BCS says: Germany wins!

If the BCS system had been used to select the winner of WW II:

"Germany put together an incredible number of victories beginning with the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland and continuing on into conference play with defeats of Poland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Their only losses came against the US and Russia; however, considering their entire body of work --including an incredibly tough Strength of Schedule -- our computers deemed them worthy of the #1 ranking."

Questioned about the #4 ranking of the United States, the BCS commissioner stated: "The US only had two major victories --Japan and Germany. The computer models, unlike humans, aren't influenced by head-to-head contests, they consider each contest to be only a single, equally-weighted event..."

German Chancellor Adolph Hitler said: "Yes, we lost to the US; but we defeated #2 ranked France in only 6 weeks...". Herr Hitler has been criticized for seeking dramatic victories to earn "Style points" to enhance Germany's rankings. Hitler protested "Our contest with Poland was in doubt until the final day and the conditions in Norway were incredibly challenging and demanded the application of additional forces...".

The French ranking has also come under scrutiny. The BCS commented "France had a single loss against Germany and following a preseason #1 ranking, they only fell to #2...".

Japan was ranked #3 with victories including Manchuria, Borneo and the Philippines.

If Only...

I know, I know...ifs and buts, candy and nuts. But, lets look at a few BYU ifs anyway...

If only...BYU had not given up on the season after the TCU game.
If only...they took every opponent seriously.
If only...they would have showed passion in the remaining games.
If only...they had used the run more in the Utah game.
If only...they understood that you have to play all four quarters.
If only...they played with more passion and less entitlement.
If only...what happens in Vegas really would stay in Vegas.

Like Max Hall said, it was a good season but not a great season. Little progress was shown over the course of the season. BYU would not have ended up in the same bowl if progress had been made over last years results. At least there were a lot of good games this year with plenty of excitement (think the UW game and UCLA), and there is always next year to progress. Hoepfully there was a lot of lessons learned this year that will carry over to next year.

BCS Bashing 2008

Sometimes the system works and sometimes it doesn't...and it is never agreed upon completely.

But the fact that the system only works some of the time indicates that it is broken. Dan Wetzel put it all in perspective with the comment shown below (read the entire article here) and another Wetzel BCS column here that answers the playoff nay-sayers.

"In the end we get Florida vs. Oklahoma; an intriguing and possibly great matchup. Both are fantastic teams and are as qualified as anyone. It’s as good of a pairing as any other.

Not better, mind you, but just as good.

You can’t definitively say it is any more correct than USC-Florida or Texas-USC or maybe even Utah-Oklahoma. What about Penn State-USC, which actually will be played but due to the system has no more value than the Motor City Bowl.

No one can say those games are better than UF-OU. And no one can say they aren’t....

That six or seven teams have a legitimate claim on a spot in the BCS title game is how it is now and will be going forward. Like the NFL, college football is too competitive for perfect seasons to be common.

Yet the championship system is built for just that thing. It’s built for the 1990s.

Four conference commissioners – the Big East’s Mike Tranghese, the Big Ten’s Jim Delany, the Big 12’s Dan Beebe and the Pac-10’s Tom Hansen voted last spring to refuse to even discuss a forward-thinking plan brought forth by the ACC and SEC. Tranghese and Hansen were pathetic enough to vote against the future only to promptly announce their retirements.

Clearly college football is lacking courage, vision and competency. Those commissioners fear that any adjustment to the current antiquated system would prove so popular and profitable people would want more and more of it.

So they prefer this inexplicable crap shot. They prefer voters who don’t even know who’s undefeated. They prefer to keep the parking brake on the sport, stick their heads in the sand and pretend this is working."

Week 15 2008: The Stage is Set

Most predicted that the title game would come down to SEC vs Big 12...but not everyone is happy with the teams. Both UF and OU are 1-loss teams...and they have plenty of company.

There are five other 1-loss teams in the top eight - each with a decent argument for being in the title game. Although the 1-loss handed to Florida, USC and Penn State were from very low ranked (#25) or non-ranked teams. Texas and TT have a better argument than the others.

