How it Would Work: To better ensure clarity in a Plus One format two of the bowls would feature the Number 1 and Number 4 teams in the BCS Standings and one of the bowls would feature the Number 2 and Number 3 teams in BCS Standings.
How it Would Play Out This Year:
Rose: Ohio State vs. Oklahoma
Orange: LSU vs. Virginia Tech
Fiesta: USC vs. West Virginia
Sugar: Georgia vs. Missouri
Why it Would Work: Its a playoff, in case you couldn't figure that out, disguised as the BCS. Only when media would call the four seeded teams the "Final Four" would anyone even figure out what is going on. The bowl season wouldn't have to be extended, each bowl would still be a big game, just two would determine the entries into the BCS National Championship.
Why it Wouldn't Work: Because its a playoff, therefore at least the Pac Ten and the Rose Bowl would be steadfast against it. A "Plus One" is much more realistic when you don't threaten the conference-bowl relationships, because even though fans don't care, the universities do. The Rose Bowl would much rather be a place for the Big Ten and Pac Ten champions to play than a national semifinal. Of course if the system were to truly blow up and six teams in six conferences ran the table, this format wouldn't help that very much at all.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Killing Time...Killing the System: The "Plus-One"
How it Would Work: Using the in place "Double Hosting Model", the number of BCS bowls would be reduced from five to four. The BCS National Championship would take place between the #1 and #2 teams AFTER the bowls which would take place January 1. Assumedly for the conference commissioners, university presidents, and bowls to go along, traditional conference tie-ins to bowls would have to be preserved.
How it Would Play Out This Year:
Sugar: LSU vs. West Virginia
Rose: Ohio State vs. USC
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Missouri
Fiesta: Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Why it Would Work: Well it would certainly solve THIS YEAR'S problem (two teams we don't know are any more proven than four others) and for that reason it seems to be the next step for the BCS especially with the current commissioner of the BCS behind it. Each team in the National Championship Game would have a win against a top ten team to legitimize it.
Why it Wouldn't Work: For a scenario like this year's where it would provide a solution, there are more scenarios in which the "Plus One" would delay the controversy or create one itself. In seasons where only one team was undefeated, they would have to win two games to prove a point they may have already proven through the course of the regular season. A more valid point would be that if three teams with rightful claim to a national champion won three separate bowl games, no controversy would be settled at all. The worst case scenario would be if by result of this system we got exactly the situation 2007 presented, a conglomerate of one and two loss teams that would be ranked based more on the timing of their loss than the quality of their season.
How it Would Play Out This Year:
Sugar: LSU vs. West Virginia
Rose: Ohio State vs. USC
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. Missouri
Fiesta: Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Why it Would Work: Well it would certainly solve THIS YEAR'S problem (two teams we don't know are any more proven than four others) and for that reason it seems to be the next step for the BCS especially with the current commissioner of the BCS behind it. Each team in the National Championship Game would have a win against a top ten team to legitimize it.
Why it Wouldn't Work: For a scenario like this year's where it would provide a solution, there are more scenarios in which the "Plus One" would delay the controversy or create one itself. In seasons where only one team was undefeated, they would have to win two games to prove a point they may have already proven through the course of the regular season. A more valid point would be that if three teams with rightful claim to a national champion won three separate bowl games, no controversy would be settled at all. The worst case scenario would be if by result of this system we got exactly the situation 2007 presented, a conglomerate of one and two loss teams that would be ranked based more on the timing of their loss than the quality of their season.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Killing Time...Killing the System: A Seeded BCS
How it Would Work: Just as the #1 and #2 teams in the BCS Standings would go to the BCS National Championship Game, teams 3-10 would go to bowls pre-slotted to take them according to a rotation with the first bowl at the double-hosting city taking the matchup between BCS teams #9 and #10, regardless of conference affiliation.
