NCAA Football FanHouse

Mark Richt Campaigned for a Title Bid Without Much Hope

Ryan Ferguson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Georgia Football, LSU Football, SEC, NCAA FB Coaching

Remember last season when Georgia was ranked fourth, above 2-loss LSU, but were then jumped by the Tigers after LSU beat Tennessee in the SEC Championship game?

That win propelled the Tigers to their second national championship of the 2-aughts, and they became the first team with more than one loss to win a BCS title. At the time, Mark Richt was a ball of title-campaignin' energy, telling each and every reporter he could drag into earshot that Georgia deserved a bid because of their BCS ranking.

As an SEC fan, I always felt Richt's argument was facetious at best. Georgia ended the year playing their best football in recent memory, but to take a 2-loss team who hadn't even won their division over the SEC champion (with one additional win on their record) was never going to fly.

I'm not a huge fan of the BCS, but they got it right last year.
In an interview with Southern Pigskin, Richt had a confession of sorts: he didn't really expect his Bulldogs to receive a title bid after LSU was crowned Southeastern Conference champions.

"I don't really mind it the way it is, I never have. Even last year, I didn't think we got the shaft necessarily. I didn't think we should have been ranked fourth in the BCS going in and then have come out ranked fifth. I thought that was a little rough. I didn't really believe that we were going to make the national championship game. Once LSU beat Tennessee I didn't think there would be much of a chance at all, even with the two losing ahead of us," Richt said in reference to the end of last season. "I was going to lobby for our opportunity to do that and I could see where we had a right to lobby for that. It wasn't way out of the question to lobby for it but in my heart I felt like once LSU won the league...I thought they would jump us."

Richt was also quoted as saying in a separate audio interview that he was campaigning for his players, so they "wouldn't think he wasn't going to try" to get him into the championship game.

The fact is, when you lose two games and fail to win your conference -- much less your division -- your title hopes are dead. LSU proved that an SEC champion will be considered with two losses, but to be fair, it took amazing circumstances for the Bayou Bengals to find their way back to New Orleans. Richt apparently recognized the true nature of his circumstances, but it would have been nice to hear him say that from the get-go rather than send his players and fans on a roller-coaster ride.

Mark Richt Campaigned for a Title Bid Without Much Hope originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vandy Needs to Give Bobby Johnson a Raise

Charles Rich — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:52:00 EST

Filed under: Alabama Football, Florida Football, LSU Football, SEC, NCAA FB Coaching, Vanderbilt Football

Ridiculous. I realize Vandy is a private school and they provide a valuable service to the SEC in helping with the conference graduations rates. Still, if they aren't going to actually pay their football coach over $1 million dollars, there's a problem. Sylvester Croom just got his pay pushed into the seven figure zone. Now Bobby Johnson is the only SEC coach still earning a paltry 6 figure salary. Keep up.

Les Miles, LSU, $3,750,000
Nick Saban, Alabama, $3,750,000
Urban Meyer, Florida, $3,250,000
Bobby Petrino, Arkansas, $2,850,000
Mark Richt, Georgia, $2,800,000
Tommy Tuberville, Auburn, $2,800,000
Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee, $2,050,000
Steve Spurrier, South Carolina, $1,750,000
Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State, $1,700,000
Houston Nutt, Ole Miss, $1,700,000
Rich Brooks, Kentucky, $1,600,000
Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt, $950,000

Then again, Johnson is the only SEC coach not to be automatically placed on a hot seat after a losing season.

Vandy Needs to Give Bobby Johnson a Raise originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trindon Holliday Is The Fastest College Football Player Ever According To LSU

John Radcliff — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, West Virginia Football, NCAA FB Media Watch

Via Sports by Brooks, word out of LSU is that junior wide receiver Trindon Holliday is the fastest college football player...ever. When you consider the speed guys that have come out of college football like Deion Sanders, Willie Gault, Hershel Walker, etc., that's quite a statement!

No doubt, speed kills. But in the world of football, it isn't everything. I would argue that speed on the track is secondary to football speed. It's truly the gifted athlete that has track speed and football speed, like Deion and Hershel. Because then you have a weapon.

The man you see at right is James Jett, former West Virginia and Oakland Raider wide receiver. If the name doesn't ring a bell, don't feel bad. He was never an all-pro caliber wide receiver. But he was the definition of fast. He was a member of the 1992 USA 4 x 100 gold medal relay team, and actually beat out Carl Lewis at the trials while he was still playing for West Virginia. Don't get me wrong, he was a good wide receiver. But he was never great.

Back to Holliday. He might be the fastest college football player ever. But at the end of the day it doesn't really mean anything. Much like Spinal Tap being the worlds loudest rock band, they still never sold any records. For all his speed, Holiday really hasn't done anything on the field. Particularly when you look at his stats as a receiver. And that's how he should be judged. But you go ahead and have that "fastest college football player ever" plaque made, LSU. I'll be looking for it on Ebay real soon.

Trindon Holliday Is The Fastest College Football Player Ever According To LSU originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Worst Moments in Big Ten Football History #4: Ohio State Loses Back-To-Back Title Games

Mark Hasty — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:24:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Football, LSU Football, Ohio State Football, Big 10, BCS, NCAA FB History, Columbus

FanHouse is counting down the ten best, ten worst, and ten weirdest moments in Big Ten football history.

Yes, here's another moment you just knew was coming.

