I realize I was not the only person yesterday who was disappointed that Michigan held its spot at #2 in the BCS poll as they announced it on FOX. I've decided I will not be corrupted by a Big Ten National Championship. My disapointment has led me to one revolutionary conclusion and I am looking for support. I know asking the fans to boycott the whole BCS would be asking too much. What I am asking is that we the people join as one (literally join as millions) and boycott the National Championship game if Ohio State and Michigan meet in Glendale. I am dead serious, this is legitimate. I am going on record this morning to gather as many fans together as possible. And of course we will have to do this without the support of FOX, they are airing the game. If you would be willing to support this campaign tell all of your friends and send emails out, spread the word, we have 49 days to prepare. I am using this venue as a litmus test to see if I am going to spend my time organizing the masses. If one of the other schools gets the bid, all bets are off. I really think we can change the culture of the BCS if we can gather enough support. The BCS supercedes what happens on the field. Lets join in a crusade to take down the evil empire.
YOU are a College Professor? Wow!!! I can see from your Bio that you are definately NOT an English Professor.
So Professor. I'm from Michigan and I'm a huge Michigan fan. Why would I want to boycott a rematch? I think Michigan is the best team in the nation on a neutral field. Isn't that what a championship should be? Play me where there are NO ADVANTAGES.
Wouldn't it be nice to see that Michigan/OSU game played on a pristine field, finely manicured? Wouldn't it be great to see Michigans Attacking Defense be able to play it's agressive style without slipping and sliding all over a newly sodded field?
Why would Michigan losing to the number one team in the nation, automatically make Florida, USC or Arkansas BETTER than Michigan? Those teams did not beat Michigan. Only Ohio State beat Michigan and only Ohio State should be ranked above Michigan. I see you're not a Math Professor either.
Boycott your little fanny off. Make up little picket signs and march around campus. Give extra credit to any of your minion students that joins in your cause.
Last edited by FlyingPig on November 20th at 7:26 AM.
Obviously I don't expect you pinheads that support those two institutions to participate. I expected a little intuition from the reader. I do expect the free thinkers in the country to only consider my position. As I post more comments I will consider my grammar so as to impress my readers. I will also rely on my sloppy math skills to make the assumption that there are more than just Michigan and Ohio State fans across the land. My apologies.
Last edited by sportthink on November 20th at 7:37 AM.
Yes the system needs to be changed to a playoff system. Basically the whole thing needs to be revamped. Is Michigian a good team yes. Are they deserving of #2? Since I don't vote I have no real voice in this nor does anyone else. The system is designed by the conferences and teh bowls have those allignments which translates to cold hard cash. Do I beleive Michigan can beat any other team in the nation yes. There are very good but a rematch would be boring as would a USC v anybody else. Lets see the Irish, Gator or even Arkansas or Wisconsin v OSU....
That's my point, we do have a voice. If we don't watch the rematch and they lose millions, that will be heard. And then the system must be changed. There is a method to this madness, if we are serious about the BCS getting fixed, then we have to hit them in the pocketbooks.
WHy would a Michigan/OSU rematch be boring? The game on Saturday was anything BUT boring. It came down to three points and a MUST first down by OSU to nail down the win.
A rematch at Glendale (Neutral Site) with a non-sloppy field could prove to be very VERY exciting.
Now sportthink...did you just call me a pinhead? Funny that you commented on my blog that you have never disrespected me.
Let's just keep it real. I'm commenting on your post. Obviously, you are somewhat nervous at the prospect of having to face Michigan again. Could it be because Michigan WON the last half of football that they played against OSU?
I've only recieved 75 emails of support thus far, so you Michigan and Ohio State panty wastes have nothing to be worried about, yet. Maybe the opiate of the UM and OSU masses will be a split National Title.
Hmm, it's an interesting proposal. I am against a rematch like you are but I'll wait until things play out before throwing my hat in. I still have faith that things will work out in a fair enough fashion.
