ESPN spent this week getting folks amped up for the impending college football season by putting together a week long piece called “The BCS at 10” – calling in several columnists to chime in regarding the best teams, impact players, most exciting games and what not.
With four BCS appearances, the Miami Hurricanes definitely made their presence felt on the list – though in a few cases, were slighted by the sports network who seems to love not giving the Canes their due and will cheap-shot The U all day long when given the opportunity.
On Monday, the Best BCS Bowl Games were broken down and even though Miami has played in four of the ten years the BCS has been in existence, the Canes only clocked in once – the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, which ranked second.
Over five years later, still no resolution as Chris Low writes, “The first overtime was marred by a controversial pass interference penalty called on Miami’s Glenn Sharpe. In fact, the Hurricanes rushed the field thinking they had won the game. But a late flag came flying out of the back of the end zone after Craig Krenzel’s fourth-down pass to Chris Gamble fell incomplete.”
The memory of this game sticks around like an unwanted houseguest or a case of VD.
In no surprise to all, the Bobby Bowden stroke-fest continued as the Seminoles made the list twice with the 2000 Sugar Bowl win over Virginia Tech, 46-29 for the championship – as well as the triple overtime loss to Penn State, 26-23.
The ’00 Sugar Bowl sort of makes sense, as freshman Michael Vick rallied to get the Hokies in the game, bringing it to 29-28 late in the third before the Noles pulled away… but the nod for the ’05 Orange Bowl is typical ESPN and their love affair with all things Bowden and Joe Paterno.
How does a game with a slew of missed kicks, featuring a then 8-4 Florida State team surpass the ’01 Sugar Bowl, pitting bitter rivals Miami and Florida against each other for the first time since 1987?
The Canes, snubbed from the title game after beating the Noles head-to-head months back, roll into New Orleans with a #2 ranking and take down the #7 Gators in the heart of SEC country.
13-10 at the half, Florida jumped out to a 17-13 lead before Miami found the end zone twice in the quarter, going up 27-13 entering the fourth. From there, a stifling Canes defense shut down the Gators offense and Sebastian The Ibis even drew a flag for excessive celebration on the game’s final score.
Also on Monday, Ted Miller broke down the most memorable BCS performances, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise to Hurricane Nation that no Miami player made this list.
Unstoppable all night, Andre Johnson racked up 199 yards and two touchdowns for co-MVP honors with Ken Dorsey, who threw for 362 yards and three touchdowns.
Oklahoma’s defense was #2 on the list, for shutting down Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl, en route to a 13-2 win. Typical, being that ESPN will stroke all things Bob Stoops and OU.
Why does the Sooners’ D get the love for shutting down a Snoop Minnis-less Florida State bunch, yet Miami’s offense puts up 472 yards against Nebraska in the ’02 Rose Bowl, posts a 34-0 halftime lead and owns the Huskers.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t for the Canes. Not that Larry Coker had the stones to do so, but had he kept his foot on the throttle, Miami could’ve worked Nebraska, 68-0. But like he did in the opener against Penn State (a 30-0 halftime lead resulted in a 33-7 final), the best team in college football history let up out of respect for the other guy.
Southern Cal gets bonus points for kicking the ass off an overrated Oklahoma bunch in the ’05 Orange Bowl, 55-19 and takes no heat for running up the score – whereas you plug The U in USC’s slot and it’d have been poor sportsmanship.
Miami also showed up under the Biggest BCS Slights category for the 2000 season where Florida State would up in the national championship game against No. 1 Oklahoma, instead of The U.
Forget that Miami was #2 in the AP and Coaches Polls, the Noles somehow jumped the Canes in the BCS – even though Miami won the head-to-head battle in October, ending a 17-game win streak and knocking off the defending champs.
Miller attempts to build an argument for Washington – who beat the Canes, 34-29 in early September – but it falls on deaf ears.
Miami followed the blueprint of losing early in the season and winning out. The Canes were #4 and the Huskies were #15 when the two teams met for the out of conference match up in Seattle.
UW lost two weeks later to 25th-ranked Oregon by a touchdown. The Huskies also won out, but their body of work was nowhere near as impressive – struggling with middle of the road Pac-10 teams and almost losing to a then 3-4 Stanford bunch.
