Mid-Week Notes and Ramblings
Is it just me, or does there seem to be almost TOO much stuff going on? (And in 6 weeks, there will be absolutely nothing going on).Not one but TWO Big 12 North teams are in the top 5 of the BCS. Nebraska is in the process of hiring a new football coach for the second time in five years. College basketball is heating up and to top it all off…the holidays are coming.
But, since Tom Osborne's seemingly frantic coaching search has suddenly burst into flames along the highway like a used Kia Sorento from Kabul Motors…we have to turn our attention elsewhere. Obviously we can’t talk about Missouri being only 60 minutes from the BCS Championship game, because most of you people have a big ol’ problem with it; and quite frankly, I don’t really want to even be reminded of what it likes to root for a good team again. (I'm assuming most of you forgot)
So what does that leave me here? Holiday gift giving ideas? Yam recipes? Discuss the latest contestant to get eliminated on “Shot of Love” on MTV? Perhaps great Husker left offensive tackles of the last 20 years?
Nope. Not going to do it. As some of you know, I try not to get too in-depth with analysis of actual games and teams, because quite frankly I don’t have the time and I really don’t care all that much if Arizona State has a great cover 2 scheme this season or not. But in light of the BCS race coming down to the wire, let’s take a look at some of the teams left on the lead lap.
First of all, I must admit that I was wrong about something. I honestly was always in favor of a playoff for years, quite frankly because that was the only way I thought mid-level teams were ever going to find their way into the title game. However, scholarship limits, and watching several Cinderella stories this season has changed my mind somewhat. If you take the best 8-16 or whatever, what does that do to the big games during the regular season? Doesn’t it pretty much kill the non-conference season? (Especially if you only allow conference champions and 1 or 2 at-larges into the BCS.)
Games such as the Ohio State vs. Michigan game, LSU-Florida etc would hold less meaning (not to me, but to others) if you knew there was a decent chance of vindication later on. And no, don’t give me this whole, “if USC were in a tourney now, they’d win it all” crap. I know they were banged up, but they lost to STANFORD…at home. If you think you have some mandate to a title after doing that..simply because of how you play now..you’re wrong. If you can't beat Stanford...even with your 3rd team...you probably don't deserve to win a title.
But don't get me wrong. I’m not hell bent against a playoff. I just think it would diminish at least part of the regular season, which has been great so far this year.
** Speaking of BCS and championships, the big rage right now is who is “worthy” of playing in the title game, since there are something 85 teams with one loss. So lets take a look at some of the players who are left in the big picture as we approach the finish line.
* West Virginia – I have absolutely nothing against West Virginia sitting where they are, despite the fact that they lost a game they really really shouldn’t have. The Big East will never ever be confused with a real conference. However, since college football is a beauty pageant, you should go by what you see. It doesn’t take a genius to see for your own eyes that WVU is fast, athletic and scary. They beat Pitt, obviously they should be in.
* Missouri – Bias aside, the Tigers have the “best” loss of the 1 loss teams. Losing to OU in Norman at night is nothing to be ashamed of (at least not as much as losing to Colorado, South Florida or Stanford). This team has defied every stereotype of a typical Missouri team, so who knows what will happen. However, if they do beat OU fair and square, you can not in your right mind say that Ohio State (lost to Illinois) or anybody else deserves to be ahead of them.
* I really don’t hate or have anything against any of the top teams…except for Ohio State. For some reason, these people think that beating Michigan (same team who lost to a 1-AA school) is worthy of an automatic ticket to the grand prize. (Oh, and Kennedy is still president) Uhhh, just because you have those goofy-ass leafy nut things on your helmets, doesn’t mean you’re any better than anybody else. In fact, watching their offense this year, I’m quite certain they would finish behind 8 or 9 big 12 schools…including…yes..Nebraska. Buckeye fans, you're pathetic. Stop your whining.* Oklahoma is a great team with great talent. But you lost to Colorado and Texas Tech…two teams that Missouri beat by a combined score of 96-20. Should they beat the Tigers in San Antonio, you can hand the Sooners their usual scepter as kings of the big 12. That most likely isn’t too far fetched..but remember, great teams don’t play Iowa State to 17-7 games. Probably not title game material, whether Bradford was hurt or not.