I'm sorry. But, there's no chance that I won't watch the BCS Championship Game just because you don't like the matchup. Even if it is Ohio State-Michigan, it'll still be a good game. I can already tell you, no matter who plays, I'll watch it. It will be a good game, and I will enjoy it. You do what you want, but I don't think it will make any difference. Additionally, I would suggest that there are better things you could sink your efforts into besides an Ohio State-Michigan rematch. Who really cares?
My argument isn't against the matchup itself. It is the way the BCS braintrust has manipulated the system so the computers spit out the game they want it to. My stance is against the people who are controlling college football and taking it out of the hands of the athletes. The sport exists for the participants, not for greedy, money hungry coorporations who can make a quick buck off a "not for profit" organization. Most of you are looking at this too narrowly.
look, teams 3-10 had every chance to prevent this. USC lost to a 4-loss scrub Oregon St team. Florida lost to a 2 loss Auburn team (who got BLOWN OUT by GA). they struggled to beat Vanderbilt! Michigan beat the hell outta Vanderbilt. FLA is the only team that struggles with them. Carolina thrashed them and came within a blocked FG of beating florida. we beat FLA in every category of the game. they shouldnt even be considered in the top 5 looking at how they played. ND got their #### handed to them.
what do you want? should we ignore the stats and records just because you dont like the matchup. y'all wanna see someone else - well, it too late for that. PLAY HARD OR BLAME THE BCS
What I don't understand is how some random matchup stats add up to the fact that Michigan deserves to be the only team considered for the game. No matter what, someone is getting ####, mainly the institutions who play for the chance to get into the national championship game:i.e. Boise State, but have absolutely no fighting chance to get the same opportunity that Michigan does because the people that made the rules said so. It tears away at the spirit of the game.
Michigan has had their chance to beat Ohio State. They lost. That is a simple fact and a matter of record. Give someone else that chance. If you start comparing who played who and what the scored was, you get lost. Florida barely beat Vandy, Michigan beat Vandy 27-7, Tennessee beat Vandy 39-10. Does that mean Tennessee is better than Michigan ? NO!
I wouldn't object to an OSU/Michigan rematch in a playoff/tournament system. We don't have that. What we have is an imperfect system that allows sportswriters opinions to determine the national champ. Ohio State is better than Michigan simply because they beat Michigan. It is fair to give another team the chance. Whether that team is USC, Florida, Arkansas or Notre Dame is the debate.
Last edited by nospin on November 21st at 5:43 AM.
Here's the way the actual records look, the one's we don't get to see that the computer programmers see:
Michigan 11-0-0-1 (Their loss didn't really count because their Michigan of course and really tried hard, and honestly who wants to see Boise State on national TV)
USC 9-2-0 (USC can't be that good so 1 of their wins slide over to the loss column. Either Arkansas or Nebraska really should have beat them so USC really has 2 official losses)
Florida 9-2-1 (Florida is barely winning and they actually should have lost to Carolina so we can fix that. Since their barely winning lets give them one tie, and saddle them with that loss to Carolina)
Much better, now our computers are fixed!
CHA CHING $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$4
We all know there is no perfect algorithm for calculating the perfect number one. Garbage in, garbage out is an old computer saying. The teams that are ranked near the top at the preseason poll, don't get beat, will be in the BCS. The conferences that are weak will keep one or two teams at the top. A tough conference will split their votes for should be at the top in the preseaon poll. Imagine if Iowa, Penn State, Wisconsn were all equally strong, with Ohio State and Michigan: Would Ohio State have been given the preseason number one in the polls? Would this have effected their BCS numbers in the end?
Arbitrarily attaching a ranking to a team, a conference, or a matchup is the real problem. People will say Ohio State is the best, no one can beat them, and Michigan is the second best team in the country as evident by their close game with Ohio State.
How can you honestly, with stats and facts defend that notion. I can say USC and Arkansas are the two best teams in the country, and if 75% of the pollsters believed that same fact then USC and Arkansas would be #1 and #2. The flaw is in a system that needs change. If we care enough about fixing it, we'll actually make a difference.
