FanNation - The Republic of Sport

1. Very true. The AP was just being uppity after the '03 season.
2. I thinks seeing Georgia getting denied a spot will help voters keep the likes of '01 Nebraska and '03 OU out of the title game.
3. Very true.
4. The only team that can truly complain is '04 Auburn. Maybe '06 Boise St. can complain, but they barely got by a non-BCS-title-contender with a WAC schedule.

We just need more consistent rules for the BCS b/c everything is so subjective. It needs to turn more objective. It's not against the rules for a team to not win their own conference to get into the title game, otherwise '01 Nebraska and '03 OU wouldn't have gotten into the BCS ship, but it is against common sense to let those teams into the big game. Just take that common sense and turn it into a rule: problem solved!

Great Blog, I couldnt agree more.

Sometimes before complaining about other teams, fans need to take a look in the backyard to see whats wrong...

I especially like the comment concerning the conference winner. You're right, why should you get a shot at the National Title game when you didn't even win your conference? The strength of schedule thing is also big. I won't get into the conference comparisons this morning because I'm saving those discussions for later in the season, but I do believe that it has a lot to do with it. For example, when LSU pounded VT last year 48-7 at Tiger stadium, it helped LSU to the NC. VT was definitely one of the teams being considered when the crazy upsets took place in the last weekend. VT was knocked out of the running because of this loss early in the season. One of the reasons LSU was picked for the Championship game is because they beat VT that was ranked so high at the end of the season. Strength of schedule absolutely matters.

A Buckeye agreeing with to LSU fans???? Someone check the temperature in h.e.l.l. hahaha

You guys are dead on, I dont think a few teams that played BCS games should have even been there. Im risking banishment from the clan, but I sill dont think OSU should have been in th NC game, but they were and played hard against a better team, no harm in that. Illinois should not have been there or Hawaii.

Hey xxx84xxxx don't worry about it, I joined the Big 10 group the other day.

Last year: VaTech overrated. LSU lucky. OSU blew it. USC blew it. UGA blew it. Need 1 or 2 game playoff. Polls HAVE ALWAYS BEEN a part of relevance to THE BCS Championchip. AP/Coaches, etc. AP may not matter, but why does the Coache's Poll?

USC ended the season ranked #2 in the Coaches poll.

LSU, scheduling one sort-of tough OOC opponent once every three years gives you no respect in this matter. Listen, you all BARELY beat the lowly ASU Sundevils a few years ago. By far, USC shedules teh toughest opponents year in and year out.

LSU and the SEC. You all are like tough brothers always beating each other up. You may be the toughest (conference) in your own house, but that doesnt make you the toughest on the block.

Playoff so we can all quit hearing about how bad the SEC household of big bbbad brothers are. LSU, just a pathetic OOC schedule. Should be embarrassed.

I'll be glad to see OSU beat USC.

OSU could very well beat the Men of Troy. Betters are not thinking so, however. Speed and a relaxed Pete Carroll coached team in a big OOC game will win 99% of the time. OSU is no where nnear the talent of Texas in '05. USC defense is light years better than the '05 team, their offsense has yet to be known this year. Either way, a PLAYOFF is needed. Not a full bore 12 team playoff, but at least match up the winners of the 4 BIG BOWLS.

OSU will not beat USC. Guarateed.

Vegas has USC favored by 4 points (and those odds come from them knowing nothing about USCs offense).

Maybe we should put some money on it. I'd have to start a paypal account.

I am not a gambler, but Vegas MOST of the time knows what they are doing. PS: I actaully rooted for OSU in the NC game vs LSU because I cant stand SEC fans/teams.

But OSU vs USC, I think the odds makers are right. 17-13 USC in a defensive struggle.

That's unfortunate BIGMAC74 because we SEC fans really like you! :)

CenLaTiger-then please petition a ballot so that your LSU AD will schedule a trip to USC. You will like us a lot more after we finish playing with you.

Like us? All the rest of the country ever hears is how great ya'll think you are and how darn worked up you guys get when any other team out of the bad SEC gets mentioned as being better than you. You SEC fans are like knats. Everywhere either complaining or being arrogant. Either way, be nice to hear some realistic takes from SEC fans.

Great blog, WarDog.

But, as always, I bring an argument to the mix.

I???ll tell you how you can claim to be #1 in the nation and be ranked 2 or 3 in your conference.

Say you???re in the Pac 10 and you???re Southern Cal. Southern Cal beats Ohio State, Notre Dame and another big-name school from a major ???Big 6??? conference, and they beat all three badly, but lose to California by less than a touchdown. But Cal wins all the Pac 10 games by a large margin, and suddenly lose to some team like Iowa State, that plays a tough schedule and loses ten games by a combined 19 points.

And say every other powerhouse team has, like last year, has two losses. Maybe three.

That???s how you get to be ranked #1 in the nation and 2nd or 3rd in the conference.

This is why the BCS is bogus.

I admit, that although it is much better than what we used to have, it still isn???t great.

Also, WarDog, I am one who questions EVERYTHING I read and hear, especially in today???s world filled with false promises and exaggerated claims by the likes of politicians, religion, media and our corporate owners. So I can???t help question the authenticity of phrases and quotes such as ???Don not complain about the teams that get into the game,??? especially when, your team, LSU, has never been shafted during the tenure of the BCS. They???ve always gotten the benefit of the doubt. Unlike Auburn and Southern Cal. Or Oregon back when Nebraska jumped them after Colorado clubbed them.

