Another year and more BCS controversies to disect, hash-out, and haggle till’ the cows come home. BCS is definitely good theatre and I heard Todd Blackledge singing it’s praises during his broadcast last Saturday night. Many university presidents and coaches support the system and balk at a true D-I playoff, citing educational and logistical problems with that type of schedule. Really? You mean the kids will miss class because their athletic comittments will conflict with class and/or exam schedules? Who has ever heard of such travesties?! I think any red-blooded, die-in-the-wool college football fan knows that this is about money, right? One walk through the Les Wexner-Woody Hayes Football Training Facility at The Ohio State University will help you understand the kind of money involved in big D-I programs in this country. How about taking a tour of Nike HQ South out in Eugene,OR? Samey-same.

The point is that big-time college sports, mainly b-ball and football, make a lot of money for their respective schools, endorsers, and media outlets who promote the events. It is common knowledge and it is the way it is. And it is the way that it will always be.

Unless someone comes up with an idea that puts as much money in the coffers of the big schools and the business partners therein, then this is the system we have and this is what we will always have. The BCS may change and reinvent itself, but some variation of a system that provides the type of income to advertisers, manufacturers, referees, coaches, schools, and networks will remain in place indefinitely.

But playoffs would enable teams to add games at their home venues and networks would get more opportunities to air an increased number of quality games. What is the problem here? Sounds good on paper, but the bottmline is that the bowl payouts could not be garnered in a playoff system managed by the NCAA. The current deals are with the conferences, not the NCAA. I suppose each level of the playoff grid could be rewarded with ever increasing payouts, but it is doubtful that is allowable under NCAA guidelines. The network deals would be with the NCAA, and not the conferences, and therefore not with the schools directly. The crystal given away to the Division 1 “National Football Champion” each year doesn’t have NCAA wrtten anywhere on the hardmare. Most people just agree to acknowledge that trophy as the property of the national champs. Too many people make too much money in the current arrangement, and therefore it will not change.

So, this year we will see Ohio State play in one of the BCS bowls with two losses, while an undefeated Boise State team does not. Ohio State has an alumni base the size of Idaho’s entire population! Ok, that is not exaclty true, but I bet 440,000 equates to a large percentage of the Idaho state population. The perception by the bowl organizers is that the OSU fanbase will bring more fans and more money than the Boise State contingent. That is a safe bet. Also, Hawaii did the WAC no favors last year when they didn’t show up against Georgia. Well that was last year, and two years ago Boise did more than show up against Oklahoma. It doesn’t matter. Boise was Utah two years ago. The non-BCS conference schools get one in and that’s that.

I hope I’m wrong. That has to sound crazy coming from an Ohio State dieherd, but I think that Boise deserves the shot. It won’t happen, but it should.

It is hard to be a Buckeye fan these days, but I wouldn't trade them for all the titles in the world. I witnessed this year's disappointment first hand, but I had a great buzz the whole time I was doing it! Here is the breakdown on the game, the teams, and a little fore shadowing to get the ball rolling for next year.

The Game

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes the outcome and score of the championship game lends credence to the out cry regarding the perceived talent void between OSU and SEC teams. The score was lopsided and OSU was permanently out of the game after the 3rd quarter.  It is unfortunate because the result was not truly indicative of how OSU played in the game. Anyone who watched the game knows that OSU was more than holding their own in the game, and was well on their way to reaching a point total and that would enable them to implement “Tressel Ball” and play typical OSU ball control. Nobody does it better. The Achilles heal of this OSU team was that it was incapable of playing from behind against talented teams. The most talented teams that OSU played (not including a ####ed up Michigan team that obviously did not give OSU their best shot) were Illinois and LSU. They lost both games. My point here is that although LSU won the game, OSU gave them a lot of help at key junctures.

