I'd like to take a moment...
Posted
Monday, December 03, 2007 12:33 PM
... to thank everyone who made my Buckeyes number one - and are sending us to the National Championship Game - for the second year in a row.
1. Oklahoma
2. Missouri
3. West Virginia
4. Pittsburgh (Side note: This weekend was the first that I've ever rooted for a Pittsburgh team. The sun will freeze over before I root for anything else connected with that city, that's for sure. No offense to anyone; I'm just a die-hard Cleveland fan. You'll never convince me that Pittsburgh is anything less than evil. But I digress, this is about college ball...)
Thank you all for taking care of business (or failing to do so). I believe that Ohio State will give LSU a great fight, and, even better, I'll get to see the game! I would have missed the Rose Bowl as we're driving back to WI on New Year's Day.
And, I don't think the BCS system should be changed. Or, at the very least, it shouldn't be replaced with a playoff system. Yes, I know that it screws over some schools (Hawaii, anyone? I think that being undefeated should mean a NC berth...), but I think a playoff system will only hurt college football. Can you imagine what it'd do to rivalries? Say Ohio State and Michigan each earn playoff berths, and the outcome of that game was different from the outcome of THE GAME. It'd make the rivalry pointless. And it'd do the same thing to other rivalries across the country.
One other rant about NCAA football, and then I'll stop. The hatred/disgust/bias that many (although, not all) fans and much of the media has for the Big Ten. I listened to so many announcers about choke Saturday saying that Ohio State would be headed to the NCG. And it's not just about the Buckeyes. No props are being given to the Illini (who are a darn good team as well), and they're still going on about the App. State win over Michigan this September. Each team plays weaker opponents over the season. In all conferences. And schedules are set years in advance! OSU/Washington? The Huskies (I think that's their name, apologies if I'm wrong here) were supposed to be strong. Let things be determined on the field, and don't knock my conference just because you want to cry strength of schedule... something that teams really have NO control over, especially at the times they're playing. (At the moment, I'm reading a column by Pat Forde on ESPN.com, and he's knocking Illinois for going to the Rose Bowl: "A three loss team in a lousy Big Ten." Infuriating.) Yes, I'm a little biased. But I don't think it's fair - no conference is perfect, and if you're going to be insulting, do it across the board. I know plenty of SEC teams that beat up on supposed "nobodies" too.
OK, that's the end of my rant. Promise. It's been a crazy, awesome football season, and I'm sad it's over. Root for your teams, and, if you're a LSU fan, know this: We're coming to New Orleans, and we've got something to prove. GO BUCKS!