After losing his chance at the Triple Crown, finishing last at Belmont, there is still no diagnosis as to what happened that caused Big Brown to slow up during the race. Big Brown was picked by thousands to win the Triple Crown Saturday as he is the best horse anybody has seen in the past 30 years. Those who did so were severely dissappointed. Now a day later there is no reason as to what happened to this Colt. He seems to be walking fine, he is jogging and eating, and seems joyful for a horse. What the heck happened? Nobody really knows right now and until blood work and x-rays come back nobody may never know. Hopefully there is nothing wrong with Big Brown and he was just uncomfortable with the track as this is what his owner, Michael Iavarone thinks, "There's nothing physically that's shown up," he said, speaking by cell phone from his daughter's soccer game on Long Island. "I'm as confused as anybody. The only thing we're resorting to right now is the track might have been too deep for him and he didn't like it out there."
Though I hate the sport of horse racing I hope for the sake of Big Brown he is fine and gets back to racing. Good luck Big Brown!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Rafeal Nadal Makes History
This past Sunday Rafeal Nadal may have cemented himself in history defeating number one seeded Roger Federer in three sets at the 2008 French Open Final. The score to those three sets you ask? 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. That is called domination. Many chose Nadal to win the French Open for his fourth straight time, but not many expected him to take the title in three sets or atleast the way he man-handled Federer. Nadal is the king of clay. On clay courts, playing five sets, Nadal is 41-0. This was Federer's worst loss ever in a Grand Slam, and many think it's safe to say he wasn't playing his best tennis. Federer will now remain the second tier to Nadal until he redeems himself at another Grand Slam. As for Nadal, take it on to Wimbledon baby, just keep on winning. Whether he keeps on winning or not he is surely the king of the clay.
Celtics lead NBA Finals 2-0
In a game where Kobe Bryant and the Lakers posted 41 points in the 4th quarter Boston tied the all-time record for playoff home game wins by defeating the Lakers 108-102. Boston's stifling defense and rebounding have been the deciding factors in the first two games of the Finals. Bryant has had two sub-par performances in which he has gone 20 for 49 in shots made and attempted. The size and toughness of the Celtics have bothered each Bryant, Gasol, and Odom. Game 3 will come from the Staples Center where the Lakers are 8-0 in the playoffs. Look for Boston's bench to be a big factor the res of this series. The most important being Leon Powe. Powe a big man for the Celtics has come in and harassed the Lakers front court, going 6/7 in shots made. In just 15 minutes of playing time Powe scored 21 points. Rajon Rondo has also had his shining moment and is growing up fast. Rondo added 16 assists in lastnight's game 2. It looks as though the Lakers front court needs to toughen up and someone other than Kobe Bryant needs to step up and score. Only three teams have ever come back from an 0-2 deficit in the Finals, no team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit.
One for the Ages
After having their 23 game win streak snapped the LSU baseball team looked as though they were about to drop another one. This loss would have knocked LSU out of the super regionals and sent UC Irvine to face North Carolina in Omaha for the College World Series. But, that wasn't the case. Heading into the eight inning trailing 7-2, LSU tallied two runs to cut the deficit to 7-4. After LSU reliever Louis Coleman held the Anteaters scoreless in the seventh and ninth innings the tiger bats began to come alive. In the ninth LSU plated five more runs to take the lead for the first time since the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the ninth Coleman looked to give up a double until leftfielder Jared Mitchell made a web-gem diving catch for the first out. The second batter of the inning ripped Coleman's first pitch into the rightfield corner for a double. With the tying run at the plate Coleman forced two infield popups to end the sensational comeback victory.