Anything I can possibly say about how awful it is that Ohio State lost back-to-back BCS Title Games must, of course, be tempered by the mandatory statement about how unbelievably hard it is to make it to one such game, let alone making it to two in a row. Thus if we're going to hail on the Buckeyes for giving a new layer of meaning to the term "epic fail," we owe them ... well, we owe them 50% of the respect we give to the early-90s Buffalo Bills. Or the same amount of respect we give to Bob Stoops' Oklahoma Sooners, who have the same resume (one title, back-to-back title game losses).

So you can't say the Buckeyes are bad, not even if you're an SEC fan, and you can't say that Jim Tressel isn't a very good coach. You can, however, wonder what went wrong. The answer: Lots. In both 2007 and 2008, the Buckeyes were undone by a combination of bad execution (which was within their control) and an imploding hype machine (which wasn't).

There was little question that the Buckeyes belonged in the 2007 title game. They were the #1 team in the nation for the entire season thanks to a very un-Tresselish, explosive offense. People were less sure that Florida belonged in the game; many were hoping for a rematch between Ohio State and Michigan.

(Remember the 2006 OSU/Michigan game? "#1 versus #2, in one of the most storied rivalries in college football history? " You don't remember it? Tune to your local ABC station. This game was so breathlessly overhyped it wouldn't surprise me if ABC was still running promos for it. )

Urban Meyer worked the media like he was running for president. Some poll voters listened. Others probably just didn't want a rematch. Florida got in; Michigan had to settle for the Rose Bowl, a place where they'd had their problems.

You know what happened. 41-14, and it wasn't that close. During the run-up to the 2007 season all eyes were on Columbus, and we heard about how the code to get into the Buckeyes' practice facility was '4114' (has anybody tried getting in with '3824' recently?) just so the players wouldn't forget the rank humiliation of getting pantsed by a team nobody really thought should be there.

Motivation is a good thing. It's a dang poor substitute for speed, though.

The good news about the 2008 title game is that this time the general consensus was that neither team really belonged there. LSU had lost twice, while the Buckeyes' berth was greeted with all the enthusiasm of yet another Atlanta Braves NL East pennant. It was supposed to be Mizzou versus West Virginia, but both those teams lost in their final games.

The Buckeyes went up early, 10-0, then proceeded to give up 31 straight points while their offense collapsed like day-old Dream Whip. OSU was 3 for 13 on 3rd down conversions, a lousy performance for any game but totally inexplicable in a title game. Did they not face a really good defense all season? Apparently not. They faced four ranked teams (including LSU) and only converted more than 50% of their third downs against Penn State. They were 5-14 against Purdue. Purdue! And that's why Jim Tressel looks like that in the picture above.

Santayana may have said "those who cannot remember the passed are doomed to repeat it," but mere remembrance isn't enough. You also have to change the present to avoid repeating the past.

Worst Moments in Big Ten Football History #4: Ohio State Loses Back-To-Back Title Games originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 15 May 2008 12:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Say Goodbye to Ryan Perrilloux

Ryan Ferguson — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:24:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, SEC, NCAA FB Scandal

LSU's fantastic quarterback talent, Ryan Perilloux, has finally been dismissed from the team:

Head coach Les Miles says that Perrilloux "didn't fulfill his obligation as an LSU student-athlete." He is declining additional comment.

LSU said Friday that Perrilloux is expected to finish out the spring semester at the school.

Thus ends a tumultuous, occasionally brilliant, and often frustrating tour in the bayou for Perilloux, who led LSU to a victory over Tennessee in last year's SEC title game. Perilloux was slated to start in 2008.

What did Perrilloux in? Simply put, it was his nose for trouble. Perrilloux was suspended no less than three times in the past 12 months, and was becoming a major distraction for the team even in the off-season when he was late for team practice, suspended, and then reinstated.

Despite his talent, Perrilloux would have been a poor senior leader for LSU. FanHouse is pleased with Les Miles' decision: despite forcing Tiger fans to endure a season without one of their key playmakers, Miles is sending a signal that LSU football is more important than one player.

As for Perrilloux? He will probably land on his feet. Any number of college programs will be anxious to acquire the dual-threat quarterback's services despite his off-field transgressions. After transferring and sitting out a year, expect to see Perilloux pop up at another Div-IA (excuse me, FBS) program.

Say Goodbye to Ryan Perrilloux originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 02 May 2008 10:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can LSU Dump Ryan Perrilloux Now?

Pete Holiday — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football

Before the start of last season, I argued that Ryan Perrilloux was nothing but trouble.

I realize that this kid was seen as something of a catch when he was signed, but he really is nothing but trouble. No matter where he is on the depth chart, he's already causing a headache and the season hasn't even gotten started yet. Miles should just cut the kid loose. He hasn't learned his lesson

I was chastised by the commenters, though, for trying to keep a black man down, and admonished to "wait and see" (because two different fake-ID incidents isn't enough).

But after all of the trouble lately, and all of the extra chances, he's still just running around, acting like a thug.

A server at Kona Grill in Perkins Rowe told The Daily Reveille late Tuesday night that Perrilloux arrived at the restaurant 30 minutes after it closed Friday.

Perrilloux entered the bar and attempted to order drinks. After he was denied service, Perrilloux began to curse and use racial slurs, the server said.

A Kona Grill manager approached Perrilloux, who then cursed the manager. The server said Perrilloux was asked to leave. And the police were called to the restaurant, but Perrilloux had left by the time any officers arrived.

