College Football 2009

My idea for the FBS, which would eventually lead to some sort of playoff, would restrict the subdivision to the existing 120 teams, and limit the number of conferences to 10, which would mean that one of the existing 11 would have to disappear.

Each conference would then have a uniform 12 teams, split into two divisions, with a conference championship game. The playoff scenario I have in mind down the road would restrict the playoff to the 10 conference champions only, based on the argument that you shouldn't be able to play for the national championship if you can't even win your own conference.

The 10 conferences would be split into 6 "major" (presumably the current BCS conferences) and 4 "minor" ones. The champions of the latter 4 would play first to reduce the number of playoff teams from 10 to 8; those 8 would then play for all the marbles.

Of course, the question would be, who would join the conferences to bring the numbers up to 12. In the Big Ten the obvious addition would be Notre Dame. In the Pac 10 the choices are less obvious, but based on recent performance I'd like to see Boise State and Utah be the new teams in.

 

All --

Here's my question. It is my understanding that the major opposition to a playoff comes from the mega schools ADs. Because all an AD cares about is money, I'm assuming they believe a playoff will result in less dough for them. But why? A playoff system doesn't shrink the pie. In fact, it might even grow it. Is their real fear that some punk school like TCU or Boise State, wh doesn't have have the donor base to have any real skin in the game, will sneak in and steal all their marbles?

Hmm... Sounds like a RICO case to me.

Dale

 

Been trying to figure out that issue for years. TONS of money to be made from a playoff. Like the previous scenario from Gatorrari, but let's just get a bloody playoff first before we start trying to eliminate conferences LOL!!!

MB

 

GMAC Bowl was great, Little Tebow pulled it out in double OT.

 

The GMAC bowl has been the best game so far of the bowl season IMHO, with the Auburn / NW game a close second.

BT

 

+1

Pretty snazzy that after all of that offense by Troy and CMU, that it was a Troy field goal from 46 yards out to send it into OT, and a CMU field goal from 44 yards to win.

Both schools showed crisp play that should have heads hanging low from teams that played in more prestigious bowls prior.

 

Alright guys.

I am SO out here.

I'll check back in after the game

 

Have fun and Roll Tide!

 

Perhaps my fav' NCAA D-1 football /FBS playoff plan, to date!

Notre Dame jacks up any/all visionary thinking w/ their side-deals & provisions that/that. Not to mention they are in-essence a Big East team (even getting pre-allocated bowl preference), w/o sharing their spoils & potential earnings.

PITT is more likely to join the Big-10.5 (as-per Big 10 conference being interested), and even that is very, very unlikely due to JoePa's Penn State vetoing towards maintaining territoriality.

I believe it's the guaranteed year-in/year-out sharing of the spoils within the conferences, regardless if they win or get into Bowl 123 or Bowl XYZ. A more transparent & clearer playoff model outlining & stating the compensation & awarded monies would go a long ways towards implementation AND acceptance of a playoff system.

Similarly, the Cotton Bowl is seeking to rise in prominence (again) as being re-located to the all-universe venue of Cowboys Stadium... yet, the BCS & typical ol' fats from the existing upper-tier bowls are ranting/raving this that, and like-minded though lesser statured Holiday Bowl, Citrus Bowl, etc' peeps are saying they too can step-up their game. It's literally a collusionary dog-eat-dog existence w/ nepotistic/royal-bloodline ideals.

The NFL of all people was found guilty in a federal court over 25 years ago, for monopoly/antitrust practices. Taming the BCS & college-football should be a walk in the park, if only it was incorporated instead of operating as a pre-draconian society's craft/cottage-industry. . .

 

This is pretty good.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke7-2010jan07,0,5936083.column?page=1&track=rss

It's an esteemed clash. It's a coveted crown. It's also a manifestation of a mess and a culmination of kooky.

Unlike title bouts in other sports, college football's Bowl Championship Series title game is both myth and magic, filled with as much mirth as meaning.

First, it's not a true championship, because it is not the result of a true playoff.

Second, it's not a true test of champions, seeing as it's played between teams that have not competed in a real game in more than a month.