This was LSU's 29th come from behind victory on the season. They force a game 7 on Monday, win and you're going to Omaha. LSU will start Blake Martin who is 5-3 on the season while UC Irvine will counter with Bryce Stowell who is 8-2 on the season with a 2.72 ERA. This is one game for the ages and will never be forgotten in this last series at the Box before it is torn down at the end of the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K7_7djoZvM
In the bottom of the ninth Coleman looked to give up a double until leftfielder Jared Mitchell made a web-gem diving catch for the first out. The second batter of the inning ripped Coleman's first pitch into the rightfield corner for a double. With the tying run at the plate Coleman forced two infield popups to end the sensational comeback victory.
This was LSU's 29th come from behind victory on the season. They force a game 7 on Monday, win and you're going to Omaha. LSU will start Blake Martin who is 5-3 on the season while UC Irvine will counter with Bryce Stowell who is 8-2 on the season with a 2.72 ERA. This is one game for the ages and will never be forgotten in this last series at the Box before it is torn down at the end of the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K7_7djoZvM
Saturday, June 7, 2008
2009 Recruiting heating up
Here are the lastest college football recruiting rankings from Tom Luginbill of ESPN.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=3426017
First of all how can he have rankings out when the players have yet to be ranked? Also USC should be the outright number one with Texas following a close number two. LSU is also right in the thick of it at number three, in my opinion. Look for these three schools to finish with the top three recruiting classes of 2009. Georgia and Ohio St. will also have respectable classes worthy of finishing in the top five.
LSU's recruiting class is highlighted by an all-around great athlete and person in Texas quarterback Russell Shepherd. Shepherd is the type of teammate players want to be on the same team with. This guy can score with the ball in his hands from anywhere on the field.
Texas' class so far is highlighted by standout quarterback Garrett Gilbert. This kid can really play and makes all the necessary throws and has a very strong arm. He is a smart player and also has good enough pocket presence and feet to elude the pressure of opposing defenses, though he is more of a pocket passer he can play in a spread offense.
USC's class is also anchored by a quarterback in, Matt Barkley. This kid has a prototypical NFL size and about a strong an arm as Jamarcus Russell, former LSU QB, had coming out of highschool. He has great timing and touch on most of his throws and is probably the most polished quarterback in this class.
Ohio St.'s class is bolstered by a defensive star. Dorain Bell comes in a small package but packs a punch. His speed, quickness, change of directioin, and most importantly instincts is what makes him such a playmaker. Once he gets to college he will pack on the bulk and almost immediatly become a starter in what will be a lackluster OSU linebacking corps. once James Laurenitis graduates.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=3426017
First of all how can he have rankings out when the players have yet to be ranked? Also USC should be the outright number one with Texas following a close number two. LSU is also right in the thick of it at number three, in my opinion. Look for these three schools to finish with the top three recruiting classes of 2009. Georgia and Ohio St. will also have respectable classes worthy of finishing in the top five.
LSU's recruiting class is highlighted by an all-around great athlete and person in Texas quarterback Russell Shepherd. Shepherd is the type of teammate players want to be on the same team with. This guy can score with the ball in his hands from anywhere on the field.
Texas' class so far is highlighted by standout quarterback Garrett Gilbert. This kid can really play and makes all the necessary throws and has a very strong arm. He is a smart player and also has good enough pocket presence and feet to elude the pressure of opposing defenses, though he is more of a pocket passer he can play in a spread offense.
USC's class is also anchored by a quarterback in, Matt Barkley. This kid has a prototypical NFL size and about a strong an arm as Jamarcus Russell, former LSU QB, had coming out of highschool. He has great timing and touch on most of his throws and is probably the most polished quarterback in this class.