For a complete bowl schedule (teams, dates, times), click here.

BYU NEWS THIS WEEK
Once again the Cougars are headed to the Las Vegas Bowl...to play Arizona (again) who lost five games compared to BYU's two losses. I'd much rather see BYU in San Diego against undefeated BSU...but TCU gets that chance. And, now with Sarkisian going to UW it'll be easier for me to rail on USC. Gotta believe in anyone ready to take over a 0-12 team.

And for a good laugh: click here.

Week 14 2008: Winding Down

Very little movement atop the polls which means there was very little movement in our 2008 challenge. And unless there are some serious upsets in next weeks games and teh subsequent bowl games, you'll pretty much end the season with your current ranking.

The BCS once again finds itself amidst controversy. They just haven't figured out that college football is a titch unpredictable. In the first few weeks of this season we were all kicking ourselves for not picking East Carolina and South Florida as our wild card teams. When was the last time you read a headline about either?

So does this BCS mess push us closer to a playoff system? Eh...maybe. There is a sort of playoff going on right now: the SEC championship game will send its best to the national championship game. The Big 12 sort of is doing the same except the Big 12 Championship shoudl really be a UT-OU rematch, not #2 Oklahoma taking on #19 Missouri. But what about unbeaten Utah, Boise and Ball? What about once beaten Texas, Texas Tech, Penn State and yes, even USC?

Obviously there is still work to be done. If Missouri pulls an upset and the precious BCS system once again sends a conference non-champ to the big dance...aarrggh...let's not think about that.

Week 13 2008: Q and A

Week 13 was a bit unlucky for some...namely BYU, Texas Tech and USC (since they were counting on Oregon State to lose). And unlucky for some of us in this year's challenge which is proving as unpredictable as the games themselves.

QUESTIONS:
1. Was Max Hall that bad or was the UU defense that good?
2. Will UU get a shot at a real BCS team or will they be stuck with someone from the Big Least or the Almost Competent Conference?
3. Will BYU get past a 10-2 regular season?
4. If ORST wins out will the BCS allow a ORST - PSU re-match?
5. What happens if 'Bama loses to UF?
6. Will the typically incompetent BCS system be able to fix the potential Big 12 and SEC mess that is lying in wait?
7. Why did Meyer and Whittingham run up the score (70 points by UF over a 1-AA team and UU going for the 4th and goal, up 41-24, with 4 minutes left)?

ANSWERS:
1. Max was obviously having an off day but I think that by the 4th quarter the UU defense had simply figured out BYU's predictable offensive scheme and took advantage. Shame on BYU for being predictable.
2. Probably not...the BCS is afraid UU might win and give the impression that the precious BCS system is failing.
3. A 10-2 season is nothing to complain about - except that it shows zero progress over the previous 10-2 seasons.
4. I hope not.
5. Probably UF and Oklahoma in the championship game...but there would be plenty of 1-loss teams (along with undefeated Utah) crying for a better system...no doubt led by Pete Carroll.
6. Not likely.
7. Because Urban and Kyle have not reached the level of understanding about the game that other more mature coaches have. They are still young, naive and greedy...they believe in style points. They fail to realize that true fans of the game love the game itself as much if not more than winning...or winning big. Shame on them for being blessed with great coaching skills, a great staff, university backing, superb players but poor common sense and a lack of true love of the game.

Week 12 2008: A Quiet Week...Comparitively

Over the last few years, week-after-week, there has always been something to whine and complain about. But in a week when there is no movement in the top 16...well, it's pretty quiet.

MAYBE: BYU looked notably better this week...I'm holding out much more hope than before that they pull off the big one on the hill. Hopefully the SLC Tribune Sunday morning headline will read: "BCS Busted".

FINALLY: Vandy...bowl eligible for the first time since I was in high school.

