Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A short detour from college football
This is worthy of posting. I encourage everyone reading this blog to take a look at this article... very interesting story.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Poinsettia Bowl 2008: The Best of the Rest
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
(9) Boise State (12-0) v. (11) TCU (10-2)
8:00 PM ET, December 23, 2008
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
The strangest sponsor in modern bowl history
San Diego County Credit Union sponsors the second and youngest of SD’s bowl games. Even more odd is the fact that SDCCU has sponsored the game from its inception in 2005. The origins of the SDCCU, as posted on the organization’s website:
“Originally chartered in 1938 as San Diego County Employees Credit Union, SDCCU® was formed to provide for the financial needs of local county government employees. During the 1970's, SDCCU expanded its membership to include all San Diegans and today, is open to everyone living or working in San Diego, Riverside and Orange Counties.”
The rationale the not-for-profit, member-owned institution gives from sponsoring a bowl game: being connected to the San Diego Community and supporting causes close to its members. Personally, I would have thought that credit union members might enjoy it more if they got an additional 0.25% knocked of their mortgage interest rate, but hey, maybe people really just would rather have you sponsor a bowl game instead. Go figure.
Why this Bowl is ill-conceived
It’s not. The game has a tie-in with the Pac-10 for the sixth place team in 2009, and would have had the seventh Pac-10 team if only the conference could have mustered more than 5 bowl-eligible teams this year. On the other hand, they did get Boise State instead. Good tradeoff for fans I’d say. Only other potential criticism of the game is that it is the second bowl within a week in San Diego. I doubt this will be a problem. The Holiday Bowl is one the best non-New Year’s Day or Post-New Year’s Day Bowl Games around. The SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl provides a great opportunity to add a second-tier bowl to the city, which usually has great Southern California weather around Christmas time. And while the game will generally be a second-tier bowl, in the opinion of this blogger we’ve got the best matchup outside the BCS this year in this one.
Will this be a Bowl in 2009-2010?
Yes. Especially if they can get #9 and #11 every year. Last year’s game between Utah and Navy also cement this one as one of the better low-level bowl games.
Why this matchup should never be played
Absolutely no reason on earth. In fact, I’d rather watch these two teams duke it out in Tempe on January 5 in the Fiesta Bowl. Much more interesting that watching another overrated Ohio State team get destroyed by a much better, more talented team from outside the Rust Belt.
Why this will be a great game
Boise State is attempting to go undefeated from the second time in the last three seasons. TCU lost twice, but those losses were both against teams in BCS games, and both came on the road (at Oklahoma in September – TCU kept the margin closer than anyone else all year outside of Texas and Oklahoma State; and at Utah, 13-10, on November 6). And TCU beat BYU down 32-7 late in the year. TCU’s defense allowed an average of 10.9 points per game this year, and the Horned Frogs come in with a very balanced attack, averaging 215 rushing yards and just a hair over 200 yards passing per game.
On the Boise side, Kellen Moore’s success as a freshman quarterback deserves far more attention that it’s gotten to date. I’ll stick my neck out on this one and say that Chris Petersen has his program rolling just as well as any other top 10 program in the nation. Now, obviously, BSU has different player pools to recruit from than the Floridas and the Oklahomas, but nonetheless, they’ve compiled a real impressive record the past three years, and with a freshman throwing for 25 TD’s and 3,264 yards, look to be in great shape for the next few years (no wonder Petersen wouldn’t consider leaving BSU for UW). And remember Ian Johnson tearing up Oklahoma’s D in Tempe two years ago? Well, he’s still around as well. Plus, the Bronco defense allows a massive 12.3 points per game.
An Informed Prediction Certain to be Incorrect
This one’s a tough one to pick. TCU played much tougher competition throughout the course of the season, but BSU did beat down Oregon on the road at Autzen. Really, what we’ve got in this one is two teams who deserved much better out of the bowl system. And for advocates of a playoff, myself included, any system would HAVE to be designed to let both of these two teams into the action. With that said, I think coaching makes the difference in this one. Chris Petersen will get to the point where he could have any job in the world of college football should he want it. There are good reasons for that. Petersen’s coaching pushes the Broncos over the finish line in a classic clash of would-be titans. Boise State 30, TCU 28.
(9) Boise State (12-0) v. (11) TCU (10-2)
8:00 PM ET, December 23, 2008
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
The strangest sponsor in modern bowl history
San Diego County Credit Union sponsors the second and youngest of SD’s bowl games. Even more odd is the fact that SDCCU has sponsored the game from its inception in 2005. The origins of the SDCCU, as posted on the organization’s website:
“Originally chartered in 1938 as San Diego County Employees Credit Union, SDCCU® was formed to provide for the financial needs of local county government employees. During the 1970's, SDCCU expanded its membership to include all San Diegans and today, is open to everyone living or working in San Diego, Riverside and Orange Counties.”
The rationale the not-for-profit, member-owned institution gives from sponsoring a bowl game: being connected to the San Diego Community and supporting causes close to its members. Personally, I would have thought that credit union members might enjoy it more if they got an additional 0.25% knocked of their mortgage interest rate, but hey, maybe people really just would rather have you sponsor a bowl game instead. Go figure.
Why this Bowl is ill-conceived
It’s not. The game has a tie-in with the Pac-10 for the sixth place team in 2009, and would have had the seventh Pac-10 team if only the conference could have mustered more than 5 bowl-eligible teams this year. On the other hand, they did get Boise State instead. Good tradeoff for fans I’d say. Only other potential criticism of the game is that it is the second bowl within a week in San Diego. I doubt this will be a problem. The Holiday Bowl is one the best non-New Year’s Day or Post-New Year’s Day Bowl Games around. The SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl provides a great opportunity to add a second-tier bowl to the city, which usually has great Southern California weather around Christmas time. And while the game will generally be a second-tier bowl, in the opinion of this blogger we’ve got the best matchup outside the BCS this year in this one.
Will this be a Bowl in 2009-2010?
Yes. Especially if they can get #9 and #11 every year. Last year’s game between Utah and Navy also cement this one as one of the better low-level bowl games.
Why this matchup should never be played
Absolutely no reason on earth. In fact, I’d rather watch these two teams duke it out in Tempe on January 5 in the Fiesta Bowl. Much more interesting that watching another overrated Ohio State team get destroyed by a much better, more talented team from outside the Rust Belt.
Why this will be a great game
Boise State is attempting to go undefeated from the second time in the last three seasons. TCU lost twice, but those losses were both against teams in BCS games, and both came on the road (at Oklahoma in September – TCU kept the margin closer than anyone else all year outside of Texas and Oklahoma State; and at Utah, 13-10, on November 6). And TCU beat BYU down 32-7 late in the year. TCU’s defense allowed an average of 10.9 points per game this year, and the Horned Frogs come in with a very balanced attack, averaging 215 rushing yards and just a hair over 200 yards passing per game.