The College Football rankings have always been a popularity contest and there is not much that can be done about it. The Bowl Championship Series has been a pie in the sky idea for years now and will never work because it is based upon......A popularity contest!
Any kind of statistical format would take the better part of two months to finish a playoff system with as many College teams as there are out there.
Then there's the question of tradition and rivalry.
My question is what is the point of playing the games if it is a popularity contest. I agree with you that is how the ranking system works. Even if they had been doing this a thousand years, it doesn't work anymore. I wish we could get a true explanation on why there is not a playoff system, even if only 6 teams are in it and the top two get a bye. At the end of the regular season it will be easy to pick those teams:
Ohio State
Michigan
Florida/Arkansas (either/or)
USC/Notre Dame (either/or)
Boise State
West Virginia/Rutgers/Louisville (Big East champ)
I don't know who else you could argue for, all of those teams would have one or no losses at the end of regular season. All the regions are covered.
"... I am using this venue as a litmus test to see if I am going to spend my time organizing the masses."
Meglomania?
What masses?
Shouldn't you have a compelling argument to expect such grandiose results?
I have no horse in this race, but I wouldn't like you being the sole arbiter of which two teams may play for the title.
What are your qualifications?
What gives you the unique perspective to become a self-appointed Messiah?
Instead of disrespecting your reader, try respecting them.
We aren't some unwashed mass awaiting the litmus of your brilliance.
The last time I heard someone scream "OVERS" and get away with it was one of my sisters playing "jaxs" with her friend. Get over it. You lost. the refs didn't cause you to lose, there was no controversy in the game. YOU LOST.
Maybe you should schedule more formidable foes than Vanderbilt and Central Michigan on your no conference games suppose?
The point everyone seems to be missing is that the BCS has no reason whatsoever to care what we think, or to have a "fair" system. I realize that your attempt at a boycott is an attempt to get to the real problem, which is money. But unless you can organize about 5-6 million people to boycott the game (which of course neither you nor anyone else can), it's pointless. The BCS exists for the sole purpose of making money; fairness has absolutely nothing to do with it, and it will NEVER change.
riddle me this einsteins....if USC's one loss were to come in their final game of the season, and michigan's come some time in october, could you still argue that USC is the more deserving opponent for ohio state?
...and for the record, i mean each team's one loss came to the same teams (OSU and oregon state, respectively) that they ACTUALLY lost to.
the reason michigan fell is because their 1 loss came in their last game of the year, while USC's came a month ago, giving them time to "work their way back up the ladder" so to speak.
i still cant believe that USC's loss to an unranked, 4 loss team is somehow more impressive, or more respectable than michigan's 3 point loss to an undefeated, season-long-#1 ranked ohio state team.
and michigan beat ND by 26, AT notre dame, while USC beat them by 20 at home.
so explain how USC's home victory over a notre dame team that already had a loss (to michigan at home) makes them better than the wolverines?
and say whatever you want about oregon state playing out of their minds to beat USC. the fact is if USC were really that good, they would not have allowed a lesser opponent to jump out to a BIG lead, even if they did make a feverish comeback, only to fall a 2-point conversion short of forcing overtime.
And what do you have to say about Michigans other 3 out of conference opponents compared to USC's other 3 conference opponents Cuz? Come on man, not you too. I respect your opinion on most things and you are articulate and at least make me think almost every time but you're sounding like a little kid whining now. You'd be on someone else's #### if this was anyone but Michigan. And no I don't like USC. I detest them. I went to UCLA. But this is beneath you man.
LOL I just went back and reread all the prior posts. I see the flying pig is being his usual HATEFUL self. Jesus man are you capable of disagreeing with anyone on anything without going into a violent insulting tirade? Get some anger management. You got major issues.
Ed- you take yourself and me way too seriously. Did I REALLY think I would be able to get some people to boycott something they truly enjoy? Heck no. Was I serious that I wouldn't watch if it was a Big Ten National Championship? Heck yes. I used "grandiose" verbage, and posed a ridiculous idea, but in no way was I disrespecting anyone or anything. I guess I don't have a fan in you. Shake it off!