BELIEVABLE and UNBELIEVABLE: Michigan...eight losses for the first time in history and not bowl eligible for the first time in 33 years.

WHEW!: Georgia winning in the last second...again.

Week 11 2008: NCAAF in November

College football in November is better. Teams are well into their groove and we start seeing who's for real and who's not. The passion is more obvious, the urgency more evident and there is a visible, final push for bowl eligibility, senior day or conference championship slots. November is when we see some absolutely phenomenal football. (November is also when we see 3-loss teams in the top 25 - LSU, Oregon State, South Carolina; just an observation).

WOW!: Utah looked good...BYU better be preparing.
WOW! 2: Wyoming over Tennessee...in Rocky Top. Fulmer won't be leaving on a good note.
UNBELIEVABLE: The amazing speed, accuracy and execution of Texas Tech.
BELIEVABLE: Iowa over Penn State (I'd had my doubts about PSU's strength).
HEARTBREAKING: Iowa over Penn State ('cause I like Joe Pa).
ARE YOU KIDDING?: Poor, pitiful, Pete is whining about the BCS (again). See links below.

NOTABLE: Hey...he didn't get my vote for president but he does get kudos for publicly stating that college football should have a playoff system (click here). This was broadcast on during MNF the day before the election (people will say anything for a vote, huh?).

TOUGH YEAR FOR PREDICTIONS: Hey, if you're feeling bad because you're not at the top of our pre-season picks challenge...don't. Per a local article I read last week: "The pre-season coaches poll did not have TT in the top 10 or Penn State in the top 20. But they did have Michigan, Auburn, Wisconsin, ASU, Tennessee and Clemson...who have a combined 19-33 record and two coaching casualties."

PETE CARROLL: What a doofus (see article here). And in response to his whining, read this.

Week 10 2008: New #1's...again

"But suddenly, a new contender has emerged..."(the fifth this season): Alabama...a team that no one (not even the pros) picked in their pre-season top 20 and a team that had zero 1st place votes just last week. (And Nathan is our newest 1st place contender).

WOW!:
*Texas Tech over Texas! TT has been putting together a great offense the last few years and it is finally showing.
*BYU ran the most well executed 2-minute drill I've seen in a long time to pull off the close win over CSU.

FIRST to WORST:
This weeks biggest change: Lance (dropped from first to last place in our pre-season challenge). I don't think I've ever seen that.

BCS BEEF:
No real BCS beef this week - the chips seem to be falling in the right place so far for those money-mongering-anti-playoff-bafoons.

WHOD'VE THUNK...:
*That this late in the season we'd be talking Penn State, Alabama, Texas Tech in the same sentence as "national championship"?

I HAVE TO ASK:
*As good as Florida looked against UGA, if they pull off the SEC Championship do they still belong in the title game since they lost at home to still un-ranked Ole Miss? (We're not talking Texas losing to TT here). Shouldn't a true top team be able to play well week in and week out?

GEORGIA - THE TERRIBLE TWO's:
*2 bad play calls in the 1st quarter red-zone appearance
*2 missed field goals in the first half
*2 dropped passes in the end zone
*2 turnovers...twice
*2 missed pass interference calls by the refs (resulting in UF touchdowns)
*2 bad coaching calls (early on-side kick...and I'm sure there must have been at least one other)

NOTABLE:
I'm glad that Urban didn't do anything stupid Saturday...I had already formed my opinion that he was going to make a button-hole of himself in seeking some sort of revenge adn he proved me wrong. Calling two timeouts with 44 seconds left? Eh...we'll believe him on that one as long as he lets "the celebration" die now like he should have a year ago.





WOW!: FIRST to WORST: BCS BEEF: WHOD'VE THUNK?: I HAVE TO ASK: INTERESTING: HEARTBREAKING: UNBELIEVABLE: BELIEVABLE: ARE YOU KIDDING?: NOTABLE: WASTE:

Week 9 2008: Wow - Almost Predictable

I don't think anything really surprised me this weekend...maybe the close USC-Arizona game and the USF loss. Other than that everything went about as expected.

