I Told You So

The fact that USC is going to finish #1 in the polls and still not make it to the NC is unacceptable. Even if you're not a USC fan, that's just not right.

I think LSU should go ahead and go. I'd enjoy watching OU tear them a new one.

....except OU wouldn't "tear them a new one" - not after watching how they got thumped by K. St. last night. LSU held an amazing GA team to 13 points and just plain embarrassed them last night, and I think they can beat anyone in the country, including the "invincible" OU. Now, all I'm complaining about is how my red-hot 10-2 Vols got completely cheated again and will most likely have to settle for the crappy Peach Bowl.

Don't get me wrong, I hate OU just as much as Josiah does...I still hold a grudge for the whooping they put on my 'Noles a few years ago in the NC. However, I do think that they aren't getting the credit they deserve. Anyone who underestimates Bob Stoops and the teams he puts together is in for a serious wakeup call. The Sooners are going to be hungry after this loss. That said, LSU deserves a shot at the title. They've earned that much by surviving the SEC with only one loss. But to compare OU to UGA...that's quite a stretch (I know you didn't specifically, but I can tell you were thinking along those lines). I'll cheer as much as the next person if they were to somehow pull out a victory over the Sooners, but I still think the only team that could stand up against OU in the NC is USC. Or maybe Michigan...

Yeah, I agree with you, GA is not comparable to OU, but they are better than K. St, in my opinion. And, yeah, it says a whole lot about LSU to have gotten out of the SEC with only one loss. From what I've seen so far today on the net, it looks like the projected Sugar Bowl will, in fact, be OU and LSU. I really hope so, at least. I'm sorry, but the PAC-10's competition just does not compare to the SEC's - the best conference in the nation (and I'm not just saying that because I'm a Vols fan), so I just don't think USC should be there over LSU. And I do think that other than LSU, Michigan is probably the only other team that could handle OU... Now, about the Outback Bowl taking an 8-4 Florida who lost at home to both Tenn and Ole Miss.... *grumble, grumble*

Andy, I've gotta agree with you, the PAC-10 is just a much, much weaker conference than either the SEC & the Big 10, but I also feel that way 'bout the Big 12, which is where I'm gonna hafta disagree with Steele.

Steele, nobody is understimating OU, everyone loves them. I don't. I think they're overrated. They're in a wimpy conference, that at best is on par with the Pac 10.

I think USC, LSU, and Michigan could easily handle OU.

I'm not so sure that LSU is the better team. They should have faced Florida in the SEC championship game, but Florida got robbed big time against FSU, which is the only reason Georgia got to the SEC championship. LSU already got beat once by Florida, and I think that Florida could have won again. But, we'll never know, thanks to the biased ACC refs in the Florida/FSU game.

I wish I could have watched that Florida/FSU game...

Josiah,
I'll agree that the Pac-10 is one of the weaker conferences overall, but that shouldn't take away from the talent level USC is building right now. I can't agree with you on the Big-12 thing though...I'm not going to say they're one of the best, but they're at least on par with the Big-10. I mean seriously, take away Michigan and what does the Big-10 have? Purdue? Wisconsin? Both of those teams are easily matched by Texas and K-St.

Geez louise Steele. The Big-10 is a ridiculously tough conference, with every team a contender to one extent or another, with the exception of say Northwestern or Penn State. Every other team, from Minnesota to Iowa have been or are top 25 teams this year. All of them have great programs, with solid recruiting strength, etc. etc. etc.

I mean, right now you've got 5 Big 10 teams in the top 25, how many in the Big 12? 3, 4 mebbe?

The Big-10 is like the SEC, nearly all great teams, nearly all rivalries, and by the time a winner is declared you can be certain of two things: 1. they earned it and 2. they've got some serious wounds getting thing.

Much like LSU & Michigan. Who was Oklahoma's one great test? K-state? OU couldn't even win their conference.

"1. they earned it and 2. they've got some serious wounds getting thing."

I'd agree with you this year. I have respect for Michigan. But what Ohio St did last year was a travesty. There is no way they should have gone undefeated. I'm sorry, I just can't accept that.

Sure, Minnesota and Iowa are good, but come on man. Look at the schedules here. They aren't any better than those of Ok St, Nebraska, or K-St! Oh, and there are 5 Big-12s in the top 25 also.

A few things...
1) LSU can kiss my ass... i hate those bastards.

2) After the OU KSt. game...Eli Manning should get the Heisman. I mean really, if jason white cant take the talent he has around him and make at least a RESPECTABLE loss of the game... he is no heisman player. at least Eli kept Ole Miss in there against LSU...those bastards.