The U took down top-ranked Florida State and weeks later beat down second-ranked Virginia Tech by 20 points. When the BCS talked about margin of victory, the Canes played along in the finale, working over Boston College, 52-6, in an attempt to prove the mettle.
In the end, the Noles got the nod and faceplanted, 13-2 against the Sooners while #2 Miami kicked the ass off of #7 Florida, 37-2o, in a very hostile Sugar Bowl. Washington knocked off #14 Purdue, 34-24 and finished the season with a #3 ranking.
A year later, the BCS began putting more value on head-to-head match ups, meaning if the 2000 scenario occurred in 2001, Miami would’ve absolutely played Oklahoma instead of Florida State… yet ESPN’s Miller still attempts to make a case for Washington.
I guess it should come as no surprise that Mr. Miller was a beat writer for the Seattle Post Intelligence. Yeah, no bias there Teddy Boy. Nice journalistic integrity when attempting to be neutral when writing for ESPN.
All in all, ESPN got it right with the best team of the BCS era – but that was a no-brainer. In other areas where some common sense and no bias was necessary, the oft-wrong network again failed and proved they’re not all about The U.
Lifelong Cane here, raised in Miami, both parents got degrees from UM, etc., etc.
But can you seriously whine any more? I’m so tired of the crying from fellow Canes. Whining about a bunch of entertainment writers on ESPN and their opinions–who cares? Every fan base feels slighted. Every fan base can make an argument for why their player/team/season/performance ought to be “ranked” above another’s. It’s become a cliche to do so.
Grow a pair, act like an adult, and stop bitching. You make the rest of us look bad.
So let me get this straight, insectoverloads… I’m the one who’s supposed “grow a pair, act like an adult and stop bitching” and I should worry about making other Canes look bad — yet you’re the one over here spouting insults like a moronic 7-year old.
How come ESPN writers can make their case and call it the way they see it – but I should shut the f up regarding my opinion, on my own site?
Yeah, everyone can make a case. Sure. That doesn’t make them right, though.
Look at this list as a Miami fan and tell me you don’t see some slighting? Honestly.
ESPN had no choice but to call Miami the best team – but it’s hardly a shock that the stroking of USC and OU continues, while the Canes get the shaft in other categories.
Why was Matt Leinart the poster boy for his 34-game win streak and his title game performance – but Ken Dorsey goes 38-2 and is oft knocked for only being a success because of the talent that surrounded him?
Why is a Seattle writer pleading his case for why UW and UM were on par in 2000 – when that was hardly the case. Miami beat #1 and #2 down the stretch and then smoked #7 UF in SEC country for the bowl game – all while UW was eeking out wins over lesser Pac-10 teams.
Miller says both UM and UW won their bowl games decidedly, which glosses over the fact that #2 whooped #7 by 17-points and #3 beat #14 by 10.
The only thing more cliche than defending one’s point and discussing the slight is commenting on a blog and starting your argument with “lifelong Cane” and “my folks went to The U” as the basis for your argument.
You don’t agree with my points here, so be it. But to tell someone to “act like an adult” and the in same breath, hurling insults? Do you even see the irony in that, Champ?
Thanks for your ‘insight’, Johnny Diehard.
Seriously, laugh out loud.
Not going to respond to your woe-is-me victim mentality “STOP INSULTING ME” lines. The rest:
“How come ESPN writers can make their case and call it the way they see it – but I should shut the f up regarding my opinion, on my own site?”
Because they don’t whine. They state an opinion and don’t look like they’re trying to pick a bone. They don’t look like whiny children. Sure, they look like a bunch of entertainment writers who write to their audience to make money (big surprise) instead of objective sports analysts, but that’s to be expected. All you do is whine, all the time. Whine whine whine. Every post is about how the media hates us, how we get dissed, how everybody’s out to get us. Refs at baseball games? OUT TO GET US! ACC refs? OUT TO GET US! Please. Act like an adult and stop with this conspiracy theorist crap.
You can write it, sure. I’m just telling you it makes the rest of us Cane fans look bad.
“Look at this list as a Miami fan and tell me you don’t see some slighting? Honestly.”
I just don’t care enough to actually read all the articles and get pissed at them. ESPN has ranked the 01 team best of all time before, on this big segment on the air, and reaffirmed it just now with best of the BCS era on the site. What more do you want? Why whine and bitch more? Who cares? I agree that the Ted Miller guy wrote a dumb paragraph about our 00 team, but whatever, bitching about it on a blog just makes you look childish.