A few notes:
Our Challenge: Wow...we're all within four points of each other. It's getting tight and those who've been at the bottom end are moving up (and vice-versa) thanks to USF and Kansas dropping out and FSU moving in.

The BCS: Though I'm not a fan of the system, so far so good this season (but there's a lot of football left to play).

Penn State: I have always liked Coach Pa and he's had some great teams. But does the Big 10 belong, once again, in the spotlight? My feelings on another possible Big 10 national championship fiasco are related well here.

UGA: Maybe the dawgs won because LSU was not using their 12th man, the LSU ref that they used in last weeks win over South Carolina (click to watch replay). And now the long-awaited re-match with Florida after last year's "stomp"...Meyer has issued a gag order to his players and they're playing the whole thing down even though his recently released book states that it "will be a big deal."

BYU: Got the win but soemthing is not clicking right...something yet to be diagnosed (and hopefully corrected soon).

Alabama: Zero 1st place votes this week...hmmmm.

Auburn: Ouch...they must be cursed or Tommy Tub just isn't living right.

Utah: The last two weeks there has been one 1st place vote for Utah in the Harris poll. This week, the Utes' bye week, they get no vote. Who was that mysterious voter?

And last but not least: I was lightly reprimanded a few days ago for not mentioning more about the Utah Utes last week given their undefeatedness and currently being highest ranked non-BSC team, so here you go: "Go Utes, go Utes, win 'em all! Except for the one that matters most of all!"

Week 8 2008: Here we go...

Yea...BCS bashing begins. For myriad details of the BCS rules and eligibility click here.

Let's see where we're at:
We're down to nine undefeated teams, 1/3 from the Big 12 South. The Big 12 also accounts for 1/4 of ranked teams. USC is the only ranked team from the PAC-10. The ACC's highest ranked team is at #21; the Big East at #14. Neither conference has a BCS top-15.

Texas: Wow. Pull off the next two games and just hand them the trophy. Bama: Whew...that was close. Penn State: We're starting to believe...just pull off the OSU game. USC: Stop showing off...you still lost to an un-ranked team. TCU: They look for real. Missouri and Kansas: The only 2-loss teams in the rankings. Tulsa: The lowest ranked undefeated team at #22.

BYU? Ouch...for me it was Alabama-Georgia all over again. Did BYU have an off-night, was TCU really that good or was BYU over-rated? Four turnovers, 23 total rushing yards, one scoring drive that took over 7-minutes, six sacks, no TD passes, streak snapped (and handed to Utah...double-ouch), etc. There were a lot of questions about just how potent BYU really was going into the game and I think those questions were answered (just not the answer we were all hoping for).

But wait...USC is ranked #6, lost to a team that doesn't even show in the rankings, was shut out the first half of that game, is in a cupcake conference that is currently 33-35 with five losses to MWC teams (the MWC is 39-27). Why are they ranked so high? Oh yea...they're USC...everyone's little darling. OK, OK...one might say they've earned it over the years and BYU hasn't. USC has beaten big teams...BYU has not beaten a ranked team since 1999. But are rankings based on the past few years or the past few games?

Week 7 2008: Let's Talk 1-loss Teams

Wow what a weekend! Nothing less than what we expected with the Big 12 starting conference play and two SEC powerhouses meeting up. And the next few weeks will be interesting with Texas' next three games against ranked opponents in the top 11.

Three weeks ago there were 18 undefeated teams...we're down to 10. Alabama, PSU and OK State are showing some serious, unexpected life while Michigan State and Florida are showing a resurgence and some pre-season picks like ASU, Tennessee, West Va, Auburn, Michigan and recently heralded East Carolina have become unmentionables.

