I can’t remember the last time I uttered those words, but for some reason they’ve never rang truer than this year.
Bar none the most unfulfilling and lifeless season I can remember in my lifetime. So bad that the hated Gators win over the Sooners didn’t even phase me. This year’s title game merely meant that Florida and Oklahoma won the beauty contest. Congrats, I guess.
The SEC and Big XII were more popular than the Pac-10 and Mountain West. Oklahoma was more well-liked than Texas, the team that beat them. Florida was on top of the world after knocking off top-ranked Alabama; a win that lost its luster after an undefeated, left-out-of-the-mix Utah did the same thing – in more impressive fashion, no less.
The BCS was created to eliminate this exact thing we’re dealing with today – an undisputed champion. 119 Division I schools, yet only 66 are included in the BCS. Big time, big money schools are invited to the dance while the 55 less pretty programs aren’t invited to the biggest party of the year. Money, clout, popularity and earning potential are the criteria.
If it sounds more like a fraternity than college football, that’s because it is.
The sound you hear? The wind being let out of this fan’s sails. A college football enthusiast since I was knee-high, this is the first time I’ve been let down by the game itself. Coaches have let me down. So have players. Opposing teams have broken my heart. Holidays have been ruined due to untimely losses.
I can live with all that because it was honest. Miami didn’t show up or get a lucky bounce. Other times the other guy was simply better. It’s the nature of the game.
No, for the first time I feel duped. I never loved the system, but I’ve reached my breaking point.
I’ve seen behind the curtain. It ain’t pretty. Right up there with finding out about Santa or realizing you’ll never be a rock star.
TV revenue and ad sales are the name of the game. Our president elect and the almighty Tim Tebow combined couldn’t change the minds of the powers that be . Expired contracts are our only hope. TV deals are up in 2013. Only then will the “P” word finally hold some clout. Maybe.
Florida won and Oklahoma lost.
So did Utah. Texas, too. Alabama, Texas Tech and Penn State all had one loss apiece going into bowl season.
Polls-schmolls, no one wants to play Southern Cal right now. Probably the best team in the land, but the Pac-10 doesn’t have the clout of the SEC or Big XII, so no invite to the ball. The west coasters also lack a conference title game, which burned SC in the past.
Sounds like it’s time to reel in Utah and BYU. Call it the Pac-12, have championship and go toe-to-toe with the ‘big two’ when it’s time for computers and biased people to crunch numbers or vote.
Unless you’re from Gainesville or Norman, this title game was a snoozer. All hype, no substance. Oklahoma’s high-flying offense looked great against lesser teams, but stalled against Florida in a ten-point loss. Similar to a ten-point loss they had against Texas, the Big XII team who lost the ‘popularity contest’ and was a dropped interception away from a title game berth.
As for the Gators and their potent O, a mere 24 points against the Sooners and their 65th-ranked defense? No big returns by the self-proclaimed fastest team in football, against a foe knocked for weak special teams play all year?
This wasn’t a national championship. It was like watching two friends play a video game.
Go to ‘create a player’ mode and build a 6’3″, 240-pound quarterback/fullback who runs over people. Make the fastest receiver virtually possible and sub him in as your running back, since you have no ‘real’ ground game.
Tebow and Percy Harvin together combined for 231 rushing yards while the Gators three ‘traditional’ backs amassed 20 yards on 11 carries.
Emmanuel Moody, the former Trojan and current Gator made headlines this week talking about Florida’s speed being superior to Southern Cal’s. Too bad it’s the only press he’d get after one carry for zero yards in the title game. To think this kid left Los Angeles because he was buried on the depth chart. I bet Moody never expected to be a non-factor due to a quarterback and wide receiver getting more carries.
Get ready for two more years of insignificance in that system, E. But hey, at least y’all are super-duper fast, right?
Run the option. Rely on gimmicky shovel passes to an undersized tight end and some overhyped, unnecessary ‘jump pass’ for the game-winning score. Blech. It stinks.
