For whatever arbitrary reasons, it’ll be Florida and Ohio State playing in Glendale on January 8th. A lot of human voters changed their mind and switched up Michigan and Florida in their polls this week, and that gave Florida enough juice to grab the #2 spot in the BCS. That gives them the right to play an exhibition game against the national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in January.
There was just no good reason for that to happen. And I don’t say that as an argument for Michigan or against Florida, I’m saying that the decision-making process was based on whimsy and the mood of voters at the particular time that they cast their votes. It might be right, it might be wrong, but there was no good reason for it.
I think Kirk Herbstreit’s right when he says it was a case of “out of sight, out of mind,” for the Wolverines. The Gators earned an impressive victory against Arkansas while Michigan sat at home. Had Michigan/Ohio State, or even Michigan/Notre Dame been played on the same day as Florida/Arkansas, Michigan would probably be #2 in the BCS right now, and I’d be talking about how Florida got the shaft. Basically what this boils down to, as it so often does… is the date on which a particular game is played being the deciding factor on who gets a chance to play for a national championship. What a fantastic method.
The only logical thing to do as fans is to refuse to acknowledge anyone but Ohio State as the national champion, no matter what happens in the January exhibition season. They’re the only undefeated team that played an adequate schedule. themightymjd.com will recognize no one but Ohio State as our 2006/2007 national college football champion, because nothing else makes sense.
On a related note, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel opted to abstain from voting in the Coaches Poll. Lloyd Carr didn’t like it, Charles Rich at the FanHouse didn’t like it, and Dan Shanoff damn sure didn’t like it. I don’t have any kind of problem with it at all, and here’s why:
1) It’s not like voting in the Coaches Poll is some grand, noble, thing that must be protected at all costs. It’s based on whimsy and bullshit, just like any other poll. Steve Spurrier gives a vote to Florida in the first poll of every year, no matter what. Coaches make self-serving votes all the time. Jim Tressel can no more hurt the integrity of the BCS than I can take the virginity of Christina Aguilera.
2) He was in a position to do a self-serving thing, and he didn’t do it. If he felt like Florida was a better matchup for the Buckeyes, he could’ve voted them #2. Or even #1, like some guy did in the Harris poll. If he wanted to go the other way, and get more bowl money for the Big 10, and thus, more money for the Buckeyes, which they could use to pay recruits upgrade facilities and other things, he could have done that, too. He had a chance to act selfishly, and he opted against it. I don’t see the problem there.
Anyway, enjoy the January exhibition season, and congratulations to the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.
Alex Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 9:28 am
“A lot of human voters changed their mind and switched up Michigan and Florida in their polls this week, and that gave Florida enough juice to grab the #2 spot in the BCS…There was just no good reason for that to happen.”
For a guy who was so militantly (and rightly) opposed to a rematch, you seem awfully unhappy when a rematch is narrowly avoided. I think beating Arkansas in the SEC championship game gives UF an edge over UM in the minds of some voters, and that explains some of what happened in the polls. A lot of people had UF at #4 because they thought Arkansas might win the SEC championship game, and were waiting for UF to win before they were willing to put them above UM. But, most voters probably just did it to avoid a rematch. Whatever. I don’t think the world will spin off its axis because of this.
“The only logical thing to do as fans is to refuse to acknowledge anyone but Ohio State as the national champion, no matter what happens in the January exhibition season.”
Funny you should mention this idea. They used to award the national championship before the bowl season started, but then in 1964 Arkansas went undefeated, while Alabama got the title despite losing their bowl game against Texas (who had already lost to Arkansas in the regular season). After that, the AP decided to wait until after the bowls to declare a champion.
I guess it would be similar to what would happen if OSU lost to UF, and BSU beat OU. Unlikely scenario, but if it happened, I could see some people arguing that since BSU took care of business against all of its opponents, including an 11-2 Big-12 Champion, whereas OSU would then have one loss, BSU would deserve the title. If BSU was the only undefeated, and they beat a BCS conference champion (which OSU has not yet done), they might ask what else they could have done, and why OSU gets a free title without winning out. The obvious answer is that they could’ve scheduled a few tough teams in the regular season, so that maybe they could get to the title game by winning out, but still. The bitching would be ridiculous. At least now, someone has to win a bowl game to get the title.
p.s.:
Is anyone else thinking this BCS bowl season might turn out a lot like last year? A few great games decided in the final seconds, and then one huge ND ass kicking?
Andrew Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 9:57 am
I thought what Spurrier did was always place Duke 25th in the first poll, just so they could be in “others receiving votes”. Either way, still bullshit. Although it’s been awhile since Florida didn’t deserve to be in the preseason Top 25.
Mark Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 10:24 am
Fault the system that makes Tressel a self-serving asshole if he votes. If I’m in Tressel’s position, I have no choice but to do the same thing, and I hate that.
Matt Moore Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 11:06 am
Andrew is right, Spurrier gives one to Duke every year. I’m guessing that nearly every voter puts Florida somewhere in the first poll.
Chet Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 11:11 am
“themightymjd.com will recognize no one but Ohio State as our 2006/2007 national college football champion”
If UF wins, doesn’t it make sense to give them the nod as National Champ? It nullifies Michigan’s claim (Florida beat the team that last beat Michigan), and also Ohio States claim (direct loss).
