2009 NCAA football thread!!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by JayP

Lame. Boise St. vs. TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

A plus one system needs to be implemented badly.

Yup the big boys are so scared to play these guys. Clear collusion.
I think this may have pushed me over to the playoffs side.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yup the big boys are so scared to play these guys. Clear collusion.
I think this may have pushed me over to the playoffs side.

It has nothing to do with collusion.

Each BCS Bowl chooses their respective teams on their own - there isn't some governing body deciding all the match-ups. With all the money at stake with these bowls I highly doubt that the Fiesta Bowl is going to take one for the team and lose millions of dollars just to keep the BCS alive?

The selections make pretty logical sense when you look at the order.

1. Florida - obvious choice
2. TCU - undefeated, great fanbase
3. Iowa - great travel team, would be selection #2 if they were 11-1
4. Boise St. - undefeated, traveled well enough to Fiesta Bowl vs. OU in 2007
5. Cincy - undefeated, but almost no travel and had brutal ratings last year.

Most people realize that there's big issues with the BCS, but the problem is that most playoff systems have so many holes in them that they aren't realistic options. A plus one, however, wouldn't really be a major shift from the current bowl system and gives a few more teams a shot at the Championship.

At the very least I'd say the BCS Games are much more interesting than they have been the past couple seasons. There's no obvious mismatches which have plagued the BCS lately.

[Smell My Finger]

Finally the BCS could no longer protect their beloved USC.
They were 5th in their conference this week but yet still rated #18 ????

Hopefully they don't even get a bowl.

Congrats to any Texas & Alabama fans National Championship should be on the line.

I want to See Boise get Florida in the Sugar or Fiesta.

The BCS sytem is the biggest joke in sports.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Smell My Finger

Finally the BCS could no longer protect their beloved USC.
They were 5th in their conference this week but yet still rated #18 ???

Why would the BCS need to protect USC when they consistently beat top teams when they play them?

USC was ranked 18th because they deserved it.

The BCS bowls for most part are pretty boring match-ups.

A terrible Iowa team versus a mediocre is a crap game. I guess it will be interesting to see if Florida cares enough to destroy Cincy.

The TCU-Boise St. game has some interest but the fall out from the winning teams fans whining will be annoying.

With the way Texas played against Nebraska and the way Alabama has player all season even the NC game seems pretty boring.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I think some folks are reading too much into the Big 12 championship game. Nebraska has an incredible defense and a completely useless offense. That defense is what forced Texas into looking undeserving of playing in the title game.

Hopefully Alabama saw it and thinks they'll walk all over Texas too.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by JayP

It has nothing to do with collusion.

Each BCS Bowl chooses their respective teams on their own - there isn't some governing body deciding all the match-ups. With all the money at stake with these bowls I highly doubt that the Fiesta Bowl is going to take one for the team and lose millions of dollars just to keep the BCS alive?

The selections make pretty logical sense when you look at the order.

1. Florida - obvious choice
2. TCU - undefeated, great fanbase
3. Iowa - great travel team, would be selection #2 if they were 11-1
4. Boise St. - undefeated, traveled well enough to Fiesta Bowl vs. OU in 2007
5. Cincy - undefeated, but almost no travel and had brutal ratings last year.

Most people realize that there's big issues with the BCS, but the problem is that most playoff systems have so many holes in them that they aren't realistic options. A plus one, however, wouldn't really be a major shift from the current bowl system and gives a few more teams a shot at the Championship.

At the very least I'd say the BCS Games are much more interesting than they have been the past couple seasons. There's no obvious mismatches which have plagued the BCS lately.

I'm sure if they really wanted they could pass the Fiesta a few bucks.
There is no excuse for not having Boise St. and TCU play against the big boys. It's like saying "you can force us to include other schools, but you can't make us treat them well".

While the mid-major BCS team in football is sometimes a farce (see Hawaii 2007) -- I'd much rather see TCU take on Florida or Boise State-Georgia Tech than these two teams play each other.