But the BCS marches on, and, because it creates the nuttiest and neatest regular season in sports, I will march with it, traveling down the street this afternoon to watch Alabama and Texas muck it up for all the marbles in the Rose Bowl.

Although, I already know what is going to happen.

Or at least, what should happen.


The national anthem is crooned by surprise attendee Tim Tebow, his firm jaw jutting in the breeze, his voice pouring out like an angel, and everyone weeps.

::

The coin toss is conducted by surprise honorary captain Mike Leach, the fired Texas Tech coach telling the correct-calling team, "OK, fellas, you can take the storage shed or defend the electrical closet."

::

The game begins and Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy is greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos by a bunch of folks wearing blue.

The cheers are from Dodgers fans impressed that, in a Times story earlier this week, McElroy correctly recited the Dodgers' starting lineup.

The boos from those same fans who were stunned and confused that he referred to their shortstop as "the great Rafael Furcal."

::

Mack Brown, Texas coach, calls timeout and huddles his team under the television cameras, loudly lecturing them about being kids, and having fun, and being kids, and having a lifetime experience, and being kids, and gosh, gosh, gosh, you wonderful kids.

As his befuddled players run back on the field, Brown turns to an assistant and whispers, "That's worth $5 million, right?"

::

Nick Saban, Alabama coach, responds with his own timeout to announce to his team that he'll never, ever, ever leave to return to the NFL.

At which point his senior captains sigh and surround his pants with fire extinguishers.

::

Charlie Weis, former Notre Dame coach, is shown sitting in the stands dishing and dallying with 10 rich high school chicks, apparently preparing for his new role on "Gossip Girl."

::

With Alabama leading 10-0, Texas ends the first half with a unique 11-play, 68-yard drive that results in a field goal.

Unique, in that the drive takes all of 17 seconds.

Unique, in that the entire state of Nebraska implodes while watching it.

"It's really cool how throwing the ball out of bounds actually adds time to the clock," quarterback Colt McCoy says as he walks off the field with a grin.

::

In what was supposed to be a display of college football's strength, the halftime show consists of dozens of players running sprints until they vomit and lifting weights until they collapse.

Upon close examination, the players appear to be from the University of Michigan.

When contacted back in Ann Arbor, Coach Rich Rodriguez says he can't confirm anything because he lost his roster and forgot their names.

::

As a second halftime feature, a fan kicks a 40-yard field goal and is immediately awarded a 2006 black Land Rover.

When the fan politely declines the prize for tax reasons, he is accosted by an official wearing a cardinal and gold jacket, name rhymes with Tike Smarrett.

"Take the car, man" says the official. "Seriously, just take the car."

::

For a final halftime feature, Tim Tebow returns to the field on the end of a parachute, falling from the sky with trumpets blaring, a white-robed choir singing, and everyone weeps.

::

The third quarter begins and so does the pounding, Alabama overwhelming Texas' defensive line, Mark Ingram living up to the Heisman Hype, the Tide rolling.

Just in time for cameras to catch a contingent of Boise State fans holding up one finger and chanting . . .

Oh, shut up.

::

By the end of the third quarter, with Alabama firmly in control, there is a disturbance in the stands.

Apparently a tour director with a huge group of fans from the Midwest is leaving his group early, saying he can't stick around for the end of the game, he has to leave them on their own, the guy is being a huge jerk, and his group is furious with him.

"Sorry, folks, gotta run," says Brian Kelly, sprinting into the arms of a priest.

::

Between the third and fourth quarter, the Rose Bowl scoreboard plays a Tim Tebrow retrospective, the man, the legend, the career, his dashing runs, his gutsy throws, look at that eye black, look at that hair, the perfect man, and everyone weeps.

::

Midway through the fourth quarter, there is another disturbance in the stands, lower level, midfield, canes stomping, gray flying.

It is a group of senior citizens who have proudly and graciously attended every game in the Rose Bowl in the last 100 years.

But, having somehow slipped into ushers' jackets, officials from the Florida State athletic department are inexplicably trying to throw them out.

::

With Texas trailing by three touchdowns with three seconds left, honorary Texas mascot Rick Neuheisel calls a timeout.

Honorary Alabama mascot Pete Carroll runs across the field to pound him.