Ohio St.'s class is bolstered by a defensive star. Dorain Bell comes in a small package but packs a punch. His speed, quickness, change of directioin, and most importantly instincts is what makes him such a playmaker. Once he gets to college he will pack on the bulk and almost immediatly become a starter in what will be a lackluster OSU linebacking corps. once James Laurenitis graduates.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Way Too Early Top Ten College Football Rankings 2008
1. Georgia - Looking at next year, one day after LSU was the best team in the country, it's hard for me not to say UGA is the best team out there for 2008. However, it's hard to put UGA in this position because EVERY year UGA is supposed to be the class of the SEC and play for the title, they crap their pants. However, you can't deny what they did this year and who they have coming back. Psychologically, they're in a great position for next year because: 1. They felt they should've played for it all this year, and proved that they were a great team by season's end. 2. They beat Florida. They'll miss WR Sean Bailey more than anyone is going to realize, but with the majority of their stars back, they're worthy of #1. Watch out for...the schedule. Georgia's schedule next year is brutal, and would deny most normal teams. Four losses wouldn't be a terrible surprise.
2. West Virginia - It looks more and more like it will never be their year. However, this year looks a little more promising than the last. WVU knows what it's like to completely BLOW their shot at greatness, so maybe that will be motivation, though blowing it didn't exactly help Ohio State. Pat White is staying and Noel Devine will obviously be there, but I think a lot of people are putting too much weight on Slaton's decision. Did Slaton play in the Fiesta Bowl? No. Did it matter? No. WVU needs to worry about their severly underrated defense, which loses some key starters. The schedule is cake like always, so getting to the title should be easy with a veteran offense who's been there. Watch out for...the Auburn Tigers. Losing this game doesn't necessarily take them out of contention, considering it's so early in the season, but losing this game guarantees a 1 loss SEC team over a one loss WVU team.
3. Florida - 9-4. Yep, this team lost 4 games, including an embarrassment to Michigan. How they lost 4 games I'll never know, but next year should be completely different. Minus Bubba Caldwell, the offense returns everyone of significance, and we all know they'll put up points. While the offense will most likely be averaging 40 ppg, the defense needs to do a little better than games like this year against TROY, where they gave up 32. Derrick Harvey leaving is huge, but considering the majority of the defense was made up of freshmen/sophomores, the defense should improve. They have a decent OOC schedule, with Hawaii, Miami, and FSU, but their season will be made with how they perform against LSU and UGA. Watch out for...the letdown. Every team favored, which UF was up until their screw up against Michigan, has their lapses. UF can't go into games against FSU, Tenn, Ark, and SCAR expecting to roll. They won't.
4. Missouri - Surprise pick? I'd say so. The Tigers should be the class of a top heavy Big12 next year. They return two of their biggest playmakers in QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin to compliment what looks to be another solid defense. Mizzou proved this year that they're a legit football team, and looking at the schedule for next year, another run looks probable. If Mizzou takes care of Illinois in St. Louis early in the season, they're for real. Their road games are Nebraska, Texas, Baylor, and Iowa State. Three of those games look like gimmies, with Texas being a possible season killer. The big thing I see is, no Oklahoma. The only team to beat Mizzou last year isn't on the schedule. However, with the experience and momentum carrying over from the 31 point win over Arkansas, Mizzou could be the "sexy" pick for next year's title game. Watch out for...the loss of Tony Temple. Never overlook the importance of a balanced offense. If Mizzou can't run the ball, they won't win the Big12.
5. Ohio State - Gosh I feel stupid having them in the top 5 after they were embarrassed AGAIN. However, they are going to be loaded for next year. Gholston, Lauriniatis, and Jenkins could all declare early, but even if one of them stays it'll help. OSU returns basically their entire offense, including a heisman contender in RB Chris Wells and a massive offensive line (which was beat by LSU all night I might add.) The Big10 looks weaker than ever, so scheduling USC early might be their only credible game next year, assuming the win. If OSU wins that game, which I actually think they will, they may regain some credibility, albeit not much. Watch out for...2006/2007. Seriously, is this team ever going to recover from this? I know if this happened to LSU we'd crucify the team.