The server said LSU coach Les Miles called the restaurant Saturday to apologize for Perrilloux.

Um, yeah. Class act, that Perrilloux. That Miles has allowed Perrilloux to stay on the roster says something about him. Are there any fans (LSU or otherwise) left defending this now?

(Hat tip: The Big Lead)

Update: Commenter 'rd' passed along a link to a Baton Rouge talk radio website which claims that the Kona Grill manager is now denying that anything happened and directing people to the corporate PR department. It's not a very convincing story, at least not yet.

Can LSU Dump Ryan Perrilloux Now? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Memo to This Year's Eventual National Champion: Savor It

Brian Grummell — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, Michigan Football, Notre Dame Football, Ohio State Football, USC Football, The Word, TCU Football

Interesting find in Olin Buchanan's Mailbag this week at Rivals.com: a trend has emerged in college football whereby teams winning a title ending in any year ending in an 8 experience a long, painful championship drought.

Recent victims: Notre Dame has not won a title since 1988. USC waited until 2003 after claiming the 1978 crown. Ohio State endured a more than 30-year wait between their 1968 and 2002 crowns. Scary stuff here.

Everyone wants a championship, but maybe it's a devil's bargain in reaching for this year's title?

Other victims of years ending in "8":

TCU was named the Associated Press national champion in 1938 - the third year of the poll - and even though players such as Bob Lilly and LaDainian Tomlinson have since come through Fort Worth, the Horned Frogs have not won another crown.

Michigan won in 1948 and did not win another national title until 1997, and that one was split with Nebraska. The '58 champion was LSU, which waited 45 years before celebrating another national championship.

Ok so maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing for TCU to win a championship this year. They've waited long enough, maybe another drought is worth the price of ending the current agony.

Memo to This Year's Eventual National Champion: Savor It originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Les Miles Now Makes More Than Nick Saban

Brian Grummell — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:08:00 EST

Filed under: Alabama Football, LSU Football, SEC, The Word

This is a good week for LSU coach Les Miles. He's certainly basking in LSU's BCS National Championship. He's miraculously not at beloved alma mater Michigan while they endure bad press for questionable academic practices within the athletic department.

And he got a big raise.

So big, in fact, that it makes him the highest-paid coach in the SEC by $1,000 over rival and former LSU coach Nick Saban.

Saban, who is guaranteed $3.75 million, was the SEC's highest-paid coach. Miles' new contract states he will be paid no less than the highest-paid coach at a public university in the conference, plus $1,000.

Sometimes in the SEC there's no need to be sneaky when it feels so good to be obvious. This is one bold, blunt example. I guess it pays to not be able to pronounce the word Arkansas so long as you are holding that glass football.

Side note for LSU fans: that's an AP National Championship Trophy in the picture. USC won one in 2004, you won one in 2008. Just so you know that we know that your coach knows it counts. That is all.

Les Miles Now Makes More Than Nick Saban originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ryan Perrilloux Rumor Now Substantiated: Indefinite Suspension

Brian Cook — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:15:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, NCAA FB Rumors

Score one for the internets.

LSU is out one starting quarterback, from the looks of it:

LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux was suspended indefinitely for an unspecified violation of team rules, leaving his status unclear for the start of spring practice Feb. 29.

Coach Les Miles did not elaborate on the violation in his statement Monday or how the suspension would affect Perrilloux's future with the national champions.

The rumor has it that the "violation of team rules" in this instance is Not Being On The Team Anymore, which includes not going to meetings or class and, if you believe the truly tinfoil-hat version of events, shaking down LSU for money before returning.

Which is completely insane and would be unbelievable if we were talking about anyone other than Ryan Perrilloux, who had a now-you-see-me-now-you-don't commitment to Texas, somehow got involved in a countefeiting investigation, and has already been suspended twice by LSU. Ryan Perrilloux could announce he is the reincarnated David Bowie, and not even David Bowie would be that shocked.

Even so, both sides have to come to their senses here, don't they? Perrilloux has two years to start at an elite program, which can be a ticket to NFL riches. LSU has a guy who used to play for Harvard and a freshman backing Perrilloux up. Both parties have a huge incentive to work things out. If they don't, LSU's title defense is over before it starts. %Gallery-5292%

Ryan Perrilloux Rumor Now Substantiated: Indefinite Suspension originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unsubstantiated Rumor Alert: Perillioux's Mama Has Spat with LSU, He Cleans Out Locker, Leaves Team

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:51:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, NCAA FB Gossip

Yeah, we run with the good stuff here at FanHouse. Intense message-board hand-wringing and rumormongering has produced this morsel (c/o our good friend Kevin Donahue at Fanblogs.com):

Due to an ongoing dispute between Perrilloux's mother and LSU -- potentially stemming from Ryan's mother trying to shake down the school -- the projected starting quarterback has cleaned out his locker and left the team. Perrilloux reportedly missed a team meeting this week, but his absence is clouded by reports that Perrilloux was attending his father's funeral.
The only aspect that does not seem to be in dispute is that Ryan Perrilloux has cleaned out his locker.

WDSU-TV in New Orleans is reporting the rumors that Perrilloux quit the team, but -- so far -- there's no comment from Perrilloux or the Tigers.

This could be devastating news for LSU. Perillioux is a great talent and his services will be sorely needed by a defending national champion which has been depleted by graduation and early defection to the NFL.

