SB Nation User Blog: Mulliganville

What the BCS got right...

Mulliganville — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:54:01 -0000

First things first: See you in Pasadena. It is a short drive from Mission Viejo, CA and I am looking forward to attending this spectacle of corporate sport. Hook'Em!!!

What the BCS got right: Texas vs. Alabama and Cincy vs. Florida. Each match-up will be intriguing and pull major ratings for the network and the sponsors. Well done BCS honks. BTW, if Cincy knocks off Florida, it will diminish Utah's win over Bama last season and add fuel to the fire that the loser of a CCG which had MNC implications really has nothing to play for once they are out of the national championship picture.

Now, onto what the BCS did not get right: essentially the rest.

Fiesta: Boise vs TCU? Really? A glorified Poinsettia Bowl? I am speechless. Who in their right minds wants to watch this nonsense? Perhaps some "Joanie Loves Chachi" reruns will be airing at the very moment this game kicks off. What a shame. The look on the TCU kids faces was all you needed to know. Sure, they were disappointed by not playing Bama, but they were behind Cincy anyhow, and a less intriguing match-up could not have been dreamed up. TCU vs. Iowa would have been much more entertaining. This will be the lowest rated bowl in the BCS repertoire and possibly the history of the BCS era.

Orange: Ga Tech vs. Iowa? Who actually cares about this beyond the alums of each school? Nobody, that is who. I think I will set my DVR for the "BJ and the Bear-a-thon" which will surely be as entertaining and interesting. Ga Tech vs. Boise would raise the interest level somewhat...but Ga Tech is not a stellar program. Yep, they had a nice season. Capping it off with a meaningless game against the very uninteresting Hawkeyes makes me long for Judge Wapner and Doug Llewelyn and Officer Rusty. Wake me up, better yet, make some queso and put me to sleep. ZZZZZZZ.

Rose: Purists rejoice. Big 10 vs. Pac 10. ~~Awesome~~. Oregon, please wear the black unis with the gun metal helmets. I hate the yellow helmets with green. tOSU, in the top 5 for sharpest unis in all of college football.

Hey Coach Vest: turn Pryor loose. Signed, All Buckeye Alums. Yes, this game will offer the historical match-up that the Rose Bowl dorks drool over annually. Sigh.

Oh, Ducks and Buckeyes, please do not tear up the turf too badly. Signed, Horns and Tide

Texas 24 Tide 20

Ass(u)me the Best or Worst

Mulliganville — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:13:05 -0000

I know most of you know where I stand on this issue. I certainly do not need to author another "BCS is garbage" Fanpost as it has been played more times than Sergio Kindle's blasting of Taylor Potts. Oh, what the hell...this never gets old: Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8dCZIgMXWo

Back to the point at hand, based on last season and this season (there are so many others, why list them all), it appears we will be mired in controversy more often than not. Which brings me to my question: Seeing how a playoff would have benefited us last season, but could be a hindrance to the ultimate goal this season, would you take an 8 team playoff right now for this season as at the risk of Texas being knocked off by #7, #3 or #6 in the 2nd round? Of course I would, as the Horns would be beneficiaries more often than not. Assuming Cincy, TCU, Texas, Florida, and Boise win out, with 5 unbeatens, aren't the Horns, Gators, and Tide simple beneficiaries of high preseason rankings? Each has struggled with mediocre teams this season. Are the big three truly that more deserving than TCU and Cincy? Boise, I do not have a problem with based on this:

http://www.broncosports.com/SportSelect.dbml?db_oem_id=9900&spid=4061&spsid=48555

Bronco fans, your schedule is beyond pathetic. One win over Oklahoma and two over Oregon does not make you a contender. If Boise was in the Big XII, they would be TT...a very nice 8-4 to 9-3 team. Enjoy your middle tier bowl game were you to reside in a REAL conference.

Florida and Bama, you both have benefited from, shall we say, home cookin' to ensure your cementing at the top of your conference. No conspiracy here...just an observation.

So, check out the poll...

Poll

Would you take an 8 Teamer right now, today?

Yes, I want clarity at the end of the season!

69 votes

No, I am a purist and love everything from the Motor City Bowl to the BCS bowls

27 votes

Yes, but prefer more than 8 Teams

19 votes

Yes, but prefer less than 8 Teams

22 votes

137 votes | Poll has closed

The Annual Contenders: Sitting with the Bride and Groom

Mulliganville — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:07:15 -0000

I am not sure if anyone else caught Colin Cowherd the other day speaking about the contenders in college football. I like how Colin always uses analogies to get his point across. It keeps things simple. He indicated that annually there are 8 contenders for college football's national championship:

Texas

USC

LSU

Florida

Oklahoma

Miami

Ohio State

Alabama

After I heard this assessment, my immediate reaction was "no way." He went on and compared these 8 teams to the chosen guests that get to sit at the bride and groom's table at a wedding reception. Many get to attend the wedding and enjoy the food and drink, dance, and mingle with friends, etc. But, the majority of the guests are just not that special and seats at this table are simply reserved for the very best. He just may be onto something here...

