Keep the BCS or Install a Playoff System?
During every college football season, as the action heats up, questions are asked about whether the NCAA should abandon the BCS system for a playoff system.
The biggest problem is that everyone has different ideas, which makes it a challenge to come up with a playoff format that everyone will agree with. The size of the playoff and how to handle who would make it are two large hurdles for those lobbying against the current Bowl Championship Series.
In the current system, there are 34 bowl games, five of them BCS games. Getting into one of the five BCS games might seem great, but it can actually be very frustrating for some schools.
Respectability is one of the major issues, as has been proven in two of the last three seasons with Boise State and Utah. Both times each team upset a team that was from a BCS conference, which includes the Big 10, Pac 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC, and the Big East.
Is it really fair for a team to beat every team on its schedule, beat a top 10 team nationally from a power conference, and not have to chance to live the real dream, playing in the FedEx National Championship Game?
People seem to always bring up the excuse about the schedule. They feel it is unfair to reward a team that doesn't play in one of the popular conferences. Sure, there are the teams on national television more often, but that is hardly a good argument. Just this season, Utah defeated Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which helped them become the only team this season with a perfect record.
So why was Utah ranked below USC in people's minds? Because of a so-called "soft" schedule. Yet the team from Salt Lake played four teams in the top 25 and ended their season with a strength of schedule ranked 57th in the country. The USC Trojans, a perennial favorite, had a strength of schedule of 67th.
What really makes this interesting is that even though each team won its respective conferences, the Trojans, which play in the Pac 10, only lost to Oregon State - which Utah defeated. So who deserved the better bowl spot?
Another big controversy this season with the BCS is that Texas defeated Oklahoma, and they each had the same number of losses, yet Oklahoma was able to receive an invite to the FedEx National Title Game.
It feels kind of cheap for a team to play as good of a schedule as it possibly could have, and actually be ranked higher than a team who, if they would have gone undefeated, would have most likely played in the championship game.
A playoff would settle these questions and give everyone a fair chance at becoming the last team standing, because it doesn’t seem fair for a team to win head-to-head and then see the team it beat play in the National Championship. How would a coach explain to his players and fans that even though their team defeated another team, that other team got to go to the Fiesta Bowl because...a perceived better schedule? TV ratings? An arbitrary computer ranking?
Sponsorship and money, in general, are another thing that makes the power conferences disagree about the BCS. All 34 games are nationally televised, with 23 of the bowl games on ESPN networks in 2008-09, and on Nov. 11 ESPN announced that in 2011, the BCS will come to cable television for the first time, agreeing to a deal which will give ESPN four games for $125 million per season.
My idea? Have an eight-game playoff. The problem with this is that some traditions will end, such as the Big Ten and Pac 10 playing in the Rose Bowl since 1946, but the time has come to give everyone a chance. Let the players decide who will be able to call themselves champions instead of a computer.
The NFL playoffs and NCAA basketball tournament show that the money will still be there for college football, as March Madness and Super Bowl Sunday are highly-rated events.
Until a playoff system is put in place, a fair one that all parties agree to, the controversies will continue about who was the better team and why someone with a worse record can play for the championship. A playoff would end these questions once and for all, and college football could finally say that, each year, it indisputably crowns the champion.
Copyright (c) 2009 Bleacher Report, Inc
The Best Bet I Ever Made
As most of my articles here at BR and at my site, The College Football Place, are about picking games - and most people relate that to betting - I often get the question, "What is the biggest bet you have ever won?"
While the answer to that is unsure if defined in pure dollar amounts, as I've been fortunate to cash some pretty large winners in my day, I know the best bet I ever won was on January 1, 1984.
In the fall of 1983, there was an improbable rise of a team, the Miami Hurricanes, who had lost their first game of the season to their arch rivals, the Florida Gators, and went on a roll that put them in the No. 4 ranking position. While the Hurricanes hadn't done anything of substance in their long history, this run had given them a date in the 50th Orange Bowl game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Many consider that Nebraska team to be the greatest of all time; they had the Heisman winner (Mike Rozier), the Outland Winner (Dean Steinkuhler), the following year's NFL No. 1 overall drafted player (Irving Fryar), and were blowing teams out by an average of over 50 points a game. The Las Vegas odds makers had installed the Huskers as 18-point favorites over the upstart Canes.