6. LSU - It hurts me to put LSU down this far, but the objective nature of me can't overlook the losses on defense. After watching, statistically, the best offense in LSU history this year, I can't help but think that next year's offense will be leaps and bounds better. RP has more NFL talent than Matt Flynn. Keiland/Scott/Murphy have more NFL talent than Jacob Hester. LaFell, Byrd, Toliver, etc all look like future NFL prospects. The offensive line is big and strong, the TEs are dangerous in this offense, and Gary Crowton knows how to call plays to suit his players strengths. I fully expect LSU to drop 500+ points next year too. The defense loses a ton, but after 2003's losses, the 2004 defense played extremely well. The OOC schedule is a complete joke, very Ohio State-esque, but the SEC schedule is tough. They have a chance to prove themselves as the best in the SEC against 3 of the 4 best teams in the SEC next year AU/UF/UGA. This year, like every even number year, will come down to one game and one game only; at Auburn. Win that game, and look out for LSU in Atlanta. That's easier said than done. Watch out for...Perry Riley, Kelvin Sheppard, Jai Eugene, Danny McCray, Chris Hawkins, Ron Brooks, Patrick Johnson, and Phelon Jones. Can these high profile Les Miles' recruits fill the void of some of LSU's best defenders ever? The defensive line will be great, it's the other 7 I worry about.
7. USC - USC SHOULD BE #1!!! WOOOOHOOOO THEY BEAT ILLINOIS AND ARIZONA STATE SO THEY'RE #1 BOOK IT! I believe I speak for the rest of coherent society when I say, "screw the media." How the hell can everyone already have USC at #1 when they lose, at the least 10 starters next year? I guess losing their starting QB and a lot of studs on defense means nothing since you're USC. They beat four ranked teams this year. That's right, the number directly after three. They played 13 football games, and less than 1/3 were against top 25 opponents. Next year look for a lot of the same. Ohio State is a great OOC game for the Trojans, but the Pac-10? C'mon. Oregon, ASU, and Cal, USC's biggest foes from last year, are all down. USC should roll through their schedule with ease, but after watching Oregon State, UCLA, and Stanford the past two years, USC has proved that rolling is anything but easy. The offense has a lot of firepower at the WR/RB positions, and the defense has All-American after All-American, but will it finally add up to a title game or just a Rose Bowl? I'm thinking Rose Bowl. Watch out for...Mitch Mustain/Mark Sanchez. Everyone is overlooking the fact that USC is throwing a relative unknown QB into the fire. It's tougher than it looks, and ultimately, will keep them just short of a title.
8. Chokelahoma - Oops, I meant Oklahoma. Sorry. The Sooners have #1 talent and the schedule reflects a possible title run, but 0-4 in BCS bowls since 2003 screams louder than Ohio State's back-to-back title losses. Oklahoma and Bob Stoops are HORRIBLE in bowl preparations now a days. They breeze through a weak Big12 and get embarrassed by whoever they meet in the title game. They've got Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Demarcus Granger and yada yada yada. I could go on and on about how good OU should be, but I know they'll blow it, so I'll stop. Watch out for...any bowl team with a pulse.
9. Texas Tech - Yep, Texas Tech. I can't remember exactly, but I believe they return 19-20 starters next year, including their starting QB/RB/WR tandem. They're all offense all the time, and everyone knows it, but they have a very underrated defense that improved throughout the season. Texas Tech has been a nice team year in and year out. They'll get you 9 or so wins, win an occasional bowl game, and upset a top team every now and then. Maybe this will be the year they prove to everyone that they're a legit team. I fully expect them to compete for the Big12 South with their returning experience and momentum from an exciting comeback over Virginia. If this season taught us anything, expect the unexpected. Watch out for...Texas Tech. Plain and simple, they shouldn't be here. They should start the season 6-0 before at Texas, at Kansas, and OU to round out the season.
10. Auburn - How will the spread work for the Tigers? If the Clemson game proved anything, it's that there are a lot of kinks to work out. However, after watching QB Cody Burns' speed and athleticism in the Clemson game, I'm officially nervous for LSU's matchup at Auburn next year. The Auburn defense is consistently among the best in the nation, and they proved as a young team that they're legit, after virtually shutting down the two Heisman frontrunners Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden. This team will return a lot of stud players next year, and could very well represent the West in Atlanta. Watch out for...vs LSU. Win that game, and Auburn is in. That's what it comes down to almost every year.