“Why was Matt Leinart the poster boy for his 34-game win streak and his title game performance – but Ken Dorsey goes 38-2 and is oft knocked for only being a success because of the talent that surrounded him?”
Because the ESPN viewers/readers love him, and writing more about Leinart is a good business decision? Why is this so hard to understand? ESPN doesn’t hate Miami. ESPN goes where the money goes. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
The rest of your post is epeen posturing (laff @ your picking on my first sentence). Not going to respond to that kind of childishness.
All I ask, since you have a popular Canes blog, is you stop making the rest of us look like petty whiners by association.
Laugh out loud. Cute. That’s all you got?
– Where is my ‘woes me’ mentality and where did I say ‘stop insulting me’? I could give a frog’s fat ass if you agree with my opinion or read this blog. If you don’t like it, leave. Good riddance. Very easy to stand on the sidelines and pick apart what I choose to write on. You have your own take on the matter, start you own blog, put your opinions out there and get in the game.
– I’m the ‘child’ for giving objective sports analysis, but ESPN gets a pass because what they do is for the sake of entertainment? How moronic is that?
I whine all the time? Read through 3 years worth of posts here and enlighten me as to how 100% of the content here can be deemed ‘whining’? Check your comprehension skills, brother.
– There is a media bias against Miami. I didn’t make that up – and I only point it out when it’s blatantly obvious. ESPN choosing a Seattle beat writer to cover a segment where a non-biased opinion should be employed too discuss the 2000 season — how is that responsible journalism? Miller’s homerism in that segment was disgusting. It’s my responsibility to point that out.
Most read his piece, don’t recall how the ’00 season played out – unless they were a UM or UW fan who felt slighted. I laid out the facts regarding the stats regarding both teams; something Miller failed to do. He ignored the fact Miami beat #1 and #2 that year, failed to point out margins of victory – as well as the truth regarding UM’s and UW’s bowl games; making them both sound like similar scenarios and outcomes.
– Why don’t YOU act like a f’n adult and absorb what’s being written instead of painting the entire blog with the same brush? Where did I ever use the phrase “out to get us” regarding Corvi’s garbage call in the Missouri game? Dude made a bad call. I commented on it. End of story. I never called it a conspiracy theory. You’re putting those moronic words in my mouth. Stick to the facts. Comment on what was actually SAID, instead of your delusional interpretation of what you’re reading.
– I don’t read the articles and get ‘pissed’. I read what I read and if I disagree with another writer’s take, I give my perspective.
– Writing about Leinart isn’t a “good business decision”. That’s idiotic. ESPN makes and breaks stars. Welcome to the media. If they chose to ride Dorsey and/or McGahee’s jock, they could’ve made those guys come across as “cool” as the LA duo of Leinart/Bush, if they wanted to.
South Beach has as much swagger as Hollywood and ESPN could’ve played up those Miami superstars if the chose. They didn’t. It was a “sexier” angle to play up the fiery Pete Caroll and his bunch — but to do so, acting as if it was something that hadn’t been done before, when it had been done a year earlier by The U? It’s pathetic.
Why did USC get all the love for their 2003 half title, but LSU got the shaft? Yet when USC lost to Texas, all that ‘threepeat’ talk was dropped like a hot potato – and last year when LSU is making a run, only NOW is ESPN pointing out that they’re “two time BCS champs” and finally giving them their due for 2003? USC was the ‘sexier’ angle to take five years ago, so they diminished LSU’s BCS title for USC’s AP championship.
F the player. I am ABSOLUTELY hating the game and shredding the biased media here. I asked why the MEDIA chose to ride Leinart’s jock — I never insulted Leinart for how it played out.
Again, your comprehension skills suck.
– You first sentence was moronic. Sorry. “Mommy and Daddy went to The U and I’m Johnny Superfan, so that gives my opinion instant credibility”. Stand on your own merit – not your parents’ degree. A fan is a fan. I don’t give a hell if someone is alum or not. You either love this program or you don’t. I don’t need your resume to hear your take.
– Calling b.s. and calling it like you see it isn’t whining. It’s called being objective and attempting to stand up for the program. Sorry you don’t see it that way, but I have more folks around here than disagree with me, so I’ll continue doing what I’m doing. Again, you don’t like it? Change the channel.
insectoverlord, you are a f%&king hypocrite and a moron.