Now, growing up in Miami, my friend Mike's father, Scott, dragged us to Canes games all the time, it was a Saturday ritual. Though the team wasn't too good and usually only 20,000 or so showed up in the 90-degree temps to watch, we were there every week from opening kick to final gun, never leaving early no matter what the score was.
Usually, we had other friends from the neighborhood with us, like Mark, who would get dragged along as well to help fill the empty seats.
On the way to the game we knew this night was different. There was a magic in the air. Howard Schnellenberger had a chance to make good on his five-year plan to bring a title to Miami (which was actually a laughable thought in the 70s when he took over, as three wins was a good year). The Canes had a freshman QB named Bernie Kosar, who was smarter than the average bear, and a team behind him who believed they could win.
Another way this night was different was parking around the Orange Bowl. Normally, it was $20, but on this night it was $3-5, which leads to another story for a different time.
But as we were driving around looking for a spot, Mike, Mark, and myself made a bet that lives with me to today: When Miami wins, whoever pats Howard Schnellenberger on the back after the game gets a case of beer.
While this seemed pretty far-fetched, given Miami's status as such a huge underdog and the likelihood we would not even get close to the Canes coach, we all were in.
The game is documented in history books, and every time there is a poll of the greatest game ever, this one hits it's rightful spot at No. 1. And while NY Jet fans may disagree, this game was the original "Miracle in Miami."
I really don't want to go too much into the detail of the game, but it came down to a missed two-point conversion with less than a minute to go, and the Bowl went wild.
While most fans were jumping up and down, the three of us were darting our way to the field. Many others followed and it was a true celebration. While many were high-fiving players, I remember being on a search for Howard Schnellenberger. When I finally found him, he was surrounded by state troopers...no such luck.
When I finally met up with Mike and Mark, Mike claimed to be the winner, that he had done it. While neither of us believed him, he swore up and down it happened. The next morning when I opened the Miami Herald, on the front page was Howard Schnellenberger shaking hands with Tom Osbourne.
Behind Howard is a fan jumping up and down, holding a giant orange foam "we're #1" hand and patting Howard Schnellenberger on the back.
I now own the game on video, and it's on ESPN Classic all the time, Mike jumping up and down behind Schnellenberger included. It gets mentioned every year, and every time I see Nebraska starting QB Turner Gill on TV, all I can think about was that night I lost the best bet I ever made.
It is a part of me and what makes college football such a huge part of my life today.
Copyright (c) 2009 Bleacher Report, Inc
2009 NFL Mock Draft: First Round Additions and Order Update
All the deadlines have passed. All the speculation is done. Now here where the real fun begins. This is the first round mock draft right after the NCAA football season is done.
Let's get it started!
1) Andre Smith, OT from Alabama. Detroit Lions
Analysis: Smith's last couple weeks with the Crimson Tide werent' his best. He has weight issues but he is the most decorated OL in this year's draft. He is strong, physical, and nasty.
With Smith at the LT, Detroit will have a solid young tackle core with Gosder Cherilus the first-round pick from last year. Who do the Lions select with the 21st pick later in this round? Stay tuned!
2) Michael Oher, OT from Arkansas. St Louis Rams
Analysis: I have heard from any people on this site that they past two seasons in St Louis because of a lack of a true OT protecting Bulger and helping RB Steven Jackson. Rams management cannot put another season on the health of Orlando Pace.
Oher will give Bulger another shot at redemption. Also, Bulger signed a six-year extension before 2007 (stupid move). So I don't have Stafford being selected here.
3) Matt Stafford, QB from Georgia. KC Chiefs
Analysis: New GM Scott Pioli will almost want to draft a QB of HIS choice and I believe that he will either hire Rex Ryan or Clancy Pendergast. If KC selects Rex Ryan as their coach, he has first hand knowledge on how to build up a rookie quarterback a la Joe Flacco.
4) Michael Crabtree, WR from Texas Tech. Seattle Seahawks
Analysis: I can't believe the garbage at the WR corps Seattle had this year. Engram is 36 and done, Burelson is coming off a torn ACL, and they lost D.J. Hackett last season to Tampa. Crabtree has the best hands, body control, and quickness for this year's WR's. A slam dunk here at No. 4.