Texas and Florida were the most impressive on Saturday with defining, dominating wins. Texas jumped 4 spots and Florida 6. Texas...yea, they deserved it with their 10-point win over the #1 team. Florida's win over #3 LSU was flawless and impressive, but I must take issue with ranking them in the top 5 when they lost to an unranked team. USC at #6, also has a loss to an unranked. (The aforementioned unranked teams currently don't even show in the "others receiving votes"). The next 1-loss team with a loss to an unranked (Va Tech)...comes in at #17.

Yea, yea, yada, yada, yada...I can hear it now: "But they beat LSU" or "They shut out ASU" or the worst, "They were early-season losses". Teams should be ranked for their season performance, not just last Saturday's. Sure, give Florida and USC credit for turning in dominating performances...but why they are not dinged for underestimating an opponent is beyond me. (The five other 1-loss teams in the top 15 all lost to ranked opponents).

If Florida and USC gain ground with losses to unranked teams why shouldn't BYU, Utah, BSU and even Ball State gain some ground for winning all their games even though they are against unranked teams? Are you going to tell me that it's because the PAC-10 is a tougher conference? Yea...right up there with the ACC and Big East.

Give credit where credit is due...winning week in and week out regardless of the strength of the opponent or time of the season.

Week 6 2008: Stability?

We normally have 5-10 ahead of the AP and USA polls...not this week. Only Dave is above the AP poll (although 13 of us are ahead of the USA poll). Jeff comes into the top 3 for the first time this year by 1/10of a point.

Only minor shifts in the top 10 this week and with the exception of the Vandy win over Auburn and Alabama sneaking by UK, there was not much this past Saturday that was unexpected. Last week there were 18 undefeated teams...we're down to 15 now. Some stability finally? Not likely...

Definitely not likely with next Saturday: Penn and Wisconsin, Missouri and OK State, Oklahoma and Texas, LSU and Florida. Yea...we'll see some shake up in the top 10 next week.

The 10-20 range was shook up this week: Wisconsin, Fresno and Oregon dropped out of the top 25, Auburn dropped from the top 20. Four new teams moved into the top 25 and Illinois is trying to sneak back in.

Week 5 2008: The Bigger They Are...

Down goes #1 for the second time this year...but this time for losing (not for winning). Conference play does change things. And OUR new #1? It's still Jon Fox, thanks to the Harris poll coming into play this week. (Sorry, Scott, it was you until the Harris poll came out).

It's odd...this love-hate relationship we all have with college football...some days we love the unpredictability of it all and some days we hate it. A reminder that this is why we play the game and don't rely on the polls to tell us who is the best. A reminder that hunger for a win can outplay talent and experience anytime.

It was the day of the underdog: Oregon State over USC, Ole Miss over Florida, Michigan over Wisconsin, Maryland over Clemson. All in all, three top 10 fell to the unranked, one other top 10 lost and the Big 12 now has 4 in the top 10 (last week it was the SEC). BUT...the six teams of the Big 12 that are in the top 25 have yet to start conference play...we saw last Saturday how that re-arranged the SEC.

Oklahoma played the nations #1 defense and came out on top. UGA just couldn't get it together in the first half. Florida and Wisconsin made critical mistakes down the stretch (but note Tebow's promises for the rest of the season). The PAC-10 and ACC no longer have an undefeated team. And ECU's BCS-buster run is all but forgotten.

USC, the darling of the sports writers, was simply caught sleeping...the chink in the Trojan armor: complacency, predictability and a humongous ego (tough not to what with the media calling you #1 and Pete Carroll's best ever team). NOTE: If the Beavers hold on through the PAC-10 and so does USC, the Beavers have the tie breaker.
(I wondered if Pete Carrol walked across to congratulate the OSU coach or not...there were too many orange-clad fans on the field to tell).

My question (as well as my 14-year old's) to the voters: USC and UGA both fell eight spots...but why did UGA's loss to the undefeated and 8th ranked Tide carry the same penalty as USC getting beat by the 1-2 unranked Beavers?