More support to this theory is the presence of 7 warm weather schools as Colin always points to warm weather locales as attracting the best athletes in college football. I never actually thought about this, and now I am beginning to think that this is quite true. Think about it, if Vegas were to make this a board play, these 8 teams against the field, the odds in September may be 2/5.

The glaring omissions from the "chosen few" are Notre Dame, Michigan, Florida State, Tennessee, Georgia, Nebraska, and Penn State. Already eliminated before the season begins. Man is it good to be a Longhorn.

Here is to getting to Pasadena one game at a time...

Hook Em!!

The Purists vs. Objectivity

Mulliganville — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:38:43 -0000

I have thought about this long and hard. Because I get it. I get how important the regular season is in college football. For nowhere else would I have been glued to the TV watching, practically begging, Indiana to hold on to that lead in the 4th quarter against the vastly overrated Iowa Hawkeyes two Saturdays ago. Certainly they cannot hold a candle to Texas, Florida, or Alabama. Or can they? We will never know. And that is a shame. It has been predetermined that the Longhorns are more worthy this season. Sucks to be you Hawkeye fan. Smacking Penn State annually is not enough to earn the respect of the pollsters. It seems that pedigree plays a major role here with the BCS, and it is this pedigree which will also preclude TCU, Cincinnati, and Boise State from the championship game. I would be willing to wager that a one loss SEC team would jump an unbeaten Cincy or TCU. And this is everything that is wrong with college football.

The fact of the matter is all of the unbeatens deserve a shot if they are good enough to get into the top 8 BCS rankings. Why include them at all if you are going to glass ceiling them? Boise deserves a shot. TCU deserves a shot. Cincy deserves a shot. But the purists do not want to give them their shots at glory for fear of Boise vs. Cincy as the national title game (those kids do not count...those aren't real schools). They will not want to point to the fact that USC or FL or Texas or Bama or OUsux lost to these programs. No, the purists would rather point to weak conferences and lack of pedigree as undeserving credentials to certain young men of college football’s pinnacle. How smug of them. As an example, one receiver from the Dallas Cowboys went to a big time program and one went to Monmouth. One is the go to receiver, the other has under performed. One is Miles Austin, the other is Roy Williams. Go scan NFL rosters...it is mind boggling how many top tier players went to bottom tier schools. Shocking actually.

Back to the point at hand, the BCS was designed to pit #1 vs #2 for a winner-take-all conclusion to the college football season. Yet, it has failed miserably in many seasons to determine just who in the hell are the two best and most deserving teams for all of college football's glory. No need to rehash the shortcomings of which program got the nod over the other in spite of mountains of evidence to the contrary. This is just how the BCS works or should I say, fails.

Yes, we must preserve the regular season at any cost. That cost is increasingly becoming objective conclusions to the college football season.

The Garbage Factor of the BCS...

Mulliganville — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:09:00 -0000

...is IF the horns drop one, the polls are 2/3, and the later the loss, the greater the penalty which is the most absurd aspect of this moronic system we have in place. You hear that OU? No more at large title game berths for you.

That being said...let's get out the crystal ball:

I think Cincy will lose in Pittsburgh.

I think Iowa will lose in the Shoe.

I think FL runs the table until the SEC championship.

I used to think Bama would absolutely run the table...but they have looked pedestrian for a few weeks (22 is highest point total over this span) against inferior competition. I am still inclined to give them the nod of being unbeaten going into the SEC championship game. I like FL right now in that matchup...regardless, one of them will lose.

I think TCU will run the table along with Boise.

I do think the Horns run the table which leaves us with 4 unbeatens.

Now, the aforementioned is what is looks like on paper. We could be looking at 6 undefeated teams after conference championship games. Moreover, the scariest team in the country right now, IMHO, is Oregon. Eugene will be the latest city to clamor for an 8 Team Playoff as I am sure they would love their chances this season. I for one am very thankful we do not have to line up against them this season. But, in an 8 Teamer, they would be a fitting and deserving champion were they to run the table on the assumption they finish top 8 in the rankings.

Once again, I personally believe that the BCS will fall short of its intentions all the while the Horns will benefit this season from a high pre-season ranking. Not that they would be undeserving, the Horns most certainly would be...but there will be controversy in Iowa, Cincy, Fort Worth, and Boise (weak argument here...but they did beat Oregon...and that is looking better by the week) as they feel snubbed by not having the opportunity to play for the title should they all run the table. Doubtful? Sure. Possible? That is why they play the games.