I am not making excuses here; LSU executed a better game plan and took advantage of the Buckeyes weaknesses within their own game plan (and lack of execution). Nobody is going to beat LSU making the mistakes OSU made. Boeckman proved again that his deep ball leaves something to be desired, and against lesser defensive backs under thrown balls usually go to the Buckeye receivers. However, it would be nice to see a streaking OSU receiver catching a Boeckman ball in stride. Small had Jackson by a step, but the fall was not far enough in front, and Jackson made Boeckman and the Buckeyes pay. Boeckman’s inability to get rid of the ball killed OSU. After the Tigers had a comfortable lead, the dogs were cut loose and the ball was bouncing around like a ping-pong ball. Even if the Buckeyes recover their own fumbles, in most cases it is adding negative yardage. The Buckeyes doomed themselves with far too many 3rd and long situations they could not convert. Five sacks and constant pressures rattled Boeckman to the point that he was no longer an accurate passer and it showed. All positives for the LSU defense and the job they did especially in the second half. Later in the half twice Boeckman was throwing on 3rd and short in four down territory. This is unnecessary when you have the type of backs OSU has in their stable. LSU never shut down the run, OSU simply had to throw the ball to save clock and of course LSU knew it. Having to block the Dorsey led Tiger D-line is hard enough when you are making them guess, but take away the element of surprise and you’re toast for sure!

The tide of the game turned when Robiskie dropped a sure fire touchdown. The play occurred at the other end of the field from where I was sitting, but I have since seen the replays and it is obvious that he dropped the pass without any help from Jackson. One play later a blocked field goal not only prevented more OSU points but permanently shifted the momentum and home field advantage back to the Tigers. It was a killer. LSU drove the ball in ten plays to take the lead that the Buckeyes should have had instead. The final nail was hammered home when trailing 24-10, at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, Austin Spitler roughed the punter on a forth and twenty three…..nice. LSU received more help a few plays later when Cameron Heyward committed the Buckeyes fifth personal foul penalty of the game, and LSU scored on the next play. LSU 31 OSU 10 and buh-bye title. If Robiskie scores it is OSU 17 LSU 10 and the game is completely different.

I obviously can’t say that OSU would have won just because OSU would have had the lead at that point, but at several key points in this game, the Buckeyes could have turned the tide of the game. Consider if the usually dependable offensive lineman Steve Rehring wasn’t flagged for a false start with the ball 2nd and five at the LSU ten and the Buckeyes score to put LSU down by two touchdowns? And then stop them on the next possession that was aided by two (one questionable) personal fouls? Robiskie scores and it is 21-3 going in to the half. I am not playing ifs and buts to make a case that OSU should have won, only that a lot of what contributed to the Tiger’s first half advantage was unforced and it made their job a lot easier defensively in the second half, which in turn kept the OSU defense on the field a lot more. All of this is meant to build up to the point that the Buckeyes were in this game more than people will give them credit as time passes. People are using words like dominate and inferior, even when OSU actually out-gained LSU in total yardage. LSU was the better team, but OSU showed up for the game. I know there were some worried Tigers out there when Beanie was running through the Tiger defense like it was wet Kleenex and the OSU receivers were burning the LSU secondary like Cajun blackened catfish. It did not look good and the purple & gold spectators were quiet. It was heaven…then it was hell. In the end it would be nice if people who actually watched the game and know anything about football acknowledged these things. The LSU fans who I walked amongst after the game on my way down Poydres Avenue certainly acknowledged that the game could have turned out differently had OSU continued to execute in the first quarter. Doesn’t matter now anyway.

LSU

Like any championship team, the Tigers clicked in all facets of the game and took advantage of the frequent Buckeye mistakes. Making an opponent pay for their mistakes is crucial in any game, but especially in a championship, when the talent is even and the ball can just as easily bounce the wrong way for you too. The experience and tough season definitely helped the LSU squad keep up the pressure for sixty minutes. The quick Buckeye start may have actually helped the Tigers, because I think OSU thought the game may have been easier than expected (false sense of security). When the Tigers settled down a bit and made some adjustments, the OSU mistakes began to materialize more often. The Tigers are a machine. Built for power and for speed, but it wasn’t speed that was the deciding factor in this contest, it was the power. Eventually LSU won the war in the trenches on both sides of the ball and that is the key to any game.

Matt Flynn played a great game. His numbers were good, but not gaudy and his leadership was superb. Two years, two veteran SEC quarter backs dismantle the Buckeyes defense. I think somebody wearing a sweater vest needs to take serious stock in the Buckeyes game plans going forward. Flynn was rarely pressured and his receivers don’t need a lot of time to get open. The Buckeye pass rush was ineffective and the LSU O-line was supposed to be one of the weak points in the Tiger armor. I don’t remember the total, but I think they gave up the most sacks in the SEC this season. Whatever, those guys were good and the Buckeyes rarely sniffed Mr. Flynn’s back side (ewwww! Who the f@#% is this guy?). Hats off to Matt and a commanding performance.  The SEC should hire me to write comments for their QB’s every year in the title game after they earn their MVP awards.