On the Boise side, Kellen Moore’s success as a freshman quarterback deserves far more attention that it’s gotten to date. I’ll stick my neck out on this one and say that Chris Petersen has his program rolling just as well as any other top 10 program in the nation. Now, obviously, BSU has different player pools to recruit from than the Floridas and the Oklahomas, but nonetheless, they’ve compiled a real impressive record the past three years, and with a freshman throwing for 25 TD’s and 3,264 yards, look to be in great shape for the next few years (no wonder Petersen wouldn’t consider leaving BSU for UW). And remember Ian Johnson tearing up Oklahoma’s D in Tempe two years ago? Well, he’s still around as well. Plus, the Bronco defense allows a massive 12.3 points per game.
An Informed Prediction Certain to be Incorrect
This one’s a tough one to pick. TCU played much tougher competition throughout the course of the season, but BSU did beat down Oregon on the road at Autzen. Really, what we’ve got in this one is two teams who deserved much better out of the bowl system. And for advocates of a playoff, myself included, any system would HAVE to be designed to let both of these two teams into the action. With that said, I think coaching makes the difference in this one. Chris Petersen will get to the point where he could have any job in the world of college football should he want it. There are good reasons for that. Petersen’s coaching pushes the Broncos over the finish line in a classic clash of would-be titans. Boise State 30, TCU 28.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Las Vegas Bowl 2008: The longest running garbage bowl gets an upgrade
Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
(16) BYU v. Arizona
8:00 PM ET, December 20, 2008
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
(16) BYU v. Arizona
8:00 PM ET, December 20, 2008
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Woefully misguided but fortunate sponsor
Pioneer, the makers of the best TV’s on the market, sponsors this early bowl season delight. Usually, the Las Vegas Bowl sucks, but this one is without question the best game of day one of the bowl season. Now if only we were all watching the game on a brand new Kuro.
Pioneer, the makers of the best TV’s on the market, sponsors this early bowl season delight. Usually, the Las Vegas Bowl sucks, but this one is without question the best game of day one of the bowl season. Now if only we were all watching the game on a brand new Kuro.
Why this Bowl is ill-conceived
Well, it’s a bowl game in Las Vegas in December. Should have great weather, right? Guess again….
Well, it’s a bowl game in Las Vegas in December. Should have great weather, right? Guess again….
Also, there’s this fantastic announcement… seems we’ll have some ridiculous pre-game national anthem singing going on in Las Vegas tomorrow evening.
Will this be a Bowl in the 2009-2010 season?
Absolutely. The Las Vegas Bowl has been kicking off each December, usually as the very first bowl game, since 1992. The game began as MAC v. Big West (now the Mountain West), but traded the MAC out for the Pac-10, giving the game a significant prestige upgrade. Still, it’s only the Las Vegas Bowl. Who knows, maybe the local economy will collapse and no one will want to gamble anymore. Sound likely to you? I’m betting the Las Vegas Bowl survives for years into the future.
StubHub has tickets available for…
As little as $89. If that seems like a lot, I agree completely. Stay home and watch it on the sponsor’s nice new flat panels.
Why this matchup should never be played under any circumstances
There’s really no reason. This game has become a pretty good one on an annual basis. And for the record, BYU is making quite a habit out of landing in Las Vegas… not sure what that says about BYU, but maybe the folks from Provo just love to gamble even more than the rest of us.
Why this could be a GREAT game
Past history suggests we’ll get a good matchup in this one. Last year, BYU beat UCLA 17-16. In 2006, we had another seemingly great matchup, with BYU facing off against the Oregon Ducks. That one ended in a lopsided romp for the Cougars, smashing the Quack Attack 38-8. And in 2005, Cal beat BYU 35-28. The recent history suggests this one will be a good one.
A relatively well-informed prediction
I’ve had the displeasure of watching BYU defeat Washington this September, and I’ve watched Arizona multiple times throughout the season. Arizona’s got a ton to play for in this one – the Wildcats are in their first bowl game since the 1998 Holiday Bowl. BYU’s got a ton of talent. Max Hall is a solid college quarterback with a bright NFL future if he returns to school for his senior season. The Cougars were the most highly regarded mid-major team heading into the 2008 season, and there was a reason for that.
Ultimately, I see Arizona coming out HUNGRY in this one. The Wildcats love getting their chance to taste bowl victory… but come up just an inch or two short. BYU’s got too much talent in this one. Willie Tuitama will play well for ‘Zona, but Max Hall and the BYU offense will break the Wildcat defense. BYU 38, Arizona 30.
Photo of Las Vegas Snow via the Telegraph (UK).
The New Mexico Bowl: Mountain West flavor with a little bit of WAC mediocrity…
New Mexico Bowl 2008
Colorado State v. Fresno State
2:30 PM ET, December 20, 2008
University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Unlike the illustrious magicJack Bowl, we don’t have a fantastic sponsor to prop up in this one at least. So, there’s something anyway. Both CSU and FSU play in the general vicinity of New Mexico, but get to travel to play a 12:30 am local time game at UNM. Quite an exciting proposition for these two squads, CSU being a powerful 6-6 and FSU an astounding 7-5
Why this Bowl is ill-conceived
Well, it’s matching two teams that each had 4-4 conference records from mid-major conferences, albeit two of the three best such conferences. Not quite sure why we need a New Mexico Bowl. Sure, the state has some nice weather most of the time, but really? Albuquerque? Yea, if I was a D-I football player, it would be my dream to spend my pre-Christmas days hanging around in NM.
Will this be a Bowl Game in 2009-2010?
Yes. Despite New Mexico being a non-major college football city, the area is growing rather quickly. Generally speaking, the weather’s nice in December, which is always a plus. And the game has been relatively successful in the past few seasons. Plus, we really do have a burning, urgent need to let 4-4 Mountain West and WAC teams play each other around December 20th every season.
