College football fans don’t agree on much. You’ve got your Michigans versus your Ohio States, your Floridas versus your Georgias, and your Notre Dames versus, well, everyone. One thing pretty much everybody agrees on, though, is that the BCS in its current format is a woefully corrupt system that needs revamping in some way shape or form.
The problem, of course, is the money involved - big schools, TV networks, and sponsors all make a killing out of the postseason farce that is the BCS. Not that they’d admit it, though. At congressional hearings this month, the BCS representatives in attendance claimed (under oath and with a straight face, no less) that the money in the college bowl scam goes to charity. YAHOO! SPORTS called BS and the results are pretty damning, as in, criminally damning.
(Is the Brennaman-Tebow love affair coming to a premature end?)
Now, FOX — the lame-duck broadcaster for the games with one year left on its contract — is reportedly prepared to let ESPN take over a year early for the right price. Because the “national championship” game is going to be played at the Rose Bowl, ESPN already owns the rights to the game in addition the regular Rose Bowl game. So that means FOX would be stuck with two OK games and then a ratings-killer along the lines of Virginia Tech-Cincinnati. And unless Florida misses out on the title game, we wouldn’t get to hear Thom Brennaman gush about his bromance with Tim Tebow anyway.
Remember how Barack Obama promised he would use some of the resources and goodwill of the Office of the President to work towards a college football playoff system? Remember how he reiterated it on “60 Minutes”? Remember how those that make their money at the teat of the college bowl system giggled like snide schoolgirls at the notion that anyone, including the leader of the free world, could upset their golden apple cart?
ESPN has entered the fray and would like everyone to remember just who keeps the warm bathing green-like-money-tinted lights on around this here BCS now and they don’t mind that bowl system at all. Dave Bowen, the VP of programming at ESPN, told the MOBILE PRESS-REGISTER that “… the next four-year cycle is done, so a playoff is not a consideration at this point.” Hmmm … how long is a term of office for the President? Read more…
Florida Congressman Cliff Stearns has a big problem. The representative of the Gainsville district is, appropriately, a die-hard Florida fan who is desperate to watch Thursday night’s BCS Championship Game between his beloved Gators and Oklahoma. Like most people, he usually would be able to … except that his job is getting in the way: Congress is certifying the results of the Electoral College’s official vote on the presidential election right about the time the game kicks off in Miami.
(Not pictured: Stearns’ “I Heart Tebow” t-shirt)
According to the ASSOCIATED PRESS, via THE SPORTING BLOG, Stearns has come up with a solution: Just delay the vote for everyone! Stears has officially sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi requesting a night recess and rescheduling of the vote to allow members to , “attend this historic game.” Here’s your spoiler alert: Stearns was the only congressman to sign the petition.
That’s right folks, Cliff Stearns thinks that college football is more important than certifying the leader of the free world … after arguably as significant election as this country has ever had … in the middle of a massive recession. Take note Barack Obama: This is the man that the state of Florida trusts with defining its priorities?
We know that universities spend an inordinate amount of money on their revenue athletic programs, on things like ridiculous salaries for football coaches, stadium renovations, and state-of-the-art practice facilities. But now schools are dumping more and more money into tutoring and other “academic services” for athletes. Many programs are spending well over $1 million per year on such things, further calling into question the “student” part of student-athlete.
In other words, not only are you now getting a free education, but you’re also getting free help to accomplish what normal students are expected to do on their own. And tutoring means different things to different people. At the University of Minnesota, it once meant actually writing papers for players. At many public universities now, your tax money is going to fund elaborate facilities solely designed to help athletes with their classwork. Are BCS athletic departments turning into diploma mills?
ESPN’s master plan to slowly take over every televised sporting event is meeting some resistance in the form of the National Association of Broadcasters. It wasn’t such a big deal when ESPN announced it would show the entire British Open from now on, but the NAB is a bit concerned about ESPN’s deal with the BCS, which starts next season.
The NAB is saying that ESPN’s deal with the BCS disenfranchises about 20 million mostly poor and/or elderly TV viewers who don’t have cable or satellite service. And I guess the poor shouldn’t have to decide between paying the rent and watching Tim Tebow.
All last-minute 11th-hour college football playoff protest lock-in petition candlelight vigils have failed, and the BCS has already declared who will play for the national championship. Sorry, Texas, Alabama, and Utah — two other states, Oklahoma and Florida, are going to the BCS Championship. Is it the right one? Meh, probably. But if we had playoffs, it might’ve been something weird like Texas Tech and Penn State. Yuck.
