Posted on 12/03/2007 11:06:43 AM PST by Bulldawg Fan
Les Miles didn’t need to go to Michigan for a chance to coach a team to victory against Ohio State, Michigan’s archrival. The LSU Tigers, to whom Miles reaffirmed his commitment over the weekend, will play Ohio State for the BCS national championship.
LSU (11-2) climbed five spots Sunday to No. 2 in the USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, enabling the Tigers to make the same jump in the BCS standings to set up a Jan. 7 date with the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes (11-1) in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
“This is the most astonishing 36 or 48 or 72 hours I think I’ve ever seen in athletics,” said LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman, who has 45 years in coaching and administration.
“Of course, it turned out to be magnificent for LSU. Not only did we get the coach, but we get the chance at the national championship in the same weekend, and of course, going in, we didn’t know either one of those things.”
Miles, a former Michigan player and assistant coach, walked away from a possible offer to coach at his alma mater when he announced Saturday he would stay at LSU.
A few hours later the Tigers defeated Tennessee 21-14 in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game, keeping slim hopes alive for a shot at a bigger prize.
When No. 2-ranked West Virginia lost 13-9 to huge underdog Pittsburgh and No. 1-ranked Missouri lost 38-17 to Oklahoma later that night, LSU’s long-shot possibility — described a week earlier by BCS experts — was no longer a desperate daydream.
LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette stayed up until 3 a.m. Sunday, e-mailing the 60 coaches who vote in the USA Today poll and as many Harris Interactive voters as possible. He set forth the case for LSU to be in the championship game. Miles made appearances on national TV after sunrise, doing the same.
By early Sunday afternoon, LSU was No. 2 in the USA Today poll. The Tigers, who did not receive a first-place vote in last week’s Top 25, received 11 this week.
LSU’s move ahead of Missouri and West Virginia, plus Georgia, Kansas and Virginia Tech, was a promising sign that the Tigers would be in the top two when the BCS standings were announced Sunday night.
“It was done at that point,” said Brad Edwards of ESPN, a BCS analyst who spelled out LSU’s long-shot hopes the previous weekend.
A jump from No. 5 to No. 2 in the Harris poll followed the larger jump by the Tigers in the USA Today poll Sunday. Those polls and an average of six BCS computer rankings are equal parts of the BCS formula.
“The only surprise to me was that LSU was such a comfortable No. 2 in both polls,” Edwards said. “I obviously expected them to be in that position, but I thought there would be a lot more support for all the different contenders out there.”
LSU finished No. 2 in the computers, trailing Virginia Tech. The Buckeyes moved from No. 3 in the BCS to No. 1 largely on the strength of a majority of first-place votes in the polls.
“I knew that LSU had the computer advantage on Oklahoma and USC,” Edwards said, citing schedule strength and quality victories as key components. “In my mind it was only a matter of whether a team like Virginia Tech might be able to be ranked ahead of LSU.” Edwards said when he saw LSU’s margin in the USA Today poll — and that Oklahoma, not Virginia Tech, was No. 3 in that poll — he knew the Tigers were a lock for No. 2 in the BCS standings.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel voted his team No. 1 and LSU No. 2.
Miles voted LSU No. 1 and Ohio State No. 2.
uh, LSU would have, if Ainge hadn’t thrown some really stupid gifts.
BTW, no offense to Illinois, but I believe the real reason that Georgia was not chosen for the Rose Bowl was because that game would upstage the “championship” game. The BCS is a joke.
Bingo.
I’m no fan of the current system, but you have to understand the inherent flaws in any system in which you’ve got dozens of teams competing for the same title. You’ll always have major differences in strength of schedules, strength of individual conferences, etc. that will come into play in any system — including a playoff format for a national championship.
Pitt has four National Championships, they've had some of the all time greats play there; Marino, Ditka, Dorsett, etc. Shove that second tier crap where the sun don't shine pally.
They're not Ohio State only because they're in a major city and have to compete w/ the Steelers, the Penguins, and the Pirates. its not Columbus where OSU is the only game in town, or to take a more extreme example Ann Arbor.
Believe it or not college football extends beyond the Big 10, in fact, it extends beyond the SEC. This year, more than most, has proven that the talent in the NCAA is spread across a wide variety of schools. Those days when only a dozen schools determined the best team are long, oh so very long, GONE.