You bitch about 305 supposedly bitching, but in all reality you’re the whiner here.
305 is stating opinion, not fact. I’ve read his site for years and followed him when he wrote for CanesTime. He’s never been a bleeding heart or a whiner. I don’t always agree with everything he writes, but he’s as straight forward on on the ball as anyone I’ve ever read who covers University of Miami athletics.
How can you defend those ESPN hacks, who you admit are writing biased articles in an effort to drive revenue and create controversy? And then you go on to blame 305 for his opinion and logical arguments based on their commentary?
This is the good old U S of A and people are entitled to their opinions. Like 305 said, if you don’t like what’s written here,you can leave. Why do you keep coming back and bitching about what he’s writing? That’s like going to see a movie, not liking it and then going back to see it again? You can’t blame anyone but yourself.
Let me tell you what makes Miami fans look bad. When supposed fans like yourself spend your time busting the hump of another Canes fan for trying to champion the cause, instead of saving your criticism for those Cane-haters out there who spend their time trashing the program instead of praising it.
Re: the “if you don’t like it, leave” line of argument: I take it you’re the type of people who say, if you don’t like the government, or don’t like a particular policy, leave the U.S. instead of speaking out? Real good line of reasoning.
The truth is, you’re more invested in this argument than I am. It’s your blog, you’re going to defend it to the end, so forgive me for not having the time to respond to every little point. Allow me to just boil it down to the essence here.
The essence is this: ESPN is a business. It’s got a virtual monopoly on its product, sports news. It is childish to assume they’re going to stick to any semblance of objectivity. That is to say, any adult with an ounce of understanding of how the real world works ought to understand this.
Because of this, it is retarded–absolutely idiotic–to blame ESPN for having some kind of irrational hatred against UM. The only thing they’re after is profit, and when it’s profitable to praise Miami, they’ll do so. When it’s profitable to write articles praising other schools or trashing Miami, they’ll do so. It has nothing to do with some vast conspiracy against us. And to keep pretending like it does? That’s CHILDISH.
That is all. If you keep trying to hold ESPN to some standard of journalistic integrity, or keep whining when they say dumb things, you make us look like a pack of children who fail to understand the basics of how the world works.
It’s like someone ranting and raving about $5 hotdogs at a carnival when a pack of 6 hotdogs from the grocery store is like $3. Yes, that’s how the world works. Deal with it.
Re: the “if you don’t like it, leave” line of argument: I take it you’re the type of people who say, if you don’t like the government, or don’t like a particular policy, leave the U.S. instead of speaking out? Real good line of reasoning.
Yeah, actually I’m not that type. Nice try, though. How’d you pull that analogy out of your ass?
You are absolutely reaching. How you equate reading a site you disagree with — with leaving the country instead of speaking your mind, is idiotic.
I’m all for freedom of speech. If I wasn’t, I’d simply delete your idiotic comments instead of posting them here for all to read.
The truth is, you’re more invested in this argument than I am. It’s your blog, you’re going to defend it to the end, so forgive me for not having the time to respond to every little point. Allow me to just boil it down to the essence here.
If you’re so swamped, why do you keep coming back for more? Why do you have to keep getting the last word in? Let sleeping dogs lie if you’re too busy and this is a waste of your precious time.
Personally, I’d have preferred you never commented and that we never even had this worthless conversation.
The essence is this: ESPN is a business. It’s got a virtual monopoly on its product, sports news. It is childish to assume they’re going to stick to any semblance of objectivity. That is to say, any adult with an ounce of understanding of how the real world works ought to understand this.
Again, you’re off base.
ESPN is a business – and business are run by individuals and management who have a bias and an agenda.
I know a handful of ESPN folk – including a former NFL analyst who was a USC guy and was canned within the last year. (You do the math.) He was as much anti-Miami and pro-USC as Michael Irvin was pro-U and running his mouth (in the Canes favort) every chance he got to praise his alma matter.
Nationally, the majority of sports fans and college football enthusiasts out there dislike Miami. Five titles since 1983, none of the rah-rah stuff that makes college football what it is, winning with swagger and wagging a finger in your face – oft with a team full of inner city local kids, which did it their own way.