Bring back the traditional balanced attack the game employed the past few decades. College football used to be a mini-version of the NFL. These days, it bears a closer resemblance to a game of Madden between frat brothers and for the first time in my life, I’d rather watch the NFL Playoffs than the college football’s bowl season.
Truth be told, the spread offense is ruining the college game. It’s great if you’re a Gator and you just won another mythical national championship, but it’s nonsense if you’re an outsider who simply wanted to to enjoy an exciting finale against the supposed “nation’s best”.
For the record, yes, I’d rather Miami be where Florida’s at today. Two ‘championships’ in three years and a Heisman-winning quarterback. That’s a no brainer. Still, your team winning doesn’t eliminate the fact there’s something gravely wrong with college football these days. This game was anticlimactic and truly had no meaning.
Not after watching Colt McCoy leading his snubbed Texas bunch back over Ohio State. The Horns at home while the Sooners team they beat didn’t come to play.
Not days after seeing Utah upend Alabama. The same Crimson Tide the Gators used in their argument to defend their spot in the title game. Florida beats Alabama and the talk is, “we beat #1”. Utah does the same thing and it’s, “we already took the wind out of their sails”. How convenient.
Florida/Oklahoma felt pointless after watching Southern Cal field a junior NFL squad, manhandling Penn State with ease. This season started with SC looking like an absolute machine. One bad half of football in Corvallis and their dream season, derailed.
Like Florida, a ten-game win streak ensued – but without all the Tebow-esque fanfare. The Trojans weren’t a sexy enough pick for the BCS this year. Their one loss deemed more hurtful that Florida’s or Oklahoma’s, with no rhyme or reason.
If there was ever an argument for an eight-team playoff, this was your year. Florida. Oklahoma. Texas. Southern Cal. Utah. Alabama, Penn State. Texas Tech. Set it up and let them all duke it out. A couple SEC teams. Three Big XII squads. The Pac-10’s best. A Big Ten school and the smaller Mountain West rep.
The United Nations of college football and everyone gets their fair shot.
As the confetti fell, Barack Obama again let his feelings be known. “If I’m Utah, or if I’m USC or if I’m Texas, I might still have some quibbles,” he said. “That’s why we need a playoff.”
Help us Barack and do it soon. You’re our only hope.
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View Comments
There seems to be a recurring theme for the Gaytors...backing into Championship games instead of taking them.
Let's recap...
96 - Losing to FSU in the season finale, they somehow get a second chance. Both teams end up with 1 loss, but since the Gators won the SECOND game, they are dubbed kings.
06 - Again with one loss, UF relies on other teams losing and some Urban crying to gain votes and the invite to the ball.
08 - As you recapped, UF is granted favor amongst a slew of one-loss teams (and over one undefeated team), because TV looooves Superman. This despite a loss AT HOME to a mediocre team.
It's a freaking glamour show.
Just like when FSU lost to UM and got the invite in 2000, for no logical reason.
I'm sick of it too.
PS... Can these analysts get up off their knees for a moment? If I hear Tebow called Superman one more time, I'm going to gag. Pun intended.
WTH??? How many of Miami's National Championships came in matchups of teams ranked even in the top 4?
1983 - Nebraska #1, UM #5. Despite the fact that Auburn won at #3 UM won the beauty contest. Would not have been allowed in the current system as Texas and Nebraska would have faced off.
1987 - OU #1, UM #2.
Totally impressive and legitimate win and would have happened in even the current system.
1989 - UM #2, ALA #7
Talk about backing into the National Championship. Miami didn't even have to beat top ranked Colorado this year, letting Notre Dame do all the dirty work and dispatching a good, but hardly great, Alabama team in the Sugar Bowl. In the current system UM would have faced Colorado in the Orange Bowl. A winnable but MUCH tougher proposition.
1991 UM #1, Neb #11
Oh wow, playing team not even ranked in the Top 10. Impressive. This ended with a split national champion with Washington. Quite frankly Miami was lucky to draw the Huskers rather than the "Husky's" that year. In the current system Miami would have faced Washington, a team that pummelled the #4 team in the rankings by 20 points in the Rose Bowl. A collective "whew!!!" from Miami fans.