2. West Virginia - It looks more and more like it will never be their year. However, this year looks a little more promising than the last. WVU knows what it's like to completely BLOW their shot at greatness, so maybe that will be motivation, though blowing it didn't exactly help Ohio State. Pat White is staying and Noel Devine will obviously be there, but I think a lot of people are putting too much weight on Slaton's decision. Did Slaton play in the Fiesta Bowl? No. Did it matter? No. WVU needs to worry about their severly underrated defense, which loses some key starters. The schedule is cake like always, so getting to the title should be easy with a veteran offense who's been there. Watch out for...the Auburn Tigers. Losing this game doesn't necessarily take them out of contention, considering it's so early in the season, but losing this game guarantees a 1 loss SEC team over a one loss WVU team.
3. Florida - 9-4. Yep, this team lost 4 games, including an embarrassment to Michigan. How they lost 4 games I'll never know, but next year should be completely different. Minus Bubba Caldwell, the offense returns everyone of significance, and we all know they'll put up points. While the offense will most likely be averaging 40 ppg, the defense needs to do a little better than games like this year against TROY, where they gave up 32. Derrick Harvey leaving is huge, but considering the majority of the defense was made up of freshmen/sophomores, the defense should improve. They have a decent OOC schedule, with Hawaii, Miami, and FSU, but their season will be made with how they perform against LSU and UGA. Watch out for...the letdown. Every team favored, which UF was up until their screw up against Michigan, has their lapses. UF can't go into games against FSU, Tenn, Ark, and SCAR expecting to roll. They won't.
4. Missouri - Surprise pick? I'd say so. The Tigers should be the class of a top heavy Big12 next year. They return two of their biggest playmakers in QB Chase Daniel and WR Jeremy Maclin to compliment what looks to be another solid defense. Mizzou proved this year that they're a legit football team, and looking at the schedule for next year, another run looks probable. If Mizzou takes care of Illinois in St. Louis early in the season, they're for real. Their road games are Nebraska, Texas, Baylor, and Iowa State. Three of those games look like gimmies, with Texas being a possible season killer. The big thing I see is, no Oklahoma. The only team to beat Mizzou last year isn't on the schedule. However, with the experience and momentum carrying over from the 31 point win over Arkansas, Mizzou could be the "sexy" pick for next year's title game. Watch out for...the loss of Tony Temple. Never overlook the importance of a balanced offense. If Mizzou can't run the ball, they won't win the Big12.
5. Ohio State - Gosh I feel stupid having them in the top 5 after they were embarrassed AGAIN. However, they are going to be loaded for next year. Gholston, Lauriniatis, and Jenkins could all declare early, but even if one of them stays it'll help. OSU returns basically their entire offense, including a heisman contender in RB Chris Wells and a massive offensive line (which was beat by LSU all night I might add.) The Big10 looks weaker than ever, so scheduling USC early might be their only credible game next year, assuming the win. If OSU wins that game, which I actually think they will, they may regain some credibility, albeit not much. Watch out for...2006/2007. Seriously, is this team ever going to recover from this? I know if this happened to LSU we'd crucify the team.
