Three words I'm seldom forced to use

Patton Patton

"Michigan Got Screwed"

One must be careful what one wishes for.

First, USC loses to UCLA, which seemed impossible, though a friend of mine from Los Angeles tried to get me to bet him on the matter. I'm glad that I declined, in retrospect.

I never saw that coming, but such is the power of traditional rivalries.

Then Florida, which I didn't expect to win the SEC, against Arkansas or anyone else, did so. During the game, Gary Danielson tried to lay out the detailed rationale for Florida being ranked higher than Michigan in the BCS. I saw it, gave it a good deal of thought, and decided it was all bullshit. Why? Because Florida played the game sloppily and incompetently, and really should have lost it. That, plus I've gotten tired of listening to SEC apologists talking about just how gosh-darned tough that conference is. Style points, my ass.

My opinion (on Danielson's opinion, that is) hasn't changed - as much as I'd yawn at a rematch of Ohio State and Michigan in the BCS Championship game, I haven't seen anything in the past two weeks that convinces me Michigan's any worse than the second best team in all of college football. They'd kill Florida in a head-to-head matchup, I'm certain. As a result, it's no logical stretch to think the national title game is going to be a laugher, with OSU sure to be favored by at least two touchdowns.

I'm ambivalent about that, not because I like close games - I don't particularly care how close the final score ends up being. But if a hue and cry begins, on January 9, 2007, for a national playoff system to determine the best football team in NCAA Division I, I'll understand completely. And, for what it's worth, I hope Michigan makes mince-meat of USC, ending up the season rated just where they should be: a solid #2.

And, no, that's not a poo joke.

[wik] Although, honestly, it could be.

Posted by Patton Patton on   |   § 13

§ 13 Comments

1

Bram: OSU doesn't have to lose to highlight the idiocy that is the BCS.

Which is a relief, because I don't think they will, and the BCS needs some serious changes.

I had to think for a minute about how Auburn had gotten screwed, but #1 above is right: The limit of only two teams per league in the BCS games is clearly bullshit. Wisconsin, I'm sure, agrees.

Notre Dame & Wake Forest, of course, are elated.

Patton Patton

3

I hope USC crushes Michigan. The Pac-10 is the perennially underrated conference in NCAA Football. I’ve been following USC since I was student there 14 years ago. I believe that Pac-10 teams have the toughest teams and schedules of any conference.

I also hope Ohio losses so the BCS is revealed for the nonsense it is.

Bram Bram

4

I have no problem with the BCS being exposed as a flaming pile of poo. So long as that process does not involve OSU losing.

Buckethead Buckethead

5

Just thinking about your title, it occurred to me that I have used those three words often enough over the last few years. (Since Coach Cooper left) It's just that I'm usually very, very happy when I utter them. The only thing unusual about this time, is that I actually feel some sympathy for the Wolverines. Not much, but a little.

Buckethead Buckethead

6

I'm cheering for whatever discredits the BCS the most. Even if it means pulling for OSU.

When a playoff is installed, I'll start watching college football again.

At least before the BCS (and that Coalition thingy before it) everyone just accepted that the "national champion" was a compete and total crock. Now the BCS tries to pretend that the "national champion" is legitimate in some way or other, which is actually worse than having no real "national champion" at all.

Murdoc Murdoc

7

I'm slowly coming around to the idea of a playoff (four teams max, the winners of the BCS bowls), although I was frankly perfectly happy with the old "polls pick a champion and then we argue about it until pitchers and catchers report" system. It was fun.

One thing still gives me pause, though: I have a sneaking hunch that the leading forces pushing for a playoff are the guys who make money offa people laying down Benjamins on the outcome of sporting events. I'd really hate to see the hotel game become a feature of college football the way it has the NFL.

Ken Ken

8

BCS aside, Michagan screwed themselves. If they wanted to be #1, they should have beaten the #1 team. The End

NDR NDR

9

Hmmm. I like the way Ken put that: "...and then we argue about it until pitchers and catchers report". That might actually be half the fun of the alleged national championship race, come to think of it.

As for Michigan getting screwed, such a claim, as in this case, is highly relative. There's an argument to be made that they're the second best team, and as such, should have gotten Florida's spot in the title game. It's inarguable that they already had their shot, and failed. And it's hard to argue that they should continue to get shots at the #1 team until they win.

So no, I don't really have any meaningful amount of sympathy for them. And, after all, I did sort of ask for this general outcome several weeks ago. So it's really all my fault.

Patton Patton

11

Only a bad example if you take away the "traditional rivalry" nature of the USC-UCLA game, which I do.

But your point remains valid.

Patton Patton

12

Seeing as OSU has never played Florida to my recollection, it's hard to say that there's a traditional rivalry there.

Patton, your almost poo joke reminds me of posters I used to see in the OSU bookstore - "Directions to Ann Arbor: North 'til you smell it, west 'til you step in it."

Buckethead Buckethead

13

Not to worry about the Buckeyes. If they bring their A game they're a mortal lock.

Ken Ken

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