The USC administration is so angry and embarrassed, it puts the basketball team on another year of probation.

::

The game ends, Alabama wins 28-7, and, even though he didn't play, Tim Tebow is named MVP, Player of the Decade, Sideline Reporter's Crush of the Century, The Only Player To Ever Play The Game.

Tebow promptly announces his intentions to attempt to compete at the next level.

And the NFL weeps.

 

Best thing I've read in awhile, thanks for the share!

Only one I didn't get was the "Tike Smarrett" (Mike Garrett, 'SC A.D.) joke, can anyone expand on that?

 

I take it you didn't watch the Roadys Humaniratian Bowl. Idaho won with a 2 point conversion on the last play. I am not a fan of Idaho so no homerism going on here but it was a reall good game. I do agree that the GMAC Bowl was really good.

 

Yikes, Texas loses their star QB on their second play on offense! That has got to make Texas fans cringe. If Bama can't stomp them by 20 with a freshman QB with no experience I will be shocked.
BT

 

I really don't care who wins but it's a shame Colt is out, we won't see as good of a game without TX at its best.

 

This turned out to be true. That massive click you heard about 30 minutes ago was everyone turning off the set at halftime.

So 'Bama is #1, but all we'll hear in the offseason is "If only Colt had..." from tu fans.

Does that make Florida #2?

My guess: Bama, Florida, Texas, Boise, <who cares beyond this point>...

 

And 'Bama wins by default, we'll never know if they were truly #1.

 

Roll Tide!

I had much rather QB McCoy had stayed in the game, but Texas showed a lot of heart with a second half run even without their lynch pin player.

Great game. Two great teams.

Roll Tide!

 

Texas actually mounted a comeback with their freshman QB hitting Shipley on deep routes. But, you can't pass that much against Alabama without getting picked off. What works against lesser teams isn't going to work against the top tier teams.

Both teams looked good, and there is *zero* doubt that Alabama is #1 after beating #1 Florida (the real National Championship game was a month ago), beating #2 Texas, beating #7 VT, and beating #9 LSU, among other ranked teams.

Alabama beat both #1 Florida and #2 Texas by double digits, so guys...pause for a moment and save the fanatism and denials...Alabama is #1.

It's not a question. It's not in doubt, and *anyone* who casts doubt on the above should be shunned and booed.

Congrats to Texas for not giving up without McCoy, and congrats to Alabama for being a season-long wrecking machine.

 

Very unfortunate for Colt tonight. He deserved to play the whole game in his senior year. I actually was pulling for Texas tonight but never believed they could hold Bama.

Isn't it amazing how much difference the presence of one player can make to the whole team?

The difference Colt's absence made on both the Texas offense and defense showed up. And when Ingram left the game with cramps look how Alabama slowed down. 3 yards offense in the 3rd quarter without him and Texas comes back to nearly make a game out of it.

By the way Bama fans, Anders who forced the fumble inside the 5 with 2 minutes left in the game is from San Antonio, Texas and your quarterback played for Southlake Carroll in Southlake, Texas.......... Can you say thank you Texas for letting us borrow these two guys?

Oh I can dream, , I think you will see all kinds of articles in newspapers all over the US in a town that has a successful football program. And you will certainly see signs in the stands of the fans backing their favorite team. To hold it against TCU fans for supporting their team seems a little ridiculous, doesn'T it? Do you ever see any signs in the student section Texas???Of course you do... Would you expect TCU fans to abandon their own team, withdraw any signs of support and perhaps support Texas instead? I do not think so. Any college town should support their team and I would wonder why they did not......And you notice I did not publish a HAHAHA for TExas losing tonight. I cheered for them to come back...........

Congratulations to our 2010 BCS National champs, Alabama. Great season, great coach and some great players. You had a fine season........Texas, you fought well. I am sure the outcome would have looked different if Colt had not been injured. But Gilbert calmed down and showed that he can play and will be an asset next year. A true freshman quarterbacking in the National Championship game is a lot of pressure......

Now, this season is over. What about next season? What about the BCS???