5) Chris Wells, RB from Ohio State. Cleveland Browns
Analysis: New coach Eric Mangini is going to select a franchise back with this pick. Wells is injury prone yes but when he's healthy he can be a load. In the 2009 Fiesta Bowl he had close to 100 yards rushing vs a speed defense like the Longhorns.
Wells, is a hometown hero and will help Quinn develop in 2009 and help TE Winslow and WR Edwards get more one-on-one matchups.
6) Jason Smith, OT from Baylor. Cincinatti Bengals
Analysis: Smith has the best feet in this draft, Palmer who is coming off an injured 2008 season needs to be protected much as possible. When LG Eric Steinbach left for Cleveland the Bengals couldn't run or pass the ball effectively, this should change with Smith.
7) Eugene Monroe, OT from Virginia. Oakland Raiders
Analysis: Oakland has the QB, the RB and they should now get the OT. If they ever want Russell to lead them back to the promise land, draft Monroe who is an All-American second teamer and should start from day one.
8) Malcolm Jenkins, CB from Ohio State. Jacksonville Jaguars
Analysis: Jags need OL help, but with the top four OL already selected, they will address another big issue at CB. Drayton Florence last year's free agent signing is a bust and they need a true No. 2 CB with Indy and Houston in the same division. Jenkins isn't fast but he is physical and a smart player, the kind which coach Jack Del Rio loves.
9) Everette Brown OLB/DE from Florida State. Green Bay Packers
Analysis: 3-4, or 4-3...either way, the Pack need to update their pass rush. With Brown, they get a hybrid LB/DE. Brown had an amazing 2008 season at FSU and should be a no brainer here for GM Ted Thompson.
10) Vontae Davis, CB from Illinois. San Francisco 49ers
Analysis: 49ers hoped FS Taylor Mays was at this position, but they will still draft a DB. With Davis who has the best hips and speed his position, he will upgrade the mediocre secondary for the 9ers.
11) Brian Orakpo, DE from Texas. Buffalo Bills.
Analysis: Bills were a great story starting out 4-0 and then finishing 7-9. Somehow Dick Jauron is back for the 2009 season. They need to upgrade their pass rush and with Orakpo and Schobel next year that will be two pass rushers that will make it a hard time for Tom Brady or Brett Favre be comfortable next year.
12) Rey Maualuga, ILB from USC. Denver Broncos.
Analysis: New coach Josh McDaniels will go 3-4 and with Maualuga that will be a great value pick here. Maualuga will make D.J. Williams much better and the rushing defense much more respectable.
13) Aaron Curry, OLB from Wake Forest. Washington Redskins.
Analysis: Sources say that 'Skins will release OLB Marcus Washington and save $4 Million. Curry will immediately start at Washington's position and upgrade their defense which stumbled in the 2nd half of the season.
14) James Laurinaitis, ILB from Ohio State. New Orleans Saints.
Analysis: Saints need lots of help on defense and Laurinaitis will give them the prototypical 4-3 MLB. He is smart, fast and will bring an attitude on defense.
15) William Moore, FS from Missouri. Houston Texans
Analysis: Moore had a terrible 2008 season but he is still projected first-round pick. Houston needs a play maker in the secondary. Moore would be great value and need here.
16) Jeremy Maclin, WR from Missouri. New York Jets
Analysis: Coles is out on his way in NY, and Favre will be back I believe. They need a threat on the offense. Someone who is a home run hitter, and has to be accounted for opposing defenses.
17) Michael Johnson, DE from Georgia Tech. Chicago Bears
Analysis: Bears need to upgrade their pass rush. Alex Brown is a motor guy, and Oguneyle is a FA after 2009. Johnson will help their pass rush and with Tillman and Vasher 100 percent next year it'll make a world of difference.
18) Knowshon Moreno, RB from Georgia. San Diego Chargers
Analysis: LT is 30, Sproles will be gone to another FA so the Bolts need a true RB for Rivers and Gates. Moreno is the most complete back at his position. No worries San Diego fans the heir to LT is Moreno.
19) LeSean McCoy, RB from Pittsburgh. Tampa Bay Bucs
Analysis: RB's are disappearing in Tampa the past couple years. Graham, Cadillac, and others. McCoy will be a great feature back for Tampa for years to come.