The defense was as advertised. And who the f#@% is Harry Coleman?? That is exactly what the Todd Boeckman will be asking themselves for some time to come. I am glad Dorsey got a ring only because he came back for his senior year, like Mike Doss, to win a title. I find that admirable in thi$ day and age.

OSU

Do I have to? Oh, all right. The Buckeyes started out great and had me and every other Buckeye in that dome crying like babies from the sheer joy of our team’s impending vindication. We couldn’t wait to get that Gator of our backs and chant “Big Ten” to the departing LSU/SEC crowd……

We have missile launch. All targets are acquired and destruction is imminent.

B to the O to the double O to the f%#@ing M !!!! 

Last one out turn out the lights, will ya? It was to be short lived jubilation. As quick as a Trindon Holiday punt return, the Bucks coughed up the lead and settled into an all too familiar role as SEC punching bag. Man it sucked. The worst part is that even today (Thursday) I am still hoarse from yelling at all the b*tch-#### boosters who were sitting on their giant, fickle a$$es, instead of cheering for the Buckeyes. I would like to specifically call out section 642, right behind the Ohio State end-zone, for a particularly alarming display of fan ####ude. I would officially like to copy-write the word “####ude” as well. Anyway, the bottom 15-20 rows (from the deck rail up) sat on their butts for most of the game. Even when things were good!!! It was like the second half of a non-conference basketball game at the Schott in early November against Coppin State (no offense to Coppin State, just sounds obscure)!!! If you just want to sit on you’re #### and refrain from cheering for your drastically outnumbered team, stay at home and sell your tickets to someone who will actually help the team! Makes me sick. I was hoping somebody would tell me to sit down. One lady in the row in front of us chastised my wife for using the word ####. Oh the horror. That was the wrong thing to do, because I suddenly turned 14 and dropped the F bomb as much as possible to offend her as she sat on her #### as the rest of us stood and cheered. I only sat down during commercial breaks. It embarrassed me greatly for our fan base. This is basically a blog in itself, so I will stop before I get carpel-tunnel.

The Buckeyes played like #### after the first quarter, with few exceptions. Some of the set backs were self inflicted, but the bottom-line is that LSU was the better prepared, more experienced team. That was the difference.

SEC Speed

I think that this can be considered folklore now. Beanie Wells, Mario Manningham, Adrian Arrington, James Lauranitis, Malcolm Jenkins, and several others proved that the Big Ten has some very fast players. LSU won this game with power and execution. They definitely have speed to burn, but they didn’t beat the Buckeyes because they were faster. Some will disagree, but it’s the truth. Problem is that OSU doesn’t have the right defensive schemes to compete with teams that have the speed AND power AND execution of teams like Florida, LSU, and USC. They better figure it out by September.

Next Year

Whether you like it or not, the Buckeyes have a good chance to return to the title game next year if they can get by USC. Michigan will be in serious re-building mode and they have to come to Columbus. Penn State and Wisconsin will be good challenges, but probably won’t have the fire-power to handle a Buckeye team that will lose only three senior starters (barring early NFL defections). Even with defections, the Buckeyes will be loaded. I know that pains the Buckeye haters out there to no end, but it is what it is. OSU will figure it out, and sooner than later. Each year the recruiting classes get better and better. Gee, I wonder why Tress is recruiting all that speed….hmmmmm?

This Year

OSU was supposed to finish no better than 3rd in their own conference this year, yet a series of events enabled them to overcome a late season loss and compete for a title. Many people say they should not have been in that game. From one perspective I agree, they should not have been in the title game. From the perspective that it was a complete surprise that they were able to have such a successful season after losing so many talented players from last year’s championship team, it was an amazing accomplishment. So the nay-sayers can say their nays, and the national perception of Ohio State as a team that can’t hang with SEC teams will endure, but nothing can take away the successes of this season or the accomplishments of the young men and coaches who worked so hard for the results. Playing in three title games in six years is special. Now they just need to start winning those games.

Thanks for a great college football season to all the teams who made it sooooo interesting. And thank you Buckeyes for making us all proud to be fans of the best program in the nation. We will be back.