3) I dont care how much Hail to the Victors is played... michigan, aside from a legendary day for Perry, could not and would not beat OU.

4) Im pissed OU is still playing for the title. LSU and USC would be a tremendous game. I would be glued to it and you know it would come down to who's QB had been hit less and was able to make plays late in the 4th. as it is, LSU needs to keep hittin White and they will win. That kid is a giant pussy who's game goes to crap when he gets roughed up. Down in NO at the sugar bowl, LSU is gonna have a loud rowdy crowd, i dont see OU making it out of this one, LSU 28 - OU 17 [if they're lucky]

5) Michigan is gonna be whalloped by USC. That front 4 is gonna take perry out of the game...and make it hard for JN to spread the secondary by pressuring him all day. USC 31 - UM 14

6) FSU MIAMI IN THE ORANGE BOWL! does it get any better than that for a bowl game? Time to get out the war paint and my tomahawk.... TO HELL WITH THE CANES! MAY THEY ROT, ROT, ROT IN HELL!!!!! FSU 24 - MIA 21

and what a joke fiesta bowl... OSU KSU....i would make a prediction if i even cared to waste the time. but im hungry so screw the Irrelevant Bowl... Im outty

Honestly, I really want to get someone's opinion here: How is it possible for a 10-2 Tennessee team who has finished more than strong (granted, against pretty weak opponents, but still), beat Miami at home ending their national home win streak, beat FL at the Swamp, and finished with a share of the SEC East Title go to the friggin' PEACH bowl against an unranked team!? The Peach bowl is reserved for the 5th place SEC team, is it not? How does the Outback take an 8-4 FL over Tenn? How does the Capitol One Bowl take a GA team who got embarrassed and now was 3 losses (as opposed to Tenn's 2)? I've said it before and I sure as hell will say it again: NO ONE respects Tenn. - No one.

My guess is that the reason that Florida went to the Outback is purely economic. A lot of people in Florida hate Tennessee's guts are aren't going to want to pay to see them play, but those same people will all be clamoring for the chance to watch Florida in a bowl game.

Perhaps no one respects Tennessee because their colors make everyone mildly ill. Whereas Georgia has that striking red and Florida at least has the tropical blue-and-orange motif. But pale orange on white, without even some black highlights? Creamsicle colors. And these things matter.

pnut:

having fsu/miami in a major bowl is the travesty, and not just because i HATE both teams. it's ridiculous that conference winners get such preferential treatment, especially conferences like the pathetic ACC. tennesee (not to mention texas and ohio state) was totally robbed, and just so some big rivalry (fsu/miami) can be played out? gimme a break.

in other news:

i'm glad someone finally mentioned the ridiculous refereeing in that florida/florida st. game. i don't think i've ever seen a game reffed that badly...and that is no exaggeration. sheesh.

all in all, while it sucks (for usc fans...i for one am happy) that the number 1 team in both polls is not in the sugar, i think it shook out quite nicely. we'll have a wonderful championship game, and usc/michigan hearkens back to a purer time in college football, and if usc can get past the maize 'n blue (which i'm not sure they can), they will still have a claim on the national championship.

This is the last year anyone can get away with calling the ACC pathetic so make the most of it.

UJ....*sigh*...what a sad existence you must lead. Tennessee was not robbed of anything. what did they deserve? NOT A DAMN THING! LSU is clearly the sec champ and the rest of them get divied up however and it is of NO CONCERN! Also, aside from the sugar bowl...and of course the rose bowl being already reserved...the fiesta and orange are exercises in economic management of highly touted teams from specific conferences. So why are you upset about "favorable treatment"? these games are supposed to be set up so they are fun to watch. NO ONE GIVES A RIP ABOUT OHIO STATE! LIKEWISE FOR KANSAS STATE...so why not shove them off into the lesser of the 4 bowls of the year that can take the hit based on last years revenues. it all makes sense when you take the "pure football" glasses off and start accepting the fact this is based on money more than anything and move on with your life. And especially beyond the big 4 bowls....its all about winning where you are at, for recruitments sake, nothing else. Who really cares who won the Motor City Bowl last year? Or the Cotton Bowl....its all frivolous blathering. So quit all the whining and enjoy the way it shook out for what its worth. The only team that can say they were robbed...is USC. The polls say they earned something and arent getting it. Its shameful that OU is still let in. LSU vs USC would have been a grrrrrrreat game. [yes, bad tiger pun intended]