What a disaster of a system we have to try and settle this with annually.

Texas Struggles while Tebow Wills the Gators to Victory--wink wink

Mulliganville — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:09:12 -0000

Not only is there bias amongst the media members who vote out of habit rather than analytical results, but the coaches have also ordered a full pitcher of that Kool-Aid of late. I will note that the media did flip Bama and FL this week and rightfully so. But, just 4 coaches changed FL from #1 on their ballot from last week after the ABYSMAL performance by the mighty Tim Tebows. Really coaches? Really? I am convinced that the vast majority of you put zero thought into this weekly activity that affects who the MNC participants will be.

The facts from yesterday:

Texas won by 3 on a neutral field against a very good defensive unit from OU. Ranked 3rd in points allowed going into the matchup with the Horns.

Florida needed a last second FG to win...at home mind you...against the 95th ranked defense and unranked Arkansas Razorbacks.

Bama did what they usually do...win in SEC rushing fashion that bores me to tears, but provides "plumpies" for the coaching brethren that "know best."

I have lost faith in the voters (both coaches and media) to actually use their noggin while they complete their ballots. The bias is horrific at times. The fact that Boise is in the top 10 is a complete farce and makes a mockery of the system. Those votes were garnered and harvested from their upset win over OU a few years back. This is the result of that harvest. Please line up Boise against the likes of OU, Texas, FL, Bama, USC and they will win one out of ten if they are lucky.

Ever wonder if the stigma about the Big XII has to do with OUsux being completely inept on the big stage against top notch opponents?

So, If You Lose Early...or Late...What is Going On Here?

Mulliganville — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:08:16 -0000

This sickens me. No, not because Oklahoma is back in the mix...when we beat them, they will be relegated to BCS fodder. What sickens me is the assumption by voters that due to an "early" loss, it is OK, because the team has potential. The losing early cut off must be the RRS as our beloved Horns lost a couple of weeks later...on a last second TD...in a hostile environment...to a top five team...who beat OU there the season prior. Then OU smashes TT by 40ish (TT fans - you have no business being in the conversation when you give up 60+ pts to ANYBODY) and we all remember 45-35...well, we all remember it except for the computers, Harris voters, and some Coaches who had the Horns as low as 5 (that was criminal IMHO). Before you say, "here we go again...it was last season...GET OVER IT ALREADY"...I assure you Auburn is not over their snub after running the table unbeaten in 2004 in the pre-ordained SEC. Oh, and USC being ranked #1 in BOTH polls in 2003 gets snubbed over OU who LOSES to Kansas St in the Big XII title game. An automatic rule should have been enacted that if you do not win your conference championship game, you are ineligible for the MNC. What a completely broken system.

But as we just saw, losing late is OK at times as well as voters want to "repay" for their mistakes in the past. Nothing else explains the Auburn debacle other than the voters not wanting to snub USC again. Big game Bob got drove that year as the voters got it wrong once again as USC beat Bob's Boys 55-19. What a drubbing. I assure you Auburn would have provided a better game...just as the Horns would have against Florida last MNC.

Here is my problem with the polls system in general:

1. OU gets beat by BYU and they are 7th while BYU is 21st with identical records. BYU lost to a respectable FSU team (South Florida is for real).

2. Houston goes into Stillwater and beats perhaps an over-ranked OSU club (not easy to win there...ask VY) and they are ranked behind OSU based on what exactly? Must be conference bias as Houston is unbeaten with wins over OSU and TT. The coaches have lost their mind here. Revoke is not strong enough...banned for life is more like it.

3. Iowa goes into Happy Valley and knocks off the Nittany Lions and is somehow currently ranked behind Penn State. Can anyone that is breathing explain this?

4. South Carolina beats Ole Miss...SC unranked and Ole Miss 18th...um, huh?

What would have been interesting is if Washington would have won this past weekend...I guarantee you they would have been put behind the Trojans after beating them the week prior. Take that to the bank.

Speaking of the Men of Troy, notice how the voters kept USC ahead of Ohio State? Why would they be cognitive here and not in the aforementioned examples? BTW, the Trojans looked meek against Washington State...that should have been a blowout and it was not. TOSU lost to USC...USC lost to, once again unranked Washington. Also, the voters have kept OSU ahead of GA. So, kudos here...but the rest of the poll after the top 3 is deplorable based on results of match ups THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLAYED OUT.

I realize it is early in the season...but it is hard to overcome your predetermined "slotting" due to the human element of the coaches poll which needs a massive overhaul in criteria. It is obvious that most of the coaches that vote truly do not pay attention. Conference bias needs to end and it appears it may have with Boise State. They can play with the big boys. But, if OU beats Miami, could they jump the Broncos? I think it is very possible and that would be a travesty.

