After his team’s 24-21 win in the Fiesta Bowl, Brown vowed to vote for the Longhorns to be #1. When the poll results came out, though, Texas didn’t have any first place votes. Utah had one, from head coach Kyle Whittingham. That’s when Brown got upset.

Brown said that he had read a rule that said your vote didn’t count if you voted for first place, because that place was already decided. The American Football Coaches Association, however, said that they agreed to have voters place their #1 pick first on the ballot. Brown thought that by placing Texas as number one, he’d be hurting the team.

Whittingham was the only coach to NOT vote for Florida as #1, so it is possible that other coaches didn’t understand either, especially since a number of coaches spoke out how unfair the BCS system is.

And frankly, I can’t believe that Pete Carroll would vote for Florida over USC if he had the chance and understood the rules…

Picture via Newscom.

Post from: EveryJoe

Mack Brown Says He Misunderstood Voting Rule

No, according to one representative.

According to reports, republican Representative Joe Barton of Texas (anyone surprised there, seeing as Texas is one of the schools getting the shaft?) introduced legislation today that, if passed, would force a playoff system to determine the national champion.

Actually, to be more specific, the bill will prohibit anyone from promoting  a postseason game as a “national championship” game unless it is the result of a playoff system. So, they could keep the BCS system as it is currently, but they couldn’t have a national championship game…they’d have to call it something else.

Barton? I suspect he’s a jaded Texas fan, but makes good points:

Point #1:

“This year, we again have two teams with one loss each playing for the ‘championship,’ while two undefeated teams and four additional teams with only one loss will play in bowl games, but none can become champion.”

Essentially, he’s saying that the best teams don’t necessarily always play in the title game. And he’s right. He also cited USC in 2003 and Auburn in 2004 as teams that possibly should have played for the title but didn’t.

Point #2:

“In some years the sport’s national championship winner was left unsettled, and at least one school was left out of the many millions of dollars in revenue that accompany the title.”

This one makes sense too. The flawed system isn’t just a knock to the pride of schools playing in the bowls. This is about money, plain and simple.

Point #3:

“Despite repeated efforts to improve the system, the controversy rages on.”

I think that this is the best argument for the legislation. People are still pissed about the BCS system, ten years after it was created. They’ve been tweaking the system for ten years, and still, the debate is hotter now than ever before. There needs to be an answer.

Still, I have to wonder if there aren’t more important things to deal with in Congress than football?

Correct answer: NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOOTBALL.

Picture via Newscom.

Looking for something? Here is some of the most popular BCS information right now: An Early Look at the 2009 Draft Prospects, The 2008 College Football Bowl Game Teams, 2008-09 College Football Coaching Changes

Post from: EveryJoe

The NCAA might be Forced to Introduce a BCS Playoff

1. Washington (0-11)
2. SMU (1-10)
3. North Texas (1-10)
4. Western Kentucky (2-9)
5. Notre Dame (6-5)
6. Iowa State (2-10)
7. Tulane (2-9)
8. Eastern Michigan (2-9)
9. Miami-OH (2-9)
10. Michigan (3-9)

On the cusp: Idaho, Indiana, Kent State, New Mexico State, UAB, Utah State

See anything strange with this list. Yep, Notre Dame is on it. Now, I’m not an Irish/Weis/Clausen fan, but to list them as one of the worst teams in the BCS seems a little ridiculous to me. They have a winning record, for pete’s sake. All of the teams on the cusp are more deserving of a spot on this list than Notre Dame. I’m not saying they are a good team…but fifth worst overall? Come on.

Post from: EveryJoe

The NCAA Bottom of the Barrel

National Championship Game: Team ranked #1 versus Team ranked #2

Rose Bowl: Top ranked Big Ten team versus Top ranked Pac-10 team

Sugar Bowl: Top ranked Big 12 team versus someone

Fiesta Bowl: Top ranked ACC team versus someone

Orange Bowl: Top ranked SEC team versus someone

The top ranked Big East team gets to be one of those “someones.” If the conferences listed have a team in the Championship, they might not get another team in the game. It is complicated. Here’s how the remaining spots are decided:

• Notre Dame gets to play automatically if they rank #8 or higher.
• The team ranked #3 automatically gets to play.
• If the third-ranked team did not fill one of the “someone” spots (ie, the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, or SEC is represented in the Championship game and the number three team is in one of those conferences and took their spot), the team ranked #4 also automatically gets to play.
• The highest-ranked non-BCS conference team gets to play if they are #12 or higher OR if they are #16 or higher and rank higher than one of the others who gets to automatically play.
• Each conference can send two teams at most to these five games.

Easy right? Yeah, not so much. There’s a committee that decides who goes where, and I met that meeting is really fun.

Ok, that’s all for Part 1…that’s enough information to sink in. If they aren’t posted already, I’ll have Part 2 and Part 3 up soon!

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Bowl Preview, Part 1

“I think it is about time that we had playoffs in college football. I’m fed up with these computer rankings and this and that and the other. Get eight teams – the top eight teams right at the end. You got a playoff. Decide on a national champion.” ~ Barack Obama to ESPN on Monday (read more)

Um. I knew I voted for the right man. America, together, we can overcome an oppressive system that caters to certain schools and often leaves the best team of the year out of the national championship game.

YES WE CAN.

Picture via Newscom.