And for those of us still holding out hope for a BYU national championship, we're not alone:

This week from Matt Hayes of Sporting News: "In this day and age of the unthinkable and the improbable and the predictable..., we give you this not-so-crazy reality: a team from the Mountain West playing for the national championship. Why not BYU or Utah?...If we’re so quick to anoint USC as the team to beat, why not look at an unbeaten MWC champ—if for no other reason, the MWC is as good or better than the Pac-10 this season."

And to see last weeks AP article on ESPN-U touting the same question click here.

And for any who don't believe they belong: click here.

Week 4 2008: Fourth Down, Eight to Go

Here we are 1/3 of the way through the season already, 4 games down and 8 left to go (for most teams). Here is my take on the first 1/3 of the season:

Although good on paper and executing very well, we don't really know yet how good USC is (or isn't). They are 2-0 with two bye weeks (who made that schedule?). Nor will we know until January (unless they fall asleep). USC is in a league by themselves...not because they are that good...but because currently no one else in the PAC-10 seems to have much of a pulse.

And the University of Spoiled Children / Coaches is not alone...undefeated Oklahoma, UGA and Florida have yet to play a team in the Top 25. These teams also have yet to be truly tested.

But you can't blame USC...they are just doing what they do best - win. If they run the table and go to the championship game they will hear incessant cries from any Big 12 or SEC team that runs the table and doesn't get a shot at USC. And, why not throw in any undefeated MWC team into that ring? Who do you pick if four teams are near perfect? USC with their patsy schedule? Get ready for the blog battle if that's the case.

To paraphrase the MWC commissioner last week: the ailing ACC and potentially the Big East should give up their auto BCS bid to the more deserving conference this year...likely the MWC. And, it should be like that every year...a poor performing conference should release their auto bid. Name any sport, company, parent, etc. who rewards poor performers...besides the BCS?

The SEC, with six teams in the top 25, will continue hammering each other into the ground until one or two battered, but not undefeated, teams stand alone in the top 10. Do they get to take on USC? Who is to say that a 8-4 #25 ranked team from the SEC or Big 12 is not as deserving as the ACC Champion?

The AP Top 25 Summary:
ACC(2), Big East(1), Big Ten(4), Big 12(5), Conf USA(1), Mid-America(0), MWC(3), PAC_10(1), SEC(6), Sun Belt(0), WAC(2), Independent(0).

Week 3 2008: Rise and Shout...and Rout!

Wow! What an unbelievable game. Nobody...nobody could have predicted the outcome of this one. BYU: 59, UCLA: 0.

And, not only did BYU upend a PAC-10 team...so did three other MWC teams (TCU, UNLV and New Mexico). The MWC owned the PAC-10 this weekend. And, USC (after yet another week off) plays only PAC-10 teams the rest of the season with the exception of the Irish visiting in November.

A little movement in the polls this week...it appears that things are settling a bit in the world of the polls (ok...for now). UGA dropping a notch because of a 7-point win over the 'ol ball coach, and Oklahoma moving up because they beat UW handily...? Not sure I agree with that given the history of the UGA-USC series and UW's winning percentage. (Auburn scored only three points against Mississippi State and dropped one spot). Although there are four SEC teams in the top 10...Auburn and LSU play this Saturday which will force a change there (War Eagle!).

Amongst ourselves: 11 of our 16 players are doing better than the AP and USA today pre-season polls. Still a lot of football to play but I don't recall use being that much better than the pros.

Week 2 2008: Gotta Love Controversy

I hate the excessive celebration rule...(but I do love the controversy)!

It happens only a few times each college football season...I'm sitting there enjoying / watching the game when suddenly a spectacular play is made and then: I lose control and in a moment of passion I'm on my feet, cheering at the top of my lungs, arms raised, feeling elated. It's called passion. And if you have it, really have it...then be player, coach, fan, friend or foe...you celebrate those moments. It's a reflex and it's uncontrollable and it's what I did when BYU blocked the last second PAT to tie the game.