Either way I have enjoyed reading most everyone's responses to my little fantasy. At least most of you! I have fun on this thing, spit a little game, ruffle some feathers, and the like. What I tend to forget is some of you care about this way more than I do. Just rememeber, because I don't have a "dog in the show", I argue generic ideas I think about when I walk to work. Thank you guys and gals for jumping in and speaking your opinion, I do enjoy all of your perspectives.
Last edited by sportthink on November 28th at 6:18 AM.
Hello,Sportthink.Ill agree with your statement 1000% "The sport exists for the participants,not for greedy,money hungry coorporations " !Ferther,NFL coaches an coaching ,absolutely have no place in collage level football,an NEVER should be allowed,it should be illegal ! This gives an extreme UNFAIR Discriminateing advantage over every collage that doesnt have the very same resourses,an could cause some collages to loose the ability to even have a football program or compete in the legue !After collage you have the option to go professional/NFL.Correct me if Im wrong, Isnt collage an educational institution to start with ,an not professional football ? For these reasons I say O.S.,USC an a few others should be eliminated NOW from collage level football,let them play NFL,its what there trained for,the proof's already on film .These coorporations an so called people/fans ,put me in the mind of a parasite-bacterium feeding off the life,blood,injuries(some for life)an ect..of a bunch of collage KIDS attempting to earn an education an the tools to build a decent future for there selves ? To me thats lower than whale ####,an thats on the bottom of the ocean !
P.S. Im sure sportthink understands exactly what Im stateing above,mis spelled or not,an thats all I care about ! RE:The NO on ESPN yesterday to the question ,is the NFL in collage sports ? Checking the coaches an coaching staff's paper work ,I suspect will prove that (NO STATEMENT) WRONG very quickly ?
Last edited by You know it on November 29th at 5:15 AM.
You - appreciate your assessment of the article. 1.5 supporters is pretty good!
In a related article sportthink doesn't have to boycott the game. The overwhelming support did bring tears to my eyes though. I think tears will return to my eyes if the Wolveraints somehow wiggle their way back to number 2.
In a related story to that people in Idaho are organizing the masses in a different way.
In a related story to that Dennis Erickson is really happy in Idaho.
Last edited by sportthink on November 28th at 6:19 AM.
FINE!!!! The BCS is ####. The system is contrived and the computer "PRE" choses the matchup.
So give me some criteria as to a fair and equitable way to decide THIS years championship game?
Sure, Michigan had a chance to beat osu on the buckeyes home field. Does that automatically say that on a neutral field with comparable fan sections that the three point decision "COULD" not go the other way?
I will not discount USC or Florida's claim to play in the National Championship game. I simply do not like the way Michigan is automatically discounted because they are the ONLY one loss team that has lost its ONE game to the number one team in the country.
There will NEVER be a fair and equitable way to determine the best out of 117 teams. A playoff system would not work either. But DAMN this sure does give us #### to blog about.
"You'd be on someone else's #### if this was anyone but Michigan. And no I don't like USC. I detest them. I went to UCLA. But this is beneath you man."
i guess i have to say it again. i AM NOT A MICHIGAN FAN. also...again...i've stated that perhaps my bias in their favor is because they, like wisconsin, are in the big ten.
but why hasnt anyone attempted to answer my questions?
why is USC's 20 point victory at home against ND more impressive than michigan's 26 point win against them ON THE ROAD?
why is michigan's 3 point loss ON THE ROAD to the #1 TEAM IN THE COUNTRY more damaging than USC's 2 point loss to an unranked, (now 4 loss) oregon state team?
most importantly, why do those who think a michigan/OSU rematch (3 point game) for the national championship also believe that a michigan/ND rematch (26 point game) in the rose bowl is an excellent idea? other than more money for the BCS and ND, that is.
and as far as the strength of schedule thing, or non-conference opponents, yes, those games are scheduled several years in advance, but since it now works in USC's favor, people bring it up, EVEN THOUGH when they scheduled nebraska, arkansas and ND, none of the 3 were top 15 schools.
i do admit michigan's NC schedule is weak, and nobody should have assumed their MAC opponents would be highly ranked this year. i dont think anyone can argue in michigan's favor about that, but again, were USC's NC opponents expected to be this good? and since they beat them all rather easily, does that HAVE to mean USC is that good,
....cont....