Post from: EveryJoe

Barack Obama Hates the BCS

1. Texas
2. Alabama
3. Penn State
4. Oklahoma
5. USC
6. Oklahoma State
7. Georgia
8. Texas Tech
9. Ohio State
10. Flordia
11. Utah
12. Boise State
13. LSU
14. TCU
15. Missouri
16. South Florida
17. Pittsburgh
18. Georgia Tech
19. Tulsa
20. Ball State
21. BYU
22. Northwestern
23. Kansas
24. Minnesota
25. Florida State

How do you feel about this list? I’m honestly a little pissed that USC is ranked so high – a one-loss UCS team over an undefeated Oklahoma State or Texas Tech? Not really fair, in my mind.

Your thoughts?

Post from: EveryJoe

First BCS Ranking of the Year – Week Eight

Here’s your AP Week Seven Ranking – their positions last week are in parenthesis.

1. Texas (5)
2. Alabama (2)
3. Penn State (6)
4. Oklahoma (1)
5. Florida (11)
6. USC (8)
7. Texas Tech (7)
8. Oklahoma State (17)
9. BYU (9)
10. Georgia (10)
11. Missouri (3)
12. Ohio State (12)
13. LSU (4)
14. Utah (14)
15. Boise State (15)
16. Kansas (16)
17. Virginia Tech (18)
18. North Carolina (22)
19. South Florida (19)
20. Michigan State (23)
21. Wake Forest (21)
22. Vanderbilt (13)
23. Pittsburgh (340
24. Ball State (35)
25. California (NR)

On the cusp: Tulsa (NR), TCU (NR), Minnesota (NR)

Dropped from the rankings: Auburn (20)

I only have three words for you this week: WOO PENN STATE!

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week Seven AP Top 25

1. Oklahoma (1)
2. Alabama (2)
3. Missouri (4)
4. LSU (3)
5. Texas (5)
6. Penn State (6)
7. Texas Tech (7)
8. USC (9)
9. BYU (8)
10. Georgia (11)
11. Florida (12)
12. Ohio State (14)
13. Vanderbilt (19)
14. Utah (15)
15. Boise State (17)
16. Kansas (16)
17. Oklahoma State (21)
18. Virginia Tech (20)
19. South Florida (10)
20. Auburn (13)
21. Wake Forest (25)
22. North Carolina (NR)
23. Michigan State (NR)
24. Pittsburgh (NR)
25. Ball State (NR)

On the cusp: Wisconsin (18), Tulsa (NR), Illinois (NR), California (NR), Northwestern (NR), TCU (NR)

Dropped from the rankings: Wisconsin (18), Fresno State (22), Oregon (23),  Connecticut (24)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week Six AP Top 25

1. Oklahoma (2)
2. Alabama (8)
3. LSU (5)
4. Missouri (6)
5. Texas (7)
6. Penn State (12)
7. Texas Tech (10)
8. BYU (11)
9. USC (1)
10. South Florida (13)
11. Georgia (3)
12. Florida (4)
13. Auburn (15)
14. Ohio State (14)
15. Utah (17)
16. Kansas (18)
17. Boise State (19)
18. Wisconsin (9)
19. Vanderbilt (21)
20. Virginia Tech (NR)
21. Oklahoma State (NR)
22. Fresno State (25)
23. Oregon (NR)
24. Connecticut (NR)
25. Wake Forest (16)

On the Cusp: Maryland, Michigan State, Kentucky, Ball State

Dropped from the Rankings: Clemson (20), Illinois (22), East Carolina (23), TCU (24)

Penn State thanks you, USC, for lose to a team they so gloriously beat a few weeks ago. Missouri just sat back and laughed this wee, and Oklahoma finally moved to the spot they deserve.

There are some lower rankings I question, especially with Maryland still at the unofficial #26, but I’m glad to see Oklahoma State on the list finally.

A team to watch? Northwestern. They aren’t even in consideration for a rank yet, and everyone says their schedule is super weak so they don’t deserve a spot even as 24 or 25, but they are undefeated, and I’ll be interested to see how they do against more difficult teams.

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week Five AP Top 25

1. USC (1)
2. Oklahoma (2)
3. Georgia (3)
4. Florida (4)
5. LSU (6)
6. Missouri (5)
7. Texas (7)
8. Alabama (9)
9. Wisconsin (8)
10. Texas Tech (11)
11. BYU (14)
12. Penn State (16)
13. South Florida (12)
14. Ohio State (13)
15. Auburn (9)
16. Wake Forest (18)
17. Utah (20)
18. Kansas (19)
19. Boise State (NR)
20. Clemson (23)
21. Vanderbilt (NR)
22. Illinois (22)
23. East Carolina (15)
24. TCU (NR)
25. Fresno State (25)

On the cusp: Oregon (17), Oklahoma State (NR), Virginia Tech (NR)

Dropped from rankings: Oregon (17), West Virginia (21), Florida State (24)

Does anyone else thing that Ohio State is ranked too high? Look at Penn State traveling up those ranks though! I can’t wait until they start playing better teams to see what they really can do.

I was surprised to see East Carolina remain on the list after their loss to an unranked team this week, though better them than Oregon. BYU is a team to watch…and is it just me, or is Missouri flying under the radar this week – they dropped from 5 to 6, but only because LSU had a ranked game. Daniel broke records once again.

Your thoughts on the Week Four list?

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week Four AP Top 25