2001 UM #1, Neb #2
Sure, Nebraska didn't deserve to be in that game but they met the requirements. I doubt Oregon would have beaten that Cane team so it's a moot point. Legitimate NC and possibly the best of all the Miami NC teams.
So please spare me the indignation about how "traditional football" was sooooo much better. It comes off as so much more sour grapes. I understand you like to stay postive about Miami, heck your business is selling Cane Merchandise. Being negative about the on the field product is like throwing money out the window, I get that. But your short sighted and twisted memory of a terrible bowl system (although it served your school fairly well) is beneath you. If you were a seminole fan I'd say you spoke with "forked tongue".
As much as the "spread" is destroying the college game??? That's sheer nonsense. Formation has nothing to do with your teams offensive balance. There are pass heavy spread teams and run heavy teams just like there have ALWAYS been (remember those option Nebraska and Oklahoma teams you beat so often? I don't remember you b*tchin back then). Now perhaps the spread is ruining the NFL game but . . . ummm . . . who f**kin cares? If you are an NFL fan go watch the Dolphins (although you should avert your eyes when they run their college gimmicky Wildcat formation).
I love it when people harkin back to the old days. When BYU could eek out Washington for the Nat'l Title because they won the popularity contest. When Miami could jump an Auburn team because they won the popularity contest. And then play the "I don't like the BCS because it's a popularity contest" card. It your just shooting from the hip to cover your bitterness at a hated rival becoming the new dominant force in Florida.
I'd say Florida probably only backed into one title, the '96 one. They truly did need a ton of luck to win that one.
The '06 one, they won their final seven games, and had a team like USC made it in front of them, what was their resume for being ahead of Florida? Both teams had one loss, it Florida would of got left because they lost later than USC, would the Trojans of backed into the title game? Besides, they proved they belonged in that game and a team like Michigan didn't.
The '08 team won their final ten games and outscored their opponents on the season by 430 points. They had a hell of a team, one that was definitely title worthy and could beat any team on any given day.
The fact of the matter is that there's always going to be controversy surrounding the BCS and it's not going to change anytime soon. I'd love to see a playoff system, but it's years away from happening.
Everything you said is 100% true.
But it still makes me SICK to my stomach that another year I have to listen to Gaytor nation over something that ESPN pretty much gave them for hyping up the SEC that I think had a losing record vs the ACC (if i'm not mistaken) but the ACC "is a B league" in the media's eyes.
Can you look this up 305?
Now I would like to take the time to thank Larry Coker for tearing down a powerhouse football team that took about 7 years to make and you were able to 'f' it up in 2.
So please spare me the indignation about how "traditional football" was sooooo much better. It comes off as so much more sour grapes. I understand you like to stay postive about Miami, heck your business is selling Cane Merchandise. Being negative about the on the field product is like throwing money out the window, I get that. But your short sighted and twisted memory of a terrible bowl system (although it served your school fairly well) is beneath you. If you were a seminole fan I'd say you spoke with "forked tongue".
Difference now is there's more parity in the game.
The old system 'worked' because there was less competition. You had your top teams, they made the big bowl games and things usually worked themselves out with little controversy.
These days there is MUCH MORE PARITY in the game because there's MUCH MORE MONEY.
Tell me of a season where there have ever been EIGHT TEAMS who could all build a case for their place in the title game? Seven one-loss teams all on the same level and an undefeated from a smaller conference who knocked off a Goliath in a bowl game.
The old system isn't what I miss. It too needed work. What I miss is more of that line 'em up and let 'em play type of football. Big offensive lineman - not svelte fast lineman for the sake of the spread. (How are those smaller guys gonna play in the NFL?)
A power running game. A west coast or pro style offense and vertical passing game.
I'm sorry, but college football is a sham when your national champion has no ground game and running backs. A quarterback who doubles as a fullback and a wideout who doubles as a running back? That's horrible.