It sounds like you oppose a playoff because it will interfer in the illusion of big school hegemony and that's exactly what it will do. The farce that is the BCS, establish by and for the dozen or so programs you defend, has never been more exposed.
There will be no national champion this year or any year until they throw that abomination on the scrap heap.
Are you serious? Well, all right: Yale won 26 national championships in football. Should we consider Yale a "top tier" program? Pitt simply isn't in the discussion of top tier programs, period. You're deluding yourself if you think otherwise.
Those days when only a dozen schools determined the best team are long, oh so very long, GONE.
You're part right and part wrong. On one hand, you're right that occasionally, a program now might have a couple of good years and become a contender to have an excellent season. This didn't happen as often in the past. But those programs are typically based on one or two recruits and flash out after a few years. Pitt, for instance, is a good example of this (Marino, Dorsett). BYU in the 80s (Young, McMahon, Detmer). Some second-tier schools have even managed to hang around for ten years or so (see, e.g., Miami), but they will eventually return to mediocrity. Only a few schools have the institutional power to be at the top level of football year after year. Look at the best teams in college football this year and look at the best teams 50 years ago. How many are the same? Oklahoma. Texas. LSU. Ohio State. From time to time, one of these great programs will dip a little, and maybe be replaced over a period of years, but the consistency at the top of college football has been remarkably consistent over the past 50 years. It will continue to be.
It sounds like you oppose a playoff because it will interfer in the illusion of big school hegemony and that's exactly what it will do.
I oppose a playoff for the primary reason that it's a dumb idea and simply doesn't add anything to college football. I don't really appreciate the BCS either, because it's a de facto playoff system that has caused more harm than good. I think the old system of college football was far superior: you win your conference, you play in your bowl game. You win your bowl game, you had a great season. What's so hard about that?
Just to be clear, the two primary programs that I mentioned were Michigan and Ohio State. The bowl coalition was established in 1992; the Big Ten and Pac-10 did not join until 1998. The Big Ten and the Pac-10 fought the Bowl Coalition from the very beginning because it interfered with the Rose Bowl, which is my precise point. The Big Ten and Pac-10 were saying exactly the same thing I've been saying: "Our conference champs play for the Rose Bowl. What do we need you for?"
At lest with a playoff its not arbitrary. Top two teams in a conference go to the playoffs. Simple as that
None of this crap where an undefeated team (weak schedule or not) does not even have a shot at the championship.
College hasn’t been about education for decades. At least the sports departments don’t lose money.
Perhaps this occurs, because ability still counts in sports. There are no affirmative action advantages in sports.
Twenty four days before Christmas, in a state in the south, Les Miles was pissed as he opened his mouth. "Miles to Michigan," was reported as fact. To which Miles responded, "Herbie you don't know jack!"
The Tigers had suffered a gut wrenching loss, At the hands of McFadden and the rest of the hogs. And Bo in his sweatshirt, and Miles in his Hat. Were determined to prove they were better than that!
When the Tennessee Vols ran out on the field, There were ruckus applause from the mentally ill. Still in the locker room, Les told his team, "This season ain't over. We still have a dream."
The hurt throwing arm of QB Matt Flynn Meant Ryan was the man they put their faith in. Then the fans all heard, what Les said in the Dome. "I ain't goin' anywhere. I'm happy. I'm Home!"
The fans were still thinking "This might be a trick." 'til someone pointed out "Hey, this guy ain't Nick!" The Hat took the field for this championship game, And he brought all his Tigers, and called them by name;
"Now, Hester! Now, Early! Now, Highsmith and Putt! Let's let 'er rip and shut these guys up! Take to the field Men! Give it your all! Then later we'll watch numbers 1 & 2 fall."
The fans still weren't sure as to what team would show, The Virginia Tech game seemed like so long ago. But there in the stands, the fans they did cheer, As Perrilloux played his game of the year.
While out in Ar-Kansas, the hogs claimed the boot, The tigers were focused on far better loot. With the game knotted up, Ainge threw a quick out But Zenon was ready and took six to the house.