20) Mark Sanchez, QB from USC. Detroit Lions
Analysis: Lions get Smith and now the signal caller. Sanchez is unproven but had a great game vs Penn State. Giving the QB situation in Mo' Town, chances are this is the QB from the next 10 years in Detroit. Still feeling like your ready for the show Mark?
21) Eben Britton, OT from Arizona. Minnesota Vikings
Analysis: The left side of the Vikes OL is set but the right side needs help. Ryan Cook is garbage and Britton is athletic enough to play RT.
22) D.J. Moore, CB from Vanderbilt. New England Patriots
Analysis: Are there corners in New England or was it a 11-9 season in 2008? Moore would instantly help their secondary situation. Along with the defensive player of the year in Jarod Mayo this year, Moore will give the Pats a little youth movement on the defense.
23) Duke Robinson, G from Oklahoma. Atlanta Falcons
Analysis: Story of Matt Ryan was incredible, but he needs help on the OL. With Robinson at RG it would protect Ryan for 10-15 years and helps RB Michael Turner get more holes to run through.
24) Clint Sintim, OLB from Virginia. Miami Dolphins
Analysis: Wow talk about pure luck! Imagine defenses having to account for Porter and Sintim. This would help their secondary issues immensely.
25) Alex Mack, C from Cal. Indy Colts
Analysis: Jeff Saturday is done, Peyton needs a new C, and with Mack the best C available for quite some time, it's very easy. Mack is athletic and huge at 6'5" 316lbs. An easy slam dunk for the new coach Jim Caldwell.
26) Donald Brown , RB from UConn. Philly (from Carolina)
Analysis: Westbrook is 30 and getting slower and injury prone. Phily needs a home-run threat and Brown had a sick 2008 season in the Big East. Imagine having to defend Westbrook and Brown. Good Luck NFC East Defenses.
27) Percy Harvin, WR from Florida. New York Giants
Analysis: Burress will be gone from NY this offseason. Eli needs a real WR and a threat for six every time he touches the ball. Harvin is a hybrid RB/WR, and you can tell Eli's confidence in having a true No. 1 WR.
28) B.J. Raji, DT from Boston College. Tennessee Titans
Analysis: Haynesworth will be gone, Jeff Fisher needs a mammoth DT in the middle and Raji is the best DT available.
29) Phil Loadholt, OT from Oklahoma. Philly Eagles.
Analysis: McNabb will be back and so will Reid. Eagles need a OT after letting go either William Thomas or Jon Runyan.
30) Brian Cushing, OLB from USC. Baltimore Ravens.
Analysis: Baltimore might lose Bart Scott or Terrell Suggs maybe both. Cushing would fill either hole and will make sure the LB tradition in Baltimore continues.
31) Chase Coffman, TE from Missouri. Arizona Cardinals
Analysis: All the premier RB's will be gone by then and Leonard Pope isn't a difference maker, so the Cards need a threat from the TE spot. Coffman is the best TE this year, with Pettigrew and Grehsam both staying in school.
32) Alex Boone, OT from Ohio State. Pittsburgh Steelers
Analysis: Pitt's line is horrendous this year, and they need to address this in a hurry. Boone's stock has risen since dominating DE Brian Orakpo in the Fiesta Bowl.
Copyright (c) 2008 Bleacher Report, Inc
It's time for Alabama to address its needs
NEW ORLEANS -- When the University of Alabama played poorly during Nick Saban's first season at the University of Alabama, he tried to motivate his players with posters of the Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State losses to serve as daily reminders.
One has to wonder if the printer is already hard at work following Friday's 31-17 loss to Utah in the Sugar Bowl.
"It's big motivation because we want to get back here," junior linebacker Cory Reamer said. "We don't want this to be our only chance at a BCS or national championship."
Over the weekend, the offseason officially began for the Crimson Tide, which closed the book on a successful 12-win season, and exceeded everyone's expectations by not only reaching the SEC Championship Game, but spent five weeks at No. 1.
Although the finish was disappointing, losing twice after being just minutes away from playing for the national championship, a lot was still accomplished.
"I think we changed the attitude, the mentality of the team, that we can go out there and play with anybody," senior quarterback John Parker Wilson said. "You know, it was a lot different my freshman and sophomore year than it is now."
