College Football

[BlakChamber 8]

I really wanted to go to Alabama this year. The first year GV made it to the championship was my last year at GV. I still haven't been, I've heard that GVSU supporters just take over the town.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

I think it's a wise move for GVSU to have no intrest to move up in divisions. I know many people who live by me, and that go to GVSU want them to eventually play D1. Why do it when you can win multiple national championships every year from several sports?

[betterREDthandead 58]

I think it's a wise move for GVSU to have no intrest to move up in divisions. I know many people who live by me, and that go to GVSU want them to eventually play D1. Why do it when you can win multiple national championships every year from several sports?

$$$$

Eventually I think GVSU will outgrow DII and move up to I-AA. Already they're far, far bigger than most schools in the GLIAC (the only exception being Wayne State, which is basically a commuter school). Boosters and alums will start dangling money to move up.

On another note, here's an article worth reading:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...mp;lid=tab2pos1

In defense of the BCS, basically. Makes the very good point that we sure wouldn't be seeing any kind of a definite national champion under the system of 15 years ago. Who would we declare national champion if USC beat OSU in the Rose Bowl, and Florida lost in the Sugar?

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

That article has some solid points.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

After coming so close to the national title, I don't really care if we got the Rose Bowl or the Motor City Bowl. Any bowl short of the big one is a huge disappointment this year.

But that's the point - we came very close to playing for a national title - if Michigan had beat Ohio State. A TD instead of a FG, one less botched tackle, etc. I believed as did many people, that whomever won on Nov 18th would win the title. It might sound weird, but I didn't really feel right about Michigan winning an outright title unless they had won in Columbus. Even a rematch would lead to more controversey about who was the NC if UM played and beat OSU.

Remember where we were last year at this time? I'm pretty proud of my team for the turn-around.

I think it shows how spoiled some of us Wolverine fans are, saying we are disappointed in the Rose Bowl - although I have to say, it would be nice to play somewhere else for once - ie the Sugar, Orange, etc. (see spoiled ha-ha). Ask Spartan fans how they'd feel about a trip to Pasadena?

I'm disappointed surely in the whole way the BCS is such a mess each year, and I'm sad my team got stuck in the middle of it, but I'm not disappointed in the match-up. I think if Michigan can win convincingly vs USC, they'll probably wind up #2 anyways. I'm looking forward to the game, a little revenge for 3 years ago. A big win on Jan 1rst, could propel the Wolverines into a great 2007 season.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

You're right we should be thankful for this year, and thankful to Carr for making some very hard choices. (getting rid of two assistants that had been with him for a long time) I'll take 11-1 any day over 7-5. Next year if some guys step up to fill the many holes of our D the sky is the limit for this team.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Anyone hear Danielson on the Detroit radio? Here it is. Might have to scroll just a bit since it's a blog. This guy is an idiot.

http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Anyone hear Danielson on the Detroit radio? Here it is. Might have to scroll just a bit since it's a blog. This guy is an idiot.

http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/

Is this guy retarded? Gary should be banned from doing any future Big Ten games.

Edited December 6, 2006 by Hockeytown Red Wings

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

No kidding the guy just sounds pissed that he's not with ABC/ESPN anymore. What a loser. I was getting so mad listening to him trash the Big 10/U-M. What a loser.

[eva unit zero 271]

I think if Michigan can win convincingly vs USC, they'll probably wind up #2 anyways.

If Michigan wins against USC, they will be #2. Possibly even unanimously. OSU will destroy Florida, and the only one-loss teams that will be left after the bowls will be Boise State, Wisconsin, and Louisville. None of those teams will receive votes ahead of Michigan.

The top ten after the bowls should look like this:

1) OSU (d. Florida)

2) UM (d. USC)

3) Florida (l. OSU)

4) Louisville (d. Wake Forest)

5) Wisconsin (d. Arkansas)

6) USC (l. UM)

7) Notre Dame (d. LSU)

8) Oklahoma (d. Boise State)

9) LSU (l. Notre Dame)

10) Auburn (d. Nebraska)

The best part about UM going to the Rose Bowl is the fact that, after picking USC apart the way they will, UM will be the overwhelming #1 in the preseason polls.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

LaMarr Woodley won Lombardi award. First U-M player ever to win it. He beat out OSU's Pitcock, PSU's Poslunszny, and Texas' Blalock. Good Job Lamarr!! He also won the Hendricks award, best D-end.