On the flip side, however, "character issues" seem to come up all too frequently for the talented dual-threat quarterback. Perillioux has had a number of run-ins with the coaching staff and seems to have a hard time following the rules. Kevin posted a followup to better explain what's happening:

It is believed that one of the issues was class attendance, missing a team appointment and the other was related to him going somewhere he wasn't supposed to be. So... the coaches met with Perrilloux and the suspension talk came up. This conversation apparently led to Perrilloux's mother threatening to pull the QB off the team

When Mama gets involved, things are going in the wrong direction. Losing Perillioux might severely wound LSU's 2008 campaign, but in the long-term, it might be for the best.

Unsubstantiated Rumor Alert: Perillioux's Mama Has Spat with LSU, He Cleans Out Locker, Leaves Team originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LSU Schedules Appalachian State

Brian Grummell — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:09:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, SEC, The Word

Yes, that Appalachian State.

LSU will open the 2008 football season at home Aug. 30 against Appalachian State, which shocked Michigan last season.

The game between LSU and Appalachian State will mark the first time that a defending champion from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) will meet the defending champion from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) in the season-opener the following year.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how the supposedly mighty SEC does business. Thing is, the boys from Boone are still a cupcake. And now they've lost that ace in the hole of being able to sneak up on people. In other words, you'll see this in about seven months:

LSU 52 Appalachian State 3

We award LSU no points for arranging this game, and may God have mercy on their soul.

LSU Schedules Appalachian State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Urban Meyer Is Suddenly Concerned About Patrick Johnson's ACT

Brian Cook — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:42:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Football, LSU Football, SEC, NCAA FB Recruiting

Patrick Johnson is the best high school corner available this year, depending on who you listen to. Earlier in the year he committed to Miami, but he re-opened his recruiting, focusing on Florida, Florida State and LSU. He picked LSU and planned to enroll early, but those plans were recently kiboshed:

LSU's top-rated football recruit, cornerback Patrick Johnson of Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla., said he still plans to join the Tigers even though he was unable to begin school this week as expected after his ACT score was questioned by the NCAA.

Johnson is qualified because his ACT score, previously stuck on 16 after multiple attempts, suddenly jumped to 22. The NCAA is supposed to review all such unexplained jumps, as they're statistically improbable. All well and good. Care to wonder why the NCAA is looking into this?

"I'm not upset," Johnson said. "Florida made an issue about the ACT score. They're cowards. They had to go behind my back. But that's OK. We play them this year (on Oct. 11 at Florida)."

Urban Meyer, or someone on his staff suddenly got real suspicious about that test score when Johnson committed to Not Florida. Anyone care to guess who Les Miles will declare LSU's newest f*#$ing rival?

Urban Meyer Is Suddenly Concerned About Patrick Johnson's ACT originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Racists Love LSU

Brian Cook — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:52:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, SEC, NCAA FB Fans

I hate Louisiana Nazis.

This has been on Deadspin already so there might be little point in reposting it, but my God, this is remarkable. And really really racist. And sad. And will hopefully cause Ryan Perriloux to immediately transfer somewhere far away:

No doubt this phenomenon is not restricted to LSU fans, but that's a lot of racism from like six guys without even the tiniest hint of dissent. And yet they idolize Glenn Dorsey. Tools. Someone please find out where that guy who "has a job" works and remove said job from him.

Hey, look at that: no broad painting of entire sections of the country. Good job, me.

Racists Love LSU originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USC Wins National Championship

Brian Grummell — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 10:48:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, USC Football, Pac 10, SEC, BCS

Ha! Only in the world of delusion maybe.

But seriously: The Las Vegas Sports Consultants, the group that sets opening lines for the casinos, ended the year ranking USC as the top team in all of college football, ahead of BCS and Associated Press champion LSU.

With the loss to Stanford, USC really has no claim to anything other than the Pac-10 and Rose Bowl Championships it did earn. However, I can't help but wonder if Auburn can shamelessly claim they were the 2004 "People's National Champions" (snicker), is it fair for USC to claim they're the 2007 "Bookies' National Champions"?

USC Wins National Championship originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 10:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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People Might Just Possibly Be Overreacting a Little Tiny Bit About the Big Ten

Brian Cook — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:48:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Football, LSU Football, Michigan Football, Ohio State Football

Pat Forde, right.

In the aftermath of another not particularly close national championship game featuring Ohio State, the articles were inevitable. The most breathless belongs to ESPN's Pat Forde:

If you've ever seen lions maul a water buffalo, you've seen the last two title games. You've seen a fierce pair of SEC teams -- Florida last year, LSU this year -- blow the vulnerable Buckeyes back to the Bratwurst Belt by a combined 41 points. You've seen the best of one league flex, and the best of an inferior league collapse.

Forde goes on to suggest Ohio State be banned from future title games amongst a cavalcade of zingers like "when the SEC shows up, they should change O-H-I-O to O-H-N-O." As Fire Joe Morgan might say: at least Forde is super funny. It's a typical piece of media prattle that eschews nuance for LOUD NOISES.

Ohio State didn't lose because they were out-talented -- some four or five Buckeyes will go in the first round of the NFL draft, depending on who exactly comes out and that doesn't include terrifying sophomore Beanie Wells -- but because they are young and stupid.

As Tom Fornelli notes, the Buckeyes have three senior starters and just five on their entire two-deep, three of whom are fullbacks. They went up against a veteran team everyone supposed was the most talented in the country and... well, outgained them in the midst of a turnover- and penalty-implosion that reminded everyone of -- yes -- LSU last year. LSU's winning margin was a roughing the kicker penalty and a dropped OSU touchdown.

This is not dominance.

For all the cries of SEC dominance, over the past 11 years the SEC is exactly one game over five hundred against the Big Ten in bowl games (the only non-bowl games have been Michigan against Vanderbilt and Kentucky against Indiana; the former is unfair and the latter irrelevant), and these bowl games invariably function as virtual road games. This year Michigan played Florida in Orlando. Ohio State played LSU in New Orleans. For all SEC fans' talk, their damn conference hasn't backed it up on the field.

Nor have they backed it up in the draft. Eleven Warriors broke down the past five years of NFL draft results between the two conferences. The results: 16.7 draftees per SEC team; 16.6 per Big Ten team. First and second rounders per SEC team: 6.5. Per Big Ten team: 6.6.

They haven't backed it up in the draft or on the field; the only reason any of this crap is going on is because of one bad performance by Ohio State last year and a mediocre one this year. Attention, shortsighted tools: two games do not define a conference.

People Might Just Possibly Be Overreacting a Little Tiny Bit About the Big Ten originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pardon Me, Did You Happen to See a Good BCS Bowl Game?

Ryan Ferguson — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:47:00 EST

Filed under: Georgia Football, LSU Football, Ohio State Football, Oklahoma Football, USC Football, West Virginia Football, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Pac 10, SEC, BCS, Bowl Games, NCAA FB Fans, Illinois Football, Hawaii Football

This whole BCS thing has me gritting my teeth again. Some of these bowl outcomes were predetermined before the first snap, but there were a few surprises.

Rose Bowl: USC 49, Illinois 17

That's what you get for your precious Rose Bowl tie-ins, Big 10 and Pac-10 fans. A total sham of a game. The Grandaddy? Not this year.

I know everyone's in love with USC after that dominating performance, but let's not lose sight of the fact that Illinois was probably overrated due to that win over Ohio State. A fact made even more obvious after the Bucks were hammered by LSU in the BCS title game. How great would it have been to see Southern Cal vs. Georgia in this game?

Sugar Bowl: Georgia 41, Hawaii 10

I'm all for giving the little guy a chance, but the Warriors had no business being in this game. Our valued Hawaii readers here at FanHouse have pointed out Hawaii's ascendance under June Jones and that the accomplishments of their football team showcase their rich cultural heritage. True, Hawaii's a powerhouse in the WAC nowadays, and that is something to be proud of... but it is the WAC, not the Pac-10 or SEC.

Regardless, this is the game I enjoyed the least. Why? Because my interest in the outcome of the game diminished as my fear for the physical safety of Hawaii's players grew. We here at FanHouse have the highest respect and appreciation for the island's tradition (how 'bout that Haka!), and we love the underdog. Love him! Warriors fans, you have every right to be proud of your team. But on the flip side, hey... it's college football. Bring it or shut up. Mahalo.

Fiesta Bowl: West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28

This was a reasonably fun game to watch... for a half. Certainly the overwhelming favorite, Oklahoma, was upset by a surprisingly speedy and effective Mountaineer squad. (Even despite losing head coach Rich Rodriguez to Michigan!) But blowouts do get boring. I didn't see the final quarter. I don't blame this one on the BCS. I think.

Orange Bowl: Kansas 24, Virginia Tech 21

This one surprised me, but then again you're talking about two of the weaker conferences in the country this year squaring off. In terms of glamor and appeal, the Orange Bowl was sorely lacking. It was kind of a close game, I guess. Did anyone watch it? Kansas and Virginia Tech fans don't count.

BCS Title Game: I'll admit it, I grew nervous about this game after Michigan beat the Gators in the Capital One bowl; I actually called for a 1-point win for the Bayou Bengals. LSU clearly had a more talented team going into the game, but would Les Miles be able to get his team razor-focused and ready to play? Turns out I shouldn't have worried. This game was, for all intents and purposes, over after LSU answered the Buckeyes' opening salvo with 31 unanswered points.

The BCS, Playoffs, and +1

So how do you feel about this year's bowl matchups? With the exception of the Rose Bowl, I feel as though the BCS worked more or less as advertised: we got #1 vs. #2 in New Orleans, we had an at-large opponent not named Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, and Top 10 matchups involving West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas and Virginia Tech.

The problem, of course, is that although it 'worked', the system simply isn't very good, so neither was the final result. Between traditional bowl tie-ins (thanks for nothing, Rose Bowl!), corporate sponsors choosing teams based on their potential ROI rather than how good they might be, bowl politics and a mad-scientist formula which determines how a team is ranked, fans are more often than not robbed of an opportunity to see great postseason matchups.

Don't think I'm clamoring for a playoff. Please: I've studied this mess long enough to understand the business interests at the heart of college football easily trump what Joe Q. Football Fan and his buddies might want. Until we're all willing to stop paying for the product to get what we're asking for -- and trust me on this, none of us are -- we're not going to see a playoff. If anything, the controversy surrounding the BCS sweetens the pot for the suits making money on the whole deal.

Those suits love the current system. Love it. They're making money hand over fist. The universities aren't necessarily making a dime directly from their efforts -- a BCS appearance is often a break-even or lose-money proposition unless you're Notre Dame -- but the corporate sponsors, the bowls, and their supporting communities want it to stay status quo forever.

And it probably will. In all honesty, I don't think we'll ever see a true college football playoff in the fashion of the FCS or the NCAA basketball tournament. I've found it's easier to accept when you just decide to let it go.

