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BCS Madness

Update [2006-12-3 20:15:38 by Big Tent Democrat]: It's official.

As of right now, it looks like Florida will face Ohio State for the NCAA football championship:

Florida passed Michigan and returned to No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25 and the coaches' poll on Sunday. While the Gators had a slim lead of three points over Michigan in the AP poll, they were 26 points ahead of the Wolverines in the USA Today poll -- a margin that could help get Florida into the national title game.

The coaches' poll is one of three components used in the Bowl Championship Series standings, along with the Harris poll and a compilation of six computer ratings.

A report in the Los Angeles Times, citing a BCS source, said that Florida will indeed be the No. 2 team in the final BCS standings that will be officially announced later Sunday.

Full disclosure, I grew up in Florida and am a diehard Gators fan but this gives me no pleasure. Opinions deciding who plays in a championship game? Please. It is long past time for a playoff.

This is an Open Thread.

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  • Display: Sort:
    It's scary......to be.........a Florida Gator (none / 0) (#1)
    by mad4clark on Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 08:13:15 PM EST
    WTH couldn't Ohio State just play Michigan again?

    Yikes!!

    Go Gators! (none / 0) (#2)
    by David at Kmareka on Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 08:21:42 PM EST
    For what it's worth, I too am pleased that the University of Florida will be playing for the championship.  They would appear to deserve the opportunity.  I received my undergraduate degree at UF a great many moons ago and, although I am not an avid follower of college football, will be rooting for the Gators next month.

    As far as my thoughts on the fairness of the current BCS system, I agree that it has its flaws and tends to favor teams from the more powerful and well-to-do conferences.  In that regard, it seems much like our current political system.  Is it any wonder that reform is slow to occur?

    From one..... (none / 0) (#5)
    by mad4clark on Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 09:34:21 PM EST
    ...Gator fan to another......Ohio State is a machine.

    :(

    Parent

    playoffs (none / 0) (#3)
    by mreyn on Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 08:38:48 PM EST
    it's been pointed out time and again that the bowls don't want playoffs because they would bring down revenue for the respective cities--usually a week's worth, while playoffs will only bring the teams for two days and fans will be hardpressed to follow their teams from city to city-- but if the corporate sponsors now underwriting these bowls find away to divvy up their market shares on a postseason playoff series, well... i expect you'll have them.

    i don't care................... (none / 0) (#4)
    by cpinva on Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 09:32:33 PM EST
    just as long as the redskins don't draft another heisman winner! the last two were complete busts.

    USC loses (none / 0) (#6)
    by azbballfan on Mon Dec 04, 2006 at 02:20:57 PM EST
    Dems win, SC loses - there's lost of unhappy spoiled children this Christmas season.

    Does anyone feel sorry for OJ?

    Sports? (none / 0) (#7)
    by Slado on Mon Dec 04, 2006 at 04:08:39 PM EST
    Full disclosure:  Both gradfathers and sister went to UF; family season ticket holders;

    No way UM deserved to play in the game.  That said the switch in the polls is ridiculous.  So was the switch the week before and so was all they hype/talk about a re-match.

    The BCS rankings shouldn't be released until the season is over if people don't want to get all hot and bothered about how it changes week to week.   Why didn't everyone freak out when USC passed UM a week ago?  The BCS is supposed to take into account the entire season.   So when it was all over OSU and UF where on top.

    Facts...

    1. UM lost their last game.  UF didn't.
    2. UF won it's confrence championship. UM didn't.
    3. UF played and beat more teams ranked in the top 25 at season's end.
    4. Top to bottom the SEC is a better conference.

    Everyone wants a playoff.  Everyone who isn't in charge that is.   Obviously the system is broken.

    But BTD listen to the coach Urban Meyer...."They had their shot".

    Don't feel sorry for Michigan.  

    Feel sorry for OSU when the Gators break out the chomp and claim their 2nd national championship.

    GO GATORS!!!!

    Selfishly.... (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Mon Dec 04, 2006 at 05:22:04 PM EST
    I think a Michigan/OSU rematch would be a better game....I don't see Florida being able to hang with OSU like Michigan did.

    But I don't think you can question Florida's worthiness in this broken BCS system.  

    Seems everybody wants a playoff but the money men.  College football...much like life, the money men win every time.

    Parent

    Money talks (none / 0) (#9)
    by Slado on Tue Dec 05, 2006 at 09:46:21 AM EST
    I hate to agree with you kdog on the silent backrom perception but it definately applies to college football.

    The reality is the NCAA does not control the post season or really any of the confrences when it comes to Division I football.   Every other college sport is controlled by the NCAA.   Becasue the college presidents and the conference officials don't want to relinquish the control and profits from the bowl system they won't accept a real playoff.   Once they accept anything more then a plus 1 system they make the remaining bowls more meaningless then they already are.

    That would let the NCAA in and they could possibly run the tournament like they do the D-1AA, II, III college playoffs and the NCAA Tournament which is a cash cow.

    The truth is there are too many teams in Division I football.  We don't need 30 bowl games.   25 of them are unwatchable if you aren't an alumni or fan of that school.  

    The big boys should start a super Division of college football or kick out some of the smaller ones and let them play for national championships at a smaller level.   It works in high school why not college?

    I think the universities and confrences are a bit short sighted.   The NCAA Bball tournament is a proven commodity.  It makes millions of dollars for the schools, the tournament locations, TV etc.. and having a 16 or 24 team playoff would make astronomical amounts of money for the confrences if they only got a piece of the pie.

    Would the regular season be a little less meaningful?  Maybe.  But are a couple games at the end of the season being meaningful worth not having a playoff system that would have 23 or 15 meaningful games and result in a true champion?

    We all know the answer.  

    If Nancy Pelosi took this matter up in Congress she would get my vote, that's an issue I can get behind.

    Parent

    Right on.... (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 05, 2006 at 05:23:51 PM EST
    Slado...its nice to agree with someone you normally don't.

    I read a great point somewhere, about the debate over who "deserves" to play for the national championship.  The point was that no one deserves it because there is no playoff to determine who deserves it.  So simple, so true.

     

    Parent