That is also what Jake Locker did moments before. Good for him. He cares about the game, his team, and giving his all. Jake was doing what every coach, tells every player, every Saturday: "Show some passion out there." You can't have one without the other. Don't fault Jake...fault the system.

I've heard it multiple times since Saturday, and you probably have, too: "Good call. Stupid rule." Give the officials a cookie for sticking to the rule book, a dunce cap for not doing what's right.

I do NOT agree with Bronco's comments: "We do have rules for a reason....They are to teach principles of class and integrity. Sometimes young men in the heat of the moment get over-exuberant and the rules are in place to try to keep the game intact and hold on to what is most important in the game and that's the team element. Again, it's unfortunate that a call is being the focus rather than two teams playing their heart out and going down to the last play that did decide the game."

I agree that the call is getting more attention than the teams and shouldn't, but to allude that the the excessive celebration rule maintains the all important team element is asinine. The game was never not intact.

I do agree with the following comment from Jim Caple of ESPN, a UW alum: "It was one of the absolute worst calls I've ever seen in football. The only thing that tempers it somewhat is that BYU was the better team in this game and that Washington coach Ty Willingham planned to go for the tie rather than go for two and the upset win; it was pretty clear that there was no way the Huskies would have been able to stop BYU's offense in overtime. Unless, of course, BYU did something heinous and unsportsmanlike, such as showing up the Huskies after scoring a touchdown, such as hugging one another and shouting and running off the field all superiorlike. I mean, that sort of behavior might fly in the Mountain West Conference, but by God, not in the Pac-10.

Placing a control on celebrations is placing limits on passion...that's wrong. Excessiveness resulting in taunting or injury or insult should be penalized (think UGA vs UF October 2007) and that is what the rule is there to control...not passion for the game.

PS: Saturday night highlights showed UU do the same thing after a touchdown with no penalty.

Week 1 2008: Second Guessing?

If after Saturday (and Monday) you're thinking you picked all the wrong teams, think again...

If there is anything I know at this point in the season it's that there is a lot...a whole lot, of football left to play. I did it, too...thinking I should have put Alabama in my top 20 and not ranked Clemson so high, should've put in Utah or Oregon or UCLA instead of Va Tech, etc. Be patient...it will change...a lot.

Item of note: Dave is currently ahead of the AP and Coahces polls. But be patient...that will likely change, too!

USC did look impressive and even I agree they should've jumped over UGA. I suspect they'll stay at the top until they lose. It would take a pretty impressive win for anyone to make that jump again, but a UGA win over LSU and Florida could do it.

Week 0 2008: Pre-Season Analysis

We have 16 contestants this year (the most in our 5-year history). Out of the 16 we have five different #1 picks, 10 of the 16 have at least one wild card team (not showing in the pre-season top 20) and we all rank BYU in the top 20, anywhere from #5 to #16.

A breakdown of the AP pre-season 25:
SEC (6 teams)
Big 12 (5 teams)
Big 10 (4 teams)
Pac 10, Big East, ACC (3 teams each)
Mountain West (1 team)
Conf USA, Mid America, Sun Belt, WAC and Independents had 0 teams in the AP top 25.

An analysis of 10 different top 25 pre-season polls:
-40 different teams are ranked at least once
-Georgia is ranked anywhere from #1 to #9
-USC and OSU rank between #1 and #4
-BYU's highest rank is #12, lowest is #25
-Utah shows up in four polls
-Rutgers, South Carolina, New Mexico, Notre Dame, Cincinatti and Tulsa show up once in one of the ten polls (none of us picked any of these)

New This Year...

Just a few new things to note...

1. The weekly results are now a web-based Excel spreadsheet (just click on the link titled "Challenge 2008" and navigate through the tabs for the details).
2. Helmet schedule, quizzes and history are found on the "Helmet Fun Stuff" tab.
3. Due to the regulations that tend to govern this little contest we will not be "betting" any money this year. The winner will have to be happy with claiming the title for a year (well...maybe the rest of us will get together and build him/her a cake or something).