Why this matchup should never be played under any circumstances
Fresno State ended its season with a 61-10 shellacking at the hands of Chris Petersen’s Boise State squad, and also dropped games against three other WAC schools (Nevada, LaTech, Hawaii) and a non-conference loss against Wisconsin. Not a terrible resume… but then again, FSU did go 4-4 in the WAC. And, they were outscored by a slim margin on the year. Colorado State lost big at Colorado, Cal, Utah, and Air Force, and dropped home games against TCU and BYU. Again, a solid set of teams to lose games to. But, the Rams were outscored on the year 358-287 on the year, and finished fifth in the Mountain West. That’s right, fifth. The Pac-10 barely had five bowl-eligible teams this year, yet the Mountain West’s #5 team goes to a bowl…
Why this could be a great game
First, both teams are semi-local, which should generate some interest. Second, both teams have solid programs that have historically been near the top of their respective conferences. Third, the game features Pat Hill in the immediate aftermath of his unconsummated flirtation with the University of Washington. It will be interesting to see how FSU’s players react to that. Fourth, both sides should come out with a lot of passion. After all, these are two WAC and Mountain West teams… even if they had gone 10-2, they still stand no chance of a better matchup. Both teams will be ready to play, and despite this being a slightly ridiculous matchup, should be a good one.
Poorly Informed, Half-Interested Prediction
The Rams of CSU come out strong against Hill’s Bulldogs. Fresno is usually solid, but after the way their season ended coupled with Hill’s near departure, they’ll come out flat. Colorado State 28, Fresno State 17. Pretty decent game if you like defense.
Colorado State v. Fresno State
2:30 PM ET, December 20, 2008
University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
Unlike the illustrious magicJack Bowl, we don’t have a fantastic sponsor to prop up in this one at least. So, there’s something anyway. Both CSU and FSU play in the general vicinity of New Mexico, but get to travel to play a 12:30 am local time game at UNM. Quite an exciting proposition for these two squads, CSU being a powerful 6-6 and FSU an astounding 7-5
Why this Bowl is ill-conceived
Well, it’s matching two teams that each had 4-4 conference records from mid-major conferences, albeit two of the three best such conferences. Not quite sure why we need a New Mexico Bowl. Sure, the state has some nice weather most of the time, but really? Albuquerque? Yea, if I was a D-I football player, it would be my dream to spend my pre-Christmas days hanging around in NM.
Will this be a Bowl Game in 2009-2010?
Yes. Despite New Mexico being a non-major college football city, the area is growing rather quickly. Generally speaking, the weather’s nice in December, which is always a plus. And the game has been relatively successful in the past few seasons. Plus, we really do have a burning, urgent need to let 4-4 Mountain West and WAC teams play each other around December 20th every season.
Why this matchup should never be played under any circumstances
Fresno State ended its season with a 61-10 shellacking at the hands of Chris Petersen’s Boise State squad, and also dropped games against three other WAC schools (Nevada, LaTech, Hawaii) and a non-conference loss against Wisconsin. Not a terrible resume… but then again, FSU did go 4-4 in the WAC. And, they were outscored by a slim margin on the year. Colorado State lost big at Colorado, Cal, Utah, and Air Force, and dropped home games against TCU and BYU. Again, a solid set of teams to lose games to. But, the Rams were outscored on the year 358-287 on the year, and finished fifth in the Mountain West. That’s right, fifth. The Pac-10 barely had five bowl-eligible teams this year, yet the Mountain West’s #5 team goes to a bowl…
Why this could be a great game
First, both teams are semi-local, which should generate some interest. Second, both teams have solid programs that have historically been near the top of their respective conferences. Third, the game features Pat Hill in the immediate aftermath of his unconsummated flirtation with the University of Washington. It will be interesting to see how FSU’s players react to that. Fourth, both sides should come out with a lot of passion. After all, these are two WAC and Mountain West teams… even if they had gone 10-2, they still stand no chance of a better matchup. Both teams will be ready to play, and despite this being a slightly ridiculous matchup, should be a good one.
Poorly Informed, Half-Interested Prediction
The Rams of CSU come out strong against Hill’s Bulldogs. Fresno is usually solid, but after the way their season ended coupled with Hill’s near departure, they’ll come out flat. Colorado State 28, Fresno State 17. Pretty decent game if you like defense.
The Sun Bowl and gay-fantasy disco concept groups -- Together at last
So you're thinking of skipping the 2008 Brut Sun Bowl. Maybe the Oregon State-Pitt matchup does nothing for you. Maybe you have to work. You have your reasons. We understand. But before you completely write off college football's second-oldest continuously played bowl game, consider the following:
That's right, the Village People are the Sun Bowl's halftime entertainment. See you in El Paso.
That's right, the Village People are the Sun Bowl's halftime entertainment. See you in El Paso.
Feed your crippling college football addiction with: The magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
Despite their sporadic posting habits, TOSW's writers are college football addicts, much like yourself. Because of this -- and because we care -- we're previewing every one of this year's bowl games. Come, join us in our celebration of mediocrity!
The magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
Memphis vs. South Florida
December 20, 2008, 4:30 p.m. EST
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Woefully misguided sponsor:
I'm assuming magicJack is some kind of VoIP service. I've never actually paid attention to one of their ubiquitous late-night TV commercials, but damn are they ever-present:
Yeah, I think it's safe to say that magicJack has joined the likes of GalleryFurniture.com and Poulan (maker of fine Weedeaters) as the most pathetic bowl sponsors of all time.
Why this bowl is ill-conceived
No reason whatsoever. Zero. None. It's going to be sunny and 72 degrees in the Tampa Bay area tomorrow at kickoff. Lucky Memphis and USF fans. They get to sit outside in beautiful weather and watch football. A perfect reward for an occasionaly good, sometimes well-played season.
Wait...
What?!?
They're playing the game indoors?!? In a drab concrete sarcophagus complete with possibly-in-play catwalks and a saltwater tank filled with live marine creatures? Yeah, nevermind. This bowl sucks.
Really?!?
Will this be a bowl game in the 2009-10 season?
I'm gonna go with "no." At least not in this location. I believe the Tampa Bay area, in a good economy, can sustain two bowls. But for the love of all that is good, St. Petersburg, just lease Raymond James Stadium for a night and call it the "St. Petersburg Bowl of Tampa" or something. It won't wound your civic pride too badly.
StubHub currently has tickets available for as little as:
No one is selling tickets to this game on StubHub. Not one person. Good times.
Why this matchup should never be played under any circumstances:
Memphis beat five FBS schools this year. Combined record: 19-41. South Florida is 2-6 since October began. And who says there are too many bowl games?
Why this could be a great game:
Well, USF is the "hometown team" of sorts, and despite their late-season swoon, they've got some talent. And hey, maybe their fans will decide they're just sick and tired of all this nice weather and migrate en masse to the Trop. If this happens, it could lead to a loud atmosphere -- one that by most accounts will be rather unkind to Tigers fans who made the trip from delta country. Also, you might enjoy watching Memphis quarterback Arkelon Hall, who narrowly avoided shattering every bone in his body when he made the decision to transfer out of Washington State a few years back.