It’s been 25 years of the Canes winning titles and over that time, the traditional programs and traditional fan bases grew to loathe Miami.
The two most viewed college football games ever shown on ESPN were Miami/Florida State 1994 and 2006. With only 10,000 undergrads and a small alumni base – how many of the millions of people tuning in were watching because they wanted to see the Canes lose??
ESPN’s may not have some full-on anti-Miami agenda, but they love kicking the Canes when they’re down — and they’ll ride Miami’s jock (a la 2001) when they know they can make a buck off a winner.
ESPN will always ride the winner to the finish line, but they don’t trash others the way they trash Miami.
If Miami had kids firing off AKs, drug issues, brawlers and all the crap Meyer’s Gators have dealt with as of late, they’d have have their cameras planted in front of Hecht Athletic Center for days on end.
Hell, they tried to ‘blame’ Miami’s image and ways for the murder of Bryan Pata and PTI’s Michael Wilbon essentially said Sean Taylor brought his murder upon himself because of the Miami lifestyle he embraced.
Are you REALLY this ignorant?
Because of this, it is retarded–absolutely idiotic–to blame ESPN for having some kind of irrational hatred against UM. The only thing they’re after is profit, and when it’s profitable to praise Miami, they’ll do so. When it’s profitable to write articles praising other schools or trashing Miami, they’ll do so. It has nothing to do with some vast conspiracy against us. And to keep pretending like it does? That’s CHILDISH.
Again, who ever used the word ‘conspiracy’ but you?
You said yourself that if it’s profitable to rip The U, they’ll do it. How is that NOT an anti-Miami bias?
It’s always ‘profitable’ to praise the big time state schools with large alumni bases – Ohio State, Florida, USC, Texas, Notre Dame, etc. Miami will never compete with the major college programs – but does that justify hours of coverage over the FIU brawl and constant trashing of the program for one slip up?
Again, where is that coverage when Florida has 17 arrests on Urban’s watch over three seasons? Where are all the cameras with all the thuggery that’s taken place at Ohio State on Tressel’s watch?
That is all. If you keep trying to hold ESPN to some standard of journalistic integrity, or keep whining when they say dumb things, you make us look like a pack of children who fail to understand the basics of how the world works.
Again, you’re putting words in my mouth. It’s not whining to call ‘bullshit’. You want to put your ignorant head in the sand, go right ahead and simply give ESPN a pass because they’re a monopoly and they’re just trying to earn a buck.
I guess Enron and Bear Sterns were just trying to earn a buck as well…
It’s like someone ranting and raving about $5 hotdogs at a carnival when a pack of 6 hotdogs from the grocery store is like $3. Yes, that’s how the world works. Deal with it.
I love how your argument just came full circle and you don’t even realize it.
Someone raving about $5 hotdogs when they could get a pack for $3 at the store is pretty comparable to you bitching about my commentary on this blog, yet continuing to return for more. Again, you disagree – change the channel instead of trying to sell me on your vision. I don’t buy it. I’m not trying to ‘sell’ you a damned thing. I write for those who agree with me. If you don’t, you don’t.
You’ve attempted to make your point and now you’re beating a dead horse.
If you want to continue this ridiculous conversation, email me at chris@allCanes.com. I’m sick of this bile clouding up my ‘comments’ section here. We’re going in circles and the other readers don’t deserve this shit…
I feel like the guy coming in to mop up the blood in the Octagon after a UFC fight on this subject .. Chris walked away with the belt and is still conscious, while the other guy is still asleep being carried out on the arms of his trainers. If anyone thinks that Miami isn’t and hasn’t been hosed by ESPN and numerous other media publications and outlets, then they’re intellectually lying to themselves. Now, am I considered to be “crying” by saying that or am I just simply stating fact? When you have such a huge influence on how something is perceived, such as ESPN, they can either make you or break you at their leisure. I see it at a much smaller level with local affiliates – if the producers or sportscasters have a bias against a certain team, they’ll tear them down in their newscast or won’t broadcast them at all. Sportstalk radio around here is like that, so are tv sportscasters on local affiliates. If they have some kind of love affair with a certain team or coach, they’ll make sure everyone knows when the guy takes a piss in the urinal and give him all the credit in the world for how great his aim was with little or no splash off the blue cleaning wafer. Please see: Bobby Bowden, Mack Brown, Joe Paterno, Urban Myth, Pete Carroll, Jim Tressel and then look at how many different shades of brown ESPN casters/reporters or local hacks noses are from sticking them so far up these coaches asses, it would make even the most vile scenes in a German feces porn seem tame.