Not often will I feel compelled to compliment a rival, but in this case I feel it is warranted. I am referring specifically to the LSU fan-base and the city of New Orleans. I, and many other, Buckeye fans traveled at great expense to attend the BCS National Championship in New Orleans this Monday past. And with very few exceptions were treated very well. Allow me to expand and categorize:

LSU Nation

New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana and only 80 miles from the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. So it goes without saying that there would be excellent Tiger representation in New Orleans for the game. Any Buckeye fan already knows that although we may not be to adept at actually winning title games, our fan-base will out travel any school in the nation hands down. That is a battle we will never lose, and it was the case again this year. At times Bourbon Street looked as much Scarlet & Gray as Purple & Gold. Thousands of fans poured onto the streets to prepare for the game.

I arrived Saturday afternoon and was sitting in Pat O’s by three o’clock with Hurricane in hand. Almost immediately I was introduced to the favorite greeting that LSU fans have for their intended victims: TIGER BAIT. If I had a dollar for every time I heard those two words from Saturday to Monday, I could have paid for my hotel room and drinks for my entire stay! Annoying as it was, it was harmless and eventually I developed a retort of “second place”, which worked well until after the game of course. The real story here is that the LSU fans by and large were not only friendly but down right respectful. Much more so than their Florida counter-parts last year (based upon reports from my friends who attended last year’s game in Glendale), the Notre Dame fans I encountered in Tempe, Michigan fans in general (easily expected), or pretty much any other fan-base I have encountered over the years. It might have been the location, in that it was essentially a home game for LSU and many LSU grads probably stay in Louisiana after college, so they are proud of New Orleans. It really doesn’t matter why, but it was not lost upon my self, or the countless Buckeye fans that I talked to down there that we all had the same experience with the LSU fans. Many times a few chants of “Tiger bait” were followed with “Y’all having a good time down here?” and/ or “What are you drinking”, which would be followed by a drink in my hand. I was double fisted most of the time I was down there, and that is a good thing in my book! I had many respectful exchanges with the fans… and a few not so much, but every fan-base has their ####s (right, Buckeye fans?). Even after the game there was a lot of respect. Most fans even said it was a shame somebody had to lose and that the Buckeyes would be missed. They complimented the way the Buckeye Nation took over the town and partied with LSU nation as we shared our rabid allegiances for our respective teams. Ohio State may or may not have been the correct opponent for the Tigers, but we were the correct team for the city of New Orleans and the LSU fan-base.

I am getting a little long winded. The trip was great and I am proud of our team for the season they had, for the way Buckeye Nation represented themselves in number and class in New Orleans, and for the example that both fan-bases set forth regarding how to respect your opponent and embrace the love for college football that we all had in common.

In closing I will say that this trip, even with the unhappy ending for my team, was one of the best I have ever taken. And to sum up my experience with the LSU fans, I will refer to the end of the game. We stayed until the gun and began to leave as the purple and gold confetti began to swirl in the Superdome. As my wife and I reached the end of our row, and it was our turn to enter the aisle, my wife looked at the gentleman in the LSU shirt who had stopped to let here exit and said: “You are going to let a Buckeye cut in front of you?”

He simply smiled and said, “I’m from New Orleans mam, and it’s ladies first down here”.

He let me in too.

Buckeye Loss Helps Prove Big Ten Legitimacy

C O L L E G E   F O O T B A L L   R U L E S !!!!!!

Is that your Cake? Can I have a bite? Oh, you want to eat it too!

That is how a conversation would go with just about every non-Big Ten fan that has opinions about the polls/BCS this year. Whatever do you mean Mr. Nice?? (In a quizzical head tilted tone). What I mean is this:

Every team ranked in the top 25 has played a "cupcake" opponent or two this year, right? Let’s take a look….                                            
                                                  
                                

                    OSU- Youngstown State, Akron, and Kent State   

                    Boston College – Army, Bowling Green and this year anyway…Notre Dame.

                    LSU – Middle Tennessee and Tulane

                    ASU – San Jose State and San Diego State

                    USC – Idaho

                    Oregon – Houston and Fresno State

                    Michigan – Appalachian State (OPPS!!) and Eastern Michigan

                    Oklahoma – North Texas, Utah State and Tulsa.