[BlakChamber 8]

There was a good article in this week's SI about a playoff system

• Eight teams advance to the playoff, with automatic berths going to the champions of the six BCS conferences and two at-large berths reserved for the teams with the highest BCS ranking among the rest of the field. No more than two teams from a conference can be included in the field. The four highest seeds would play host to first-round games in mid-December.

• The losers of the four first-round games would be slotted into BCS bowls, and the four winners would play the national semifinals in two other BCS bowls -- for instance the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl this year, the Fiesta and the Orange next year, and so on.

• The two winners would then play each other the following week in the national championship game.

This new system would address most of the BCS supporters' concerns, disingenuous as some of them may be:

A playoff would extend the season and cut further into the time players can spend in class. Academics didn't seem to be a concern when the NCAA voted last year to increase the maximum number of regular-season games from 11 to 12, a move that affected far more players' class time than a playoff system would. The season wouldn't end a day later than it does now, and the only additional games would be the four first-round matchups in mid-December, a period when most schools are on holiday break and bowl teams are cooling their heels at practice and growing stale. By the time Ohio State plays on Jan. 8, the Buckeyes will have gone 50 days between games. They may be the best team in the nation, but they might not look like it after the equivalent of a seven-week bye.

A playoff format would diminish the tradition and importance of the bowls and perhaps drive some of the minor ones out of existence. Incorporating the BCS bowl games into the playoff system would enhance their importance, not diminish it. As for the lesser ones, it's hard to believe that a playoff would steal some of the attention normally showered on games like the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl. The bowl system, up to 32 games this year, has already been diluted by the creation of so many new ones over the last decade that mediocre seasons are rewarded with invitations. When Miami goes 6-6, engages in one of the ugliest brawls in recent memory and gets invited to the MPC Computers Bowl, perhaps it's time for some of the minor bowls to be abolished.

Regular-season games would be less meaningful. "I hate to use the word playoff, but in a sense, the BCS makes every weekend a playoff," says Slive. That's not quite true. If anything, this year has proved that the regular season isn't as unforgiving as BCS supporters make it seem. USC's surprising loss to Oregon State on Oct. 28 was thought to be a crippling blow to the Trojans' title chances, but after Michigan lost to Ohio State three weeks later, USC was back in contention. Arkansas absorbed a 50-14 whipping by USC in its opening game, yet the Razorbacks were in the running for a title-game berth until their loss to LSU on Nov. 24.

In some ways a playoff system would make the regular season even more meaningful. Consider last Saturday's dramatic action: Wake Forest edged Georgia Tech 9-6 for the ACC title; Florida beat Arkansas for the SEC championship in a game full of lead changes and shifts of momentum; and West Virginia beat Rutgers in a triple-overtime classic. Those games would have been even more thrilling had the stakes been even higher -- if a playoff spot (and not just a BCS berth) had been on the line. Under SI's playoff system, winning the conference title would be the only sure way to reach the playoffs, ensuring that league games would still be crucial. Playing a strong nonconference schedule would also be encouraged, both as a way of preparing for the all-important conference season and to help a team's BCS standing in the event it is fighting for an at-large berth.

Fans may not be willing or able to travel to multiple games to support their team. This argument against the playoff system may have some merit. The bowl games count on the participating teams to bring a sizable contingent of fans. That's reasonable when the fans have only one bowl to attend, but it becomes problematic if they are expected to crisscross the country for two or three weekends with their team. "The fans have to make decisions on whether they think their team is going to make it past the first round," says Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith. "And then are they going to go to the second round? Or both? And then the championship game? A lot of people aren't thinking about the practicality of what a playoff system would be at the I-A level." But the first-round games would be at home stadiums, and the added significance of those games and the semifinals being playoffs would attract more local fans not associated with the schools. What's more, considering the fan bases of the schools that would normally appear in these games, any seats left untaken would likely be grabbed by those who usually get shut out of their school's single bowl appearance.

