Thanks Penn State, for doing the Big Ten proud, you clowns. You have the road paved for you to either make the BCS national title game OR at least make a case for (again) why this system sucks. Instead, you laid a smelly egg in Iowa and lost the game to a team that really shouldn't have been on the same field with you.I often say I hate being forced to defend teams that I don't like. But I live in Big 12/SEC country now and so that happens a lot. I am a Big Ten loyalist -- not that I root for Big Ten teams, necessarily, but I don't like it when the idiotic statement is accepted as fact that the Big Ten is lousy. It's not that bad.
There was a guy in my office two weeks ago who claimed that he thought Penn State was "maybe #25 in the nation." Now no matter whether you think the Big Ten is down or not, that's just silly and I told him so. When teams from the MAC, the WAC, the ACC and the Big East are in the Top 25, you simply cannot make that claim. Penn State is a good football team. But again, I hate to defend them because, well, I can't stand them or their senile coach (hint -- when you're too old and decrepit to even stand on the sidelines, it's over).
And then PSU goes and loses by a point to Iowa. And while I do think Iowa isn't nearly as good as PSU, they're having a quietly decent season. Which brings me to another point.
How come when a mediocre SEC team (like, oh, say, Ole Miss) squeaks one out against Florida, people say that just shows how tough the SEC is, but when the exact same kind of thing happens with Iowa and Penn State, it "proves" that PSU isn't for real? I don't follow.
While I do agree Florida is the best team in the SEC (Alabama will find this out in the conference title game), they lose to a team they never should have lost to. Why doesn't this disqualify them in voters and media memebers minds? Ah, because they've all collectively decided that the SEC is "so good" that it's "hard" to go undefeated. Yeah, it's hard to go unbeaten in any conference, stooges. Including the Big Ten.
The other frustrating media thing is when they all sing the praises of a darling like Ball State or Boise State and how they can go undefeated and "not get their shot." Yes, see, that's because they play cream puffs and come from truly second-tier conferences. Yet it's fun to act like they deserve a shot and a one-loss (or, let's face it, even if they'd been unbeaten) PSU team doesn't because the Big Ten is "down."
Whatever, I'm salty.
In Other Moron Media News
Todd Blackledge of ESPN fame was on ESPN radio this morning talking college football and he shocked listeners by saying he has no problem with no playoff and doesn't even think we need the title game that we have... basically saying he liked the old bowl system where if two unbeaten teams played in different conference-affiliated bowls and both won, that the voters got to decide... and that if they split the national title, then it's "okay to have several winners."
What is this, peewee football? Unbelieveable, that a clown like Blackledge could think that. I'm so tired of this arcane argument that the lack of a playoff system makes college football so much more interesting. It's a tired and ignorant argument. Yes, it creates discussion and arguments on The Sports Reporters. But so what? Don't you think it'd be more interesting to actually see the top 6 or 8 teams (or, hell, the top 4 teams) duke it out for a title? I just fail to see how one meaningful bowl game (and 30 meaningless ones) at the very end is better than some incredibly meaningful playoff bowl games followed by a true national champ. You can still have your useless Pointsettia Bowls and Music City Bowls and Sun Bowls. Nobody cares about those besides the schools playing in them (and Vegas) and that would continue. They're meaningless now and they would continue to be just as pefectly "traditional" and meaningless as the deceitful powers-that-be want you to think they care about them being.
College football is so much fun and so exciting and yes, there's a desperation involved because of the system. But the little bit you'd lose would be far outweighed by actually deciding a champion on the field.
I'm sure this won't be the last time I ramble about this before January.
14 comments:
I'm no big ten loyalist...the rest of the league can suck it, as far as I'm concerned. Afterall, the conference is led by a doofus, and furthermore, I don't like many, if not most, of the schools in the league.
Penn State's road was paved and they choked. It is what it is. Go Texas Tech.
Here's to 'Bama losing; Saban is a bag.