Maybe I’m clouded in my judgement….being a bitter Miami Hurricane fan and naturally swayed against Ohio State….and that is still not happy about our stolen championship.
GymClassHeroes Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
The BCS Title game is supposed to be the best two teams in the country playing for a national championship. It’s not the best two teams in the country “so long as they’re from different conferences” playing for a national championship.
Let’s look at it another way, and we’ll go to Vegas with this hypothetical game: Michigan vs. Florida in the Rose Bowl. Who’s favored, and by how much? If you picked Michigan then it’s safe to say that UofM got jobbed. But if you think Florida is the favorite, then the BCS got it right.
If you’re not sure though, let me tell you, the BCS screwed the pooch…
the mighty mjd Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
You’re right, it’s Duke he gives a vote to… just a mental slip there.
jordan Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
the big ten receives the same amount of money whether michigan goes to the nat’l championship game or the rose bowl. there would have been no financial motivation involved if tressel had voted michigan higher.
Rob Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Only one way to crown a champ - playoffs, baby.
Go Apps!
http://goasu.com/article/9935/
BTW - Correct if I’m wrong mjd, but wasn’t App a sentimental favorite of yours last year? Something to do with boobies. Or was that Will? (You two look so much alike, I get you confused.)
As for the whole BCS crap .. yah! One more road game for your team against some other team at a neutral site, all wrapped in a billboard advertisement. How awesome!
Shoopmonster Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
I do enjoy the Championship Subdivision more than the bowl games. I did watch my team completely giftwrap the game for App. St. Rob, your team has a very athletic and exciting young quarterback. He will be a good leader for your team, partially because my voodoo doll didn’t work.
the mighty mjd Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
You are correct, Rob… I used to know a girl who went to App and had giant, wonderful hooters.
Mr. Bojangles Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 7:58 pm
I liked Terry Bowden’s eight team fantasy playoff:
QUARTERFINALS
(1) Ohio State vs. (8) Boise State
(4) LSU vs. (5) USC
(2) Florida vs. (7) Wisconsin
(3) Michigan vs. (6) Louisville
SEMIFINALS
(1) Ohio State vs. (5) USC
(2) Florida vs. (3) Michigan
CHAMPIONSHIP
(1) Ohio St. vs. (2) Florida
I’d love to see it (though I’d replace Wisconsin with Oklahoma as Big 12 Champ), but it will never happen as long as .500 teams with large followings receive bowl money. As much as people like to point the finger at ‘corporate sponsors’, it’s the conferences and universities that stand to lose the most if Bowls go away. They keep it alive, and bank on it every year.
So why not both? Bowls for any 6-6 team that doesn’t make the playoff, and a playoff for the top achievers? Win win, and none of that “it’s tough on the players” bullshit. If D-II and III can do it, D-I can.
just sayin Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 11:27 pm
It depends what you think the purpose of the BCS is. If the purpose is to identify a champion (and that “C” in the name is a clue), UF is the correct choice. In a sport where there are so few opportunities for top teams to meet, there’s no excuse for a team to get a second shot at the top team instead of letting another worthy team get their first. Michigan had their chance and failed. Move over and let the next guy try.
If the purpose is really to match the top two teams, UM would have been the right choice.
Of course, in a playoff system, UM could have gotten the chance to earn their rematch. Too bad that isn’t the system.
Mark Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 11:42 pm
Man, was that App that trashed Coastal Carolina too? They’re good.
But here I’ll place my boast for a good ‘ol Ohio playoff team: Go YSU Penguins!
(flap flap flap)
Rob Says:
December 5th, 2006 at 10:15 am
Not to overdo the App State pride, but I just want to warn ya mjd. If you do tune into the App game Saturday thinking of “giant, wonderful hooters,” well … I have two words for ya ..
Pam Ward.
She’s coming to Boone, baby!!! Wooooooo!
“ESPN announced that Pam Ward (play-by-play), Mike Gottfried (analyst) and Dave Ryan (sideline reporter) will call the action of Saturday’s national semifinal at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The contest will kick off at 4 p.m. and can be viewed live nationally on ESPN and ESPN HD.”
David Stef Says:
December 5th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
I totally agree with you. I think it was the right thing to do by him not giving his opinion in the last coaches poll.
Mike Says:
December 6th, 2006 at 4:31 am
We can have BOTH a playoff system and bowl games for those schools that don’t make the playoffs. Why doesn’t anyone seem to get it???
the mighty mjd Says:
December 6th, 2006 at 5:04 am
We don’t need bowl games for other teams. We’d just need an NIT.
Don A Says:
December 6th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
I think the BSC stated objective is to match the two best teams and, when all else fails, I lean on Vegas to tell me what to think = they made Florida an 8 point dog on a neutral field - Michigan was a 7 point dog in Columbus and would have been less had they made it =
That said, I sort of like the bitching that goes on w/the BCS - ESPN does to - it fills air time. Also, if you thought Michigan hated OSU before Sweater-boy Tressel obstained, you haven’t seen anything yet. With Woody Hayes and Bo gone, we needed someone else to inspire hate. Thanks Sweater-Boy!