 

Nope, nope, nope, you can't slide in the "If only Colt had been in" comment. Colt got hurt running the ball. Running the ball is dangerous for an exposed QB. It got Tebow a concussion this season. It knocked Colt out of the Championship game tonight.

If you don't want 'em hurt, don't run 'em. Run 'em anyway and you roll the dice, which won't come up your way forever.

Likewise, the whole season counts. If you want your backup QB to be ready "just in case," then you play him whenever you can during the season.

Instead, if you want your star QB to have a shot at the Heisman, then you only play your star...and you take your chances that he won't get hurt.

Notice that you are taking chances *twice* if you play your star *and* run your star QB. That's a lot of dice-rolling. Look at LSU's Les Miles...he's a near-constant dice-roller. The only game that he ever coached by the book on the odds was this season against Alabama. His national championship was sheer luck, going for it on 4th down 3 times in a game and making it, getting a championship birth even with 2 losses, etc.

Well, Mak Brown rolled the dice by playing Colt to win the Heisman. Colt's backup didn't get realistic playing time. Then Brown rolled the dice again by running Colt for 1 out of every 10 plays. Colt McCoy is the Longhorns' 2nd highest runner!

That's a lot of dice rolling. That's winning because you took a lot of chances and came up lucky more times than not, instead of winning because you are the best.

In contrast, Alabama has been winning because they are the best. Double digit point wins over #7 Virginia Tech, #20 South Carolina, #2 Texas, and formerly #1 Florida, plus a 9 point win over #9 LSU.

No one else even *beat* 4 top 10 teams, much less beat #1, #2, and #7 by double digits!

That's no fluke. That's not rolling the dice and hoping...that's working harder and playing harder and making the right calls on the field.

That's a championship team, and 1 player on the other side for one team doesn't negate all of that, whether he plays healthy, wounded, or not at all.


Alabama is a *legitimate*, uncontested, unasterisked, undoubted, #1 National Champion.

Run your QB against 'Bama at your own peril. Pass deep against Bama at your own peril. Do *either* enough times and you will pay in blood, sweat, and your own tears.

 

Roll Tide!

Props to Texas' comeback, and Gilbert giving it all he could. Bama's D is just unreal, though.
And quite obviously, that "#1 rush defense", giving up 100 yards to two different backs..well. That's all I need to say.

Bama is without question the best team in the country, far and away IMO.

I feel bad for McCoy, really do. I know Texas fans might like to think they would have won if he hadn't gone out. But as a Bama fan, I think we would have won anyway, and so do others. It would have certainly been a different game, but it's all speculation anyway. Injuries are part of the game and unfortunately they happen in times like this.

A great game, hard fought. Looking forward to next year.

Edit: Great post, No Doubt.

 

Sucked for all of us that Colt got hurt. Probably would have been a game, BUT WAIT, it STILL WAS?!?!?

A Freshman QB leads them back to within 3pts, and then if you think back to the stupid shuffle/shovel pass right before half.

Found the Bama players like the RB Ingram giving the "slicing across the neck" show near the end of the game to be classless - hey dude, why don't you stop cramping up in the heat (oops, it wasn't hot) and was also not impressed with runnnig for another TD with 60 seconds to play when the other team has one time out and is 99 yards away and they need TWO scores to tie...whatever.

I was less impressed with Bama than I thought I would be, and more impressed with Texas than I thought I would be. Congrats to Bama for a great season, they are the Champs!!!

Congrats to Texas for one hell of an effort with a kid who was playing high school footbal and getting stinky finger in the back of some pickup truck 8 months ago. He impressed me with his charachter as did the Texas defense.

Look forward to next season. Go Buckeyes!

MB

 

agreed, Bama coasted for too long and let Texas get close then showed 'em who's boss. I still think the better team won.

 

Yup. It was pretty obvious that Bama was thinking "let's just run out the clock" while up 24 to 6, as the backup Freshman QB would surely make a mistake if given time.

But Gilbert scores on a deep pass to Shipley, and then the Longhorns recovered their *second* kickoff!

Obviously Alabama had to turn it up a notch instead of simply running the clock out at that point.

*of note: Terence Cody played almost as much time on Offense for this game as he did on Defense. It's rare to see a player go both ways in modern football. He's special. That kid has "got it."