It's important to remember that the current bowl system, and the BCS, isn't an entity. You can't call up the BCS on the telephone, or storm into their office building and demand to speak to the guy in charge. This system is a loose collection of hundreds of different entities, all with their own agendas and interests to protect. And it wasn't formed overnight: it took several generations of tweaking and twisting and turning and handshakes to get the "business" to this point. Things don't easily change, and when they do, it's only to make sure that the flow of greenbacks continues in the right direction and at the best rate possible. Do you think these people care about whether the right team is crowned a national champion? Their collective product -- college football's postseason -- is more successful now than it has ever been. You say playoff and they're not even listening. They couldn't care any less because business is great.

What I do think could work, eventually -- not this year, or next year, but maybe five or ten years from now -- is a +1 system. The +1 isn't perfect either, but it nicely fills almost all of the glaring holes left open by the current incarnation of the Bowl Championship Series. A +1 answers the problem of multiple undefeated teams vying for a championship slot, or in the case of the 2007 season, multiple defeated teams who all have reasonable claims to appear in the Big Game. Will someone always be left on the outside looking in? Yes, and that's too bad, but when you're talking about a total of 13, 14, or in the case of two teams under a hypothetical scenario like this one, 15 total games in a season, it's impossible to make everyone happy.

But even a +1 is a long shot.

The biggest problem, of course, is the set of "tradtional" bowl tie-ins. The Rose Bowl, in particular, doesn't want to see the Grandaddy become an "early round" bowl and the fear is that any type of playoff structure will diminish the importance of the event.

A fair concern for the Rose Bowl and the city of Pasadena to have, in my view.

If you'll recall, professional football attempted to run playoffs with a bowl type structure but crowds just weren't showing up for the games. Eventually the league went to a home-team stadium arrangement based on seeds from the regular season, and most of the professional bowls -- with the exception of 'Super' and 'Pro' -- died. Could that happen in college football? Well, if fans are unwilling to travel to a "playoff" bowl game and then turn right back around and fly to where the championship game is being held, then the answer is yes.

For proof, have a look in the stands at the regionals for the NCAA basketball tournament. Lots and lots of empty seats, even for the regional finals.

It's just too frightening a thought for the BCS, and the extended bowl system around it to bear. That's why even a +1 is a long shot and talk of an 8 or 16-team playoff is a complete and utter waste of breath. Isn't going to happen. Doesn't matter how much you like it, it's not good for business. So you're not going to get it. Ever.

One other thing which could help is a change in the method for how teams are selected. The Rose Bowl is once again at the center of the problem: they want a Pac-10 team facing off against a Big 10 team, period, and that's how we got the USC-Illinois debacle this year. If the bowls opened themselves up to bringing in any combination of teams, we'd potentially see better matchups. Of course, the same old dragon head pops up and breathes fire on the whole shebang: bowls don't necessarily want the best matchups, they want the best teams for their corporate sponsors. That's why Clemson made it to the Chik-Fil-A bowl (a travesty that it's no longer called the Peach Bowl, really) over Boston College, an overachieving squad whose fanbase just doesn't give a rip about them. (Did you see their attendance in the ACC Championship game? I'm guessing All-Tel stadium was about 40% full. No lie.)

Again, greenbacks trump good football. That is the bowl system. I don't see a change in this department either, and frankly, I don't really blame the bowls... it's a business, and creating consistently good matchups in this case is potentially bad for business.

So. What do you think? +1? Hellbent for leather on the playoff? Leave things as they are, but change the formula? Or just keep griping about it? Here's to better bowl games next season.

Pardon Me, Did You Happen to See a Good BCS Bowl Game? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LSU Starts Them Young

Tom Fornelli — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:07:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, Ohio State Football, BCS, Bowl Games, NCAA FB Fans, General CFB Insanity, NCAA FB Video

Well, I was upset about Ohio State losing to LSU and ensuring me of another year of being told that the Big Ten sucks, and that the SEC is superior on every level.

Then I came across this video and all of a sudden I'm thrilled LSU won, because if they hadn't, this kid would never had his chance at stardom.

Via Busted Coverage

LSU Starts Them Young originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At the End of the Day, Ohio State is Just No Match for LSU

Ryan Ferguson — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:23:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, Ohio State Football, Big 10, SEC, BCS, Bowl Games

In college football, 'preparation' is often the intangible that leads to whether a team wins or loses a bowl game. After all, we're dealing with college kids here; the distractions of the holidays, traveling to a bowl destination, and just being a 19-year old on the road with 80 best friends can divert a young player's attention and result in a less than ideal performance.

That didn't happen this time.

Ohio State came in prepared, hungry, and with a chip on their shoulder. They rode it and running back Beanie Wells to a 10-0 start. The problem was that LSU was bigger, stronger, and faster, particularly on defense. And they prepared just as well, if not better, than their opponent. After the Bucks' fast start, LSU responded with 24 unanswered points to end the half.

LSU's first drive of the 3rd quarter bogged down when the Tigers were forced to punt, but Ohio State breathed fresh life into the Bayou Bengals after they were called for roughing the kicker. They followed that up with a late hit personal foul which set LSU up for breaking the game wide open when they scored their fourth touchdown of the night.

How did LSU win this game? First, from top to bottom, they simply fielded better players. QB Matt Flynn easily outplayed and outmanaged Todd Boeckman. LSU's offensive and defensive lines controlled the line of scrimmage for most of the game. LSU's receivers were faster and more physical, and made big plays when it really mattered.

