It is half time now in the Rose Bowl and my thoughts return to the earlier contests. Congrats to South Carolina in making the Huskers look a bit foolish. Does a heart good. The Gator Bowl? Should not have even been played. Ridiculous game. Now this Rose match up is a very good game at this point. Oregon is decked out a bit less silly this time around but that headgear is distracting. I think that Wisconsin will end up with a victory when the smoke clears. We will see shortly........
The only other game of significance was something called the Ticket City Bowl (the what?). Houston, after their untimely loss to USM, was relegated to this minor contest facing a very average PSU squad. The game itself was fairly interesting. Keenum threw for a lot of yards but one gets the feeling that they were not spot on. If they were I would imagine the margin of victory would have been greater. There are already those that are saying "yeah but...." concerning the game. As in "yeah but PSU did not have their starting QB in the game." True enough but they could not score on anyone anyway this season with their starter and that was also before the distraction of the "Sandusky Affair" reared its' ugly head. To be blunt, PSU was just not very good long before it became apparent that Jerry enjoys "educating young boys" as it were. Allegedly of course. The whole thing became a historic distraction and I certainly feel sorry for the players that had to endure such.
Now if Houston had run the table, would they have been a good pick for a BCS game? Perhaps. They would not be able to play on the same field (3 games out of 4) with LSU, Alabama, Oregon, Wisconsin or Oklahoma State but they certainly would be able to hang with the likes of WVU, Georgia, Va Tech, Clemson, Stanford, etc. They had their chances but one bad game in a non AQ conference destroys chances of national respect. Just ask Boise State this year. The Broncos (along with the Coogs and possibly a couple others) are every bit as good and likely even better than a whole lot of teams in "big time" bowls this year. Yes, even better perhaps than at almost half of the BCS bowl field.
Looking forward to the Fiesta later this evening. There are those that believe the Cowboys are really the team that deserves to meet the Tigers in the BCS "National Championship" game. They may have a point. That will be proven (or disproven) before the evening is through also. Stanford is no joke but probably just not quite one of the truly elite teams this year. Andrew Luck notwithstanding. I look for the Cowboys to take it in rather convincing fashion.
Hopefully this BCS system goes away sooner rather than later.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The Most Stupid Of Games of the Bowl Season Have Concluded
There are just too many bowl games. It borders on the ridiculous. Thankfully the most nonsensical bowls of 2011 are now written in the books.
A very silly game was the MAACO Bowl. Boise State, a top ten team, being relegated to meeting a 6-6 Arizona State squad? Just goes to show what lengths the BCS will go to keep a non AQ school out of the big party. The BCS fears a team like BSU which is fully capable of further exposing the current system as fraudulent. Of course next year BSU will find themselves in an AQ conference. Wonder which will be the next non BCS school to "bother" the BCS.
The Music City Bowl had two 6-6 teams battling to see who was the most mediocre. Wake Forest proved to be just a tad worse than Mississippi State. At least there was a lot of fans in the seats. A boon to the Nashville economy sure but just not what a bowl game is supposed to be.
The Meineke Car Car Bowl of Texas (or whatever it is called this year) was essentially a home game for the Aggies as was designed. Northwestern and TAMU deserved no post season whatsoever but there they were none the less. TAMU won this one which surprised me frankly. Not that they are without talent; top 10 talent, but they have just not been able to get it together this season. Coaching was likely to blame but that has been (possibly) rectified. Not that it will matter much. The SEC and perennial mediocrity loom large for the Aggies. Sumlin should have stayed in Houston where he was building a power. Or not. It has not been proven that Sumlin can win without a Keenum behind center. That type of player does not just come along every day.
The Pinstrip Bowl was a semi home game for Rutgers. Not much of interest to anyone but die hard fans. A 6-6 regular season for Iowa State is a success but that still does not mean it is worthy of a post season bid. The better team won.