Half-baked, poorly informed prediction:
Bulls romp, 35-17. You will go catatonic during the third quarter.
Photo of Tropicana Field via The St. Petersburg Times.
The magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
Memphis vs. South Florida
December 20, 2008, 4:30 p.m. EST
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Woefully misguided sponsor:
I'm assuming magicJack is some kind of VoIP service. I've never actually paid attention to one of their ubiquitous late-night TV commercials, but damn are they ever-present:
Yeah, I think it's safe to say that magicJack has joined the likes of GalleryFurniture.com and Poulan (maker of fine Weedeaters) as the most pathetic bowl sponsors of all time.
Why this bowl is ill-conceived
No reason whatsoever. Zero. None. It's going to be sunny and 72 degrees in the Tampa Bay area tomorrow at kickoff. Lucky Memphis and USF fans. They get to sit outside in beautiful weather and watch football. A perfect reward for an occasionaly good, sometimes well-played season.
Wait...
What?!?
They're playing the game indoors?!? In a drab concrete sarcophagus complete with possibly-in-play catwalks and a saltwater tank filled with live marine creatures? Yeah, nevermind. This bowl sucks.
Really?!?
Will this be a bowl game in the 2009-10 season?
I'm gonna go with "no." At least not in this location. I believe the Tampa Bay area, in a good economy, can sustain two bowls. But for the love of all that is good, St. Petersburg, just lease Raymond James Stadium for a night and call it the "St. Petersburg Bowl of Tampa" or something. It won't wound your civic pride too badly.
StubHub currently has tickets available for as little as:
No one is selling tickets to this game on StubHub. Not one person. Good times.
Why this matchup should never be played under any circumstances:
Memphis beat five FBS schools this year. Combined record: 19-41. South Florida is 2-6 since October began. And who says there are too many bowl games?
Why this could be a great game:
Well, USF is the "hometown team" of sorts, and despite their late-season swoon, they've got some talent. And hey, maybe their fans will decide they're just sick and tired of all this nice weather and migrate en masse to the Trop. If this happens, it could lead to a loud atmosphere -- one that by most accounts will be rather unkind to Tigers fans who made the trip from delta country. Also, you might enjoy watching Memphis quarterback Arkelon Hall, who narrowly avoided shattering every bone in his body when he made the decision to transfer out of Washington State a few years back.
Half-baked, poorly informed prediction:
Bulls romp, 35-17. You will go catatonic during the third quarter.
Photo of Tropicana Field via The St. Petersburg Times.
Feed your crippling college football addiction with: The EagleBank Bowl
Despite their sporadic posting habits, TOSW's writers are college football addicts, much like yourself. Because of this -- and because we care -- we're previewing every one of this year's bowl games. Come, join us in our celebration of mediocrity!
The EagleBank Bowl
Wake Forest vs. Navy
December 20, 2008, 11 a.m. EST
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Woefully misguided sponsor:
The good news is that I'm now aware EagleBank exists. The bad news is I have never seen a branch and have absolutely no idea how to go about purchasing their services should I want them.
Why this bowl is ill-conceived
As a D.C. resident, I'm uniquely qualified to answer this question. Frankly, there are myriad reasons NOT to play a college football game in D.C. in December. Tomorrow's weather in the District? Forty and cloudy. To be honest, it could have been much, much worse. Also, and I cannot say this strongly enough, this city does not care about sports. Maybe people care on an individual level, but as a community, people do. not. care. Not even about the Redskins.
But in all seriousness, the reason this bowl might struggle is me. No, seriously. I live about one mile from RFK. I could literally leave my house 20 minutes before kickoff and be in my seat when toe meets leather. Also, as previously mentioned, I have a football problem. But I'm probably not going.
I think on some level, every bowl needs a modicum of local support to succeed. Maybe it's the $45 face-value of the tickets, maybe it's the aforementioned D.C. sports apathy, but whatever it is, this bowl just doesn't seem to have it.
Will this be a bowl game in the 2009-10 season?
After all that, I'm going to go out on a limb and say "yes." The presence of Navy will bring in enough fans to ward off a total disaster. Wake Forest, not so much, but Navy will fill a few seats. Unless the economy completely tanks (a strong possibility), I think this one might make it to year two.
Stubhub currently has tickets available for as little as: $99.00. And just one set of three tickets. Not a hot scalping item, oddly enough.
Why this matchup should never be played under any circumstances:
Well, it's a re-match. And nobody likes rematches. But the main reason this game should not be played is as follows:
This game could have featured Navy vs. Maryland, but the Terps are instead going to the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise. (Where good seats are apparently still available.) I don't know the ACC's bowl selection procedure, nor do I care enough to research it, but the fact that they couldn't fill this slot with a team whose campus is just a 30-minute subway ride away from the stadium mystifies me.
Why this could be a great game:
Wake Forest has already seen Navy's flexbone triple option this season, but the attack is still hard to stop. Here, let Smart Football drop some knowledge on you. Even with a well-prepped Deacon D, it's always fun to watch a little flexbonin'. Also, Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, for my money, gets more out of less talent than almost any coach in the country. I almost always enjoy watching his teams play. Also, for the ladies in the house, Wake has a prime slice of beefcake lining up under center in quarterback Riley Skinner. (Link is very, very NSFW.)
Half-baked, poorly informed prediction:
Navy keeps it close with piles of rushing yards and its typical surprise deep throws on play action, but Wake wins a close one, 28-24.
The EagleBank Bowl
Wake Forest vs. Navy
December 20, 2008, 11 a.m. EST
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Woefully misguided sponsor:
The good news is that I'm now aware EagleBank exists. The bad news is I have never seen a branch and have absolutely no idea how to go about purchasing their services should I want them.
Why this bowl is ill-conceived
As a D.C. resident, I'm uniquely qualified to answer this question. Frankly, there are myriad reasons NOT to play a college football game in D.C. in December. Tomorrow's weather in the District? Forty and cloudy. To be honest, it could have been much, much worse. Also, and I cannot say this strongly enough, this city does not care about sports. Maybe people care on an individual level, but as a community, people do. not. care. Not even about the Redskins.
But in all seriousness, the reason this bowl might struggle is me. No, seriously. I live about one mile from RFK. I could literally leave my house 20 minutes before kickoff and be in my seat when toe meets leather. Also, as previously mentioned, I have a football problem. But I'm probably not going.
I think on some level, every bowl needs a modicum of local support to succeed. Maybe it's the $45 face-value of the tickets, maybe it's the aforementioned D.C. sports apathy, but whatever it is, this bowl just doesn't seem to have it.
Will this be a bowl game in the 2009-10 season?
