Coaches Poll Contemplates Doing Exact Opposite of Sensible

Disclaimer... This is not another BCS rant. That lifeboat in the blogosphere, the S.S. Hate, long set sail from this port. OTP is against the "playoff" conversations, because it's just another half assed attempt to fix an unfixable inherently flawed situation. Ranting about the BCS is ridiculous, a waste of time and keystrokes, and is akin to bitching about the clouds. Complain all you want, it isn't going anywhere.

However, the components of that BCS are at bare minimum open for discussion, especially given what's at stake beyond a berth in the national title game. When Texas loses out on an opportunity to play for the Big 12, because computers and polls rank a team with an equal record, who Texas beat, ahead of the Longhorns, someone, somewhere has to look at how those numbers are computed. If staying within the current system is a given, and to me, it is, then the only viable solution is to ensure as much transparency, accountability, and reasonable thought/logic goes into the various components of said less-than-ideal current situation.

What doesn't even remotely compute within this conversation is the proposed shift in the Coaches Poll. The poll itself has undergone myriad changes over it's 59 year life span to get to its current spot in the football universe. The identities of those voting is not a secret, their votes are (with the exception of the final regular season ballot), and the participating coaches are required to put the BCS Championship Game winner #1 in their final ballot of the year.

On the table for the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), based upon a recommendation from Gallup, is a total shroud of mystery draped over the entire thing. Identities would be concealed, votes remain secret, and transparency would go from its current "sort of" to a marked "absolutely none". How can this be good for the sport? The simple answer is that it cannot.

The Coach's Poll, in and of itself, is a bit ridiculous to me. For one, you are asking a group of professionals who are totally focused only on their own team and their opponents in one week bursts to evaluate the play and performance of 119 others over the course of an entire season. That's asking a lot, unless you want them to pawn it off to an SID or an intern, which I wouldn't be surprised to see happen far more often than not.

Second, you're asking coaches to be non-biased. A great theory, but nearly impossible, given that these polls play into the BCS rankings, and therefore BCS selections, and therefore BCS paydays which are split amongst fellow conference schools. If I'm a head coach who can let my school potentially have another million bucks for voting conference mates ahead of others, you can bet your ass I'll do it. Anyone would. It's human nature.

So for the coaches poll to have any "credibility" to begin with, we, as fans, are asked to assume that coaches will be informed, participatory, and non-biased. And the only way to ensure that's happening is to ensure that the public can see exactly how these non-biased informed voters are voting. More transparency is the answer. More mystery, more cloak and dagger, more smoke and mirrors does nothing. It only serves as yet another way for the major conference powers to be territorial, possessive, and discriminatory while playing in their BCS sandbox.

But perhaps what is most troubling, and this to me is the crux of the argument against these proposed changes, is that this is just another little roadblock thrown up to prevent fans from getting too close. Watch, but not too close. Support, but not too close. Come, but not too close. Because when it all boils down to it, athletics in general, and specifically college football, it's the haves and the have nots. And this, like most decisions made, show all of us fans exactly where we are and where we're expected to stay.

On Championships, the SEC, and Surprise Faces

Day 1 of post football aftermath and it already sucks. The morning just seemed a bit off. I'm not looking forward to Saturday like most weeks from August through January. It's real. It's gone. Another year down. Sigh...

It's a common adage that the more things change, the more they ultimately stay the same. And though last night's BCS Championship didn't feature Ohio State getting their doors blown off, it did showcase the Southeastern Conference and clearly, indisputably, and totally exhibited what I, along with some others, have thought for a while now ... that the SEC is simply head and shoulders above the rest of the college football universe.

It isn't the fact that SEC has tremendously "better" athletes than every one else. USC, Notre Dame, Oklahoma all are loaded with blue chip talent. Though I would argue that the talent is deepest across the board in the SEC. But most important is that the season in the SEC prepares you to win the big ones like no other conference. Sure, there's the Red River Shootout. USC-UCLA probably carries some weight on the west coast. I'll give you that Texas-Texas Tech was exciting. But those are momentary flashes in an otherwise fairly dull season. Oh... let's get fired up for Baylor! Yahoo!! The SEC has no Baylors. The SEC has no Washingtons. The SEC has no Big East or ACC teams. Whether it be Kentucky, Vandy, Mississippi State, or any other nontraditional football power, SEC teams play big games every week.

The argument of "The SEC is better than everyone you Yankee limpwrist" is not necessarily the argument I'm making. But I am saying that playing week in and week out against the best competition in the country, against arguably the best collection of coaches in the country, against top to bottom the best athletes in the country simply prepares you to be a champion. It steels your will. It allows you to be prepared to lead a team 76-yards down the field for the nail-in-the-coffin TD with under 4 minutes to go. The SEC may not have all the best teams, but it certainly has the best collective group of teams.

As for last night, the Gators walked out of South Beach with two things... a national championship and the freshly fallen StoopsTears of another missed opportunity. BigGameBob is playing awfully small-time when it counts, going 0-5 in his last 5 BCS games. While Stoops is looking for a tissue, hopefully to sob in, he can look toward one man as the reason why, and he can find that man in his bathroom mirror. Stoops made poor decision after poor decision last night, that allowed Florida to even have an opportunity to be close in the second half. Not kicking field goals when he should have, kicking them when he shouldn't have. It was like watching a trainwreck in super slow motion... everyone knew the outcome and no one could look away. Perhaps most important though was that through his decisions he allowed Tim Tebow the opportunity to do what he does... win.

I won't beat it to death because of the complete and thorough tongue bath Tim Tebow got last night from the FOX broadcast crew, but the guy is just a gamer of the highest order. 2 Championships, a Heisman, and strapping his team to his back time and time again and getting it done makes him one of, if not the, best college players of our generation. He may make a shitty pro QB or he may not even play substantially in the NFL, but when it comes to college football, there isn't anyone better.

Some things to note about last night's game...

• For anyone reading who makes personnel decisions at FOX Media, please fire Thom Brenneman and Charles Davis. I would rather have the noon SEC Raycom guys than these two. It ruined what should have been an otherwise most excellent showcase of college football. Say what you will about ESPN taking over the rights to the BCS, but having guys like Herbstreit, Desmond, Fowler, Nessler, or Mussberger calling this game would have been infinitely better.
• Note to all future opponents of Tim Tebow... DO NOT TALK SMACK BEFORE THE GAME. It is universally a poor decision.
• I thought there were far too many penalties and official involvement last night. Let the kids play.
  
• Percy Harvin is fast. Super fast. Like a jackrabbit on coke fast. I am assuming that young Mr. Harvin will declare for the NFL and get his ducketts, yo before every super high tension ligament in his body inevitably evaporates, but he sure was fun to watch.
• With his win last night, Urban Meyer has won his second title in 4 years at Florida. RV disagrees with me, but Meyer is a beast. It's a two-horse race for the mythical "Best Coach in America", but Meyer is certainly giving Carrol a run for his money.
• Of special note on this fantastic Friday is the fact that I had Florida #1 in our preseason poll. Not USC, not Oklahoma, not Georgia. I mean, not to toot our own horn here at OTP or anything. Of course not all of us here at OTP were pleased with this decision. Our very own RV had this to say about my selecting the Gators as our #1... "Florida 1? That's horrible dude. It's like you've never watched football before." Oh sweet merciful success.

RV... shocked

Speaking of the site, we'll be your offseason shelter for the lead up to spring games and the fall out of NFL declarations, coaching staff turnovers, and all the other goodies that happen after a season. RV will be along with some recruiting news and notes, which he is amazingly good at.

08... in the books. Welcome to the offseason.

I had to add this picture. ~RV

Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light

In roughly 11 hours, two things will be certain...

1.) There will be many, many, many drunk people in south Florida. You know, more than normal.

and

2.) College football will be done for the 2008 season.

The National Championship (or "Mythical National Championship" for smarmy blogger types) is tonight in Miami, and Oklahoma and Florida will have 60 minutes to give us enough football action to at least get us to February 4th or the day when 17-year olds bring old men to tears by putting on a cap with a logo and signing their name to a dotted line. What the hell is wrong with all of us?

What is most exciting to me is that one team is going to collectively look like horses' asses after tonight. Whether it be Gator LB Brandon Spikes calling the Big 12 slow, Gator CB Joe Haden shaving letters and numbers into his hair, Sooner CB Dominique Franks saying Tim Tebow wouldn't be in the Top 3 in the Big 12, to Sooner safety Nic Harris expanded that to the Top 7 while saying Percy Harvin is just another receiver. I'm no genius and it's been beaten to death, but why in the hell would you serve extra motivation to Tim Tebow? He is without doubt the best player on his team, best player in his conference, best player in football, and arguably one of the best players in recent memory. The guy eats lightening and shits strawberry shortcakes and all you have managed to do was piss off a sleeping giant. Ask the Japs how that strategy worked back in 41.

Tim Tebow... Shortcake Shitter

In an effort of full disclosure, I'm an unapologetic SEC homer. Watching the SEC on Saturdays in high def with a glass of bourbon is I hope what heaven is like. However, I can also recognize quality teams when I see them, regardless of conference affiliation. Oklahoma is a good team. But Florida is a great team. A great team with speed. Speed unlike Big 12 speed. ESS-EEE-SEE Speed, brother! And in recent years, that combination has served national champions pretty well, to the tune of 4-0 for the SEC in the big game.

Truthfully, as long as this game is even remotely interesting and/or exciting past halftime, it will be better than championship games of recent seasons. Oklahoma doesn't have Ohio State on their jerseys, so there is a chance that they may actually show up. But as most everyone knows, with Bob Stoops' record in major bowls, having Chokelahoma is the next best thing to the Buckeyes.

Pundits across the board are calling for a good game, with decent scoring, and an entertaining curtain drop to 2008. Slight edge goes to Florida from the national types, though that may be biased a bit since our feedreader is predominantly SEC. The game itself even leaves your faithful creative team here at OTP at a loss as to what's going to happen. However, we follow the national trend, picking the Gators in a 2-1 vote.

