Auburn defensive end Nick Fairley holds the trophy following the BCS championship NCAA college football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. Auburn defeated Oregon 22-19. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Wallace) ** MAGS OUT NO SALES **
associated press A newspaper is held up after Auburn beat Oregon 22-19 in the BCS National Championship game Monday in Glendale, Ariz.
SAN ANGELO, Texas — After over a month of waiting to step onto the field and play in the biggest game of the college football season, Auburn and Oregon surprised the world with a surprisingly low-scoring game. Auburn kicker Wes Byrum hit the game-winning field goal from 19 yards out as time expired, but his kick will likely always been remembered as a secondary play to the one that truly decided the game.
After Oregon tied the game with a late two-point conversion, Auburn running back Michael Dyer responded with a highlight-reel play that no one, much less the Oregon defense, realized was happening until it was far too late. Dyer, having thought to have been tackled, never actually touched the ground as he rolled over an Oregon defender. Upon realizing no whistle had been blown, Dyer began running again, ending up with a 37-yard gain to essentially put the Tigers in field goal range. His 16- yard run three plays later simply made the field goal a chip shot to give Auburn the 22-19 victory.
While Auburn is the newest BCS champion in college football, the real winner of Monday night's less-than-spectacular showing was none other than the TCU Horned Frogs. TCU's defense proved it's worth as the nation's top-ranked defense in the Rose Bowl, while the vaunted Auburn and Oregon offense's couldn't seem to score except the 2nd quarter and as both teams scrambled to trade punches late.
This isn't to say TCU deserves to be declared as the champions, nor is it a statement that TCU should even be considered over Oregon in the final rankings; the simple fact is that TCU beat every team on its schedule, including a Wisconsin team that many considered to be the top one-loss team in the country.
What hurts the credibility of the BCS title game is the amount of time taken off between the regular season and the biggest bowl game of the year. Proponents of the current system argue merits such as the tradition of the bowl system and reason that any semblance of a playoff system would make the season entirely too long.
A simple eight-team playoff is the answer. The best news? The coveted bowl system could stay mostly in place, while the quality of games would actually improve. If, for example, round one of an eight-team playoff, the teams were seeded 1-8 and played in the Sugar Bowl, Gator Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl, then round two could pit the winners of those games against one another in the Orange Bowl and the Rose Bowl, with the winners playing in the eventual BCS title game. The trickle-down effect of such a move would be undoubtedly positive. More quality bowl games would be televised.
While a playoff system leaves a certain fear that deserving teams can be left out of a playoff system, the margin of error would be the exception, not the rule, much like the Seattle Seahawks making the NFL playoffs as a 7-9 team.
The Texas high school football state finals had an announced attendance that was higher than 16 of the 35 college bowl games, which can be mostly attributed to meaningless games being played just to fill a bowl schedule. If the playoff were in place, more of the teams that have traditionally played in bowls like the Cotton Bowl would play in lower bowls, yet the overall quality of games on the slate would improve.
As far as extending the season for a playoff is concerned, there are already five weeks between the regular season and the national championship game. As seen from this year's game, five weeks leaves time for much rust to be built up. If the myth that five weeks isn't enough time to fit two rounds of a playoff system is true, then fans should be flocking to find Elvis Presley and demanding an answer concerning Area 51.
While Toledo and Florida International, both with at least five losses entering bowl season, battled one another in the Little Caesars Bowl, fans were left wondering why they would care to watch either team play. If the bowl system is to stay intact, it is reasonable to expect maintained sponsorships, something that will not happen if attendance and interest in those games do not rise. Some higher quality games in those slots would undoubtedly be a proper solution to the problem.
The time has come. The same old arguments are no longer valid. TCU proved, despite their impending move to the Big East, that quality programs can be built outside of a major conference. It's time for officials to allow everyone to get a piece of the BCS pie and give in to what many fans have been seeking for years: a fair playoff system. The NFL is wildly popular because of week-to-week parity, something that could undoubtedly raise the stakes for those teams trying to crack the top 8 in college football. When even the little guys can compete, it's time to allow them to do just that.
San Angeloan Brandon Land is the founder and columnist for View from the Bench Sports, found at viewfromthebench.com.
© 2011 San Angelo Standard Times. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Email Discuss Share » Digg Facebook LinkedIn Tweet this Print
OUTDOORS: Keeping 'em alive BILL CULLINS: Kids can't win obesity battle without help ANTHONY WILSON: Resolutionaries can fit in with just a few simple rules
Be the first to post a comment!
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment