damon Stoudemire drove the lane... wouldn't Afro Man's Because I Got High been more appropriate. Since they have Cypress Hill, I wonder if they play Insane in the Membrane when Ron Artest plays or maybe like "I am Wierd Long and Gangly and I Have a Watermelon Shaped Head" for Tay-Tay- that has to be a Wierd Al song or something.

Okay Rick Mahorn is officially on my hitlist.

Im done with him and I am done with the NBA in this column.

I mentioned in the title that this entry would have something to do with the NHL. But like everyone else I like the NHL about as much as I like stepping on rusty nails. Anyone who doesn't agree can just watch as this entry sits atop the NHL updated blogs page for like 13 days while it will be bumped off the other pages in mere minutes.

Okay last thing I swear: Yesterday I mentioned there was a Chuck Norris fact generator could be found through google.com but apparently there is Mr. T fact generator too.

Here is my favorite Mr. T fact: Mr. T is allergic to doorknobs, that is why he kicks doors over when he walks through doorways.

Check out the site folks. Tremendous upside.

Chuancey A.K.A. "Mr. Big Shot" is gesturing for Mahorn to keep it down meanhwile keeping it real and clutch like the bird man.

Jon Gunnells is trying to become the Nex Great Sports Writer with his writing and rebounding prowess... leave him a comment or buy him a Grilled Stuffed Burrito- in either case he will thank you.

 

Bloggers note: If you wan't to skip my introduction jibba jabba scroll down to the bottom where I give you my top ten sports related video games of all time.

The over under is four. Four as in the number of days it will be before I stop using puns of my last name to title my blogs. Maybe I will catch some attention from the judges, but chances are I'd have a better chance of catching Anna Benson's attention. Yesterday when I began this blog I was sold on the idea of paralleling my writing to Bill Simmons. Ironically enough so is everyone else. I am sure over the next couple of weeks all of us [the contestants] will read numerous rants about sports movies, top ten lists, game diaries and so on - but it takes a true talented writer to create those interesting blogs with the witty humor while still remaining remotely coherent. So from this point on I would like to wish everyone luck as I try to use my humor and background knowledge in a unique way to win this contest.

Yes it's a longshot but the last time I checked the Bengals were playoff bound. Which reminds me. I never posted Chad Johnson's letter to Santa in my last blog. I could make the excuse that classes have gotten in the way but classes ended two days ago- sure I am at Michigan State but it isn't early April so there are no fires outside my apartment building. I guess a better reason would be that I played about six hours of college football 2006 with my roomates today. You know if I put half as much effort into creating unique blogs I think foxports would have hired me by now.

As I was saying... playing college football 2006 has become a unique past time of mine. I have owned every copy of EA sports college football since 1996 spanning three seperate game consoles. Call me crazy but for some reason I would much rather play college football than Madden. (Please hold your hate mail). So as a tribute to college football and its 10th anniversary of being in my video game system I give you all my top 10 sports video games of all time.

10. Excite Bike - For Nintendo : When the year is 1987 and you can build your own motocross track life is good. No need for fancy graphics, first person shooting, or online play- Excite Bike could keep me busy for hours. One thing that always intrigued me was the bikers striking resemblance to an awkward bird like creature. Nothing like a sub 16 bit system racing game to start this list.

9. Tecmo Basketball - Nintendo: Any game featuring the various #### floor the Orlando Magic played on in 1993 scores style points with me. Besides name one other game that Mark Blount had paint presence in.

8. Joe Montana Football 1996 - Sega Genesis : A pivotal point in my life was the day the instant replay feature in Mr. Montana's football game ruined what my brother and I like to call the Gunnells bowl. Each Christmas morning we would square off toting our newest football game. In it's 4th year of existance I was dealt a crushing defeat in the bowl leveling the series to 2-2. After a long third down conversion I attempted to gloat to my broha and play the instant replay over and over like a Black Eyed Peas song on a top 40 station - however the second time I replayed it Brett Perriman fumbled the ball. Yeah I know not only was it not an instant replay but I lost the ball and subsequently the game. Now I know how Jerome Bettis felt after the 1995 turkey day game against the hapless lions. Although the game gets major props because Emmit Smith could never be tackled. If you don't believe me go out and buy the game. Run back and forth up and down the field with No. 22 and you tell me who the greatest running back of all time. Chances are it isn't Napolean Kaufman.