Edge: 31-24 Florida, MVP to Tim Tebow

RV: 31-24 Oklahoma, MVP to Gerald McCoy

Alan: 42-21 Florida, MVP to Tim Tebow

Reasons why I picked the Gators? Aside from their demon speed? I have just a few...
1.) Stoops has lost his last two bowl games, and four of his last five at OU. Meyer had won four straight bowl games in a row before his young defense gave up 524 yards to Michigan last year in a 41-35 loss. Winning and success usually breeds more of it. Advantage: UF

2.) Injury to Sooner DeMarco Murray leaves him out, injury to Gator Percy Harvin but he will play. Harvin is a gamechanger, much the way Murray was, and Florida with Percy is considerably better than Florida without. If that's possible. Advantage: UF

3.) Travel from Gainesville to Miami is a lot easier than Norman, OK, not to mention the crowd advantage the Gators should have playing about four and a half hours from home. Advantage: UF

11 hours left. 660 short minutes to savor the flavor of college football before it's gone again for months. Eat it up. Get crunk. Do whatever it is you do, because you don't have much longer to do it.

Thoughts on the game?

4 More Days to Complain About the BCS

3 more games is all that stands between all of us and a cold and bitter winter/spring of no football. What this means, of course, is that time will have to be spent working, or entertaining family and friends, but I've got approximately 86 hours until I have to acknowledge that I've let some things slip over the course of the last 4 months. As far as I know I am still gainfully employed, maintaining a semblance of a normal relationship, and my ass hasn't merged itself with the sofa yet, so this break may in fact be coming at a semi-decent time. Though with the recent purchase of Rock Band 2, I make no promises that assmerging will not, in fact, occur.

Tonight, however, we cherish one-third of our remaining games as Texas does battle with Ohio State. We use the term "do battle" loosely, if Ohio State's recent performances in any game of a worthwhile nature is an indicator of what is about to happen in the Arizona desert. The Buckeye Band may play "Hang on Sloopy" but only because there isn't a song created entitled "Dear Sweet Jesus Please Make the Men in Burnt Orange Stop Ripping Our Anuses Apart With Their Football Excellence".

What this wind down also means is that on Friday morning, after the dust and coke have cleared from South Florida, we will have one fan base claiming to be national champions and at least 2 more totally and utterly flamingly pissed off.

As Orson at EDSBS points out, and we agree with, Utah has staked a viable claim to a portion of the national title with this little nugget-O-truth:

Award Utah a fourth of the national title. This is not 2004 Utah, a team that turned a fluffy schedule and a victory over a palsied Pitt team into an undefeated season. Utah beat 5 ranked teams and embarrassed the SEC West champion. They did not lose a game this season. They had a defense that dealt out harm to all they faced and boasted one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the nation. They beat people with spread-option tactics executed with wishbone brutality.

If you want more from a team, you’re either unreasonable, a total flaming asshole, or both. In lieu of a playoff, we have to resort to fractions, and to be fair: one fraction is just as good as another.

To be fair, Texas can lay their claim to another 1/4 (arbitrary) of the title should foot meet ass as I expect tonight in the Fiesta Bowl. And God help us all if Oklahoma should muster the sheer luck to beat Florida on Thursday. It is then, and only then, really, that Texas fans have a legitimate bitch with their lot in the whole football universe this season.

Head to head matchup results sound good and they fire up the fanbases. I will give you that it makes a much stronger argument than "Roll Tide, faggot!" or something else wittily crafted in the dark corners of the typical football fan's soul, but in all reality, all those arguments are equally worthless. Should Texas have played for the Big 12 title? Probably. But they didn't, and that really sucks, and that's too bad for Texas. Yes, I know they beat Oklahoma. Kentucky beat LSU in 2007, but no Kentucky fan was claiming a part of that title.

Football, much like life, is unfair at its most basic core principle. You'll hear people moan and groan about the BCS system and insist that a playoff is "more fair". Of course, this is completely untrue, as a playoff, by sheer nature, is unfair. Is it "fair" that a team can have one poor game and not win the title? What if, given the 2008 situation, a team like BYU, ranked 16th in the last BCS standings at 10-3 had 4 good games and won a title? Is that fair? I can promise you that the resounding sentiment from the 15 schools above them in the standings would be a loud "Fuck no."

So that leaves us with the choice of one shitty system (the current BCS situation) or changing gears to another shitty system (a playoff). For the teams that get screwed under the current system, there's an easy fix... don't lose. For fans, the media, or the blogosphere to sit back and bemoan the lack of inherent fairness in the BCS system is total buffoonery. It was never designed to be fair. It was designed as an imperfect fix to a situation that no perfect fix exists for. College football, by design, is subjective. And that, the fundamental nature of the sport we love, is the reason that a playoff is no better.

Complaining about the BCS not being fair is akin to bitching when the rainstorm outside didn't litter your front yard with gumdrops and half naked strippers. Why? Because that isn't what rainstorms are intended for. They bring rain. And your option is to accept that fact and move along without bitching about things totally outside your locus of control or you can stand on the lawn with your brass poles and your nipple pastys and hope things change. As for me? I'll take my BCS rainstorm and just thank whatever deity resides above me that I have this wonderful crazy obsessive sport to complain about in the first place.