Last edited by cuziffer on November 28th at 8:33 AM.
People were and are mad about the proposal made at the beginning of this post. We are all arguing the same thing with a different point of view. My point of view as is many others is this system will be #### up as long as it exists. College sports were created for one sole purpose. To give the students something to do. Now they exist to crown somebody the winner. It only seems fair to determine that winner a little more fairly. The argument of Michigan or USC or Boise State or Florida or Louisville or Rutgers or...is an unwinnable one. But to judiciously decide a true champion seems the only way to get "fairness", and we won't get that unless the market makes a stand and whether you like it or not we are the market. Supply and demand. They supply games because we pay. They supply the BCS because we pay more. If we don't pay, they'll change it. That simple. I still like the idea of my idea no matter what all of you say!! =)
Last edited by sportthink on November 28th at 9:01 AM.
1. Ed- you take yourself and me way too seriously.
No one else will or does in my case, besides I was hoping you'd go all Jim Jones on me...
2. Did I REALLY think I would be able to get some people to boycott something they truly enjoy? Heck no.
I'll admit that's a pretty hard point to dispute, well played.
3. Was I serious that I wouldn't watch if it was a Big Ten National Championship? Heck yes.
Courage of your convictions? No way, you're far too educated, admit it, you might watch if every other broadcast medium decided to run "Martha Stewart's Favorite Big House Recipes and Decorating Tips"
4. I used "grandiose" verbage, and posed a ridiculous idea, but in no way was I disrespecting anyone or anything. I guess I don't have a fan in you. Shake it off!
Boy you sure fooled me, I was ready to drink the Kool Aid. I guess I'm a grandiose-phobe.
5. Either way I have enjoyed reading most everyone's responses to my little fantasy. At least most of you! I have fun on this thing, spit a little game, ruffle some feathers, and the like. What I tend to forget is some of you care about this way more than I do. Just rememeber, because I don't have a "dog in the show", I argue generic ideas I think about when I walk to work. Thank you guys and gals for jumping in and speaking your opinion, I do enjoy all of your perspectives.
I couldn't care less about the BCS, I didn't like your using your reader as a litmus test because it implies a certain mindlessness, but that's the fun of bloggering, one post you're a goat, the next a hero.
Last edited by edhardiman on November 28th at 12:32 PM.
All things being equal, I'd rather get drilled by an unfavorable response than get none at all. Thanks for stopping by the Fowl Line, you're always welcome and keep scribbling.
I appreciate the encouragement and if the least you do is call me mindless I guess I've heard far worse and I'm sure I deserve it. I only hope to mildly offend most people. I put you on my favorites as soon as you blistered me! You'll see me.
I daresay that arkansas, nebraska or virtually ANYONE USC played or scheduled 5-7 years out will be superior to vanderbilt and the likes. There is no reasonable expectation that Vanderbilt or Central Michigan will EVER be worthy opponents no matter what the rating system entails and there is EVER reasonable expectation that they will actually hurt a team playing them in terms of ranking considerations.
In my view Michigan figured they would run the table year after year with a weak schedule and even if they did lose one, the entire conference wsa so weak that they figured they would still be in contention for a bid. Why take chances when you got a roll going? That's one possibility that I think is very possible since there can be no way that those strategists in college football powers who plan and scheme for national titles (and don't think they don't) could have scheduled the weak OC teams that Michigan does. USC planners were a bit more of risk takers appears to me. When teams like UN and UA have been powers in the past and you schedule them 5-7 years out you're taking a chance they may be back. But if not their names will get you more points than Vanderbilt, etc. N'est Pas?