Tell me if you know this date: November 10th, 2007. You remember that day right? Being such a huge Miami fan insect guy? THE last home game on one of the greatest and historic fields of battle in college football. The home to one of the dynasties of the college football world for 60 years. The home to three of that dynasty’s national championship games in which they beat Tom Osbourne’s Huskers and Barry Switzer’s Sooners. The home of the longest home winning streak ever at 58. The home to one of the greatest comebacks in Hurricane history against the Crocs when the ‘Canes were down 23 points in the final 21 minutes. The home to where the ‘Canes gave Notre Dame the worst beating they’ve ever had in their entire history, 58-7. It was where the ‘Canes stopped defending national champion Notre Dame’s win streak at 23 and where one of the greatest examples of ripping your opponent’s heart out happened – can you say, 3rd and 44 .. Randal Hill .. 1st down? It was where the ‘Canes phoenix officially rose from the ashes of probation and killed the national title game hopes of # 3 ranked UCLA. It was where the ‘Canes curbstomped preseason # 1 Florida State and their rap stars, 31-0. Beside just the ‘Cane aspect to it, the historical field had been part of 16 National Championships, 5 Super Bowls and the Dolphins perfect season. It’s not like ESPN didn’t know all of this – so wouldn’t it be fitting to broadcast College Gameday from it for the very last home game? Wouldn’t the mothership of sports broadcast want to be there with the best college football show on television? I guess it wouldn’t, b/c ESPN decided instead to go to Williamstown, Mass … achu .. setts? WHAT? Wow – for the first time ever in the history of College Gameday, they decide to go to a Division III game and pump up the Amherst College Lord Jeffs (4-3) vs. the Williams College Ephs (5-2). Seriously .. what in the flying f*ck is that?
Not to forget the complete idiocy of the people ESPN uses such as Wilbon and Cowherd – both of whom have prime time shows on television/radio and are self-absorbed pricks. Of course you know I’m talking about the Sean Taylor murder when I even mention the two – b/c otherwise, I wouldn’t ever forgive myself for wasting time in my life that I couldn’t get back in listening to their moronic dribblings. Cowherd chirping off about Sean Taylor’s DUI (which was thrown out after judge witnessed field sobriety test on video and said that it failed to demonstrate obvious intoxication). Cowherd chirping off about Sean Taylor spitting (on Mike Pittman, the Father of the Year candidate that has multiple incidents of domestic abuse, including ramming his Hummer into his wife’s car that had his wife, baby and babysitter inside, to stop them from driving off – it’s not like Sean spit on an umpire like Roberto Alomar did, he spit on a wife-beating coward and honestly I don’t have a problem with that), etc. Cowherd then admitting that all the information IS NOT IN about the murder, but “I feel pretty confident that my gut feeling … is right and was right.” People are lazy in today’s society and it’s rare that they look up fact for themselves. When you have someone on a national sports talk radio show for ESPN, spouting off about a murder case where he admits he basically knows nothing factually and then saying that his “gut feeling” is right – what do you think is going to happen? People are going to get that in their brains and take it as gospel – hey, Cowherd works for the most powerful sports media outlet on the planet, I like him anyway, he must know something and he’s right … right? F*ck that. I didn’t realize “gut” feelings were considered fact by ESPN. I didn’t realize Sean Taylor’s life was “23 years of bad decisions” – to quote Cowherd. What’s the point of having a judicial system that disproves, throws out or acquits charges on an individual if no one is going to pay attention, but go on the radio and preach the exact opposite of the truth and fact according to his “gut”? What exactly does that say about Cowherd, spouting off about what happened and being completely wrong in every sense of the word wrong? Who does he work for again? Oh ya, ESPN.