There's also the likelihood that increased television revenue would help offset any shortfall from a potential drop-off in out-of-town attendance. Fox paid $320 million for the rights to BCS bowls except the Rose for the next four years, and a true playoff system would seem to be even more marketable to a television network. This season's elongated BCS bowl schedule -- the Rose and the Fiesta on Jan. 1, the Orange on Jan. 2, the Sugar on Jan. 3 and the BCS Championship Game on Jan. 8 -- may be a trial run to test the ratings in a playofflike format. Television money may be the only force capable of putting a playoff system in motion.

For now, the playoff movement seems to be spinning its wheels. Two weeks ago Florida State president T.K. Wetherell told reporters that he was working with Florida president Bernie Machen on an eight-team playoff proposal to present to the NCAA, but both men have since said that no such proposal is in the works. "President Wetherell and I have discussed the general concept of an alternative to the BCS system," Machen says, "but there have been no serious discussions nor are there any plans in place to overhaul the BCS."

Griping about the BCS has become as much a part of college football's culture as marching bands and tailgating, and supporters of the system seem immune to the constant calls for a playoff from fans and media, or even coaches and athletic directors. "The BCS this year has helped make a great regular season of college football," Slive says. "Attendance is up, ratings are up, interest is up."

Frustration is also up among those who want to see a champion emerge from surviving a gantlet of the top contenders, as in every other sport. "Looking at USC on paper, there's no way anyone would expect us to beat them," Cowan, UCLA's quarterback, said after the Bruins' upset. "But we just wanted to get on the field with them and see what happened. That's why they play the games." In the end, that's what the cluster of teams at the top of the BCS standings deserves. Give them a real postseason. Just let them play the games.

[betterREDthandead 58]

That one Blak posted is the only idea that even resembles something I might appreciate. Potential problems: Mid-majors will hate it, as it leaves them right back to square one. And it won't eliminate the problem of teams feeling screwed, because everyone above the worst conference champion will complain.

[BlakChamber 8]

No system is 100% perfect, but I think something like what SI proposes is a lot better than the current system. The mid-majories won't like it, but how much complaining can the mid-majors really do? I mean, yeah Boise State is undeafted, and TCU had that run a couple years ago. But can you really compare a 12-0 Boise State to a 12-0 Ohio State?

One thing I've always thought might work is keep all the bowl games in addition to the playoffs, and if your team doesn't make the playoffs, you can still go to a bowl. That way it keeps the minor bowls and universities happy, since they're still getting bowl revenue.

[betterREDthandead 58]

One thing I've always thought might work is keep all the bowl games in addition to the playoffs, and if your team doesn't make the playoffs, you can still go to a bowl. That way it keeps the minor bowls and universities happy, since they're still getting bowl revenue.

That'd ruin the tradition of the better bowls.

[BlakChamber 8]

How much tradition is really left in the bowls anyway?

The big bowls have been co-opted by the BCS. Everyone else has changed their name to suit a corporate sponser. Good luck finding the Citrus or Peach bowl anymore. The Sun, Cotton, and Gator got off easy. They just had to add the sponsor in front of their names. Besides, the majority of the bowls are less than 30 years old, with over half of them being less than 20 years old. So really, how much tradition is there to ruin in the first place?

[betterREDthandead 58]

How much tradition is really left in the bowls anyway?

The big bowls have been co-opted by the BCS. Everyone else has changed their name to suit a corporate sponser. Good luck finding the Citrus or Peach bowl anymore. The Sun, Cotton, and Gator got off easy. They just had to add the sponsor in front of their names. Besides, the majority of the bowls are less than 30 years old, with over half of them being less than 20 years old. So really, how much tradition is there to ruin in the first place?

About 100 years of Rose Bowl tradition of having outstanding matchups coming from the cream of the Big 10 and Pac-10. Playing the playoff system outside the bowls entirely would relegate the Rose Bowl to also-ran status. Not to mention that the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl are each about 70 years old and also have a tradition of outstanding matchups. You would suck a lot of money out of the bowl system, because the domino effect of losing the top teams would trickle down to the rest.

Not that I'm happy about losing the Citrus Bowl, Peach Bowl, Copper Bowl, etc. to corporate sponsors.