6. LSU - It hurts me to put LSU down this far, but the objective nature of me can't overlook the losses on defense. After watching, statistically, the best offense in LSU history this year, I can't help but think that next year's offense will be leaps and bounds better. RP has more NFL talent than Matt Flynn. Keiland/Scott/Murphy have more NFL talent than Jacob Hester. LaFell, Byrd, Toliver, etc all look like future NFL prospects. The offensive line is big and strong, the TEs are dangerous in this offense, and Gary Crowton knows how to call plays to suit his players strengths. I fully expect LSU to drop 500+ points next year too. The defense loses a ton, but after 2003's losses, the 2004 defense played extremely well. The OOC schedule is a complete joke, very Ohio State-esque, but the SEC schedule is tough. They have a chance to prove themselves as the best in the SEC against 3 of the 4 best teams in the SEC next year AU/UF/UGA. This year, like every even number year, will come down to one game and one game only; at Auburn. Win that game, and look out for LSU in Atlanta. That's easier said than done. Watch out for...Perry Riley, Kelvin Sheppard, Jai Eugene, Danny McCray, Chris Hawkins, Ron Brooks, Patrick Johnson, and Phelon Jones. Can these high profile Les Miles' recruits fill the void of some of LSU's best defenders ever? The defensive line will be great, it's the other 7 I worry about.
7. USC - USC SHOULD BE #1!!! WOOOOHOOOO THEY BEAT ILLINOIS AND ARIZONA STATE SO THEY'RE #1 BOOK IT! I believe I speak for the rest of coherent society when I say, "screw the media." How the hell can everyone already have USC at #1 when they lose, at the least 10 starters next year? I guess losing their starting QB and a lot of studs on defense means nothing since you're USC. They beat four ranked teams this year. That's right, the number directly after three. They played 13 football games, and less than 1/3 were against top 25 opponents. Next year look for a lot of the same. Ohio State is a great OOC game for the Trojans, but the Pac-10? C'mon. Oregon, ASU, and Cal, USC's biggest foes from last year, are all down. USC should roll through their schedule with ease, but after watching Oregon State, UCLA, and Stanford the past two years, USC has proved that rolling is anything but easy. The offense has a lot of firepower at the WR/RB positions, and the defense has All-American after All-American, but will it finally add up to a title game or just a Rose Bowl? I'm thinking Rose Bowl. Watch out for...Mitch Mustain/Mark Sanchez. Everyone is overlooking the fact that USC is throwing a relative unknown QB into the fire. It's tougher than it looks, and ultimately, will keep them just short of a title.
8. Chokelahoma - Oops, I meant Oklahoma. Sorry. The Sooners have #1 talent and the schedule reflects a possible title run, but 0-4 in BCS bowls since 2003 screams louder than Ohio State's back-to-back title losses. Oklahoma and Bob Stoops are HORRIBLE in bowl preparations now a days. They breeze through a weak Big12 and get embarrassed by whoever they meet in the title game. They've got Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Demarcus Granger and yada yada yada. I could go on and on about how good OU should be, but I know they'll blow it, so I'll stop. Watch out for...any bowl team with a pulse.
9. Texas Tech - Yep, Texas Tech. I can't remember exactly, but I believe they return 19-20 starters next year, including their starting QB/RB/WR tandem. They're all offense all the time, and everyone knows it, but they have a very underrated defense that improved throughout the season. Texas Tech has been a nice team year in and year out. They'll get you 9 or so wins, win an occasional bowl game, and upset a top team every now and then. Maybe this will be the year they prove to everyone that they're a legit team. I fully expect them to compete for the Big12 South with their returning experience and momentum from an exciting comeback over Virginia. If this season taught us anything, expect the unexpected. Watch out for...Texas Tech. Plain and simple, they shouldn't be here. They should start the season 6-0 before at Texas, at Kansas, and OU to round out the season.
10. Auburn - How will the spread work for the Tigers? If the Clemson game proved anything, it's that there are a lot of kinks to work out. However, after watching QB Cody Burns' speed and athleticism in the Clemson game, I'm officially nervous for LSU's matchup at Auburn next year. The Auburn defense is consistently among the best in the nation, and they proved as a young team that they're legit, after virtually shutting down the two Heisman frontrunners Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden. This team will return a lot of stud players next year, and could very well represent the West in Atlanta. Watch out for...vs LSU. Win that game, and Auburn is in. That's what it comes down to almost every year.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Playoff?