Looking at the BCS games:
• We have two teams outside the top 10 that are in the BCS? Well, hell, put ‘em in the same game! Unlikely Big East champion Cincinnati and ACC winner Virginia Tech will see each other in the Orange Bowl.
• This might be hard to believe, but Ohio State is in the Fiesta Bowl. This is not a repeat from 2006, 2003, or 2002. Honestly, why even have bowl contingency plans for these guys? They’ll play Texas.
• The last time Utah played in a BCS game, they got set up with BCS fall boy Pittsburgh and massacred them. This time they’ll get a slightly better challenge, facing off against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
• And the Rose Bowl. Hey, sure.
Now to go through the rest of the bowl games, one by one, in painstaking detail. Okay, just a couple interesting ones:
• Really? Does Charlie Weis wearing a lei this year represent anything that should happen in a fair and God-governed just world? The Irish went 6-6. Instead of schlepping off to some obscure game in Boise or Houston, Notre Dame gets the Hawai’i Bowl. No-foolin’ not-snowing beach-humpin’ Hawai’i. Since they play the local football squadron, odds are the Rainbowless Warriors will probably whump them, as is the local custom.
• Boise State, by going perfect, gets the high honor of playing not another strong power-conference team, but probably the next strongest mid-major, TCU, in the Poinsettia Bowl. Perhaps one of the most recently-created games will be the locale of the best non-BCS game. If nothing else, the bowl game will be a step up from 2006, when TCU smashed Northern Illinois by 30.
• “We beat the guys in the national championship game!” “Really? Because we beat the guys who beat the other guys in the national championship game!” It’s Ole Miss and Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.
• The MAC got five games. Five games? Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, too? Eek. As for Ball State and Tulsa, who both were supposed to roll in as the MAC and C-USA champs, respectively, they will lock helmets in the GMAC Bowl in a battle of Elisha Cuthbert-style sloppy seconds.
If I missed your favorite team’s game, I’m sure I did it for a good reason and/or to protect you. But no, seriously. Your team has a great shot to win the game. Here’s the master list of every single one.
Yes, the Giants and Titans also clinched the NFC East and AFC South divisions respectively, but the Arizona Cardinals also gave themselves a division championship by virtue of not being the Seahawks, 49ers, or Rams. They’re 8-5, a record which isn’t even guaranteed an AFC Wild Card spot. Six of their wins are against losing teams. Against winning teams, they give up over 32 points a game. The Arizona Cardinals win the NFC West, everyone. The lone argument in favor of implementing a bowl system in the NFL.
In other fuss-trating news around the lower 48:
“I’m very frustrated on the way, particularly today’s game unfolded,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy kinda said. That’s how the Packers’ official site transcribes it, but ‘R’ you sure about that ‘R’ in the word “frustrated?”
So here’s a fun one. Carolina Panther Jeremy Bridges was arrested — perhaps a first in NFL history — over a dispute involving champagne. THE ROCK HILL (SC) HERALD reports when it was uncorked, some other diners got sprayed. Although it doesn’t say in the story, I think you can assume what ensued. FOOD FIGHT!
Time for a good news story from the MIAMI HERALD. Miami Hurricanes football assistant Stephen Fieldpulled a driver out of a flipped over car and to safety. And whaddya know, he’s a safeties coach.
The announcement from the Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee is today at noon. Ron Santo is long overdue and will find out today if he’ll be put in the Hall of Fame.
Say buh-bye to Varitek, Red Sox fans. His agent says he will decline arbitration with Boston, and will talk with other teams. Of less consequence, Paul Byrd won’t accept arbitration either. The Boras has spoken.
Oh, yes, the Lions are still 0-something. The DETROIT NEWS looks at the depth chart, finds a little-known playmaking receiver named Calvin Johnson and asserts they have to throw it to them more if they’re going to win a game. Interesting idea!
Professional tolerable columnist Norman Chad writes The Michael Vick diaries. Pay the man, Shirley.
Like we could go an entire Speed Read without previewing the upcoming NAIA football championship game. Mighty Carroll College, from Helena, Montana, has won five of six championships. The Saints opponent is the plucky University of Sioux Falls Cougars. Both teams’ colors are purple and gold. Oh, how embarrassing to wear the same dress to the debutante ball!