After all that, I'm going to go out on a limb and say "yes." The presence of Navy will bring in enough fans to ward off a total disaster. Wake Forest, not so much, but Navy will fill a few seats. Unless the economy completely tanks (a strong possibility), I think this one might make it to year two.
Stubhub currently has tickets available for as little as: $99.00. And just one set of three tickets. Not a hot scalping item, oddly enough.
Why this matchup should never be played under any circumstances:
Well, it's a re-match. And nobody likes rematches. But the main reason this game should not be played is as follows:
This game could have featured Navy vs. Maryland, but the Terps are instead going to the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise. (Where good seats are apparently still available.) I don't know the ACC's bowl selection procedure, nor do I care enough to research it, but the fact that they couldn't fill this slot with a team whose campus is just a 30-minute subway ride away from the stadium mystifies me.
Why this could be a great game:
Wake Forest has already seen Navy's flexbone triple option this season, but the attack is still hard to stop. Here, let Smart Football drop some knowledge on you. Even with a well-prepped Deacon D, it's always fun to watch a little flexbonin'. Also, Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, for my money, gets more out of less talent than almost any coach in the country. I almost always enjoy watching his teams play. Also, for the ladies in the house, Wake has a prime slice of beefcake lining up under center in quarterback Riley Skinner. (Link is very, very NSFW.)
Half-baked, poorly informed prediction:
Navy keeps it close with piles of rushing yards and its typical surprise deep throws on play action, but Wake wins a close one, 28-24.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Random thoughts from the laziest blogger ever
No introduction, no excuses, just aphoristic thoughts from the past few weeks of college football:
- First, breaking Oklahoma news. I plan on addressing this more in the coming days and weeks, but you hate to see any player -- especially a great one -- miss an opportunity like this due to injury.
- Billy Sims: Still a jackass. Much has been made of Sims' bizarre display at Saturday's Heisman Trophy ceremony. I could spend all of my workday ripping him for what -- by nearly all accounts -- was a total chump move, but I would never even approach the masterful work of one Orson Swindle. TICKLE NOT KILL!
- In a related story, I'm beginning to recall my childhood in Big 8 country (old school!), and my memories of Oklahoma fans are not fond. Florida fandom aside for a moment, OU might have the most underrated obnoxious fanbase in the country. That's partially a criticism, but also perhaps partially a compliment. You can't deny the passion. Anyway, long story short, I watched the Heisman ceremony at a Christmas party. As Billy Sims basically ruined Sam Bradford's shining moment by yelling "BOOMER!" 11 times, the party's token drunk OU guy responded in kind with an enthusiastic "SOONER!" 11 times. Good times.
- After all that, the Heisman voters didn't get it wrong. That doesn't mean they got it right, mind you. But all three finalists would have been deserving winners. You could make a legitimate, powerful case both for and against each man. I probably would have gone with McCoy (again, Florida fandom aside) and I was certainly a bit disappointed that Tebow didn't win, but I can't be upset and I don't think anyone other than the teammates, immediate family members and close friends of the snubbed QB's should be either.
- The SEC Championship game was a phenomenal game and I believe that it's one that could possibly grow into legendary status in the coming years. Let me explain. Obviously, the fourth quarter of that game becomes a major part of Florida lore if the Gators win the title this year. Both teams are also likely to have success within their respective divisions over the coming years, meaning the game could come to be remembered as the rebirth of a hard-hitting rivalry that raged in the early 90s. Of course, just by bringing this up I've probably jinxed both teams, so I'll just drop it now.
- I had the privilege of attending the SEC Championship game, and the atmosphere was as charged as you would have imagined. It's one of those events where the nervous energy lingers in the air like a fog. You can't see it but you can sense it and it's creepy yet cool at the same time.
- I also had the privilege of attending the SEC Coaches Luncheon the day before the game. Both coaches are clearly very bright individuals, but Saban clearly has the upper hand in public speaking. Meyer talks like a football coach. A very, very good football coach, but clearly a guy who was made to do this and nothing else. Saban on the other hand could be a politician.
- In fact, to take that politician metaphor to its most nerdy extreme, I think we're witnessing Saban at the "Senator Palpatine" phase of his career. I think we're about 23 months away from him entering full-blown Emperor mode and ordering Julio Jones to "execute Order 66" on Auburn. (By the way, I'm not even a Star Wars geek. Far from it. I just laugh at the idea of Nick Saban wearing a cloak and saying things like, "Good. Use your aggressive feelings, boy. Let the hate flow through you!" in practice.)
- Lastly, this deserves its own post, but for teams thinking of firing a coach, here's my advice: Think long and hard about who you are. Are you one of the top-20 programs in America? Are you glamorous enough to attract a top-notch coach? If your top choices turn you down, do you have solid backups in mind? Are there factors -- such as weather or financial resources -- that make your position more attractive? Are there factors -- such as meddling boosters -- that make it less so? Think long and hard about these questions, ADs, boosters and trustees of America. Figure out who you are and keep it in mind always.
- First, breaking Oklahoma news. I plan on addressing this more in the coming days and weeks, but you hate to see any player -- especially a great one -- miss an opportunity like this due to injury.
- Billy Sims: Still a jackass. Much has been made of Sims' bizarre display at Saturday's Heisman Trophy ceremony. I could spend all of my workday ripping him for what -- by nearly all accounts -- was a total chump move, but I would never even approach the masterful work of one Orson Swindle. TICKLE NOT KILL!
- In a related story, I'm beginning to recall my childhood in Big 8 country (old school!), and my memories of Oklahoma fans are not fond. Florida fandom aside for a moment, OU might have the most underrated obnoxious fanbase in the country. That's partially a criticism, but also perhaps partially a compliment. You can't deny the passion. Anyway, long story short, I watched the Heisman ceremony at a Christmas party. As Billy Sims basically ruined Sam Bradford's shining moment by yelling "BOOMER!" 11 times, the party's token drunk OU guy responded in kind with an enthusiastic "SOONER!" 11 times. Good times.
- After all that, the Heisman voters didn't get it wrong. That doesn't mean they got it right, mind you. But all three finalists would have been deserving winners. You could make a legitimate, powerful case both for and against each man. I probably would have gone with McCoy (again, Florida fandom aside) and I was certainly a bit disappointed that Tebow didn't win, but I can't be upset and I don't think anyone other than the teammates, immediate family members and close friends of the snubbed QB's should be either.
- The SEC Championship game was a phenomenal game and I believe that it's one that could possibly grow into legendary status in the coming years. Let me explain. Obviously, the fourth quarter of that game becomes a major part of Florida lore if the Gators win the title this year. Both teams are also likely to have success within their respective divisions over the coming years, meaning the game could come to be remembered as the rebirth of a hard-hitting rivalry that raged in the early 90s. Of course, just by bringing this up I've probably jinxed both teams, so I'll just drop it now.