Now that the most compelling, entertaining and dramatic college football season in recent memory has drawn to a close, sportswriters and broadcasters are doing what they always do this time of the year. They are crafting lies to convince you that major-college football is in disarray and in dire need of a playoff system to save itself.
Many teams controlled their destiny at some point during the season but then would lose it. So sorry Oklahoma, but maybe you shouldn't have blown that seventeen point lead at a mediocre Colorado. Regrets to Georgia but what was the final margin of defeat at Tennessee again ... 35-14? Apologies to USC, but really, you can't lose at home in the Coliseum to a 4-8 Stanford and expect mercy. So ends an entirely captivating, wildly absorbing, deliciously unpredictable college football regular season. And now at the finish, what do we see? Controversy, mayhem, protests. Amid all the fun, we have people yelling that the sport has to change. It needs a playoff system, why? So the casual fans who are confused by the BCS and the angry columnists who write about college football three times a year can get finality. Great idea, let's make college football more like the NFL, which would rival rodeo in popularity if it weren't for gambling and fantasy football. Or better yet, let's have a sixteen-team playoff as is done in the NBA. We all love the NCAA basketball tournament, but a football team can't play six games in eighteen days. College football plays meaningful games every Saturday and even some Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Let us also take a look at the academic side of things. College football has been a one semester sport since the beginning of time and that is not about to change anytime soon with most schools. It is a unanimous factor that college football should only be a one semester sport due to the fact that these young adults are still in school and if they do not go on to play professional football they need their degrees. Just think if a player is critically injured and is never cleared by the medical staff to play football again, what are they going to do if they never earned their degree? Football players need their degrees as stated by many high profile recruits like Russell Shepard, “Football is not going to last forever and to sit down with an expert of my major was a very good impression.” Many highschool players are now taking in to consideration the academics they will receive at a school not just the prestige of the football program.
The regular-season games are so great because there's a do-or-die component to every one involving a title contender. These are trapeze artists working without a net.If we had a playoff, last year's Ohio State-Michigan game would have been almost meaningless, with the loser knowing it would be an at-large selection(team that is not the number one from their conference but still receive a bid). Same for this year’s LSU-Arkansas game, if you had conference champions advancing to an eight-team playoff, LSU, having already clinched a berth in the SEC title game, would have rested its regulars and college football fans all around the world would have missed out on one of the games of the year. This football season has been one of the most exciting ever. The number one team was getting knocked off every other weekend by some less prestigious school. Schools like South Florida and Missouri were sitting atop the Coaches and AP polls. We had heisman contenders in Matt Grothe, University of South Florida; Andre Woodson, University of Kentucky; and Matt Ryan, Boston College; who all turned out to be pretenders but that is the point. Players people had never heard of coming into the season were potentially college football’s most prolific player of the year. The point being there is no need for a playoff because there already is one, the regular season. It’s what makes college football what it is. This past year attendance records in the Big12 and SEC were set to a new precedent. College football made more money than any other time before and that should only increase over time.
So here it is in a nutshell, the system did NOT get it right, but this is only because there is no right answer. Someone will always feel shafted. Someone will always have another case to make. There will always be politicking, because if you need two teams, you can't pick three. And if you need eight, you can't choose nine. What the BCS did this year is get it the least wrong, under the given circumstances. Don't like Ohio State vs. LSU? Make a better argument for someone else. Not that easy to do. Ohio State lost once. No other team from a BCS conference can match that except Kansas, and Kansas beat only two teams with winning records. LSU lost twice, both times in triple overtime, and had six victories against opponents that were once ranked in the top twenty-five. The Tigers won the SEC title without their starting quarterback and with their head coach supposedly halfway to Michigan, according to ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit. That hardly turns Oklahoma or Georgia or USC into corned beef hash. But no team that lost twice really has cause to scream foul. Each controlled its own destiny at some point. LSU had the soundest claim, even if historically improbable.