* Arizona State. Nice season and hot cheerleaders, but you lost your big chance when you had USC at home on national TV. Great campus though.
* Georgia. I like the Bulldogs. I like their coaching. I like their defense. I like that they’ve had a killer schedule. They rank in the middle of the pack on offense, but can put up lots of points. But you lost to South Carolina, got crushed by Tennessee and ya didn’t have to play LSU. Great team. BCS worthy…should be ranked exactly where they are.
* LSU. Am I the only person on earth who isn’t head over heels in love with this team? Les Miles is batshit crazy, and nearly cost them several wins. They had two thumpings early in the season (Miss State and Va Tech), but since October…has played every tough team on their schedule close. Either way, if you lose to Arkansas at home and Kentucky anywhere..you have no business complaining about where you are. On a side note, how the hell did Bo Pelini give up 34 points to Alabama when they only scored 14 against Louisiana Monroe? That makes sense.
* And finally, Hawaii. One of the best (or worst) things about college football is it’s ability to distort stats. Unlike baseball, football stats depend largely on who you played. In watching Hawaii now three times, there is no doubt they could put points up on BCS teams. But how would we know? We don’t, and all you can do is simply make the judgement in your head. To me, Hawaii belongs in the BCS, and will abruptly get their teeth kicked in by any number of BCS schools. Nothing against them, but it’s your own fault guys. Kick ass uniforms though.
** Finally, regular season for Nebraska is over…and the crying kid is back in his regular spot. 63% of you last time voted to keep him there. Should we stick with that plan? Or do you guys want to see it mixed up? Either way is fine with me…Justin the web-bitch from Reno needs some work to do, so I thought I’d ask what you would prefer.
Happy ice storm eve everyone. (Believe that when I see it)
Labels: BCS, BCS Teams, Hawaii, Missouri, Tom Osborne
posted by A J at 9:24 PM
22 Comments:
This was worth reading, good job!
Mike in Iowa:
Where did the picture of the crying kid come from?
did you see the news? Boomer Sooner!
Tim
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-nebraska-coachosborne&prov=ap&type=lgns
AJ
We need your two cents on the Interim coach tag Osbourne has bestowed upon himself. I think it's time for a rant on the recruiting boon this will surely be.z
ice storm? when? because hell has froze over due to pinkel possibly winning a big game? what until he meets BO. holla.
(yes, im going crazy)
The Osborne rant is coming..don't worry.
Oh, and OHF..that was damn funny.
Aj,
I am an Ohio State fan, but would love to see a playoff system in the works. I agree that it isnt fair for a team like Missouri or WVU to get this far and possibly lose their last game and be totally out of it.
Yes I know the season is the playoffs, but college football would be better with a playoff system.
As a CU fan I'm partial to keeping the crying kid up but there. Do you have any pics that incorporate the whole "Order Restored" theme they dreamed up when they hired Callahan? I really enjoyed saying that to the NU fans (the ones that hadn't left in the 4th quarter) as walked somberly back to their mobile homes last Friday. Looking forward to your sermon on T.O.
Gee, I'd hate to see this comment section turn semi-serious, but I'm in favor of a playoff system. I don't think it would diminish the regular season, in fact, it would probably create some better pre-conference matchups since teams don't have to worry about an early loss keeping them out of the NC picture. Playing tougher teams early in the season will not only test your team's mettle, but makes a great game for the fans. If you needed to win your conference to get in, then the conference games would be just as critical as they are now. How can people really bitch if the champion is determined on the field?
What we have now is a beauty contest (and yes, in this analogy, the Ohio State (don't get me started here, that's a whole different rant, you pretentious pricks) is basically the drag queen. Underneath that makeup and wig is an ugly dude with a little dick.. congrats to you Fuckeye Nation)
Randy
PS. What happened to bigredfraud? Probably still tuggin' on his pickle (yes, I know, it's your soap, you can wash yourself as fast as you want) after BC got the boot. Unfortunately, if the next Husker coach isn't named Frank Solich, we'll have to hear all of the same old rants...