How it Would Play Out This Year:
BCS National Championship: #1 Ohio State vs. #2 LSU
Orange: #3 Virginia Tech vs. #4 Oklahoma
Rose: #5 Georgia vs. #6 Missouri
Fiesta: #7 USC vs. #8 Kansas
Sugar: #9 West Virginia vs. #10 Hawai'i
Why it Would Work: The entire system would be centered on merit and the best teams would seemingly go to the best bowls. Factors like conference tie-ins, television ratings, fanbase traveling reputation would take their rightful secondary role in determining bowl placement to the quality of the actual football team and its season. The likelihood can be assumed to be increased that all five games would be competitive and in a year in which three teams have rightful stake to the championship, the third team could prove worthy by beating the next best team in the country and have a remote chance at a shared championship.
Why it Wouldn't Work: First off the wheels that run the system (the conferences and the bowls) would never go for it. They'd make sure each BCS conference is represented and while that happens in this year's scenario it wouldn't be a guarantee. Also there would be no assist for non-BCS teams like Hawaii and Boise State last year to make it to a BCS Bowl as Boise got in on an amendment that allowed it to be represented for a top 12 ranking and how could I be for anything that would've interfered with what happened last January 1. There is a principle that the bowls should be allowed to invite the teams they choose, otherwise what incentive do they have to be involved with a BCS. One would have to be nervous for the ratings for that 9 vs. 10 matchup also.
How it Would Play Out This Year:
BCS National Championship: #1 Ohio State vs. #2 LSU
Orange: #3 Virginia Tech vs. #4 Oklahoma
Rose: #5 Georgia vs. #6 Missouri
Fiesta: #7 USC vs. #8 Kansas
Sugar: #9 West Virginia vs. #10 Hawai'i
Why it Would Work: The entire system would be centered on merit and the best teams would seemingly go to the best bowls. Factors like conference tie-ins, television ratings, fanbase traveling reputation would take their rightful secondary role in determining bowl placement to the quality of the actual football team and its season. The likelihood can be assumed to be increased that all five games would be competitive and in a year in which three teams have rightful stake to the championship, the third team could prove worthy by beating the next best team in the country and have a remote chance at a shared championship.
Why it Wouldn't Work: First off the wheels that run the system (the conferences and the bowls) would never go for it. They'd make sure each BCS conference is represented and while that happens in this year's scenario it wouldn't be a guarantee. Also there would be no assist for non-BCS teams like Hawaii and Boise State last year to make it to a BCS Bowl as Boise got in on an amendment that allowed it to be represented for a top 12 ranking and how could I be for anything that would've interfered with what happened last January 1. There is a principle that the bowls should be allowed to invite the teams they choose, otherwise what incentive do they have to be involved with a BCS. One would have to be nervous for the ratings for that 9 vs. 10 matchup also.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Killing Time, Killing the System: The Current BCS
So we have some time between the Heisman Trophy presentation and the highly anticipated San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (by the time it kicks off, if you're like me you're just happy to see college football on). So in that time rather than putting forward a computer simulated playoff. I'll take a look at every possible system that could determine a National Champion in college football and weigh its pros and cons. I'm probably wasting the same amount of energy but its mid-December and quite frankly, there's nothing else to do. So let's start with the current Bowl Championship Series
How it Works: A combination of poll and computer rankings called the "BCS Rankings" sort out the #1 and #2 teams in the country to play in the "BCS National Championship", after that four bowls (Fiesta, Orange, Sugar, and Rose) select from conference champions not in the BCS National Championship and four at-large teams of the bowls choosing. Bowls are autonomous to select what teams they want as long as each conference champion is represented.
How it plays out this year:
BCS National Championship: LSU vs. Ohio State
Fiesta: West Virginia vs. Oklahoma
Rose: USC vs. Illinois
Orange: Kansas vs. Virginia Tech
Sugar: Hawaii vs. Georgia
Why it Works: In the end, the winner of the BCS National Championship is either the consensus best team in the country all season long or just beat the consensus best team in the country all season long while other major bowls go on to keep their identity or tradition.