As much as the "spread" is destroying the college game??? That's sheer nonsense. Formation has nothing to do with your teams offensive balance. There are pass heavy spread teams and run heavy teams just like there have ALWAYS been (remember those option Nebraska and Oklahoma teams you beat so often? I don't remember you b*tchin back then).
I wasn't bitching back then about Nebraska and Oklahoma, but always thought that brand of football sucked. Miami changed the game, as did Florida State. Defensive speed snuffed out that brand of football and the new deal became teams like Florida State in the mid to late 90s... Miami in the early 00s... USC from '03 to now.
Again, college ball was like a watered down version of the NFL. These days it looks more like a glorified version of high school ball.
I love it when people harkin back to the old days. When BYU could eek out Washington for the Nat'l Title because they won the popularity contest. When Miami could jump an Auburn team because they won the popularity contest.
Won the popularity contest? Cool your heels there, Gator. Miami knocked off Nebraska - arguably one of the best college teams ever assembled.
And again, let's not act like I'm some old codger in a rocking chair talking about the good old days. USC still plays the brand of football I'm referring to and they're the most dominant team this decade. Miami rolled heads with that brand of ball 2000-2003 and would still do so if the talent were on board.
And then play the "I don't like the BCS because it's a popularity contest" card. It your just shooting from the hip to cover your bitterness at a hated rival becoming the new dominant force in Florida.
Yeah, dominant. Winning in a down SEC this year and dinking and dunking your way to 24 points against the 65th-ranked defense in the game.
Let's see how 'dominant' Florida looks without Tebow and Harvin, who make up about 95% of that gimmicky offense.
305...let me correct you.
Let's see how 'dominant' Florida looks without Tebow and Harvin, who make up about 99.9% of that gimmicky offense.
FUC|< THE GAYTORS!!!
I'll admit, I can't stand the Gators.
I'll admit, I can't stand watching Tebow thump his chest and give sappy postgame speeches (mostly because he's a Gator).
But what I hate most of all is the way the media puts these guys on a pedestal. Hearing the analysts gush ON and ON and ON about how he's "hands-down the best leader in college football" makes me sick, the way a Lifetime movie does. Is Stafford a worse leader? Or McCoy? Replay the game...How much did we hear about the Heismann winning OU QB? A token minute I believe.
The rest of the production was all about Tebow and his golden heart; the media infatuation is obvious, and that is why I call it a show.
The Canes always won DESPITE the entrenched disdain from the media; the us-against-the-world mentality. Everyone wanted us to lose, and we won.
I like that.
But it still makes me SICK to my stomach that another year I have to listen to Gaytor nation over something that ESPN pretty much gave them for hyping up the SEC that I think had a losing record vs the ACC (if i'm not mistaken) but the ACC "is a B league" in the media's eyes.
Citizen, I don't have the exact stats you want but let's talk about the SEC this year:
Tennessee: 5-7
LSU: 8-5
Auburn: 5-7
Arkansas: 5-7
Vanderbilt: 7-6
South Carolina: 7-6
Mississippi State: 4-8
Kentucky: 7-6
Florida was obviously the cream of the crop, but Georgia proved to be overhyped. They went 10-3 when they were supposed to be title-bound. Alabama was obviously the #2 team at 12-2... and Utah kicked their ass. LSU went from a championship to 8-5.
Florida's toughest talent is usually Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn, LSU and Florida State.
None of those teams were anything to write home about this year.
To the obvious Gayturd fans who somehow find themselves attracted to a 'Cane fan page....congrats on your 3rd !!! And to think, you've got three after playing football for over a hundred years. WOW !!!
big pimpin
Eh I wouldn't read too much into the stats of the SEC. That's still the most dominating conference for football, they beat each other up all year wich is why u see the records as they are.There is a reason why they have feilded the last 3 National Champions and have more Nat Title winners since the enception of the BCS. Still I agree with alot of what you say(altho I always prefer to watch NFL over college). I don't agree with Mr. Obama on just about anything, however I'm with him on a playoff system, altho I don't want him or anyone else in this govt going anywhere near the game. They'll just f**k it up even more.