Monday, December 04, 2006

It's Ohio State and Florida; controversy on red alert

We're just guessing here, but we imagine that Ann Arbor, Mich. looks something like this right now.

After Florida leapfrogged Michigan in the polls, Florida will play Ohio State for the BCS Championship, while the Wolverines will take their anger, rage and potential rioting to the Rose Bowl.

Here's what the fans are saying.

From our favorite Michigan blog, The M Zone:
"It's not just fucked up because choosing a championship game entry essentially comes down to being a beauty pageant.

It's not just fucked up because coaches have to act like politicians to get their teams into the championship game.

It's not just fucked up because people actually think they can accurately judge who's better between Florida and Michigan.

It's not just fucked up because when explaining this system to your mom you have no answer for when she asks "Why don't they just do it like every other sport?"

The most fucked up thing about the way Division I college football crowns their champion is that it allows the coach of one of the championship game teams to actually influence who his team is going to play."
From Brian at MGO Blog:
"It's over. I'm pissed."
But it's not all bad news in the blog world. The fellas at EDSBS -- who love the Gators the way the man loves a woman -- are at a loss for words.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! (breathe) WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"
We're not going to leave our personal thoughts about Florida playing in the title game over Michigan. Better to just stay out of this one. Though we are thrilled to see more horrible controversy in a system that was destined for failure from the get-go. We're one step closer to a playoff.

But feel free to leave your thoughts, justifications, or words of anger in the comments.

To sum up all the controversy that has become inevitable in the BCS Age, here's The Wizard of Odds to put it all in perspective.
"The system designed to take politics out of college football is coming down to — you guessed it — politics."

6 comments:

twins15 said...

Yeah, I'm not mad at all that Florida got in over Michigan, nor would I have been mad if Michigan would have been ahead of Florida... seems like a crapshoot as to who "deserved" it more... just sucks that half the battle (deciding who plays for the title) is taken care of off the field with the BCS. WE NEED A PLAYOFF!!

Pacifist Viking said...

It depends on what you mean by "failure." Failure to crown a meaningful champion every year? Absolutely. Failure to give every team an equal chance to win a championship? Absolutely.

But college football remains immensely popular (and profitable). The controversy keeps people talking about it. Only when attendance and ratings suffer will the powers that be determine a change is needed.

insomniac said...

You can always count on Viking to bring rational thinking to an emotional topic.

Well said.

Anonymous said...

This whole thing is stupid and Div I-A desperately needs a playoff.

The problem is that the BCS makes for such great bitching, whining, and endlessly entertaining moaning on the part of fans, coaches, and analysts (all with their own personal biases) that I'd almost hate to see it go.

Almost. 16-team playoff. All six major conference champions plus ten at-largers. Continue to keep the polls so strength of schedule in the regular season matters.

The Big Picture said...

Nicely said, Viking.

I've been talking a lot recently about how the BCS made these last few weeks exciting as hell. A playoff would have takent the luster off these last few weeks.

But once we get past the regular season, the BCS takes advantage of the system the way an inmate looks for that one guy who keeps dropping the soap.

Anonymous said...

Id also like to point out. That with a playoff system, For instance, this year, the Michigan Ohio State game, wouldve meant, really nothing. Backups wouldve in. If you KNOW you are Top ten, Why risk an injury? Rivarly week, would change forever. the Apple cup would moved, as would everything else, so that no one would play backups.

The BCS will get Tweaked again.

And I hate Florida. And, personally, I think Urban Meyer is an Asshole for saying the crap he said BEFORE the SEC title game. Win the damn games before you open your mouth.

But you know Michigan had a shot, and lost.