The BCS! Just the words envoke thoughts of hatred, passion, cries of getting ####, and millions of dollars to University Presidents and Conference Commisioners everywhere. Personally, I like the BCS because it's fluke proof. Which is the anti-March Madness, anti-wild-card spot and anti-any other fly-by-night playoff system that other sports use. A system that rewards the best team from the regular season? Hogwash! Balderdash! Who cares about the 4 months of games, we just want to watch the month long sprint to the finish! Anyway, I'm getting side-tracked!
The teams of the year in college football this season are Rutgers and Arkansas, period. Simply put, Rutgers has won every game it's played this season. That's pretty good! They beat the #3 team in the country on national television, while even half of the people in Pascataway don't know any of the players besides. . . Glen Rice. . .uh . . .Jerry Rice. . . no . . .Condie Rice. . .no. . . Ray Rice! That's it. Rutgers has been as much of a doormat as a team in a BCS conference can be. A team that had never played in a game involving two ranked teams, EVER, before last Thursday's classic. A team that endured even worse losses than some high schools that cancel seasons due to players' inability to even protect themselves(illegedly) is now America's darlings.
Then there's Arkansas. Members of the mighty SEC since 1989 and have never won the conference title. A team whose coach was coming into the year on one of the hottest seats in the country after two disappointing seasons. A team so desperate for recruiting talent that it turned the play-calling duties over to a high school coach, A HIGH SCHOOL COACH, that had no college experience. A team that went into its season opener without its starting QB due to a back injury and its now Heisman contending RB due to a bar fight injury. A bar fight? Isn't McFadden only 19? Nevermind.
These two teams are flying higher than high. Sure, Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Notre Dame, are having great years (even though ND has beaten absolutely no one! Sidetracked again.), but we expect this from them. Rutgers and Arkansas are in unchartered waters, breaking new ground, greener pastures, etc. Can we please, please, please spare these players and coaches of the pressure of national championship talk for five seconds and let them enjoy their respective historical seasons.
Every year, only one team wins the national championship (sometimes two, sidetracked again!) That does not mean, despite our #2 is the first loser mentalities, that there is only one successful team each year. Boise State, Maryland, Rutgers, Arkansas, Wake Forest, and so many others are having phenominal seasons and people are missing it because they're so worried about that Whinermaker (because it makes whiners, doesn't it coach Tuberville? That's for you golf fans.) trophy.
I urge you to look beyond Ohio State/Michigan this weekend. Now, I'm not crazy. I'm going to watch that game too. However, this is a special college football season for many teams around the country. Don't miss what are truly historical seasons by some of the historically less fortunate among us. Oh by the way, its kinda fun to watch Florida State and Miami struggle too!
Man, that was absolutly B-E-A utiful. I so could not agree more. I hope Rutgers or BSU win the NC. I'm so tired of hearing OH ST, Mich, ND, Ark, Tenn- what a joke. Clemson will be 10-3 this year, going to a great bowl but you don't hear anything about it because all anyone talks about are the Top 10. Who cares about the Top 10, i don't, but i will probably watch some of "THAT" game just to see who wins. Oh St and Mich have really played no one this year so i really don't care who wins. Man, what about Wake Forest. They are throwing down on everyone this year-except Clemson of course- but they are kicking ####. Boston College is doing very well even against Clemson and that damned blocked extra point. If we would have just made one of those then 11-2. But i will have to disagree with you on the BCS, there is too much bias and money involved for it to be as fair as it should be. What % of the money does the #2 get in the National Championship?
Thanks for stopping by XJ. I believe every BCS school gets the same amount of money regardless of win or loss. Don't quote me on that, but I think that's true. Schools then take that money and it's split between all of the schools in the conference. That's why it's such a big deal if Notre Dame makes it. They don't share with anybody.
xea, well done. There really have been a bunch of great stories in College FB this year, and it looks like we're headed for one of the most exciting hype campaigns for #2 ever. I guess that's what you prefer over actual on the field matchups, so good luck with that.
You can't tell me that if Arkansas wins out you wouldn't feel like they at least deserve a chance to play for the national title. Face it, the BCS is evil.
hogfan: just interested...if Arkansas makes it into the title game...are you still going to call the BCS evil? That's not meant as a cheap shot at you or anything, I just know that I've seen many people change their tune once their team started to get a little respect, myself included. The point is that fans of the teams that aren't at the front of the line think the thing's #### while fans of a team that IS at the front find the system to be working just peachy.
DMitch, the BCS is ####, any way you step in it. if Arkansas is fortunate enough to make it into the title game, I'll be happy, but it won't change my thinking on the process the NCAA uses to select the teams.
Hog - I know that's how you feel, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on what I said about the BCS being fluke-proof. If you settle something between two teams, then some undeserving schmo can't come out of nowhere and win the whole thing, like has been known to happen with the basketball tournament. A playoff also renders the regular season far less important. If college football had an eight game playoff, this weekend's Ohio State-Michigan game would be far less important because the winner and loser would surely make the eight team field. As it stands, only the winner has a guarentee. That's what makes this weekend's matchup so great. The BCS makes this game what it is!
xea, in a perfect world, the BCS would always get it right, and the two best teams would play. But the BCS is far from perfect, which is why we have had Auburn undefeated with no chance to even play for the title, and Oklahoma playing LSU because of computer love while almost all fans realized USC should have been in that game. That resulted in the AP awarding #1 to the Trojans, creating a split champion and marring LSU's victory.
We've also seen teams lose their conference championship and still make it to the national championship game, and this year I can't see any way that we can know for certain that the two top teams will be playing in Glendale.
I've thought about this, and I could live with the Plus One. The top four square of in the bowls, and the two winners play for #1. That would help preserve the integrity of the Bowls, the regular season, and the game.
Last edited by hogfan480618 on November 16th at 7:01 AM.
Okay Hog, but whenever you have more than two teams with the same record, obviously one matchup can't give more than two teams a shot. However, I would maintain that the team named the national champion (USC) over Auburn was in fact a better team. Now, sure we don't know that for sure. However, its university President's who people need to complain to, not the BCS. They won't let it happen. The complaining is misplaced I think. In the words of the great philosopher, Dave Matthews, the BCS is "The best of what's around".
My point is tha auburn did everything possible on the field, yet wasn't even given the opportunity to play for the title. If Rutgers goes undefeated this year and gets left out, the same will be true.
The presidents are more worried about the dollars and cents than the athletes or scholastic integrity. It's not so much the size of the pie as it is them being worried about not getting the biggest piece. And the Presidents are the BCS.
Proud NGS II finalist. My run to the sweet 16 was short but. . . (from the department of redundancy department) sweet.
I love all sports. The Seattle Seahawks are my main passion. I've loved them since I can remember. My teams of choice in other sports are the New York Yankees and Rangers, and the Arkansas Razorbacks. As far as the NBA, I'm just a drifter. However, I do love this game!