- I had the privilege of attending the SEC Championship game, and the atmosphere was as charged as you would have imagined. It's one of those events where the nervous energy lingers in the air like a fog. You can't see it but you can sense it and it's creepy yet cool at the same time.
- I also had the privilege of attending the SEC Coaches Luncheon the day before the game. Both coaches are clearly very bright individuals, but Saban clearly has the upper hand in public speaking. Meyer talks like a football coach. A very, very good football coach, but clearly a guy who was made to do this and nothing else. Saban on the other hand could be a politician.
- In fact, to take that politician metaphor to its most nerdy extreme, I think we're witnessing Saban at the "Senator Palpatine" phase of his career. I think we're about 23 months away from him entering full-blown Emperor mode and ordering Julio Jones to "execute Order 66" on Auburn. (By the way, I'm not even a Star Wars geek. Far from it. I just laugh at the idea of Nick Saban wearing a cloak and saying things like, "Good. Use your aggressive feelings, boy. Let the hate flow through you!" in practice.)
- Lastly, this deserves its own post, but for teams thinking of firing a coach, here's my advice: Think long and hard about who you are. Are you one of the top-20 programs in America? Are you glamorous enough to attract a top-notch coach? If your top choices turn you down, do you have solid backups in mind? Are there factors -- such as weather or financial resources -- that make your position more attractive? Are there factors -- such as meddling boosters -- that make it less so? Think long and hard about these questions, ADs, boosters and trustees of America. Figure out who you are and keep it in mind always.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The coaching carousel is spinning quickly now...
Washington made it official this evening, in the aftermath of the worst season in the 110 year history of the program, that Steve Sarkisian, USC's 34-year old offensive coordinator and former star QB at BYU, will be the school's next head coach. Lane Kiffin also took the job at Tennessee early this week. And Clemson retained its interim head coach. But there are still some very prominent vacancies, with a few other schools that will inevitably fire their coaches in the next week or so. The remaining major openings are:
(1) Auburn - Tommy Tuberville's firing/resigning/who knows what the hell it was was not a huge surprise. Mike Leach seems like the obvious choice here, but Auburn may have put itself in a very bad position as this was a year full of top openings, and two of the better jobs have already been filled. And if Leach leaps, Texas Tech's vacancy will be enticing to some - the new coach will have to be offensive-minded, but has a great base to build on.
(2) Syracuse - Greg Robinson's firing surprised exactly no one. Whoever takes this job (Turner Gill anyone?) has a huge project on their hands.
(3) Mississippi State - Sylvester Croom leaves a program that usually has solid defenses, but I think this is going to be a nearly impossible situation for any coach with Houston Nutt revving things up at Ole' Miss.
UW has a press conference scheduled for Monday at 9:30 am PDT to introduce Sarkisian as its new head coach. I'll say for now that I'm cautiously optimistic about the hiring as a fan, and I think Sarkisian has all the makings of an elite college football coach. Then again, he's also a risk.
More on this early in the week.
Congrats to Florida and Oklahoma fans on their impending trips to the national championship game. This is going to be an all time classic BCS title game, one that I will be eagerly anticipating for the next full month.
(1) Auburn - Tommy Tuberville's firing/resigning/who knows what the hell it was was not a huge surprise. Mike Leach seems like the obvious choice here, but Auburn may have put itself in a very bad position as this was a year full of top openings, and two of the better jobs have already been filled. And if Leach leaps, Texas Tech's vacancy will be enticing to some - the new coach will have to be offensive-minded, but has a great base to build on.
(2) Syracuse - Greg Robinson's firing surprised exactly no one. Whoever takes this job (Turner Gill anyone?) has a huge project on their hands.
(3) Mississippi State - Sylvester Croom leaves a program that usually has solid defenses, but I think this is going to be a nearly impossible situation for any coach with Houston Nutt revving things up at Ole' Miss.
UW has a press conference scheduled for Monday at 9:30 am PDT to introduce Sarkisian as its new head coach. I'll say for now that I'm cautiously optimistic about the hiring as a fan, and I think Sarkisian has all the makings of an elite college football coach. Then again, he's also a risk.
More on this early in the week.
Congrats to Florida and Oklahoma fans on their impending trips to the national championship game. This is going to be an all time classic BCS title game, one that I will be eagerly anticipating for the next full month.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
And the Winners are...
We'll just state it up front: Oklahoma will defeat Missouri and go to the BCS title game, and Florida will defeat Alabama and go to the BCS title game. For in depth analysis, continue reading....
(2) Oklahoma v. (20) Missouri - As good as the Tigers have looked at times this season, Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin can't do it all. If Mizzou had any semblance of a defense (they're ranked somewhere south of 90th nationally), they might have a shot here. And their offense could very well put up 50 plus points on a porous Sooner defense. But they'll have to reach 70 to have any hopes of winning this one. Sam Bradford and Oklahoma WILL score more than 60 points in this one, beating Missouri for their shot at a second national title in the BCS era. It would also mark Oklahoma's fourth BCS Championship appearance, breaking a tie they currently have with Ohio State and Florida State for most ever. Sooners 63, Tigers 49.
(1) Alabama v. (4) Florida - Let me just say from the start: it is a travesty that there is even a sliver of a possibility that Florida could win this game and not play for the national championship. The Gators lost one game, to an 8-4 Mississippi team, by one point, as a result of some freak turnovers in the fourth quarter, and it was over two months ago. Since that point, the Gators have been the best team in the nation. Their offense has begun clicking a la 2006/7 again, but the real driver of Florida's success has been outstanding defensive play. The D-Line is rock solid, but the strength is behind it. Brandon Spikes is one of the three best linebackers in the country (sorry, can't put him ahead of Maualuga), and the most underestimated part of the team is the secondary. Janoris Jenkins is extremely inexperienced, but he's also pretty damn fast. And recovery speed can mean a lot in the secondary.
On the other side of the coin, Alabama has dominated using its circa 1960's hard-nosed, classic toughness. Terence Cody is an anchor in the middle of the defense and one of the most beastly Defensive Tackles I've ever seen in college football. On the other side of the ball, Andre Smith leads an Offensive Line that is #1 in the game. That line has turned a semi-talented Glen Coffee into one of the best backs in the nation statistically (trust me, he's nowhere near the talent level of guys in his own conference like Charles Scott and Knowshon Moreno, or even Chris Rainey or Jeff Demps for that matter).