USC vs FL chants coming soon

Mulliganville — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:18:40 -0000

Are you paying attention Mack Brown and GD? Are you truly paying attention? Because if you are, 41-10 over Wyoming is a "B-" grade for the #2 team in the country on the road to a clearly inferior opponent. Moreover, giving up 20 points to www.smallcityschools.com is horrific...especially in Austin. USC did not do that nor did FL. The talk in SoCal is not that of "I hope we can catch the Horns" but more of "when we catch them." While USC must go unbeaten to accomplish said task, a one loss UT and one loss USC does not bode well for BON. While USC typically has trouble with one of the Oregon schools and the CAL game is a bit auspicious, UT must go unbeaten against TT, OUsux, and OK St. The scary game in the middle of all of this for the Horns is Baylor. They nearly got TT last season and are a better program this year compared to last. It is the letdown game on the schedule and I am sure the coaching staff is aware.

Mack, you need to pile on with class. You are going to have to win big to keep the media honks from talking USC and FL into the MNC. I am not talking about leaving Colt in and throwing while up by 40 with 4 minutes to go in the 4th ala Classless Stoops. No, I am talking about putting GG in when the game is in hand and throwing the ball down the field in case the unthinkable happens and we have an injured Colt on the sidelines. Get this kid some real game experience so he can lead if necessary. Do not be comfortable with being up by 30 and calling it a day. That will not be enough to get it done. We have to face the reality that USC and FL are the media darlings. Yes, there is a good story with Colt going for the Heisman this season coupled with two big revenge games with TT and OUsux. And isn't it is a sad state of affairs when you beat a team 45-35 and you feel you need to exact some revenge on them? To top it off, the Big XII left that tiebreaker just as it was last season. Superb morons. Just an awesome system we have in place.

So Mack, I beg of you...do not leave it to chance. When a game is in hand, put GG in there and go vertical with the passing game. If the team fails to execute that is one thing. But, to go conservative after Colt comes out could be a MNC death sentence. More often than not there is a victim of controversy with the system we have in place. Ask Auburn, USC, and UT for confirmation. Keep the Horns off of the tombstone this year please. Thank you.

A Conference That Makes Sense...

Mulliganville — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:55:56 -0000

I am not sure if any of you caught ESPN's proposed "reconferencing" (that is a word now) which would take the top 40 teams per their "draft" and slot them geographically with a couple of exceptions. The most interesting aspect of this is the rivalry it would immediately create between Texas and LSU. Every year the Horns would play the following:

Arkansas

Missouri

Kansas

Mississippi

Nebraska

LSU

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Texas A&M

Add a couple of non-conference games and you have one very respectable season year in and year out.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=4380677

Moreover, when you scan the other conferences, you find Boise St right in USC's face along with Utah and Texas Tech headed out west. I found the read intriguing and wishful. But I realize that we have as much a chance of this happening as Boise St. does of knocking off OUsux in a BCS game.

I long for the day when conference fuddy duddies stop worrying about "how things have always been" and how the BCS crowns a deserving champion every year...except last year, and the year Auburn ran the table in the SEC and got shut out of the national title game. I hate this system. It is a complete joke and a farce.

40 Teams

4 Superconferences

4 Contenders

1 Legitimate National Champion

Now THAT is some change I could believe in...now give me back my taxes!

Here we Go...it is one of these 4 that will win the MNC

Mulliganville — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:48:29 -0000

Texas

Florida

USC

Since Stoops is still coaching at OU, perhaps it is down to 3.

I am more than a little concerned headed to Stillwater this season. The talent they have at the skill positions in Robinson, Hunter, and Bryant is perhaps unrivaled nationwide. Their defense is going to be the key for the Cowboys this season, and if the mastermind of KU's defense in 2007, Bill Young can get the most out of this OK ST squad, the Cowboys could quietly join the national title hunt this season.

Assuming the Horns get by OU again this season, and McCoy goes 3-1 in his career against the Sooners, Stillwater will be circled on the schedule as the final test of the season. Each team could be undefeated for this matchup and the Cowboys will be more than pumped. I for one, think the Big XII is the finest football conference in the country, followed by the SEC. I like the Cowboys at home against GA to start the season, 38-27.

I hope Mack allows the offense to really shine this year. That means some blowout victories when he would normally ease off the throttle. I do not like our current system, as last year, I still personally feel there are 3 teams left in the hunt. If we are being honest, nobody would want to face Utah. They would give you all you could handle and more. So Mack, this season, when so many expectations looming, win with class. Tell the opposing coach that because the media loves OU and FL, Texas has to win and win big to garner support. It is the system. I do not like it anymore than many of you here do. But it is what it is...and this team deserves the chance if they take care of business this year like they did last year.