Last edited by dustylaker on November 28th at 2:17 PM.
Having laughed my way thru all this because I really don't care since UCLA is not in the mix in college football (but is rated #1 rightfully so once again in NCAA hoops in case you missed it), let me say this...ahem..........(CHECKS NOTES)
NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF SPORTS HAS SO MANY CARED SO MUCH ABOUT FINISHING SECOND AT ANYTHING AT ANY TIME IN THE WORLD. DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SNIVELING AND CRYING THE WATER TABLE OF THE WORLD HAS RISEN A SOLID TWO INCHES AND BECAUSE NOBODY LIKES CRYBABIES I WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING STAND. I DON'T CARE WHO WINS OR LOSES IN THE BCS BOWLS BUT I WILL BE ROOTING AGAINST MICHIGAN ON THE PRINCIPLE EVERYONE LIKES TO SEE CRYBABIES LOSE YET AGAIN. IT'S THE OLD "IF THEY WANT TO CRY, LET'S GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT" SYNDROME. (I thought you people were wolverines? You sound like chipmunks who lost your nuts.)
Last edited by dustylaker on November 28th at 8:40 PM.
I don't think there are that many Michigan fans responding to this one. I think they would have had USC lost this past weekend. My threat that is now invalid would have irritated them.
I think the pervasive opinion in here is:
1. xroosters call for a boycott is hogwash.
2. There are more Ohio State fans on this site than anything else.
3. Dusty doesn't like to hear complaints
I think my opinion is:
1. this topic is close to old and by the time it is 2007 we'll be really read for the game
2. Ohio State barely has a chance to keep the game close. Bowl games are about preparation and USC obviously has the coaching advantage. This is my take on why so many bowl games are blowouts. Teams have weeks to prepare and coaches from the NFL are much better at preparing their college teams for games than strictly college coaches. I bet if Pete Carroll and Ken Norton were coaching at Ohio State instead, then the Buckeyes would have the advantage.
3. There are 3 other teams in the country (and this doesn't include Michigan) that could probably handle Ohio State in a bowl game.
Hello,It seems to me the only team that has anything to say at this point is, Boise State 12-0 , With a cheap shot ranking ? Perhaps they should be stateing there position with an attorney ? Strength of this or that,style points an ect... are nothing more than CHEAP EXCUSES to CHEAT ,By the BCS an about every announcer on TV ! Im wrong ? USC lost to an unranked team,Why are they still BCS #5 ? Good game UCLA & Wake ! I dont think anyone on here (Except Sportthink) cares 2-cents about ,right an wrong ,anyway ! So , Ill just keep supporting my Mountaineers #1 & Pitt panthers #2 !
i say boy...are you listening to me boy? You know what your problem is? You got little ears. You don't listen. Chicken hawks are supposed to chase chickens. that's a mouse boy...let me show you what you do with a chicken...give me that bat...ready boy...I say boy...what are you doing in that hole? You're too short to be standing in holes...........Foghorn Leghorn
Boise State is just more proof that the BCS offers no legitimacy with regard to determining a national champion. Sport think is right, the nation did not want to see a re-match, and the people spoke. Nobody wants to see Boise Stae in the title game. Doesn't make it right, but that is the BCS. Hypocrisy at it's best.
Nobody knows if OSU could beat USC, Florida, Arkansas, LSU, or anybody, but Michigan this year. In terms of providing a game that more people wanted to see, the BCS worked. In terms of actually determining a true national champion, it will never work.
The debate and specualation is fun for blogging, but the bottomline is a championship can only be decided on the field.
Published sports column contributor, but I'm about the 560th ranked blogger on this site. I'll keep most of my posts sports related. My sense of humor exists to amuse myself. This has happened by default because I rarely seem to amuse anyone else. I'm ashamed that my favorite professional sports teams are from the city of San Francisco.
Favorite sports listed from favorite to least favorite: duck-duck-
goose, red-light green-light, freeze tag, marco polo, and hop-scotch.