As always, I'm open to suggestions for improvements to the blog and spreadsheet(layout, colors, better / more links, etc.) and, of course, your weekly comments are welcome.

Good luck to everyone!

Meyer Seeking Revenge?

Apparently, Urban Meyer is still reeling about the UGA celebration penalty last October.

When asked about it (again) at the recent SEC medai days Richt said he did indeed tell his team to "celebrate so hard that the referees throw the flag". But he went on to explain: "in my mind, my little pea brain, 11 guys in the game score a touchdown, 11 guys jump up and down and celebrate...In hindsight, I asked the team to do an unsportsmanlike act...I shouldn't have done it. I won't do anything like that again."

From Meyer's book to be released in September:

"That wasn't right. It was a bad deal. It will forever be in the mind of Urban Meyer and in the mind of our football team. We'll handle it, and it's going to be a big deal."

(You want some cheese with that whine?) Is that a threat? Didn't he learn in kindergarten that two wrongs don't make a right? Does he think seeking revenge is not unsportsmanlike? What is he "asking" of his players when he makes a comment like that?

C'mon, Meyer (and Richt), don't turn the world's largest cocktail party and one of college footballs annual highlights into an ugly, mean-spirited, revenge-seeking, "I'll get you for that" brawl. Be the example and the school representative you expect your players to be.

See full article here. See replay of penalty here.

2007 Wrap-Up

2007 OVERVIEW The 2007 season had everything we love about NCAAF: poll controversies, amazing plays, unprecedented unpredictability and even weird commentary (click here). And, a couple of firsts: a sophomore Heisman and a national champion that posted two-losses.

It was a year when the typically tough defenses of the SEC posted final scores of 50-48 and 52-50. A year when the polls could never find a consistent #1, with 7 different teams in the #2 spot and 12 times a top 5 lost to an un-ranked. We saw the likes of South Florida and South Carolina heading to the top, only to be humbled by un-ranked teams like many others.

POWER HOUSES? Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Notre Dame and USC, the power houses of yesteryear with 48 national championships between them, showed that weaknesses abound on any team...each losing to unranked teams, ND multiple times.

PLAYOFF? Do we really want a playoff system? It would remove all the controversy that we have come to love about the sport. We may be entering an era where the rankings mean less and less and we finally move to more of a playoff system. We saw this year that on any given Saturday, any given team can lose regardless of its history (Michigan), its stars (USC), or its ranking (insert any team here). In other words, proof that passion and a desire to win, can and does win games.

2007 showed the BCS original intent of making the rich richer and forever controlling the college football landscape simply became a challenge to the lesser conferences who, being in a competitive sport, simply looked at it as another game...and they are slowly winning. The BCS has done a great job inciting more competition. Like any other business, once you begin resting on your laurels your competitors sneak up on you. And that is exactly what we witnessed: 10 losses by the top 5 to unranked teams.

READY FOR MORE? From UGA's excessive celebration penalty to blatantly missed calls to the extended finger from the Wyoming coach to Michigan losing to an FCS team then being ranked and going to a bowl that pays a gazillion dollars...bring on 2008...I'm ready!

(For a slightly more professional review of the 2007 season, click here.)

2007 Season End

Like it or not, agree or not, LSU, the first 2-loss team to vie for the BCS championship, is now SECond to none...and they avoided the curse that plagued many a #2 team all season.

Though not as much a surprise as the football season and many of the bowls, Jen handily won our contest, beating out second place by over three points. Congratulations, Jen, and thanks to everyone for participating...it was a lot fun and made the season even more exciting to talk about.

As far as the bowls: Florida's loss was a surprise, Oklahoma just can't win in Arizona, Hawaii was all but thrown out of the party (and now BYU has the longest winning streak), and OSU...well, I'm guessing they don't want to be in next year's championship game.


If you are already wondering about the 2008 season, you're not the only one. For a sneak preview click here if you like USC or here if you like UGA.

My 2007 season wrap-up (and complaints) will be posted soon.