AJ,
Great comments as always. Your thoughts on Hawaii got me thinking about ways to make the BCS better. Here you go:
Require all BCS leagues to have at least 12 teams, play 2 divisions, and have a championship game. This eliminates the scenario like in the Big 10 a couple of years ago where the League Champion didn't play one of the best teams in the league. This also eliminates the complaint that the teams that don't have to play in the league championship have it easier than those that do.
In order to be eligible for a BCS bowl, require both BCS and non-BCS teams to play at least 1 non-conference game against a BCS opponent. This would help to quantify if teams like Hawaii are any good and would improve the RPI ratings by having more inter- conference match-ups in the calculations. If Hawaii had played and beaten a mid-upper level BCS team and that conference had one of the better conference RPIs, it would be much easier to justify them being worthy of a BCS at-large spot.
Eliminate the Notre Dame rule by requiring all teams to be affiliated with a conference.
Good points. I made a column a few years ago, where I suggested using computer rankings to put EVERY D1 team in 3 tiers. Top tier, middle tier, bottom tier.
Each team..according to how you finished the year before, would be forced to schedule a specific way...using schools from those "pools".
For example, Nebraska goes 13-0 (bwahahaha)...they are forced the next year to schedule ONE team from the top 1-25. TWO teams from 25-80 and ONE team from 81-119.
Duke for example, would HAVE to play TWO teams from the middle and TWO teams from the bottom.
Something like that..I can't remember.
ANyhow..it will never ever work. The bowls and yayhoos like Harvey Pearlman love the arguing and bickering. It will never change.
Thanks for the comments.
whoa there Randy. Before you start calling fan bases pretentious pricks for the fact of adding "the" to the name. Maybe you should take a good long look at your own fan base. Dubbing the sirrus song as their own, "The best fans in the land" title, and the phantom sell out streak. And your calling other Buckeyes out for saying "The Ohio State"? Come on, its not like in every conversation I bust out The Ohio State to describe the school. Unlike nubbie fans who have to throw out the sell out, or the best fan crap. Almost to prove that the nubbies mean something to someone. They feel like the name Nebraska cant hold its own weight. Well now that I say that, I guess it is true.
ABORTED RED!! my old unworthy antagonist... STill out there giving 'husker fan' a bad name I see...
Anyway, AJ is right. These days all you hear is how Bo Pellini is going to right the ship. I wanna ask you Red one question, so bear with me.. Frank was fired when the Huskers went to a 10 win season, something Bill could never do. The reason Frank was fired was because the 3 losses he DID have were by big margins as the defense could not produce. Still with me?? Bo Pellini was Defensive coordinator I think, right? Well my point is , seems Bo Pellini provided the main excuse for firing Frank. Now, 4 years later, who might be the envy of 'Husker Fan'?? None other than Bo Pellini.
Between 'husker fan' with no class an no knowledge of football such as your self, and, 'husker fan' with myopic granduer void of commonsense, again such as yourself... no wonder Nebraska and the huskers are the team that the nation loves to hate..
Who would want to be like you Red? You are a nobody and slander true huskers who spent their life with the program, yes , I'm talkin about Frank.. I don't see your mug sittin in the Husker hall of fame. You are just a loud mouthed, disrespectful, newage self proclaimed husker fan, who the rest of us can't distance ourselves from fast enough. You remind me of JP who was dumber than a bag of hammers...
Did you see this about Turner Gill and Nebraska?
http://cityweeklymediawatch.blogspot.com/2007/11/voorhees-nu-fans-dont-want-black-head.html
The guys that run the CW are numbnuts, but it's a good post.
I miss JP.
:(
AJ ya can't have it both ways, writin this 'I hate NE fan' crap, then cuddlin up to the stupidest fans we got just so you will have job security with this blog of yours!!
:)
Oh well, it takes all kinds in this world, my mom used to say..
I get what you're saying..but "job security"?
This is not a job. I WISH it was my job....oh man would that be great. But alas, it's something I do to pass the time to blow off steam.
Unless you think I can live on that .0053 cents from Google Ads...which probably isn't going to help me during my retirement years.
And yes..it cracks me up when you guys all turn on each other.