Why it Doesn't Work: Its arbitrary but that point's been beaten to death. The new system has diluted somewhat New Year's Day as just two of the BCS games are played on what is supposed to be college football's showcase day. While Howard's Rock, Script Ohio, and The Third Saturday in October are great traditions in college football, the conference tie-ins to bowls is draconian and detrimental to the games themselves. For example, the Rose Bowl selected three loss Illinois over two loss teams Georgia and Missouri to uphold a tradition only the Tournament of Roses committee cares about any more and for that the Rose Bowl is worst off and leaves this system to be mocked even more.
How it Works: A combination of poll and computer rankings called the "BCS Rankings" sort out the #1 and #2 teams in the country to play in the "BCS National Championship", after that four bowls (Fiesta, Orange, Sugar, and Rose) select from conference champions not in the BCS National Championship and four at-large teams of the bowls choosing. Bowls are autonomous to select what teams they want as long as each conference champion is represented.
How it plays out this year:
BCS National Championship: LSU vs. Ohio State
Fiesta: West Virginia vs. Oklahoma
Rose: USC vs. Illinois
Orange: Kansas vs. Virginia Tech
Sugar: Hawaii vs. Georgia
Why it Works: In the end, the winner of the BCS National Championship is either the consensus best team in the country all season long or just beat the consensus best team in the country all season long while other major bowls go on to keep their identity or tradition.
Why it Doesn't Work: Its arbitrary but that point's been beaten to death. The new system has diluted somewhat New Year's Day as just two of the BCS games are played on what is supposed to be college football's showcase day. While Howard's Rock, Script Ohio, and The Third Saturday in October are great traditions in college football, the conference tie-ins to bowls is draconian and detrimental to the games themselves. For example, the Rose Bowl selected three loss Illinois over two loss teams Georgia and Missouri to uphold a tradition only the Tournament of Roses committee cares about any more and for that the Rose Bowl is worst off and leaves this system to be mocked even more.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Tim Tebow wins the Heisman Trophy: Five Thoughts
1. Congratulations to Jesus Christ on his 23rd Heisman Trophy
2. Most important lesson here: Don't have an abortion, for you may have a future Heisman Trophy winner in your womb.
3. No truth to the rumor that Jon Kitna called Tim Tebow afterwards and called him a kook.
4. Would you believe, enormous boobie girl nowhere to be found? Again if anybody's seen her at ONE Gator game, let me know.
5. What card show do I get my picture of Chris Weinke, Eric Crouch, and Jason White standing next to each other signed at? What's that you say? ANY card show? How much? Really? Free? The heck you say!
2. Most important lesson here: Don't have an abortion, for you may have a future Heisman Trophy winner in your womb.
3. No truth to the rumor that Jon Kitna called Tim Tebow afterwards and called him a kook.
4. Would you believe, enormous boobie girl nowhere to be found? Again if anybody's seen her at ONE Gator game, let me know.
5. What card show do I get my picture of Chris Weinke, Eric Crouch, and Jason White standing next to each other signed at? What's that you say? ANY card show? How much? Really? Free? The heck you say!
Friday, December 7, 2007
A Look at the Four Heisman Finalists
Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii, Senior
Record: 11-0
Stats: 337-472, 4174 Yards, 38 Touchdowns, 14 Interceptions
Best Game: vs. Washington (12/1) 42-50, 442, 5TDs, 0INTs
Worst Game: The ones they played Northern Colorado, Charleston Southern, UNLV, Idaho, Utah State and Louisiana Tech
Thoughts: You can thank Brennan (and to a lesser extent Graham Harrell of Texas Tech) for the introduction of the phrase "System Quarterback" into the college football lexicon.