And please, enough about being "the best team at the end." That is not the way college football works. The entire season is a body of work that should be judged. Teams play 12 or 13 games, they should all count.
Many teams controlled their destiny at some point during the season but then would lose it. So sorry Oklahoma, but maybe you shouldn't have blown that seventeen point lead at a mediocre Colorado. Regrets to Georgia but what was the final margin of defeat at Tennessee again ... 35-14? Apologies to USC, but really, you can't lose at home in the Coliseum to a 4-8 Stanford and expect mercy. So ends an entirely captivating, wildly absorbing, deliciously unpredictable college football regular season. And now at the finish, what do we see? Controversy, mayhem, protests. Amid all the fun, we have people yelling that the sport has to change. It needs a playoff system, why? So the casual fans who are confused by the BCS and the angry columnists who write about college football three times a year can get finality. Great idea, let's make college football more like the NFL, which would rival rodeo in popularity if it weren't for gambling and fantasy football. Or better yet, let's have a sixteen-team playoff as is done in the NBA. We all love the NCAA basketball tournament, but a football team can't play six games in eighteen days. College football plays meaningful games every Saturday and even some Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Let us also take a look at the academic side of things. College football has been a one semester sport since the beginning of time and that is not about to change anytime soon with most schools. It is a unanimous factor that college football should only be a one semester sport due to the fact that these young adults are still in school and if they do not go on to play professional football they need their degrees. Just think if a player is critically injured and is never cleared by the medical staff to play football again, what are they going to do if they never earned their degree? Football players need their degrees as stated by many high profile recruits like Russell Shepard, “Football is not going to last forever and to sit down with an expert of my major was a very good impression.” Many highschool players are now taking in to consideration the academics they will receive at a school not just the prestige of the football program.
The regular-season games are so great because there's a do-or-die component to every one involving a title contender. These are trapeze artists working without a net.If we had a playoff, last year's Ohio State-Michigan game would have been almost meaningless, with the loser knowing it would be an at-large selection(team that is not the number one from their conference but still receive a bid). Same for this year’s LSU-Arkansas game, if you had conference champions advancing to an eight-team playoff, LSU, having already clinched a berth in the SEC title game, would have rested its regulars and college football fans all around the world would have missed out on one of the games of the year. This football season has been one of the most exciting ever. The number one team was getting knocked off every other weekend by some less prestigious school. Schools like South Florida and Missouri were sitting atop the Coaches and AP polls. We had heisman contenders in Matt Grothe, University of South Florida; Andre Woodson, University of Kentucky; and Matt Ryan, Boston College; who all turned out to be pretenders but that is the point. Players people had never heard of coming into the season were potentially college football’s most prolific player of the year. The point being there is no need for a playoff because there already is one, the regular season. It’s what makes college football what it is. This past year attendance records in the Big12 and SEC were set to a new precedent. College football made more money than any other time before and that should only increase over time.
So here it is in a nutshell, the system did NOT get it right, but this is only because there is no right answer. Someone will always feel shafted. Someone will always have another case to make. There will always be politicking, because if you need two teams, you can't pick three. And if you need eight, you can't choose nine. What the BCS did this year is get it the least wrong, under the given circumstances. Don't like Ohio State vs. LSU? Make a better argument for someone else. Not that easy to do. Ohio State lost once. No other team from a BCS conference can match that except Kansas, and Kansas beat only two teams with winning records. LSU lost twice, both times in triple overtime, and had six victories against opponents that were once ranked in the top twenty-five. The Tigers won the SEC title without their starting quarterback and with their head coach supposedly halfway to Michigan, according to ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit. That hardly turns Oklahoma or Georgia or USC into corned beef hash. But no team that lost twice really has cause to scream foul. Each controlled its own destiny at some point. LSU had the soundest claim, even if historically improbable.
And please, enough about being "the best team at the end." That is not the way college football works. The entire season is a body of work that should be judged. Teams play 12 or 13 games, they should all count.
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