And second, they didn't allow themselves to believe the hype. They showed up ready to do battle with a tough football team. They were physical in their play and after being bloodied early, took the fight to their opponent and kept it there.

Ohio State fought, and with the exception of some terrible tackling in the secondary, the effort really seemed to be there for all 60 minutes. It just wasn't enough to win the game. Not even close, unfortunately.

For LSU, it's celebration time. For Ohio State, it's back to the drawing board. The Big 10 powerhouse has a miserable 0-9 record against SEC teams and has suffered back to back, multiple-TD losses in its last two championship game appearances -- both against SEC teams -- and only a touchdown scored in garbage time kept the spread in this game from looking a lot worse.

At the End of the Day, Ohio State is Just No Match for LSU originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fox's BCS Bowl Work Deserves Abuse

Charles Rich — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:04:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, Ohio State Football, Big 10, SEC, BCS, Bowl Games, NCAA FB Media Watch

Not a lot should be expected from Fox in the personality, play-by-play, analyst department (and lord knows we haven't gotten it). After all, they spend the entire season covering the NFL, and then have five bowl games in January (Cotton, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta and BCS Championship). That means bringing over their NFL people who have barely seen the games most of the season and a variety of ex-coaches and players as guest analysts. Those are old complaints and while frustrating can at least be understood from and economic standpoint.

What has been inexcusable has been the technical production and camera work in the games. These bowl games have all been held in pro stadiums, where FOX has no excuse. They have spent plenty of time in these venues. They know the camera angles and looks. This is the area where they should be able to translate their NFL production values to the bowl games. Quick work in the trailer to find the right camera and view of what happened. To be quick with the replays and be able to diagram plays and what happened.

Instead it looks like they brought in regional workers. The camera angles have been sloppy. They have been two to three plays behind in showing vital replays. It is as if the producers have been scrambling to find the right camera to show what happened. The production values of these bowl games have rivaled that of the NBC/Notre Dame games.

As for the yellow first down line, apparently they must have Pat Summerall up in the booth serving as the spotter.

Fox's BCS Bowl Work Deserves Abuse originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LSU vs. OSU BCS National Championship Liveblog (Second Half)

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:59:00 EST

Filed under: LSU Football, Ohio State Football, Big 10, SEC, BCS, Bowl Games

For those of you who stayed with us through the first half, welcome back. LSU leads Ohio State at the half, scoring 24 unanswered points after the Buckeyes opened the game with a 10-point lead. This has to be an all-too-familiar feeling for Ohio State fans. Boeckman's interception set up an LSU TD and the Tigers' swarming defense has negated the Ohio State ground game in the second quarter.

At least quarterback Todd Boeckman recovered his own fumble late in the second quarter. Had he failed, unmitigated horror would have rippled through the Superdome. For people wearing scarlet shirts, anyway.

LSU has dominated the line of scrimmage and they certainly appear to be a step faster and a bruising tackle stronger than Ohio State so far. My impression is that the Buckeyes are giving this game every possible effort, but it just hasn't been enough against the Tigers.

Will that change in the second half? It certainly could. LSU has been using a wide open style of play, and they need to stick with that if they want to win. Ohio State, meanwhile, needs to keep going to running back Chris Wells, who is responsible for the Bucks' only TD so far.

Stick with us, folks.

10:03PM: Oh, this is a pretty good idea. Former Buckeye and Tiger players in a kicking competition. Heyyyyy, wait a minute, that dude in the Ohio State jersey was the singer in the national anthem performance... you can't fool me, you wily Fox bastards.

10:14PM: No way! Jamarcus Russell is being interviewed on the sideline and he's wearing that same "Bama Boy" ensemble we saw from earlier in the year (right here at FanHouse). What the hell?! Troy Smith is asked by Chris Meyers about Russell's "interesting" attire and Smith says, "I think it's a great representation of Alabama." +50,000 karma points to Troy Smith. I still like that kid.

10:22PM: Okay, finally the kickoff. LSU will receive. Another touchback... with the kickoffs being moved 5 yards back this year, having a kicker who can boom it into the endzone consistently like that is a big advantage.

10:26PM: Fox commentator Charles Davis was right about one thing. It's critical that the Buckeyes survive LSU's opening possession. So far the Tigers are moving the ball easily. They're at midfield already.

10:27PM: Another relatively easy quarterback sneak for the Tigers on 3rd-and-1. If I'm Jim Tressel, this is one of the most disturbing things I've seen in this game. The ability to convert so easily on short yardage downs is a huge weapon for the Tigers.

10:30PM: That's Jim Tressel as animated as I've ever seen him, running off the sideline onto the field there, screaming for an intentional grounding call, and... he got it. Sheer joy! It's 3rd-and-23 for the Tigers. Ohio State needs this stop in the worst way.

10:34PM: I'm starting to think this isn't going to be Ohio State's night. On 4th and 23, the Bucks get called for roughing the kicker... automatic first down for LSU. Jeez, fellas. You're not going to win the game making mistakes like that.

10:36PM: YGTBSM. Right after they rough the kicker, OSU gets called for another personal foul after the play. Automatic first down... again.

