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.
22 December 2008
21 December 2008
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.
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.
09 December 2008
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."
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."
04 December 2008
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)