Week three has chance of being full of surprises
In life there are three certainties: death, taxes and collegefootball preseason polls. All three of which are equally asannoying as they are assured (maybe taxes are a little moreirritating than both). While there will never be a panacea assuringimmortality, and you will never convince George W. Bush to get ridof taxes completely, something can be done about preseason polling.Get rid of it!
Why must we have a poll that comes out in early August?Can’t we wait for three games and then judge who the bestteams are based on their performance on the field instead of theirhype off of it?
Look at all the ridiculous mistakes that were made: Auburn wasranked No. 6. Ohio State was No. 2 in the preseason, after watchingOSU quarterback Craig Krentzel’s Helen Keller-likeperformance on Saturday against San Diego State, the Buckeyes wouldbe lucky to break the top 10. Wake Forrest was initially unrankedbut would probably be in the top 10 after beating Boston Collegeand North Carolina State easily.
Furthermore, why have polls at all? Do you think some schmoreporter from New York City knows more about football than aneducated fan? Or, do you think a coach is going to vote hisarchrival very high in the coach’s poll? I think not.
Here is a huge example of human error in polling. Last Saturday,the Florida Gators played the Miami Hurricanes. The Gators, a hugeunderdog, led the ‘Canes 33-10 in the third quarter only tosee their lead wither away resulting in a 38-33 loss. On the gameslast play, the Gators had a chance to win when first-yearquarterback Chris Leak was intercepted at the 10 yard line.
The Gators dropped two spots in the ESPN poll to No. 20.However, had Leak completed the pass and the Gators won the game,they most assuredly would vaulted into the top seven at least.There is no way that the result of one play can make the differencein being ranked 20th and seventh.
Instead of the polling system, here is a novel, inventive idea:a playoff. I know this is crazy, maybe even a little bit off thewall, but it might be just crazy enough to actually work. (Forthose readers who might be a little intellectually challenged, thepreceding statement is cloaked in sarcasm.)
Every other sport ever has a playoff system, why doesn’tcollege football? In fact, I just watched the World Championship ofDarts on Fox Sports Tuesday night. I am not making this up.
Not much would have to change to create a playoff. You can keepall the stupid, inconsequential bowl games like the Weed EaterBowl; all you have to do is jazz up the Bowl ChampionshipSeries.
In the current system, the BCS is composed of eight teams. Sixof these teams are winners of their respective conferences (BigEast, SEC, Big 12, Big 10, ACC and Pac 10), while the other two arewild cards. I propose no changes to this, except that instead ofthe season being over after these four games are played, thewinners should play each other until only one team remains –your national champion.
The best part of this scenario is that it solves the biggestproblem most conference officials have with the thought of aplayoff. By keeping the other bowl games intact, none of theconferences will lose money.
This is my plea to the arrogant morons who have the gall tocreate a sport in which there is no playoff system; wake up andjoin the 21st century.
Notes
Look for Phillip Rivers to rejoin the Heisman race. After adisappointing loss to Wake Forrest he will shine on Saturday asNorth Carolina State will upset Ohio State in Columbus. The luck ofthe Irish will run out this week as Notre Dame travels to Ann Arborto face Michigan. Look for Wolverine running back Chris Perry torun all over the Irish “D” as Michigan will win easily.Entering the top 25 this week, Texas A&M will not receive awarm welcome as they travel to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech.The Aggies won’t be able to compete athletically as Va. Techwill win in a laugher. Finally, in an upset special, Utah Statewill nip 16th ranked Arizona State.