:)
And it came to pass in the land of Lincoln, in the kingdom of Husker Nation, that a man named Pederson arose to rule the realm of Athletics. For he was of the Kingdom, from the city of North Platte, and was a follower of the Huskers of Corn.
But he was not a wise man, forsaking the ways of the Husker Nation, sending the leader Solich into the wilderness, and turning away the warriors of old who wore the tunics of black into battle in ages past, even removing their portraits and pictures.
And in the place of Solich, he selected from the land of La-La a strange man, once known as leading a failed army known as Raiders to defeat after defeat in the grand Coliseum of the Land of Oaks, a city by the bay of San Francisco, a wicked city.
And did this man, known as Callahan, become the general of the Husker armies, forsaking all traditions held dear to the hearts of the citizens.
And a strange plan known as the West Coast Offense was forced upon the armies, and the proven tactics of old were called evil and sinful by Callahan. And complex and confusing were the plans in the Offense, and failure was the result.
And the Husker armies fell apart on the fields of battle, and adversaries from the Land of Troy, the hated Sooners, the powerful Orange Cowboys from the land of Still Water, yea even the despised Purple Cats from the wasteland of Kansas, did achieve victory after victory over the once-mighty Husker armies, and the wearers of the Tunics of Black.
And in the fourth year of the reign of Callahan, did the Husker armies struggle against warriors from a land where canning jars were made. And lo, the armies of Troy, the Tiger tribe from Columbia, yea, even the Orange Cowboys, did soundly defeat the Husker armies.
And it came to pass during the battle with the Orange Cowboys, in the presence of St. Thomas of Osborne and his brave soldiers of yore, that the members of Husker Nation did turn their backs upon the slaughter of the weakened armies of Callahan.
And a hue and cry arose throughout the land, in cyberspace, and on the program ESPN, for the removal of the failed general Callahan and his aides, and his master Pederson the Jerk.
And the Chancellor heard their cries, and dispatched Pederson into exile.
And St. Thomas was summoned by the Chancellor, and was given the power to rule in the department of Athletics.
And o, did Callahan wail and gnash his teeth, telling one and all of the fine works he had done. And his lies fell on deaf ears.
And there was great joy in Husker Nation as St. Thomas restored the traditions of old, welcoming with open arms the warriors of old known to the Nation.
But there was a reminder from St. Thomas that no remedies would be quick in coming, and that time shall pass before the great Husker armies are strong and feared once again throughout the land of the Alliance of 12.
Even so, once again hope is strong among the faithful of the Husker Nation, and some day in the future the Tunics of Black shall once again be worn by the fierce defenders of the field.
Randy and I are more than happy to olbige you and turn on each other to your amusement!! :)
As for the blog and job security, you have a good product here. All of us need a way to blow off steam and sometimes we get to do it in a constructive way. (which is what I hope you eventually can find):) You get to bash us, we get to take it, and then turn on each other. These are disturbing times we live in young man.......
By the way not to insult you, but I am a huge big 12 fan, so, for the rest of the season I am rooting for MU. I even get to wear my MIZZOURI tea shirt at the gym for work outs now...
nebforosu,
What's the matter? Can't handle one person saying something less than positive about your team? Maybe you're more like the fans you mock than you would care to admit, eh?
Fred,
Where the hell have you been? BTW, I'm not on the Bo Pelini bandwagon for the very reasons you listed. It's funny how you automatically assume that I would be. I'm much more in favor of bringing in someone proven, than someone with some sentimental value; a guy that won one game for us and who, although in his one year here put together a nice defense, got torched in his 3 losses, one of them an ass whipping at home to KState. Since it's looking like either Gill or Pelini (unless there is a real nice smoke screen going on), I'm leaning toward 'or'...
Randy
AJ --
I love your ramblings and pointed jabs at the Huskers but I have to say that your compadres made a media-fed mistake this week talking about how the Tigers should have won the first game with OU. I very much appreciate the lack of respect, the omission of facts, and the revision of history. Don't know how motivated we were to play you at the beginning of the week, but I know we're real motivated now.
Trailrunner
Gj on ducking the topic randy.
Post a Comment
<< Home