He wore a LSU jacket, and a white turtle neck, The same as he wore when his team beat La Tech. With the hat on his head, and a childish grin, Les put his team in the title picture again.
His smile-how it widened! as Pitt won its game! He cheered Oklahoma, when it did the same. The stars were aligning, it couldn't be true. Turns out Miles WAS destined, to play O-S-U.
With a month to prepare and a month to heal up, We're all pretty sure which team will show up. He ain't going to Michigan, and we're sure of that. But Tressel and the Buckeyes should still Fear the Hat.
On December first, he called L-S-U home. Then set up the Tigers, to play again in the Dome. It soon will be legend, how Les started that day, "Can't talk now. . . . I'm busy. . . . [Y'all] have a GREAT day!"
Nothing elitist in that sentiment.
Football is competition. Competition is about being the best. If you don't care who the best is why even keep score.
Look, we had a great time on Saturday running into each other, who cares who won, its so.....burlesque.
I guess I don't see why you think that's elitist. It's simply a recognition that the member institutions of the Big Ten and Pac-10 don't play for any "national title;" they play to win the Rose Bowl. The same could be said of an SEC team and the Sugar Bowl; Big 12 and the Orange Bowl; etc.
Football is competition. Competition is about being the best. If you don't care who the best is why even keep score.
Sure, and that question is answered, at least for the Big Ten and the Pac-10, on January 1 in the Rose Bowl. That's what you play for. There's no difference in what you're saying and saying that the NBA Championship is inadequate because it doesn't allow for global competition, thus it is impossible to say that the NBA Champion is the "best." As you pointed out, why bother playing if, at the end of the day, the NBA does not determine who's best?
The answer to that, of course, is that we simply don't care whether the Spurs could beat some European team. The NBA folks play their games and at the end of the day, they call one team the champ. Sort of how the Big Ten and Pac-10 play their games, play the Rose Bowl, and call one team a champ. It doesn't matter that the SEC also plays football and has the Sugar Bowl. That's great for them, but it doesn't affect the world of the Big Ten.
I suspect that part of your beef is that Pitt doesn't have a real, traditional conference tie-in for a bowl game, but that doesn't have to be the case; start your own bowl. It worked out pretty well for the WAC.
Also, there are some inherent difficulties in determining who the top two teams in each conference may be. Who are the top two teams in the SEC this year? LSU is certainly one of them, but who is the other -- Tennessee (who won their division but lost in the conference championship game), or Georgia (ranked #5 in the nation)?
Pitt’s glory days go back to the era when they were an independent like Penn State, Miami, Notre Dame, etc. I think Pitt in particular took a major step down in terms of its reputation when the Big East conference was created and went through some of that chaos and confusion when Boston College and Miami left a few years ago.
None whatsoever.
“And if the #3 team in one conference is better than the #2 team (or even the #1 team) in another ......”
The same problem exist in the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, Soccer, Marbles...
Heres the upshot
1 Its not arbitrary
2 Who the hell cares if youre number 3 team in teh SEC is better than one in the WAC, we are only interested in the national champ and at least two teams in the SEC are better than team 3.
“Also, there are some inherent difficulties in determining who the top two teams in each conference may be.”
No there are not, its up to each conference to set the rule. Tha MAC has a two division setup with a championship.
“Who are the top two teams in the SEC this year? LSU is certainly one of them, but who is the other — Tennessee (who won their division but lost in the conference championship game), or Georgia (ranked #5 in the nation)?”
Up to the SEC or MAC or WAC.... If a conference want to be like the big ten so be it. If they want to be like the SEC there ya have it.
There's every difference in the world. The NBA is the best basketball on the planet because they draw the best basketball players from all over the world and pay them the highest salaries.
The Big 10 and the PAC 10 are 2 out of about 10 conferences, they're arguably not even the best 2 conferences.
BTW, Pitt is in the Big East which is a BCS conference.
Look, its been pleasant talking w/ you but you're arguments really don't measure up.
Whoooeee! LSU must have some great Pep writers! What next, this almost made me a football fan! (oh, wait)?
Ohio State Band Realizes they are Playing LSU for the Nat’l. Title
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd268/mydeadbatteries/OSUB.gif
Looks to me like the Pep Director has the inside track, Wonder how much yen he has on this?
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