Each team has a path to victory this afternoon. (1) Florida wins this game by spreading out the Crimson Tide defense, getting the ball into the hands of its playmakers, and holding its own at the point of attack. (2) Alabama wins this game by controlling the line of scrimmage, controlling the clock, and running the ball down the Gators' throats. My money's on Scenario #1 - while Alabama is fantastic on both lines, Florida's offensive line and defensive speed are enough to stop 'Bama from holding the ball for 40 minutes of the game.
The X-Factor here: coaching. Urban Meyer has shown himself to be a fantastic game coach repeatedly, but in the opinion of this blogger, there is no better coach in college football today than Nick Saban. The problem for Saban in this one: he's only got so many tools in the toolbox. If they can't grind out a win, or if they get behind, there's no way in hell that John Parker Wilson can get the Tide back into the game. If you look at Alabama's "tough" opponents from this year, the Tide jumped all over them - we saw this both against Clemson to open the year, and especially against Georgia, where 'Bama grabbed a 31-0 lead in the first half. And if LSU didn't have the totally inept Jarrett Lee at QB all season, 'Bama wouldn't even be undefeated at this point. Conversely, Florida's got all the weapons in the world at all positions on the field, and can and has come from behind (although they seldom find themselves in such a position).
Ultimately, Florida's just got more talent, more ways to win, and the Gators will be strong enough on the lines to stop 'Bama's strengths from determining the outcome of this game. This one's a classic contrast of the old versus the new, and the new wins in this won. Florida 37, Alabama 31.
Enjoy the games (and the potential chaos to ensue should Missouri pull the impossible)!!
(2) Oklahoma v. (20) Missouri - As good as the Tigers have looked at times this season, Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin can't do it all. If Mizzou had any semblance of a defense (they're ranked somewhere south of 90th nationally), they might have a shot here. And their offense could very well put up 50 plus points on a porous Sooner defense. But they'll have to reach 70 to have any hopes of winning this one. Sam Bradford and Oklahoma WILL score more than 60 points in this one, beating Missouri for their shot at a second national title in the BCS era. It would also mark Oklahoma's fourth BCS Championship appearance, breaking a tie they currently have with Ohio State and Florida State for most ever. Sooners 63, Tigers 49.
(1) Alabama v. (4) Florida - Let me just say from the start: it is a travesty that there is even a sliver of a possibility that Florida could win this game and not play for the national championship. The Gators lost one game, to an 8-4 Mississippi team, by one point, as a result of some freak turnovers in the fourth quarter, and it was over two months ago. Since that point, the Gators have been the best team in the nation. Their offense has begun clicking a la 2006/7 again, but the real driver of Florida's success has been outstanding defensive play. The D-Line is rock solid, but the strength is behind it. Brandon Spikes is one of the three best linebackers in the country (sorry, can't put him ahead of Maualuga), and the most underestimated part of the team is the secondary. Janoris Jenkins is extremely inexperienced, but he's also pretty damn fast. And recovery speed can mean a lot in the secondary.
On the other side of the coin, Alabama has dominated using its circa 1960's hard-nosed, classic toughness. Terence Cody is an anchor in the middle of the defense and one of the most beastly Defensive Tackles I've ever seen in college football. On the other side of the ball, Andre Smith leads an Offensive Line that is #1 in the game. That line has turned a semi-talented Glen Coffee into one of the best backs in the nation statistically (trust me, he's nowhere near the talent level of guys in his own conference like Charles Scott and Knowshon Moreno, or even Chris Rainey or Jeff Demps for that matter).
Each team has a path to victory this afternoon. (1) Florida wins this game by spreading out the Crimson Tide defense, getting the ball into the hands of its playmakers, and holding its own at the point of attack. (2) Alabama wins this game by controlling the line of scrimmage, controlling the clock, and running the ball down the Gators' throats. My money's on Scenario #1 - while Alabama is fantastic on both lines, Florida's offensive line and defensive speed are enough to stop 'Bama from holding the ball for 40 minutes of the game.
The X-Factor here: coaching. Urban Meyer has shown himself to be a fantastic game coach repeatedly, but in the opinion of this blogger, there is no better coach in college football today than Nick Saban. The problem for Saban in this one: he's only got so many tools in the toolbox. If they can't grind out a win, or if they get behind, there's no way in hell that John Parker Wilson can get the Tide back into the game. If you look at Alabama's "tough" opponents from this year, the Tide jumped all over them - we saw this both against Clemson to open the year, and especially against Georgia, where 'Bama grabbed a 31-0 lead in the first half. And if LSU didn't have the totally inept Jarrett Lee at QB all season, 'Bama wouldn't even be undefeated at this point. Conversely, Florida's got all the weapons in the world at all positions on the field, and can and has come from behind (although they seldom find themselves in such a position).
Ultimately, Florida's just got more talent, more ways to win, and the Gators will be strong enough on the lines to stop 'Bama's strengths from determining the outcome of this game. This one's a classic contrast of the old versus the new, and the new wins in this won. Florida 37, Alabama 31.
Enjoy the games (and the potential chaos to ensue should Missouri pull the impossible)!!
Friday, December 5, 2008
A little bit of BCS past history...
Since the advent of the BCS, people have complained about the problems that the system has. Looking back at the past history of the BCS is somewhat revealing. Teams like Oregon or Texas Tech and other non-traditional powerhouses have been able to reach BCS games, but not touch the BCS Championship game. The following is a list of all of the participants in the BCS title game for the ten years of its existence.
(1) Oklahoma - 3 appearances: 2000, 2003, 2004. 1 Victory.
(2) Ohio State - 3 appearneces: 2002, 2006, 2007. 1 Victory.
(3) Florida State - 3 appearances: 1998, 1999, 2000. 1 Victory.
(4) LSU - 2 appearances: 2003, 2007. 2 Victories.
(5) USC - 2 appearances: 2004, 2005. 1 Victory.
(6) Miami - 2 appearances: 2001, 2002. 1 Victory.
(7) Texas - 1 appearance: 2005. 1 Victory.
(8) Tennessee - 1 appearance: 1998. 1 Victory.
(9) Florida - 1 appearance: 2006. 1 Victory.
(10) Nebraska - 1 appearance: 2001. 0 Victories.
(11) Virginia Tech - 1 appearance: 1999. 0 Victories.
Wins are in bold above. You'll notice that we've got a few things going on. First, four of the five teams that are in contention for this year's slots (Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and USC) are past champions of the BCS, all having won it since 2000, and all having been to the title game since 2004. Alabama is the lone new participant, should the Tide win the SEC, but they are hardly out of place here.