The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (the what?) is thankfully over. This one was perhaps the most ridiculous game of the season. Perhaps any bowl at any time. UCLA had to get a waiver from the NCAA to compete in a bowl game with a losing record. Didn't Western Kentucky have a winning season? They or any D1 school with a winning record should have been a suitable replacement for UCLA. It would not have mattered much as far as attendance goes most likely. Did you see the "crowd" in the stands? Almost non existent. UCLA lost this one but Illinois sure tried to give it away. Neither team was deserving of a post season trip.
We have already established that the BCS has left Boise State out in the cold, but what about KSU and Arkansas? They will square off in the Cotton, which is historically every bit as prestigious as the Sugar or Orange Bowls. but does not have near the payoff as a BCS game. This year, both KSU and the Hogs, are ranked higher than any team that plays in either the Sugar or Orange. Such is the system.....
An eight win season really should be the minimum requirement to become bowl eligible. The only possible exception would be a team with a lesser record, who is conference champion, allowed in with less than eight wins (but no less than seven). Of course that would lessen the number of bowls but a good many of those are just a waste of time and attract very few fans.
A very silly game was the MAACO Bowl. Boise State, a top ten team, being relegated to meeting a 6-6 Arizona State squad? Just goes to show what lengths the BCS will go to keep a non AQ school out of the big party. The BCS fears a team like BSU which is fully capable of further exposing the current system as fraudulent. Of course next year BSU will find themselves in an AQ conference. Wonder which will be the next non BCS school to "bother" the BCS.
The Music City Bowl had two 6-6 teams battling to see who was the most mediocre. Wake Forest proved to be just a tad worse than Mississippi State. At least there was a lot of fans in the seats. A boon to the Nashville economy sure but just not what a bowl game is supposed to be.
The Meineke Car Car Bowl of Texas (or whatever it is called this year) was essentially a home game for the Aggies as was designed. Northwestern and TAMU deserved no post season whatsoever but there they were none the less. TAMU won this one which surprised me frankly. Not that they are without talent; top 10 talent, but they have just not been able to get it together this season. Coaching was likely to blame but that has been (possibly) rectified. Not that it will matter much. The SEC and perennial mediocrity loom large for the Aggies. Sumlin should have stayed in Houston where he was building a power. Or not. It has not been proven that Sumlin can win without a Keenum behind center. That type of player does not just come along every day.
The Pinstrip Bowl was a semi home game for Rutgers. Not much of interest to anyone but die hard fans. A 6-6 regular season for Iowa State is a success but that still does not mean it is worthy of a post season bid. The better team won.
The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (the what?) is thankfully over. This one was perhaps the most ridiculous game of the season. Perhaps any bowl at any time. UCLA had to get a waiver from the NCAA to compete in a bowl game with a losing record. Didn't Western Kentucky have a winning season? They or any D1 school with a winning record should have been a suitable replacement for UCLA. It would not have mattered much as far as attendance goes most likely. Did you see the "crowd" in the stands? Almost non existent. UCLA lost this one but Illinois sure tried to give it away. Neither team was deserving of a post season trip.
We have already established that the BCS has left Boise State out in the cold, but what about KSU and Arkansas? They will square off in the Cotton, which is historically every bit as prestigious as the Sugar or Orange Bowls. but does not have near the payoff as a BCS game. This year, both KSU and the Hogs, are ranked higher than any team that plays in either the Sugar or Orange. Such is the system.....
An eight win season really should be the minimum requirement to become bowl eligible. The only possible exception would be a team with a lesser record, who is conference champion, allowed in with less than eight wins (but no less than seven). Of course that would lessen the number of bowls but a good many of those are just a waste of time and attract very few fans.
Friday, December 30, 2011
More Bowl Talk
Last night this season's edition of the Alamo Bowl was written in the history books. There was just not much defence played. Was there? Baylor is a very good team but the defense has been suspect all season. One can easily see why the Bears were not in a "BCS" game year. Perhaps it is an Art Briles thing? Remember he came from the University of Houston where stellar offense and atrocious defense has been perfected. I wonder if Baylor could have traded their defense with that of Texas. Now that would be a team that would be very difficult to stop. Oh well......victory was theirs none the less.