Fantastic post. I really do agree with all you said. Example: 2006 and 2007. I don't like Ohio State, but I wanted them to kick the crap out of Fla and LSU. Not because I wanted OSU to win, but to put an end to the mythical "SEC power."
I do not believe Penn State will or should get into the BCS title game. But nothing infuriates me more than the media ignoring the Ole Miss win over Florida IN THE SWAMP, just because the SEC is perceived to be "the best." I hate to say it, but Iowa lost a lot of close games, and is a better team than their record shows... even though I don't like that argument either.
I am a bitter PSU fan so take it with a grain of salt but why would you spend the first part of a post dogging PSU for losing and the second part explaining why it is not that big of a deal to lose to a respectable conference foe on the road by 1 point. If you want to put the blame on the Big 10's perception start with
A) tOSU for blowing it in their last 3 big OOC games.
B) the four Big 10 teams that have lost to MAC school's this year.
C) the second tier teams in the conference. If Purdue had beaten Oregon; Iowa had beaten Pitt or MSU had beaten Cal that would have done way more for the Big 10's national perception than any in conference game.
If the Big Ten had won games against Pac Ten and Big East teams, that would have done a lot for the Big Ten's perception? I think not, kind sir... Pac Ten and Big East are horrendous.
And you're right, I did dog PSU for losing, but not because I think they suck. I DON'T think it's awful to lose to a respectable conference foe by a point, but you and I both know they absolutely had to win out to have a shot at the title. And they blew it. And that frustrates me, for our conference.
Dowd -- I know your feelings on this and they're very legit. I don't root for Big Ten teams just to root for the Big Ten -- I simply want the conference to be respected because year-in and year-out, it's a tough conference and fine, if people want to put it #3 behind the SEC and the BXII, I can live with that... but that doesn't make it poor, as media types suggest. And for all those BXII supporters, check out the Big Twelve North. Pathetic.
only three teams lost to the MAC-
UM- Toledo
Ill- W. Mich.
IU- BSU & Cent. Mich
So you're saying IU would still suck even if they were in MAC?
If Fat Charlie has a top 5 recruiting for 3 straight years, shouldn't UND be showing signs of improvement? You can't be a young team forever.
UND has had Top 5 recruiting classes the same way that Duke is always ranked in the top ten. It's on name alone. And that (hopefully) won't last forever.
Youth is a funny thing- when you're bad, most people claim youth...thus, you're perpetually young. Conversely, good teams that have players who start a long time, you think- damn, that guy's still there? Is he ever gonna graduate?
"How come when a mediocre SEC team (like, oh, say, Ole Miss) squeaks one out against Florida, people say that just shows how tough the SEC is, but when the exact same kind of thing happens with Iowa and Penn State, it "proves" that PSU isn't for real? I don't follow."
I agree. This drives me crazy. It is such a double standard.
boilerdowd,
I just read and responded to your comment over at Zombie Nation. Two people get killed, and you think it's a f*cking joke!? You are tryly an asshole.
Ken
I think you make a logical point about Florida/Ole Miss and Penn State/Iowa, but I still think the Big 10(11) is not as good as the SEC or the Big 12 this year. Maybe sometime, a Big 10(11) team will have another chance to carry the banner. Yeah, I know. No thanks to my Buckeyes.
As an off topic interesting note, my chiropractor is a graduate of Purdue and played there as a long snapper. He ended up with the Colts for a few years, too. Very nice guy, and he's adds an interesting perspective to our sports conversations.
Great blog, l8r.
Ken, you don't know me.
Todd Blackledge: Penn State '82. You know, Penn State National Champions '82.
So this is what his comment actually means: "It's okay if the 'voters' decide and there are several winners, because I got mine, so screw all of you."
Ken,
The incident with those drunk hicks in Alabama is worthy of mockery. It's not as if some little girl got ran over by a car while getting off the school bus.....some drunk red-necks shot each other over a football game. The world is now a better place.
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