However, it begs the age-old question in football of which is harder, getting to the top or staying there? Alabama is about to find out.
"We need to continue to improve as a program for the future," Saban said. "We need more good players, more depth in the program. We need quality big people. We need quality skill guys. We need a lot of things for us to continue to improve to be the kind of program that is recognized as kind of a dominant program on a national level."
Considering the Tide had only nine scholarship seniors and saw 16 true freshmen play this past season, the program appears to be in a good position numbers-wise. Nine defensive starters are expected to return along with most of the offensive playmakers.
But finding replacements for two All-Americans and a starting quarterback, both physically and in terms of leadership, will be critical.
That begins at quarterback, where sophomore Greg McElroy knows the offense better than anyone, and true freshman Star Jackson will be vying for playing time.
"I think this will be a great spring for us from a standpoint of competition," offensive coordinator Jim McElwain said. "Each one of them, we've got to find out what they do best and then how it's going to fit with the rest of our offense.
"We're going to do what it takes to win, and so if that means we adapt our offense differently to take advantage of our personnel, we’ll do it. I've got nothing against the spread nor am I solely an old school type of guy, but we're going to look at what we have and m ake the decision based on the players. We're not just replacing a quarterback, we're replacing some great offensive linemen. So this spring we'll have a lot of things to see."
With Outland Trophy winner Andre Smith leaving early for the NFL Draft, the Tide will need to find three starters on the offensive line and the competition figures to be wide open. Not only will true freshmen Barrett Jones (when healthy), John Michael Boswell and Tyler Love get long looks, but so could early signee James Carpenter, a junior college product.
For any starting job not nailed down by A-Day, expect other members of the Class of 2009 to get a chance to immediately step in when they arrive over the summer and during fall camp. Overall, though, the goal will be to have established starters and backups at all five spots to avoid situations like the Sugar Bowl from happening again.
As for the skill positions, Alabama appears to have some depth at tight end, wide receiver and running back, and is in position to add more. It's probably just a matter of who steps up.
Defensively, junior Lorenzo Washington appears to be a natural replacement for Bobby Greenwood at end, but Alabama never found the consistent pass-rusher it desperately needed this past season. Greenwood, who usually lined up over the center in obvious passing situations, led the Tide with five sacks.
"We didn't get any pressure early in the game," Saban said after the Sugar Bowl, signaling a top recruiting priority.
One option coaches may examine is to move one of the highly-prized linebackers, which was considered a year ago with Rolando McClain. Otherwise, a full offseason can only help All-American nose guard Terrence Cody, and the Tide is in great position to develop depth at each spot of the front seven.
Otherwise, the key defensive concern is the departure of the unit's leader, safety Rashad Johnson.
"Rashad, in particular, probably has more pressure than anyone on the defense, every single play, to make a decision, to make a call, get people right, get people in the right places," defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said. "We're not going to be able to replace that. We're just going to have to do the best we can with what we have and keep trying to get better."
While the other starters in the secondary will all have another year's experience, junior Ali Sharrief had the most playing time among the reserves and at numerous positions. Considering his size and ability to hit, look for coaches to find more playing time for true freshman Mark Barron.
Cornerback is another spot to closely watch even though Javier Arenas, Kareem Jackson and Marquis Johnson should all be back. True freshman Robby Green was in place to immediately step in had the Tide sustained an injury, and Smart singled out Robert Lester as someone who has greatly improved. Freshman Chris Jackson has already made the switch from wide receiver, and B.J. Scott could be next.
"There will be some good competition for those jobs during the spring," Smart said.
The same goes for just about every other position, with coaches keeping an eye out of the leaders of tomorrow. Considering Alabama will almost certainly have more than 20 scholarship seniors heading into the fall, there will be plenty of candidates.
"We're going to have to have a little different approach to be able to continue to grow and develop the culture of success we want to have and the standard of excellence we're trying to aspire to," Saban said before the Utah loss. "Players are going to have to make a different kind of commitment because they can't be satisfied.
"We certainly hope they won't be. Our expectation is the demands on them are going to continue to be high. I hope they have the same personal aspirations to continue to improve and get better."
Copyright (c) 2009 TuscaloosaNews.com