June Jones countered this this past Sunday by calling Tim Tebow a "System Quarterback". Truth is coaching is dominating college football right now and every quarterback in the country is recruited and trained to run a coaches system. All quarterbacks are "System Quarterbacks" and Brennan ran June Jones' system better than anyone has.
It doesn't help though that he played a terrible non-conference schedule and played most of his games after writers deadlines, when they are often found drunk.
Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri, Senior
Record: 11-2
Stats: 372-534, 4170 Yards, 33 Touchdowns, 11 Interceptions
Best Game: vs. Kansas (11/24) 40-49, 361, 3TDs 0INTs
Worst Game: vs. Oklahoma (12/1) 23-39, 218, 0TDs 1INT
Thoughts: While his numbers are comparable to Brennan's against what is perceived to be tougher competition. He had a two game audition for the trophy the final two weeks of the season and ended with mixed results. He did nothing to seal the trophy (which has consistently been given to the Quarterback of the best team in the country in absence of a dominant individual performance) last Saturday in the Big XII Championship Game. Its tough to win a Heisman when your worst game is your last and one of two you played on national television.
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas, Junior
Record: 8-4
Stats: 304 Carries, 1725 Yards, 15 Touchdowns
Best Game: vs. South Carolina (11/3) 34 Car, 321 Yds, 1TD
Worst Game: vs. Auburn (10/13) 17 Car, 43 Yds, 0TDs
Thoughts: McFadden, who was the preseason favorite for this award hasn't been able to sustain any Heisman campaign momentum as when he was effective in the first five games of the season, Arkansas was only 3-2. His breakout game was against South Carolina and you may remember better that he almost single-handidly beat a team that is playing for the National Championship anyway. He is the "Anti-Daniel" as he left voters with a great closing statement but a vote for McFadden seems to be a vote for two games and Arkansas' pedestrian record even in the SEC doesn't help his cause either.
Tim Tebow QB, Florida, Sophomore
Record: 9-3
Stats: 217-317, 3132 Yards, 29TDs, 6INTs, 838 Rushing Yards, 22 Rushing TDs
Best Game: at South Carolina (11/10) 22-32, 304Yds, 2TDs, 1INT, 120 Rush Yds, 5 Rush TDs
Worst Game: vs. Georgia (10/27) 14-22, 236Yds, 1TD, 0INT, -15 Rush Yds, 2 Rush TDs
Thoughts: I think the numbers clearly tell you that Tebow had statistically the best season of anybody in the country. Two things stand between him and being a clear favorite for this award. He's only a sophomore and no sophomore has ever won the Heisman but many people who may have been able to win it as sophomores have. Those people will be casting votes and don't seem too eager to give the opportunity for this award to Tebow when they never had it as sophomores. Also, Florida's season could be labeled a disappointment. Most Heisman winners take their teams to meet or exceed expectations, Tebow even for all his statistical production, didn't.
And the winner is...
Tebow, those numbers are insane, his worst game was due to a shoulder injury in a game he probably shouldn't have played in and he still accounted for 3TDs. In the last four games he was a dominant player in blowout wins he was for the most part responsible for. He has the numbers, the visibility, and the closeout of a season worthy of this award regardless of class or team expectations.
Record: 11-0
Stats: 337-472, 4174 Yards, 38 Touchdowns, 14 Interceptions
Best Game: vs. Washington (12/1) 42-50, 442, 5TDs, 0INTs
Worst Game: The ones they played Northern Colorado, Charleston Southern, UNLV, Idaho, Utah State and Louisiana Tech
Thoughts: You can thank Brennan (and to a lesser extent Graham Harrell of Texas Tech) for the introduction of the phrase "System Quarterback" into the college football lexicon.
June Jones countered this this past Sunday by calling Tim Tebow a "System Quarterback". Truth is coaching is dominating college football right now and every quarterback in the country is recruited and trained to run a coaches system. All quarterbacks are "System Quarterbacks" and Brennan ran June Jones' system better than anyone has.