The second thing that's obvious is that nobody but college football royalty, for lack of a better term, can get into this game. Oregon got shut out the year Nebraska went, probably because they're Oregon and Nebraska is Nebraska. Not really sure what this tells us about the process, other than the bias that is inherent in poll voters seems to show up in the computer polls as well, at least enough to keep the smaller-name programs out of the title game.
Third, there are quite a few teams that have gone in back to back (or back to back to back) years, but no one has ever repeated. Teams tend to win the first time they go to the game, and drop it the next year. Take Miami, winning in '01 and losing in '02 to Ohio State. Or Florida State, winning in '99 and losing in '00 to Oklahoma. Or USC, winning in '04 and losing to Texas in '05. They're somewhat of an exception, simply because their exclusion from the title game in 2003 in favor of Oklahoma caused the AP Poll to split the title, voting for USC over LSU (leading to the eventual removal of the AP Poll from the BCS process). Two teams also have back to back losing years (Oklahoma in 2003 and 2004, and Ohio State in 2006 and 2007). So basically, it's nearly impossible to repeat as champions. (Tim Tebow, take that as a note: if you win it this year, get the hell out of Florida, because while everything would say you'd repeat, the history certainly doesn't look good for it....)
Fourth, we've only had one team win the title more than once. LSU's wins came with different coaches and four years apart. Another interesting dynamic here: no coach has won more than one title since the BCS's inception. Nick Saban, Mack Brown, Bob Stoops, Urban Meyer, and Pete Carroll are all past winners, so that one will end this year unless Utah makes some miraculous rise in the final BCS poll (that was a joke, OK). Saban would also be the first coach to take two different schools to the national title game in the BCS era.
Fifth, for those who still think that the "right" result will be reached, we've seen teams get the short end of the stick before. One example I've already cited, where Nebraska lost its conference title game, and held onto the #2 slot ahead of an 11-1 Oregon team that was rolling at the time. Another was the USC snub in favor of Oklahoma, but that was a more difficult call, regardless of whether it was the BCS or humans making the decision. And in 2004, we had three undefeated teams - USC, Oklahoma, and Auburn. The SEC got the short end in that scenario, and Coach Tuberville is now unemployed despite taking a team to a 13-0 record in the SEC just four short years ago.
This is a bizzare scenario we find ourselves in this year. There's a real chance that Florida could win the SEC title game, yet we could see Oklahoma and Texas in the title game. On the other hand, if Oklahoma loses, USC could get into the picture. Not likely, but possible. Regardless, Texas has its own claim on the Big 12 title game, and the only reasonable result to play out is that the winner of the SEC and Oklahoma, assuming it wins, go to the title game. We'll see what happens, but as stated above, we've seen some pretty outrageous, unfair results out of the BCS in the past. Don't believe for a second that it can't happen again.
All for now.... game previews later on tonight.
(1) Oklahoma - 3 appearances: 2000, 2003, 2004. 1 Victory.
(2) Ohio State - 3 appearneces: 2002, 2006, 2007. 1 Victory.
(3) Florida State - 3 appearances: 1998, 1999, 2000. 1 Victory.
(4) LSU - 2 appearances: 2003, 2007. 2 Victories.
(5) USC - 2 appearances: 2004, 2005. 1 Victory.
(6) Miami - 2 appearances: 2001, 2002. 1 Victory.
(7) Texas - 1 appearance: 2005. 1 Victory.
(8) Tennessee - 1 appearance: 1998. 1 Victory.
(9) Florida - 1 appearance: 2006. 1 Victory.
(10) Nebraska - 1 appearance: 2001. 0 Victories.
(11) Virginia Tech - 1 appearance: 1999. 0 Victories.
Wins are in bold above. You'll notice that we've got a few things going on. First, four of the five teams that are in contention for this year's slots (Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and USC) are past champions of the BCS, all having won it since 2000, and all having been to the title game since 2004. Alabama is the lone new participant, should the Tide win the SEC, but they are hardly out of place here.
The second thing that's obvious is that nobody but college football royalty, for lack of a better term, can get into this game. Oregon got shut out the year Nebraska went, probably because they're Oregon and Nebraska is Nebraska. Not really sure what this tells us about the process, other than the bias that is inherent in poll voters seems to show up in the computer polls as well, at least enough to keep the smaller-name programs out of the title game.
Third, there are quite a few teams that have gone in back to back (or back to back to back) years, but no one has ever repeated. Teams tend to win the first time they go to the game, and drop it the next year. Take Miami, winning in '01 and losing in '02 to Ohio State. Or Florida State, winning in '99 and losing in '00 to Oklahoma. Or USC, winning in '04 and losing to Texas in '05. They're somewhat of an exception, simply because their exclusion from the title game in 2003 in favor of Oklahoma caused the AP Poll to split the title, voting for USC over LSU (leading to the eventual removal of the AP Poll from the BCS process). Two teams also have back to back losing years (Oklahoma in 2003 and 2004, and Ohio State in 2006 and 2007). So basically, it's nearly impossible to repeat as champions. (Tim Tebow, take that as a note: if you win it this year, get the hell out of Florida, because while everything would say you'd repeat, the history certainly doesn't look good for it....)
Fourth, we've only had one team win the title more than once. LSU's wins came with different coaches and four years apart. Another interesting dynamic here: no coach has won more than one title since the BCS's inception. Nick Saban, Mack Brown, Bob Stoops, Urban Meyer, and Pete Carroll are all past winners, so that one will end this year unless Utah makes some miraculous rise in the final BCS poll (that was a joke, OK). Saban would also be the first coach to take two different schools to the national title game in the BCS era.
Fifth, for those who still think that the "right" result will be reached, we've seen teams get the short end of the stick before. One example I've already cited, where Nebraska lost its conference title game, and held onto the #2 slot ahead of an 11-1 Oregon team that was rolling at the time. Another was the USC snub in favor of Oklahoma, but that was a more difficult call, regardless of whether it was the BCS or humans making the decision. And in 2004, we had three undefeated teams - USC, Oklahoma, and Auburn. The SEC got the short end in that scenario, and Coach Tuberville is now unemployed despite taking a team to a 13-0 record in the SEC just four short years ago.
This is a bizzare scenario we find ourselves in this year. There's a real chance that Florida could win the SEC title game, yet we could see Oklahoma and Texas in the title game. On the other hand, if Oklahoma loses, USC could get into the picture. Not likely, but possible. Regardless, Texas has its own claim on the Big 12 title game, and the only reasonable result to play out is that the winner of the SEC and Oklahoma, assuming it wins, go to the title game. We'll see what happens, but as stated above, we've seen some pretty outrageous, unfair results out of the BCS in the past. Don't believe for a second that it can't happen again.
All for now.... game previews later on tonight.
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