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.)