Today there are a slew of bowl games on tap. Only one team in the bunch is a top 25 squad (Oklahoma). Is anyone really all that interested in Iowa State vs Rutgers? C'mon. Oklahoma va Iowa? Probably the best game of the day will be the Tulsa/BYU match up. BYU has had a pretty good season and Tulsa, with Kinne behind center, is a good CUSA team. Might be worth watching. Or not.
Today there are a slew of bowl games on tap. Only one team in the bunch is a top 25 squad (Oklahoma). Is anyone really all that interested in Iowa State vs Rutgers? C'mon. Oklahoma va Iowa? Probably the best game of the day will be the Tulsa/BYU match up. BYU has had a pretty good season and Tulsa, with Kinne behind center, is a good CUSA team. Might be worth watching. Or not.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Mack May Be On The Hot Seat Next Season
The Longhorns had a less than stellar year. A trip with a win to the Holiday Bowl just don't cut it for Texas fans. I would guess that Mack better reach a "BCS" game next year or at least one of the top tier non BCS games (Cotton or whatever they now call the "Citrus") or there will be blood.
There are a handful of teams that have fan expectation of competing for a "National Championship" year in and year out. Texas is one of them. The last time the Longhorns had a shot was a couple years back when Colt was "injured" in the title game with the Tide. Subsequently they were routed. Since then?......
It is interesting that some of these schools just have expectation of being in serious competition every year for the National Title. Florida, LSU, Bama, Auburn, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Notre Dame (strange isn't it?), Texas Agriculture (stranger still), USC, Ohio State, Michigan and perhaps Oregon must be among the elite or a coach won't be around long. The fans at WVU, Va. Tech, Wisconsin, Arkansas, PSU, Miami, FSU, with perhaps UCLA (hard to believe I know), and Michigan State are almost as unrealistic. Boise State and BYU (Notre Dame lite) are somewhat special cases with often unrealistic expectations from their fan base. At any rate, only two teams play for the title every year.
It is damn hard to get there.
There are a handful of teams that have fan expectation of competing for a "National Championship" year in and year out. Texas is one of them. The last time the Longhorns had a shot was a couple years back when Colt was "injured" in the title game with the Tide. Subsequently they were routed. Since then?......
It is interesting that some of these schools just have expectation of being in serious competition every year for the National Title. Florida, LSU, Bama, Auburn, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Notre Dame (strange isn't it?), Texas Agriculture (stranger still), USC, Ohio State, Michigan and perhaps Oregon must be among the elite or a coach won't be around long. The fans at WVU, Va. Tech, Wisconsin, Arkansas, PSU, Miami, FSU, with perhaps UCLA (hard to believe I know), and Michigan State are almost as unrealistic. Boise State and BYU (Notre Dame lite) are somewhat special cases with often unrealistic expectations from their fan base. At any rate, only two teams play for the title every year.
It is damn hard to get there.
The Holiday Bowl
Texas pulled this one out of the hat. It was difficult to watch two very mediocre teams go at it. I actually thought that Cal would find a way to score a few more than the Longhorns. Texas has a very good defense but a barely competent offense. The Longhorn D certainly won another one for them. It would have been interesting to see just how far the Horns would have gone this season if they had any kind of offense at all. Their defense kept them in games resulting in a few wins that they probably should not have.
As it stands now. I would put the Longhorns perhaps the fifth (maybe sixth) best squad in the Texas college ranks. Yes I am counting IAA Sam Houston State in the mix. They would have a better than even shot at beating them this year.
Mack is well liked by the Texas faithful but there are some rumblins'. He needs to get his boys to step it up next season or it could well be his last.
As it stands now. I would put the Longhorns perhaps the fifth (maybe sixth) best squad in the Texas college ranks. Yes I am counting IAA Sam Houston State in the mix. They would have a better than even shot at beating them this year.
