When you woke up on Sunday, did you really think that Oklahoma State was going to be playing for the national championship? (Link to a related conversation on our message forums)
While I hate to admit this, I can’t stop thinking about how much the BCS system reminds me of Dancing With the Stars (please feel free to rip on me in the comments below). In Dancing With the Stars, the viewers are told that their votes – along with the judges’ scores – decide who stays and who leaves. So ultimately, America’s vote doesn’t necessarily count at all while the judges/show decide who to keep based on one thing — ratings.
Sound familiar?
I know that there is an actual BCS formula that is used, but it is difficult for me to imagine that the BCS committee isn’t just a 4-man scramble golf tournament where they all decide, after 5 hours of golf and twice as many beers, who should play in the national championship. Do I have a solution to the current system? Heck no. This is ‘Murica, where we aren’t motivated enough to change the things that we control and complain about the things we can’t.
On the same note, the BCS twitter feed is “Every Bowl Counts.” Well, with 35 bowl games being played this year, I don’t think I could agree less. I’m not even that concerned about the bowl system’s fairness like some people (link)
The sole purpose of the bowl system in general and the BCS in particular is to make money. A lot of money, most of which is split between the bowls, their sponsors, a certain four-letter television network and six specific conferences that comprise the college sports version of the privileged one percent.
So stop squawking about how Nick Saban voted Oklahoma State behind Stanford in the coaches poll to ensure his Alabama team got another shot at LSU for the “title.†Or how little guys like Boise State and TCU keep getting jobbed.
As corrupt as it is, this is the system they all signed up for. Unless somebody grows a conscience, steps forward and changes it, it’s the system we’re stuck with.
Until then, accept it for what it is and move on. Like the disclaimer at the bottom of those old parlay sheets that used to float around college campuses and offices from coast-to-coast used to say:
“For entertainment purposes only.â€
Although the exorbitant number of bowls has benefited NC State in recent years, I don’t think that 6-6 teams should be rewarded for limping through the season. Again, do I have a solution? Absolutely not. But, I thought it might be something you would like to discuss.
Along the lines of our bowl conversation, you can click here for ESPN’s bowl rankings and a little commentary on the national championship. Additionally, ESPN has ranked the ACC’s bowls in this entry.
On the fun side of the ledger, this link has some great information on the extra benefits ‘swag’ provided by the ACC’s bowls.
N.C. State (Belk Bowl): Estimated $400 shopping spree at Belk’s flagship store in Charlotte, Fossil watch.
As always, please feel free to check our message forums for a variety of current topics and conversations!