7. Madden Football 1998: Playstation and Nintendo 64: Greatest of the Madden games because it was revolutionary for it's time. Franchise mode, dynasty mode, Jeff Fischer mustache growing mode. Just kidding about the last one. But seriously would that feature not make any game. Pick which mustache comb coach Fischer will use. Or what baggy sweatshirt Bellicheck will use. Or how many hot dogs Bill Parcells could eat. The possibilities are Kovayashi. I mean endless. The possibilities are endles.... moving on.

6. Jet Moto - Playstation: Some may argue that this game isn't a true sports game, but when I was 12 I could only afford one game with my playstation so Jet Moto gets the nod. Never did figure out what grapple meant though. Or how my Jet Skier could drive through houses - guess the drivers must have taken drivers training in the same class as Robert Traylor.

5. Mario Andretti Racing - Sega Genesis : Mario Andretti racing became a video game cult classic as my family played in endlessly in my grandma's basement. It was either that or boggle. Andretti could have made the top five slot but my thumb throbs to this day from having to hold onto the A button for 198 laps at Penbrooke Speedway.  Those five or so phrases never got old though. "GO EASY ON THE EQUIPMENT" .

4. Mario Kart : Nintendo 64- Sticking with the racing games Mario Kart remains one of my favorite games of all time. It falls to fourth because it involves no real characters besides Yoshi. I am determined that little tortoise slug exists, and I am fairly sure his name is Ashton Yobouty.

3. Blades of Steel - Nintendo: NHL 1993,  -

Sega Genesis: A three way tie has been implemented because I disliked hockey too much to devote 30 percent of this top ten list to sports played in Manitoba. Blades of Steel had terribly game play but the players entrance to the ice was unbeatable - it made we want to play hockey, or just skate around to some cool song like Eye of the Tiger. NHL 1996 and 1993 were both great games - 1993 makes the list over recent hockey games because recent hockey games didn't feature Bob Probert. Any man can play hockey, but it takes a real man to drive his motorcycle into a bank while drunk.

2. The College Football Series 1996-2006 spanning Sega, Playstation and Playstation 2: This series has controlled my life my last semester. It is the reason I skip classes, skip dinner, and will never get anywhere in life. Pro football fans will argue that Madden is the best and I am sure it is great however I cannot comment because I don't play it - I just feel college football has a unique comfort to it with some very interesting features. 117 teams couldn't be wrong. To this day I remember scoring 128 with Penn State in the 1996 Gunnells bowl, my life is defined by that moment along with the time I met George Karl at an Old Country Buffet.

1. Tecmo Super Bowl - Nintendo: This game cost me $65 dollars when I was in second grade but it was money well spent. I will never forget when Bo Jackson scored a touchdown a white guy would to a touchdown dance in the end zone. Or that when Ickey Woods got injured he would run out of the hospital with nurses waiving five weeks later. The unique graphics and clips of teams celebrating, and that goofy goofy music when there was a fumble will never be topped. Niether will that glitch in the game where you can zig zag down the field and never be caught, or play as Reggie White and sack the opposing quarterback every game. Great stuff. Especially considering it is the only way to get the Buffalo Bills a Super Bowl win.

Honorable Mention: Nintendo: Tecmo Bowl, Paperboy (does this count), Mike Tyson's Punchout, Bases Loaded 3. Nintendo 64: NFL Quarterback Club 1998. Sega Genesis: Madden 1989-1993 (when a player got injured an ambulance would drive onto the field running over the wounded), Triple Play 1999. Playstation: NBA Live 1998, NFL Blitz, Die Hard Trilogy (okay it was way too good to leave out - Yipeeekayay.). Playstation 2: Madden 2003, Fifa World Cup Soccer 2005, ESPN 2K5.