Plus, they played each other last year! Their fans have to be ticked (although I supposed happy to get the BCS payday). I don't think the point of having at-large bids was to have them play each other.

[nfotiu]

It's pretty clear that the current system is probably the worst possible. If they are not going to go with a playoff, they should get rid of the national championship game, and put some intrigue back into the traditional bowl games. Or go back to pre-bcs system, and then pick a national championship game after all the conference champions play each other and sort things out. When's the last time anyone cared about the Orange Bowl? Has it been more than half full in recent memory? Does it even make money? The major bowls would all get back some luster if they were determining the national championship again.

Texas is only in for 2 reasons, 1 their pre-season ranking, 2 history. All 3 other undefeated teams have beat better teams than texas have, and 2 of them have beat 2 better teams than texas did. It is all lame.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I'm sure if they really wanted they could pass the Fiesta a few bucks.

With all the interest of politicians in the BCS lately I can almost guarantee you that's not going to happen. Risking legal ramifications for the sake of that money is a huge, huge risk.

There is no excuse for not having Boise St. and TCU play against the big boys. It's like saying "you can force us to include other schools, but you can't make us treat them well".

There is an excuse - the Fiesta Bowl officials felt TCU/Boise St was a bigger draw for both travel and ratings than Iowa/Boise St or Iowa/Cincy. Can you argue otherwise?

While the mid-major BCS team in football is sometimes a farce (see Hawaii 2007) -- I'd much rather see TCU take on Florida or Boise State-Georgia Tech than these two teams play each other.

I think most fans are disappointed in the match-up, but at the end of the day it's what the Fiesta Bowl thinks will be the biggest moneymaker.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I'm sure if they really wanted they could pass the Fiesta a few bucks.
There is no excuse for not having Boise St. and TCU play against the big boys. It's like saying "you can force us to include other schools, but you can't make us treat them well".

While the mid-major BCS team in football is sometimes a farce (see Hawaii 2007) -- I'd much rather see TCU take on Florida or Boise State-Georgia Tech than these two teams play each other.

Plus, they played each other last year! Their fans have to be ticked (although I supposed happy to get the BCS payday). I don't think the point of having at-large bids was to have them play each other.

If they really wanted to be engaging in collusion then yeah, I guess they could do that.

[moon]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Texas is only in for 2 reasons, 1 their pre-season ranking, 2 history. All 3 other undefeated teams have beat better teams than texas have, and 2 of them have beat 2 better teams than texas did. It is all lame.

They are also in because they are clearly the best or second best team in the nation.

TCU may have an issue but history has shown that no matter who they have beat they are still an inferior team.

The way Cincinnati played they have no claim to be in the NC game over Texas.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

There are final exams in December, that's why teams take 30 days off. As much as we like to think of College Football as pros, the majority of the players need to get a degree.

Is traveling that easy? If you were a college student could you afford to go to 3 different bowl games in three different cities? I assumed people saved up for one big bowl game. You gotta take bands, and cheerleaders and everyone!

Sorry but that is about as lame an argument that exists in this discussion.

Do the players on the FBS schools that are currently engaged in a playoff system not have finals as well??

[flip]

Originally Posted by JayP

With all the interest of politicians in the BCS lately I can almost guarantee you that's not going to happen. Risking legal ramifications for the sake of that money is a huge, huge risk.



There is an excuse - the Fiesta Bowl officials felt TCU/Boise St was a bigger draw for both travel and ratings than Iowa/Boise St or Iowa/Cincy. Can you argue otherwise?



I think most fans are disappointed in the match-up, but at the end of the day it's what the Fiesta Bowl thinks will be the biggest moneymaker.

The fact that ratings or money come into play when determining BCS bids is what makes the system such a joke. Of course that is on top of the fact that had Nebraska won the whole system would have basically exploded and there would have been no way to find any matchup that would fairly determine the NC.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Sorry but that is about as lame an argument that exists in this discussion.