                    West Virginia – Western Michigan and East Carolina

                    VaTech – East Carolina and William & Mary (hell why not play John & Cathy too?)

                    Kansas – S.E. Louisiana and Florida International

                    Florida – Western KY, Troy and Florida Atlantic (who did beat a very good Minnesota team!).

And the list goes on and on and you guessed it…on again.

Now, considering that all the major polls are based upon the SUBJECTIVE opinions of sports-writers, coaches and self-proclaimed CFB experts, wouldn’t it stand to reason that some of them might be off base in their assessments regarding a team’s ranking?? Many are unable to pry themselves away from their own allegiances, whether they be alumni or former coaches of a particular school, and make a non-biased judgement based upon the team’s actual performance on the field. Deciding who would beat who, if the teams have not actually played, nor will in a given season, is a lot of fun for us CFB Blogging Experts to hash about, but is it really fair to the players and coaches across the country who must rely upon the subjective, possibly tainted opinions regarding their actual talent level?? I think that is a raw deal to be sure.

That brings us to this season. And what a season it has been. In fact, I would go as far as to say that particularly in this season, it is almost impossible to determine who is actually better than whom. I could run down the long list of upsets, tough conference schedules and rampant parity that have all contributed to the craziness, but I think we as CFB aficionados all know these story-lines by heart.

Instead, I would like to point to all of these factors in my attempt to explain that the rankings mean less this year than ever before. Of course, the rankings are THE integral part of the formula that determines who is ranked where and therefore gets a title shot at the end of the season. Not fair? No, not fair, but it is what it is. If the rankings are so unfair and are just subjective flubber passed out by opinionated individuals who are associated with the game, then how can a ranking be valid?? I suppose the conversation would go like this:

"So my Buckeyes are number one, now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!", says the OSUhomer.

"Yeah, but they backed into that ranking man, LSU and just about everybody else in the top fifty is better than them. AND they lost to Florida last year" says the unidentified SEC homer Ortiz813.

"Thank you for reminding me AGAIN about what happened last year, and what do you mean "backed in" to the ranking?" the quizzical OSU fan replies.

" I mean all the better teams ahead of them lost and they haven’t played any ranked opponents (Top 20), so they are obviously overrated and haven’t been tested by a ranked team. Kapeesh?" says the smug SEC homer.

"So, the BCS rankings and the subjective AP, Harris, and USA Today polls are pretty much ####, right?" says OSU.

"Oh yeah, total ####! If LSU isn’t ranked ahead of OSU it’s #### man. They played like 4 or 5 RANKED teams and they are in the SEC, the toughest conference of all time. Florida killed OSU last year and they play in the SEC, so it’s the toughest conference for sure. Plus, LSU beat Florida who beat OSU last year, so OSU sucks and LSU and Vandy would make Buckeye necklaces out of their slow, corn-fed behinds!" says the overzealous SEC homer.

" Ok, thanks for another update on last year’s season, but my question is how do you know LSU beat ranked opponents if the BCS standings and the polls that help determine the standings are ####? Asks the smug OSU fan.

The unidentified SEC homer Ortiz813 thinks for a minute or twelve….

"Oh screw you buddy, the Buckeyes suck, the SEC rocks and LSU would kick their #### anytime, any place, A-N-Y-W-H-E-R-E! How you like them apples?" asks SEC.

"I like em fine buddy, just fine. Say, where can a guy get a good burger in New Orleans?"

Or something like that……

Obviously my point is that you can’t call the ranking that OSU currently holds in the BCS based upon ranked opponents #### if you consider the BCS, and polls in general, to be #### in the first place. Therefore, saying a team is better because it has played and/or beaten more "RANKED" teams is #### too.

K-A-####-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-S-H !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!

The SEC is NOT necessarily better than the PAC10 because it’s teams have exciting games and beat each other all the time. It doesn’t mean that LSU could wax every team in the PAC10, BIG 10, or Big East. I might give them the ACC this year, but I can’t because that would make me a hypocrite with regard to the point I am making here.

The only way to truly assess who is better is to have the teams meet on the gridiron, and since that can’t always happen we are left with this endless debate about who is better.

And good times were had by all.

So sayeth The Prime Minister Pete_Nice, and may all your teams be victorious….unless your team resides in Ann Arbor or they are playing the Buckeyes!