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Shock to the System I hate the BCS as much as I love college football...and that's what really pisses me off. I know...you do, too. How can a game that brings so much happiness and joy on weekends in the Fall have a determining means to declare a champion that is so flawed and so completely ridiculous that it makes me want to throw remotes, pillows, shoes, cold drinks and sometimes Chester the wonder-hound at the television screen? Who says I don't get enough exercise during the football season? All I need to see is the latest BCS standings and the line-up of the BCS bowl games and I'm about to lose it. Listen, I have no issue with Bama getting in over Oklahoma State. I truly believe the Crimson Tide is the second best team in the country....even though their numbers in terms of quality wins come up short compared to the Cowboys at OSU. Apparently the size of the "loss" was more important than the size of the wins....Bama and #1 LSU played a thriller which needed extra time. OK State's double OT loss on the road to a 27-point underdog was a bigger determinant. I can see both sides of the argument. I think Bama is better than OK State....just an opinion....and we know the joke attached to that comment. I was in Atlanta for the SEC title game and had the chance to host some shows and conduct interviews on SiriusXM with the LSU players after the game. Not only are they impressive in person on the field, but there was one thing that jumped out at me during every single one of the individual interviews....the LSU players - while satisfied with winning the SEC championship - seemed already focused on the next order of business: The BCS title game on January 9th in Nawlins. The Tigers weren't cocky or loud afterwards....and I was expecting a jubilant locker room. It was shockingly quiet. I was so impressed with the demeanor of the players...it was also a reminder that all that "one-game-at-a-time" coach-speak was in play right in front of my very eyes and the SiriusXM microphone. The LSU players impressed me on Saturday. They have the chance to go down as the greatest college football team in history.....you heard me......ever. LSU has 8 wins over ranked teams...only three national title winners were able to capture 7 vs. AP Top 25 teams. LSU has 8 wins by double digits over ranked teams .....the old record was Florida with 6 back in 2008. LSU has 3 wins over Top 5 teams....with one more to play. Only ND in 1946 had more; the Irish had 4. But they need one more win...the last one is always the hardest one....even if it involves playing a game just 60 miles from home in the Bayou. I can't wait to watch Les vs. Nick.....LSU vs. Bama....the Southern Fried Football™ Championship. I had the chance to co-host with Paul Finebaum in Atlanta during my trip down to the SEC championship game. I absolutely loved working with him...I just wished I wasn't fighting the head-cold from hell; but even with a plethora of medication, I still loved it. I hope there is a time that we can work together again....his legion of fans (and detractors) are well known in the SEC world, and it was fun to see Paul work his magic. By the way, nobody does the championship weekend better than the SEC. I know the conference has some built-in advantages....like great football and great fans.....but you still have to do the little things that make people want to come back. Commissioner Mike Slive and his staff have cornered the market on how to do it the right way....when people have the impression that anybody could do it, then you know you're good at what you do. The SEC is really, really good. I was thrilled that the ACC came to their senses and decided that Charlotte should continue their relationship as the home for the ACC football championship game. The only thing that didn't make any sense was that John Swofford extended the deal for only two more years. What are you waiting for? Surely, there's no thought of going North when mighty Pitt and Syracuse join the league.....Charlotte should have it as long as they want. It is the perfect site for the championship game. It also helps when Clemson fans decide to buy all the tickets. I've got to admit, I didn't think Dabo and his staff could grab his team's attention and give them instant mojo/confidence after the month-long downslide. The Va. Tech Hokies were riding a 7-game win streak and had the "revenge edge" after being blown out by Clemson earlier in the season. The Tigers were impressive.....just as they were early in the year. Great job by Dabo Swinney and his guys, as they win their first ACC title in 20 years and now they head down to the Orange Bowl for the first time in 30 years. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my freshman year and I witnessed Clemson winning the national title by beating Nebraska. Time flies. How did Va. Tech land a BCS bid? The Hokies' list of quality wins goes something like this:
The Hokies have a grand total of zero wins over teams that finished in the BCS Top 25 standings. Not a single win. I forgot, my bad....once we get past the BCS national title game, the bowls don't care about those secondary details.....all they care about are tickets and hotel rooms. They want to know how many your school will guarantee. It's as simple as that. I used to work in the bowl business 20 years ago, and this charade has been going on for far too long. And the Hokies will travel to New Orleans....for their sake, I hope they pick up a few Hurricanes, some great food and their first meaningful win of the season (sorry, Virginia). Tiger Woods won his charity event. Next week, he plans to make it two in a row by winning his Member/Guest Tourney. When Tiger is in the hunt to win a major, let me know.....this other stuff is a waste of my time. The Panthers won their second straight game away from Charlotte. Granted, the two teams they've defeated have combined to lose 18 straight games (Indy 0-12 & TB has a 6-game losing streak), but that's not the Panthers' fault or responsibility. When you win 2 in a row, you apologize to nobody! The team now returns home after their 3-game road schedule....at this pace, maybe we should tell them to stay away from Bank of America Stadium. Congrats to Cam Newton for breaking the NFL record for rushing TDs by a QB in a single season. By the way, I wonder if anybody in Charlotte wants to admit that they know John Fox is tied for first place in the AFC West? I didn't think so. |
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