It doesn't help though that he played a terrible non-conference schedule and played most of his games after writers deadlines, when they are often found drunk.
Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri, Senior
Record: 11-2
Stats: 372-534, 4170 Yards, 33 Touchdowns, 11 Interceptions
Best Game: vs. Kansas (11/24) 40-49, 361, 3TDs 0INTs
Worst Game: vs. Oklahoma (12/1) 23-39, 218, 0TDs 1INT
Thoughts: While his numbers are comparable to Brennan's against what is perceived to be tougher competition. He had a two game audition for the trophy the final two weeks of the season and ended with mixed results. He did nothing to seal the trophy (which has consistently been given to the Quarterback of the best team in the country in absence of a dominant individual performance) last Saturday in the Big XII Championship Game. Its tough to win a Heisman when your worst game is your last and one of two you played on national television.
Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas, Junior
Record: 8-4
Stats: 304 Carries, 1725 Yards, 15 Touchdowns
Best Game: vs. South Carolina (11/3) 34 Car, 321 Yds, 1TD
Worst Game: vs. Auburn (10/13) 17 Car, 43 Yds, 0TDs
Thoughts: McFadden, who was the preseason favorite for this award hasn't been able to sustain any Heisman campaign momentum as when he was effective in the first five games of the season, Arkansas was only 3-2. His breakout game was against South Carolina and you may remember better that he almost single-handidly beat a team that is playing for the National Championship anyway. He is the "Anti-Daniel" as he left voters with a great closing statement but a vote for McFadden seems to be a vote for two games and Arkansas' pedestrian record even in the SEC doesn't help his cause either.
Tim Tebow QB, Florida, Sophomore
Record: 9-3
Stats: 217-317, 3132 Yards, 29TDs, 6INTs, 838 Rushing Yards, 22 Rushing TDs
Best Game: at South Carolina (11/10) 22-32, 304Yds, 2TDs, 1INT, 120 Rush Yds, 5 Rush TDs
Worst Game: vs. Georgia (10/27) 14-22, 236Yds, 1TD, 0INT, -15 Rush Yds, 2 Rush TDs
Thoughts: I think the numbers clearly tell you that Tebow had statistically the best season of anybody in the country. Two things stand between him and being a clear favorite for this award. He's only a sophomore and no sophomore has ever won the Heisman but many people who may have been able to win it as sophomores have. Those people will be casting votes and don't seem too eager to give the opportunity for this award to Tebow when they never had it as sophomores. Also, Florida's season could be labeled a disappointment. Most Heisman winners take their teams to meet or exceed expectations, Tebow even for all his statistical production, didn't.
And the winner is...
Tebow, those numbers are insane, his worst game was due to a shoulder injury in a game he probably shouldn't have played in and he still accounted for 3TDs. In the last four games he was a dominant player in blowout wins he was for the most part responsible for. He has the numbers, the visibility, and the closeout of a season worthy of this award regardless of class or team expectations.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Heisman Voting by Electoral College
An ESPN Poll asked readers to pick their Heisman trophy winner between the four finalists. Hawai'i Quarterback Colt Brennan, Missouri Quarterback Chase Daniel, Arkansas Runningback Darren McFadden, and Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow and broke down the results by state. Unlike most of these polls, the results proved to be quite interesting. Here are the results as of 9:00pm Wednesday night.
If you can't read it that gives:
Brennan: Hawai'i, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, South Dakota, Maine, Washington, Delaware
Daniel: Missouri
McFadden: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Kansas
Tebow: Oregon, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virgiinai, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire
Too Close to Call: Alaska, New Mexico
If the Heisman were decided by the Electoral College this poll would give Electoral votes in the following:
Brennan 94
Daniel 11
McFadden 160
Tebow 255
Too Close to Call 8
While the Heisman Trophy is not decided by Electoral College, it is decided regionally which should be interesting in the closest race in a long time
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