10:38PM: Oh, come ON! Touchdown LSU. Matt Flynn takes the snap on Ohio State's 4-yard line, rolls out, and completes the pass to Early Doucet. What happens next violates all that is holy in college football: Doucet easily breaks two half-hearted tackles which would have stopped him several yards short, and dances into the end zone. My cell phone just rang... it's my father. "Ohio State is laying down," he told me. "This game is over." It's hard to argue with that statement. The Bucks look like they've given up. It's 31-10, LSU.

10:45PM: 3rd-and-7 for the Bucks. Boeckman doesn't see either of two open receivers and takes a sack. 4th down again for the Bucks? This game could very easily go the way of the Hawaii-Georgia game if they don't keep fighting. The contest is practically over with 21 minutes left to play. Not good!

10:51PM: LSU is driving and converts yet another 3rd down. If I'm Les Miles, I'm going to try to go down the field full throttle and score one more time, then I'm going to shut it down and go to my ground game.

10:53PM: PICK! First big play of the night for Ohio State's defense... Matt Flynn and Terrance Tolliver didn't appear to be on the same page, resulting in an interception by OSU's Jenkins. If the Buckeyes can score here, this might become a ball game again.

10:55PM: STUFFED! Chris Wells loses three yards on 3rd-and-1 up against LSU's goal line. Ohio State is going for it! TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE! That was a clutch catch by Brian Robiskie. Hell of a call by Tressel there.

11:02PM: Quarter's over. It's 3rd-and-6 for LSU. Charles Davis again accurately describes the state of things for LSU and Ohio State when he says that momentum is "teetering" on the brink of shifting Ohio State's way. Still, with the Tigers up 2 TDs in the 4th quarter, this is their game to lose.

11:09PM: Hey, hey! It's the Beanie Wells show again. The Bucks pick up another first down. They're moving the ball... a score here, and they're right back in it.

11:11PM: Absolutely vicious hit on Boeckman as he scrambles close to a first down. Another "big, big" 3rd down according to our intrepid Fox crew.

11:12PM: SACK! 4th down with seven yards to go. Tressel's got to go for it here, I think. Boeckman calls for a timeout as the play clock winds down... might have been one of those "boots in cement" deals in an attempt to draw the defense offsides.

11:15PM: Hooooooooo boy. I think we just saw Ohio State's hopes go down the drain. Not only did they fail to convert on fourth down, Boeckman was stripped by LSU's Ali Highsmith. The leather was picked up by Coleman, who returned back to the thirtysomething line. The details don't really matter anymore.

11:17PM: Our own Chas Rich saved me from having to say it. Thanks, Chas. The next round of White Russians is on me.

11:21PM: Ooh, nice stop there by Ohio State. I dunno, is this still a game? I think it probably is. It's 4th and 4 now and LSU is out of field goal range. They're going to punt unless Miles wants to engage in a bit of trickery.

11:26PM: Yep, they punted. Tressel goes with Wells who picks up 4 yards on first down. Obviously, with 9:00 remaining, LSU will be happy to give that to them all night at this point, but I like the decision by Tressel. Down 14, all you need here is a score with a chance to be holding the ball at the end of the game. The Buckeyes will need a balanced attack to make that happen, and Boeckman has had his cage rattled a few times.

11:27PM: Another 4th-down attempt by the Buckeyes... and Chris Wells gets it. 7:04 remaining. Ohio State has allowed a lot of time expire in the process of getting that first down.

11:29PM: Boeckman goes down and is stripped again in the process. He recovers as the ball bounces right back to him. 6:00 remaining now. Gotta pick up the pace, Bucks.

11:31PM: Boeckman has plenty of time but throws it right to into the arms of Curtis Taylor. With 5:43 left, this game is effectively over assuming the Tigers hold onto the ball from here on out.

11:34PM: It's 4th-and-1, and the Tigers are going for it. This is an easy call. And... they get it. At minimum, another 2:00 will come off the clock now.

11:38PM: We're down to 3 minutes and it's first and goal at Ohio State's 7-yard line. Game over: it's just a question of whether LSU will score again. For the sake of Ohio State fans' sanity, I hope they don't... 38-17 looks a lot worse than 31-17, which despite appearing a lot closer than this game really was,

11:39PM: Sorry, Bucknuts, it's 38-17. Flynn found Dickson wide open in the endzone for six. PAT is good.

As the game winds down, it's time to contemplate a few things.

1) LSU is a much, much better team than Ohio State, who only managed one offensive touchdown in the entire ball game.

2) Ohio State tried. They tried really hard. They played with heart, except for that half-hearted attempt to tackle Doucet when the game was still within reach. They just don't have what it takes to be competitive against a team like the Tigers.

3) This loss will sting for the Bucks, but let's face it, no one expected them to make it this far and this result is not exactly shocking.

4) Kirk Herbstreit made the statement before this game that Ohio State football would be set back to pre-1960 levels if they were blown out by LSU. Were they blown out? It's borderline, but since the Bucks could only put up a single TD and a field goal offensively against the LSU defense, I'll have to say that yeah, they were, more or less. It's a big blow to the Big 10, and Ohio State is now 0-9 against SEC teams in bowl games.

11:45: We're down to 1:19 remaining and Ohio State racks up a garbage TD. Hey, this helps, I think. It's 38-24 now, Still, there's no avoiding the fact that LSU manhandled the Bucks.

11:50PM: It's kneel-down time. For those of you who stuck with us, thanks! Be sure to check FanHouse for post-game reactions from our cadre of highly-trained, lethally effective assassins bloggers.

LSU vs. OSU BCS National Championship Liveblog (Second Half) originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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