Well I was at the SEC Championship and well Georgia played the entire game wrong...why the hell do you throw the ball when the defense is blitzing every play. When you don't run the ball its pretty obvious what you are doing...every scoring drive that Georgia had was held together by running the ball...as a result of passing nearly every down LSU beat the living hell out of Greene by blitzing. Do I think USC should be in the Title game? um no...now why well lets see no matter how much I hate the BCS its job is to make sure its a non partial decision as to who goes to the title game removing the split poll decisions. USC is a classic example that it doesn't pay to play in a week conference. Oklahoma though doesn't deserve a shot to play in the title cause it lost its conference...if there was one stipulation for playing in the national title it should be...CONFERENCE CHAMPION...oh well...I think Michigan will beat USC so there will be no whining and LSU will win it all...Lord help us...and order will be restored and the gods of Football will quiet down. Well War Damn Eagle cause our season is done.

pnut:

you're absolutely right. how could i have been so blind? i hate my poor existence, and merely because of my college football beliefs. if only i was smarter, and could see that money rules everything and always should! i mean, who cares about the better teams playing in the better bowls? who cares what they've done ALL SEASON LONG to deserve playing in major bowls? when it comes down to it, we really should let the criminals and thugs (fsu/miami) battle it out. because those are the only two teams in modern america...er...florida, that people care about. i mean, sure last year's national championship game, with OHIO STATE, had some of the highest tv ratings of all time...but that was just a fluke. and sure they are one of the biggest universities in the country, and pack in over 100,000 fans per game, but there's not REALLY any ohio state fans out there. for that matter, maybe we should just put notre dame in the national championship bowl game (hey, i'm die hard nd, i'd love it!). sure, the irish sucked this season, but at least they have a massive fan base and could earn the networks money! let's just scrap the entire system, forget the history, passion, and beauty of college football, and go with what works, or at least what you think works: money. i hate myself for thinking otherwise. for that matter, maybe you could tell me how to think on every subject. you seem to have the market cornered on good arguments and brilliant analysis. let me in on your secret!

you know what's really funny about this?

UJ and pnut have the same last name...

i know, i just realized that too. and you know what else? my roommate is matt wilkins, a good friend of pnut, and if i'm not mistaken, pnut will be here (my apartment) for new years. oh the irony! wait a sec, you wordsmiths...is this a correct use of the word irony? i'm admittedly a science guy and use the word wrong sometimes.

Close enough.

*sheepishly turns red* what a small damn world. well if youre matts roomy then you should also know im THE die hard ND fan and hence my skewed view of football...based on money. it is the root of all that....well...it is the root of all at ND.

AND HOW DO YOU CHEER FOR THE VOLS AND ROOM WITH MATT? anywho...the point is...no one deserves anything and we should all just leave football be...it was a terrible season. there is nothing left to redeem this season. where's my scouting report?

i don't cheer for the vols. i just hate the 'canes and the vols beat them in miami. and i guess i still DO believe teams earn things during their season...that's the POINT of the bowls. i also hate ohio state, but i'd rather see them in a major bowl then, say, a florida team.

i would also take issue with your skewed view of fottball. i don't know what you mean about being "THE" die hard notre dame fan. i have bled irish gold my entire life. and i disagree money is the root of everything in south bend or most places in college football...well, maybe it is, but it shouldn't be. but i really think that the people at nd strive to not make it all about that. sure they have the contract with nbc, and all their games are televised, etc. but their graduation rates are still higher than anyone elses. you see more of their players sticking around for their entire college career. their coaches, even, seem to truly love their players and their environment. if i'm not mistaken, they even hired a strong Christian, in willingham. so i would say that at nd, more than anywhere else, it's about winning and the love of the game most of all. sure, money comes into play, but i don't think it's the dominant factor. i guess i'm just naive. i like to think that nd hearkens back to a day when it WASN'T all about money, bowl contracts, etc. when gipper speeches, rudy, the four horsemen, rivalries, etc. still really, really mattered. that's what i love about notre dame. the history. the passion. gosh, i'm a terrible writer. i'll stop now. i hope i've clued you into a little bit of why i said what i said, even though i did it poorly. i know i should be jaded and put-off by all this, like you, but i just can't bring myself to do it.

ND is SOOOOO all about the money...but we'll discuss that at new years. maybe im just bitter that they dissed my grandfather the way they did and even coach dicicco, all because of money. and various other things that ive noticed on my numerous trips to notre dame over the years. Its just a matter of time before they start selling tickets to the pep rally.