These rankings in the pieces that ESPN put out in “The BCS at 10” that slight the ‘Canes aren’t surprising to me at all. I’ve come to expect it from them. Just like Chris said with the “Bobby Bowden stroke fest” and ESPN’s “love affair with all things Bowden and Paterno” – how in the hell is that game in the top 10? Because of missed field goals? That’s the drama of it – missed field goals? You want some TV material? How about, a game where two top 10 teams from the same state were playing each other for the first time in 13 years. Before the game even started, both teams were so heated to get at each other that 15 of their players got into a little “minor verbal confrontation” out on Bourbon Street that left a nice little welt under the eye of the Crocs Alex Brown. A game that marked the 50th meeting between the two teams and the first meeting ever in a bowl game. A game in which if Miami wins, they might get a share of the National Title and will feel completely snubbed if they don’t – esp. after the fact they should be in the National Title game in the first place after beating the # 1 and # 2 teams in the nation, along with beating six teams with winning records, having a 10 game win streak, a defense that made huge plays all season when needed and an offense that averaged 42 points a game.
At least they got Miami being snubbed in 2000 correct. What completely cracks me up though is Ted Miller saying ” In 2000, Miami coach Butch Davis couldn’t stop squawking about how irritated he was that Florida State was playing for the national championship against unbeaten Oklahoma. After all, his once-beaten team had handed FSU its only loss. Of course, Davis did a wonderful tap dance about the pounding his Hurricanes took at Washington early in the season.” The pounding? What? 34-29 = pounding? It was 20-3 at half .. 34-22 on the second play of the 4th Qtr. .. 34-29 with 2:52 left in the game and Miami got the ball back with 20 seconds left after your Husky’s offense couldn’t even manage a first down. Hey Teddy, the definition of a pounding isn’t 34-29, the definition of a pounding is 65-7 .. you remember that sweetie? Of course though, I bet you didn’t call the 65-7 curbstomping of your beloved Huskies what it was – you probably used some sort of weak explanation pertaining to Miami not winning the game, but instead, the Huskies losing it. Probably giving Miami no credit whatsoever – that’s just my “gut” feeling, and it’s probably right (my best Cowherd impersonation)… damn, do you think I’ll be hired now by ESPN for passing my “gut” feeling as fact? It works for Cowherd doesn’t it?
Another thing that completely cracks me up is Chris Low and Teddy Miller’s overzealous man-love for Vince Young – notice that ESPN is that way also? It’s almost as sickening as what’s been shown in recent years for Tebow of the Nazareth and his followers. The # 4 Best Bowl Game in the BCS over the past 10 years was the 2005 Rose Bowl? Vince Young’s performance in that game the # 3 Memorable BCS Performance? “It’s a game that introduced the nation to Vince Young’s brilliance” is what Chris Low said .. you’re kidding, right? Vince Young’s brilliance? Maybe Ken Dorsey should’ve gotten reverse lyposuction, pumped about 70 lbs. of Starr Jone’s ass fat into himself that was sucked out of her, and then ran the ball in a one back spread shotgun offense like Young did. Maybe then he could’ve gotten some overzealous man-love. I don’t know what else Andre Johnson would have to do. I don’t know how many more people Vilma would have to put to sleep with his hits. As for Vince Young, Michigan couldn’t defend against a mobile quarterback – please see their game against unranked Ohio State earlier in the year when they lost 37-21. Yes, Vince Young had 192 rush yards with 4 TD’s and 180 pass yards with 1 TD – he balled out, BUT … here’s a little spoiler for ya though, Michigan’s D was 39th in the nation in Rushing D (133), 43rd in the nation in Passing D (202), 42nd in Scoring D, and 33rd in the nation in Total D (336). Want to know why I said it’s a little spoiler? Here’s why: Troy Smith with unranked Ohio St. and what they did to Michigan that year. Troy Smith was a dual threat QB, just like Vince Young – he just wasn’t as physically impressive height and weight wise. Troy Smith’s stats against Michigan – 145 rush yards with 1 TD and 241 pass yards with 2 TD’s. Smith also had a chance for another TD either rushing or passing, but garbage play calling by Tressel when Ohio State had 3 runs stuffed on the Michigan 2 yard line in the 2nd quarter – along with a 4th down pass broken up kept Smith from another TD. Ohio State’s team was no where near the caliber of the Texas team that surrounded Vince Young, but Smith still put up nice numbers that proves Vince Young was going to have some success on Michigan’s D – along with any other running quarterback that can throw the ball half-way decent.
