Rants and Raves

I got to thinking this afternoon about how screwed up the world of college football is and thought I would put it in here.  After all isn’t that what this blog is for? Here are just a few of the things I have been thinking about that need changed in order to improve the game.

The biggest one of course is the BCS.  Everyone hates it, except people who make money off of it, and yet somehow it has lasted this long.  College football remains one of the most popular sports in America yet it has the absolute worst postseason of any sport out there and I am including the NHL where about 50% of teams make the playoffs.  At least they decide a winner through a tournament.  So much of what goes on in college football depends on the pre-season ranking.  A team like Purdue who started the season unranked has virtually no chance of making the BCS title game even if they go undefeated.  Pretend if you will that Purdue goes 12-0 on the season.  If both Boise State and Alabama do the same they would play for the title while Purdue would get screwed.  I am sure you are saying well if Purdue went undefeated with those two teams Purdue would play Alabama and this might be true but in what other sport could an undefeated season give you no shot at the title?  Just ask Auburn, or Utah, or Boise State, or Utah again if it’s a guarantee to get a shot at the national title.  Seems ridiculous doesn’t it?  Even if Boise State doesn’t go undefeated you could insert Nebraska, Iowa, or Texas in this equation and Purdue would still get screwed.  It’s amazing to sit and think that the BCS has a stranglehold on the national football scene when there are so clearly errors in what it does.  Not to mention the fact that a team like ND basically gets BCS consideration because they are ND.  Imagine if Texas becomes an independent would the same thing be promised them?  If this destroyed the BCS I would be happy.

Another thing that bothers me is a small thing but I still get annoyed by it.  Why do we have to call Division II teams FCS schools?  Let’s be honest how many people even know what FCS stands for let alone which division it represents?  I will never call Purdue an FBS school.  We are Division I.  I guess it goes back to wanting to make everyone feel good about themselves.  I imagine the meeting to decide this went something like this:

Division II AD-  You know what I hate being called a DII school.  By God it hurts my feelings.  We are every bit as good as DI schools.

Division I AD-  Well not EVERY bit as good.  Otherwise you’d be at a DI school. (All DI AD’s snicker.)

Division II AD-  That’s it I’ve had enough of you guys pushing us around.  We’re changing our name!

Division I AD-  What to DI’s little brother?

Other DI AD-  How about Ben Affleck because you’ll always play second fiddle to someone else?

Other DI AD-  What about Robin to our Batman?

Division II AD-  No that’s not what I…

Other DI AD-  How about you change it to DI soccer and see if anyone notices the difference, or cares?

DII AD-  Alright guys that’s it I’ve had enough I’m leaving!  And I’ll come up with an awesome name you just watch!

One last thing that bugged me was the lead-up to the Michigan vs. Notre Dame game.  I understand they are the 2 winningest programs in football history.  I get that they are big ratings draws.  I worked in sports for a couple years so I understand why it worked out the way it did.  My issue is why bill it as a pivotal matchup?  Each team is coming off a disappointing season yet suddenly they are back!  ND beat Purdue in a rivalry game and Michigan beat Connecticut.  I mean it’s not like they were each 9-0 looking to stay alive for the BCS title.  That’s how EsPN played it off though.  This game got just as much hype as Miami vs. OSU and PSU vs. Alabama.  It goes back to my previous point about the BCS.  Apparently the only way to get ahead in college football is to have tradition.  The only way to get tradition is winning national titles.  The only way to win national titles is to have a great pre-season ranking.  The only way to get a high pre-season raking is to have tradition.  Oh no it’s circular logic!  But really wait it all boils down to is money.

End of rant.  Thanks for everyone who has been reading this blog.  We reached a high mark of 301 visitors the other day.  I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as we like writing it.  BTFU!!! POTFH!!! and as always POTFI!!!