A Word on the Subject

Any college football fan can sit down and talk about the Bowl Championship Series with another and lay out the “way things ought to be” along with a long winded scenario of what would represent itself superlative. Ninety-nine times out of 100 you will likely get a completely different reason for why it is flawed and how to fix it.

One consistent aspect of the BCS mess is the vice our heads are in while trying to put it all together.

The philosophy of Boise State University head coach Chris Petersen, his arsenal of creative coaching minds, and a team that buys into his principles could teach a lot to teams how the
carry themselves.

“We didn’t set out for a BCS game,” Petersen said. “That wasn’t it. Our deal was to finish every game, play as hard as we can and win the WAC championship … Unfortunately for us, Utah has got a little higher ranking than us and they’re very deserving as well. I know the football powers will keep looking at the system and trying to make it better.”

Unfortunately No. 9 Boise State’s faith in the system could land them a bowl game that is possibly ill fitting for the talented team-first mentality that has made the Petersen era dazzle many and disappoint none.

But it is better, I suppose, to enter the battlefield with dignity, in contrast to what many BCS conferences feel they are entitled.

Instead, year in and year out, some of these teams are busy bobbing over the national championship and how they were just as deserving to contend for the national title.

Bob Stoops, head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, has provided a shining example of how to do everything but throw a tantrum until he gets his way.

His display over the last week was a sad exhibition of a great team lacking faith in the flawed, but justified, system that is
the BCS.

Southern California Trojans head coach Pete Carroll can jump in the same boat with his run to the national title game, even after doing one less by losing to a lesser Oregon State team than Texas ever could claim to be.

Texas’ loss to Texas Tech warrants more respect than what the Trojans have been able to do in a mediocre Pac-10 Conference. USC’s performance seems far from stellar with their strength of schedule puts them up one spot ahead of Boise State at the
71st place.

And how about the strength of schedule? Schedules are factored into the computer polls which were supposed to create a level of objectivity. The rankings are then tallied accordingly. But talk that Ohio State would be taken to a bowl simply because of their program would make that already factored statistic irrelevant regardless of BCS ranking.

One argument is they are a BCS conference and therefore have a business agreement with the BCS that favors them in at large bids.

My understanding was there are six conference champions that would make six all but guaranteed – but little has been displayed to sway anybody from believing there is no such thing as a sure thing – BCS bowl games.

Ohio State did not win their conference. They are not ranked ahead of Boise State and should be left out of the dance, unless the BCS does the “right” thing and leaves the Atlantic Coast Conference Champion out. One of the biggest jokes in BCS history could be Virginia Tech winning their conference championship this weekend against Boston College and enter a BCS bowl game ranked under No. 16 with a record of 9-4, leaving the Broncos, Ball State, BYU and TCU out of the mix. That is if BCS doesn’t do the right thing and pending results.

I am not saying the for mentioned BCS teams are not some of the best of the 2008-09 class or, at least, most successful programs in Division I-A football.

But what I am saying is the automatic and bureaucratic Bowl Crap Series practice has got to come to an end.

What must continue is following results and rankings that speak for themselves. Also, ask the coaches to pursue their stances with a little bit of dignity.

“It’s not going to help us to lobby for one of those bowl games,” Petersen said. “I think it’s an obvious statement what we’d like to do.”

This season has been the best argument in the history of the BCS to take the top teams in college football and let them duke it out in a proper playoff.

It has also caused me an extensive need for an Advil the size of my fist.

Headache is the word.

If the powers that be do the “right” thing  a couple BCS teams will enter their post season with one massive migraine – minus their beloved Buckeyes.

KIRK BELL
Sports Coordinator

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