Yes Vince Young did put on a show in the 2006 Rose Bowl – but didn’t anyone mention how below average the USC defense was? Ya, Ted Miller talks of a “fast” USC defense – they may have been fast, but they weren’t that great .. you can be as fast as you want, but if you’re 31st in the nation in Rush D .. 73rd in the nation in Pass D .. 83rd in the nation in Tackles for Loss .. 42nd in Sacks .. 35th in Scoring D .. and 48th in the nation in Total D (360 yards) – then it doesn’t matter how fast you are. Compare those numbers to Miami’s D that year, and ask yourself if you think Vince Young could’ve put those type of numbers up – Miami’s D was 23rd in the nation in Rush D .. 1st in the nation in Pass D .. 4th in the nation in Tackles for Loss .. 17th in sacks .. 4th in Scoring D .. and 4th in the nation in Total D (270 yards).
The # 4 Best Bowl Game in the BCS over the past 10 years? Hell no. Give me the 2001 Sugar Bowl with the ‘Canes handling the Crocs. Give me the West Virginia Couchburners game against Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl over that, and watch Pat White and Noel Devine absolutely rip the highly touted Sooners a new one by dropping more rushing yards on them than any other team has in their history in bowl games. Give me the 2001 Fiesta Bowl where former ‘Cane Dennis Erickson and # 6 Oregon State beat the crap out of # 11 Notre Dame, 41-9. They handed the Irish their worst bowl loss since 1973 in the Orange Bowl when Nebraska dropped a 40-6 score on them. The 2001 Oregon State team had a 5’11 former walk-on quarterback, Johnathan Smith, who Erickson thought was a team manager when he first arrived there. He threw for 305 yards with 3 TD’s against the Irish and then sat out the entire 4th quarter. They held Notre Dame with Julius Jones to only 17 yards rushing. They outgained Notre Dame 110-8 in the 1st quarter. Oregon State set a school record 18 penalties that game for 174 yards, without that, Notre Dame wouldn’t have moved the ball the entire game.
At least Miller acknowledges that “How the heck could we leave out Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey in the 2002 Rose Bowl” – I dunno Teddy, you tell me. You even mention Ken Dorsey throwing the 2nd most yards in a BCS game with 362 – which should’ve been more if Coker really wanted to set the record into the stratosphere. The Oklahoma D against Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl is # 2? Really? Ted – let me refresh you on something and I know you didn’t want to say it b/c you’re an ESPN honk and this is a stat that’s actually good about Miami .. sorry it doesn’t inolve arrests – if you want that, you’re looking at the wrong program and in the wrong town …. Gainesville is north. When Miami played FSU earlier in the year, the ‘Canes didn’t allow FSU to score when FSU had the ball 4 times inside the ‘Canes 26 yard line. The U intercepted grandpa Weinke 2 times, The U ended FSU’s 26 regular season win streak, The U shut out FSU the 1st half and it was the same ‘Canes team that took 5 years to rebuild from NCAA sanctions that stripped them of 31 scholly’s. Not only was FSU Snoop Minnis-less like Chris pointed out, they dropped 6 passes in the game – including a drop in the endzone by Robert Morgan in the 4th quarter that would’ve tied the game at 6. Also funny that the MVP, Torrance Marshall failed to make the grades to get into MIami – twice – but Stoops and Oklahoma took him in immediately.
Bottom line is this from me – there is a media bias against Miami .. period … whether it’s small affiliates sports anchors/producers around the nation, sports talk radio hosts, big networks, etc. Like I mentioned, people are lazy and get their line of thinking or information from an anchor or radio show host – if that radio show host is Colin Cowherd, then what kind of perception about Miami are they going to come away with? Same goes with anchors. I can honestly say, the only anchors I’ve ever really heard talk realistically about The U are Kirk Herbstreit, Bob Griese and Brad Nessler. Chris pointed out so many damn good points it’s stupid to argue it. Where the whole “crying” thing came from, I have no f*cking clue. When you have facts and back them up, where is the argument? I tried to bring some facts to the table in my novel that I just wrote on here – not only for the ‘Canes sake, but for other games or individuals who I thought got shafted also. In that aspect, I feel I showed my non-partial opinion – a hell of a lot better than the two hacks that wrote the articles for “The BCS at 10”. When THE sports network ESPN decides to have some testicular fortitude and report the news fairly and unbiased on every team, that will be the only day that people will change their perception of The U.