Do the players on the FBS schools that are currently engaged in a playoff system not have finals as well??

It's a lame argument, but it's something that the universities can cling to and it plays well with the whole 'student-athlete' angle they've pushed so hard the last few years. While FCS players have exams too, there hasn't exactly been a lot of darts thrown at those programs and their academic success rates so the issue isn't quite as apparent.

I've been down the whole playoff road countless times, and there's really no point in getting into it again with people who show a complete detachment from reality. A playoff would be great, but so would me walking into a casino and winning 4 cars like Nick Papagiorgio, problem is neither one is realistic.

[flip]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Sorry but that is about as lame an argument that exists in this discussion.

Do the players on the FBS schools that are currently engaged in a playoff system not have finals as well??

Except she is right. One of the reasons they don't play for a couple of weeks because of finals. It is even one of the major reasons people are against a playoff system.

[flip]

Originally Posted by valo403

It's a lame argument, but it's something that the universities can cling to and it plays well with the whole 'student-athlete' angle they've pushed so hard the last few years. While FCS players have exams too, there hasn't exactly been a lot of darts thrown at those programs and their academic success rates so the issue isn't quite as apparent.

I've been down the whole playoff road countless times, and there's really no point in getting into it again with people who show a complete detachment from reality. A playoff would be great, but so would me walking into a casino and winning 4 cars like Nick Papagiorgio, problem is neither one is realistic.

So your argument against the playoff system is to reference a National Lampoon's movie. Well case closed, I'm convinced.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by flip

So your argument against the playoff system is to reference a National Lampoon's movie. Well case closed, I'm convinced.

Peachtree TV rarely steers me wrong at 1am

[flip]

Originally Posted by valo403

Peachtree TV rarely steers me wrong at 1am

And just to clarify I do get that the final exam thing isn't a be-all end-all but still it is one of the valid reasons for not having a playoff. I'm all for a playoff system and I don't think finals are a big deal to work around, but AFAIK it is one of the major reasons there is no college football in December.

Wait, now that I think about it, aren't you against a playoff system? Wouldn't you want to support the final exam thing being a good reason to no have playoffs?

Maybe I just interpreted your post wrong. Whether you meant your post for or against a playoff system you still sold me with the analogy because I love that movie.

Not sure why I quoted your post since it has nothing to do with my post but it seemed like the thing to do.

[transplant99]

I've been down the whole playoff road countless times, and there's really no point in getting into it again with people who show a complete detachment from reality

I see...those that disagree with you are completely detached from reality. In that case you and I have nothing left to talk about for sure. In my delusion I will just know I am right and you are not.

Except she is right. One of the reasons they don't play for a couple of weeks because of finals. It is even one of the major reasons people are against a playoff system.

Its a total and complete strawman argument...the FBS schools currently heading into their 3rd weekend of playoff games all have finals as well. As do the same colleges basketball teams, soccer teams, hockey teams etc etc etc....that need time off for their football players to study. I mean really...are the Texas longhorns basketball players so much more academically superior to their football team that they can travel and play their sport and not worry about "finals"?

Why dont those players need 30 days off for studying as well? Its a nonsensical argument no matter how you want to believe the spin of it.

[GirlySports]

I didn't realize other sports continued on. I know the FCS is still going but that's almost done.

You've all convinced me! After studying the issue more, I do like a playoff. Probably an 8 Team Playoff in January. I was upset that Boise State and TCU got placed with each other.. who wants to see that? I think the BCS conferences are too scared to play them and a playoff would guarantee that.

But I still like the one and done 'survivor' aspect of the regular season.
It's unique cause it makes Games important from Game 1.

What do you guys do about the imbalance of schedule though? Boise State only played one good team right? Oregon in Week 1 and they were pretty messed up at the time. Oregon doing so well later in the year helped Boise State's ranking right? That's so weird.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Kansas has been granted permission to interview Turner Gill of Buffalo. That would be a fantastic hire for a program that has great facilities and not much else going for it. He would have better opportunities down the road.