[timothy1997 0]

About 100 years of Rose Bowl tradition of having outstanding matchups coming from the cream of the Big 10 and Pac-10. Playing the playoff system outside the bowls entirely would relegate the Rose Bowl to also-ran status. Not to mention that the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl are each about 70 years old and also have a tradition of outstanding matchups. You would suck a lot of money out of the bowl system, because the domino effect of losing the top teams would trickle down to the rest.

Not that I'm happy about losing the Citrus Bowl, Peach Bowl, Copper Bowl, etc. to corporate sponsors.

Don't you mean the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi

[betterREDthandead 58]

Don't you mean the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi

If I wanted to add the corporate sponsor, I would have done it like this: Rose Bowl Game presented by C***

[BlakChamber 8]

Perhaps I should clarify what I meant by having a playoff and the bowl system.

I would incorporate the BCS bowls into the playoff system, like the SI article suggests. I would keep the rest of the bowls around and teams could still play in them. I look at it as win-win.

There's a playoff system. The big bowls are incorporated, and still get the best matchups. The rest of the bowls can stick around so everyone gets paid.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Hijack: Anyone have plans to attend any of the bowl games? I'll be going to the bowl game in Orlando formerly known as the Tangerine Bowl this year (the Purdue-Maryland game). My brother goes to Purdue and he's repaying me for the ticket I bought him to the Virginia-Pittsburgh bowl game in Charlotte a few years ago. As of now I fully intend to bring a FIRE MILLEN sign. Unless, by a Christmas miracle brought down from on high, he has already been fired by then.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Hijack: Anyone have plans to attend any of the bowl games? I'll be going to the bowl game in Orlando formerly known as the Tangerine Bowl this year (the Purdue-Maryland game). My brother goes to Purdue and he's repaying me for the ticket I bought him to the Virginia-Pittsburgh bowl game in Charlotte a few years ago. As of now I fully intend to bring a FIRE MILLEN sign. Unless, by a Christmas miracle brought down from on high, he has already been fired by then.

I may go to the Rose Bowl its not a for sure thing though. If U-M would have went to Arizona I would have went for sure because we had all the travel set up. Now were just trying to hurry up and set up Pasedena stuff. I'll keep up to date on whats going on though....

[BlakChamber 8]

Hijack: Anyone have plans to attend any of the bowl games? I'll be going to the bowl game in Orlando formerly known as the Tangerine Bowl this year (the Purdue-Maryland game). My brother goes to Purdue and he's repaying me for the ticket I bought him to the Virginia-Pittsburgh bowl game in Charlotte a few years ago. As of now I fully intend to bring a FIRE MILLEN sign. Unless, by a Christmas miracle brought down from on high, he has already been fired by then.

The girlfriend and I will be attending the Texas Bowl, formerly known as the galleryfurniture.com Bowl and the EV1.net bowl. December 28th in Houston. Rugters takes on Kansas State. The girlfriend is a Rutgers alum so she's pretty excited about it. She's got the day off work, so we're going to go down and partake in all the pre-game festivities. We had an offer to go to the Cotton Bowl too, but we couldn't afford tickets. Neither of us have ever been to a bowl game, so we're looking forward to it. I think Rutgers has a pretty good shot to win.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Hijack: Anyone have plans to attend any of the bowl games? I'll be going to the bowl game in Orlando formerly known as the Tangerine Bowl this year (the Purdue-Maryland game). My brother goes to Purdue and he's repaying me for the ticket I bought him to the Virginia-Pittsburgh bowl game in Charlotte a few years ago. As of now I fully intend to bring a FIRE MILLEN sign. Unless, by a Christmas miracle brought down from on high, he has already been fired by then.

I will be attending the bowl game my alma mater is playing in. The very first one, the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. TCU plays Northern Illinois, this game is going to top the TV charts!

Seriously, it should actually be a decent matchup, my school is back in the top 25, has always had an extremely solid defense against the run, and we're playing against Garret Wolfe of NIU who leads the nation in rushing.

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

My Heisman prediction: Chris Leak hands down. Anytime now Urban Meyer will start crying and complaining about his QB. He will sway all the voters, and Leak will rob Smith of his Heisman. I mean c'mon Leak played in THE SEC, and Smith played in the crappy Big 10....

Sarcasm