Auburn got brutally shafted by not even being given credit for sharing the National Championship, even though they didn???t lose a game and won their Bowl. Oregon and Southern Cal did their job by winning late and finishing strong, while LSU and Nebraska, mysteriously, jumped them in the polls and backed into the title game.

In short, I think when the day comes that LSU gets the shaft, you???ll complain about it. Just like the rest of us who cheer for teams that have been violated by this stinking system.

I mean, you gotta figure???say Southern Cal backed into the Title Game last year instead of LSU (once again, I???m glad they didn???t because they didn???t deserve it!). Both Southern Cal and LSU had identical records, 10-2, with both schools losing close games to conference foes. You???d have been pretty ticked off had Southern Cal gone to New Orleans and beat Ohio State and now owned the Cystal Ball, would you not? I think you???d complain. I fair person would say yes.

Of course, WarDog, I???d have to bellow out: ???Win your games!???

I just don???t think I???m sure I like that phrase or where it comes from because its derivative is always from a fan whose team has in fact won their games; it???s always muttered by one who???s in the clear.

Actually believe it or not, I am no politician, just an old Army boy. Ask any of my troops about if I can live by my own "qoutes", sayings, or whatever you want to call them. They will overwhelmingly tell you I do. It is called integrity and character. I can assure you that I would not have compained about LSU not going last year. I will be the first to admit that they were very fortunate to have played in the title game. I was actually thinking that they would be in the Sugar Bowl up until the announcement. I will also agree that the reason that they had to rely on fortune or luck was because they did not handle thier business twice during the regular season. Like I said in the blog - just win the games.

As far as the claiming to be the national champ and not being your conference champ, we can agree to disagree. I do see your point (except do not use Notre Dame as a powerhouse school), but I guess my feelings come from a champioship game like the SEC that crowns the champion. Perhaps a title game such as this in the PAC 10 would prevent your scenario.

I will not argue with anyone for a minute that the BCS is flawed at best. The system needs a complete overhaul. My main point is that we all start the season with the goal of winning the crystal ball. Winning is the key, not hoping that another team will lose, and you can luck into a game. That means taking care of business. Yes, I will say it again - WIN THE _________ GAMES. If three teams go undefeated or we have another year where 4 or 5 teams have a legitimate argument as to who should be playing, then maybe that will cause the big wigs to finally fix this system, and allow these teams to settle their claim on the field. Funny thing is I can not remember what league commisioners wanted to have a playoff and which did not. Maybe someone can remind me. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm busy and have a great day!

It's gonna be a long time before they fix this system, WarDog. The BCS makes too much money for the corporate Owners---the people who own this country---to change things for the benefit of the players and fans.

It ain't gonna happen.

I could not agree with that more. They proved that to the world this last off season.

WarDog,

It's horrible, too.

When you think about it---and please correct me or help me with this since I'm writing off-the-cuff---but one of the main arguments against having a Playoff/Tournament is they don't want to subject the kids to that man games, right?

Well, right now they play twelve games. They used to play ten. Before that it was nine.

So how about we just go back to playing ten games? Then the top eight teams can play in a playoff. That's two playoff games and a championship, which in the end would win up being 13 total games, just like now provided your team plays in a Bowl game.

It doesn't even have to be like NCAA Basketball, either. With an 8 team playoff means four separate stadiums, right? You just play in the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta and Rose Bowls and the committees for each Bowl can do the same bogus advertising they always do (I knew college football was going downhill when they began to refer to the Sugar Bowl as the "Nokie" Sugar Bowl, and the Orange as ther "Fed-Ex" Orange Bowl) with their coporate feces.

The corporate owners would be happy, and so would the fans and players.

But it aint gonna happen because the good of the players and fans isn't in the best interests of the wealthy corporate jackoffs who own this place.

im going to tell you right now... if you haven't got a hold of this concept yet

THE SYSTEM WORKS FINE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT TO

1- IT MAKES LOTS OF MONEY FOR THE NCAA AND THE CONFERENCES...
2- THATS WHAT DRIVES EVERYTHING
3- THE ACADEMIC HIGH-HORSE PEOPLE WON'T WANT A PLAYOFF TAKING AWAY FROM MORE CLASS TIME THAN IT ALREADY DOES...THOSE ARE THE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS...just so you know

MONEYMAKER + LESS TIME FROM ACADEMICS + BOWLS LIKE IT = THIS SYSTEM FOR A LONG LONG LONG TIME...

get used to it everyone

having been in a higher education setting during the BCS era... and listening to the faculty and the presidents speak on this issue helps illuminate one's understanding of why these things are true!!!!

"LSU, scheduling one sort-of tough OOC opponent once every three years gives you no respect in this matter. Listen, you all BARELY beat the lowly ASU Sundevils a few years ago. By far, USC shedules teh toughest opponents year in and year out." BIGMAC74

Your point would be more acceptable if LSU's conference was weak. We have 5 schools ranked in the top 25 every year. Why do you feel that LSU has to schedule "strong OOC schools" That's some stupid **** to say. The reason your USC schedules tough OOC schools is because if their ranking was based on the PAC-10 strength of schedule, they would not rank as high. That was a dumb-**** comment.