Mack is well liked by the Texas faithful but there are some rumblins'. He needs to get his boys to step it up next season or it could well be his last.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Ho Hum
Last night Mizzou beat a rather forgettable North Carolina team in the Independence Bowl. Perhaps the bowl execs should have picked teams that "travel well." There was almost no one in attendance. It could be that even the fans of either team did not want to make the trip to Shreveport to watch two mediocre teams battle it out. Oh well.......I didn't watch much of it either.
Tonight the Belk Bowl (the what?) "must" be played. Louisville and NC State both come in at 7-5 and it should be a fine match up. A" drop everything and watch" type of contest. The game is to be held in Charlotte so there might be a few State fans in the seats.
Before I forget, we also have the Little Caesars Bowl on this evening. The powerhouse WMU Broncos meet with the 6-6 Purdue Boilermakers. This might actually be a pretty good game and Detroit is within driving distance of the fan base of both schools but still it is unlikely that Ford Field will be sold out. After all that would require a trip to Detroit. Who wants to do that?
Let's see....Wednesday night the Military Bowl kicks off with Toledo and Air Force going at it. AFA is the best of the service academies this year, but that does not say a whole lot. A pretty good MWC team is about what we have with the Falcon squad. Probably not much more than that. Toledo is a good MAC team but that might be all. Pretty similar records and someone has to win. Toledo is probably the better team. They may be a bit better than their record. This one might actually be a good game, but really....Should it even be played at all?
The Holiday Bowl is another ho hum game. It has traditionally been a bowl for those that are just not quite up to snuff though. There will be fans in the seats most likely. Both schools have a large fan base and a lot of them are some pretty affluent folk. They may have nothing better to do than brave the frozen tundra in San Diego to watch a game. Wish I could join them. The game itself is borderline garbage, but a trip to San Diego would be something to look forward to.
Some of these "bowl" games are just a waste of time. I suppose someone makes some money somewhere, but do we really need to see such uninteresting match ups in the post season?
Tonight the Belk Bowl (the what?) "must" be played. Louisville and NC State both come in at 7-5 and it should be a fine match up. A" drop everything and watch" type of contest. The game is to be held in Charlotte so there might be a few State fans in the seats.
Before I forget, we also have the Little Caesars Bowl on this evening. The powerhouse WMU Broncos meet with the 6-6 Purdue Boilermakers. This might actually be a pretty good game and Detroit is within driving distance of the fan base of both schools but still it is unlikely that Ford Field will be sold out. After all that would require a trip to Detroit. Who wants to do that?
Let's see....Wednesday night the Military Bowl kicks off with Toledo and Air Force going at it. AFA is the best of the service academies this year, but that does not say a whole lot. A pretty good MWC team is about what we have with the Falcon squad. Probably not much more than that. Toledo is a good MAC team but that might be all. Pretty similar records and someone has to win. Toledo is probably the better team. They may be a bit better than their record. This one might actually be a good game, but really....Should it even be played at all?
The Holiday Bowl is another ho hum game. It has traditionally been a bowl for those that are just not quite up to snuff though. There will be fans in the seats most likely. Both schools have a large fan base and a lot of them are some pretty affluent folk. They may have nothing better to do than brave the frozen tundra in San Diego to watch a game. Wish I could join them. The game itself is borderline garbage, but a trip to San Diego would be something to look forward to.
Some of these "bowl" games are just a waste of time. I suppose someone makes some money somewhere, but do we really need to see such uninteresting match ups in the post season?
Sunday, December 25, 2011
WAC 0-3 in 2011 Bowls
Last night USM beat a fairly decent Nevada Wolfpack team to send the WAC to 0-3 for the bowl season. LA. Tech gave TCU all they could handle the other night but came up short and Utah State let one slip away against Ohio earlier in the bowl season. It is quite possible that the WAC is the weakest link in D1 ball. I do believe the Sun Belt and MAC are tougher conferences.
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