Yet another BCS whiff: Alabama’s brand burns the Cowboys
Maybe there'll be a touchdown scored the second time around. Then again ... (AP photo)
Nobody ever said the BCS made sense, and this year it makes less sense than … well, can you make less sense than zero? Alabama did not win its division and did not win its conference but could well be the national champion in a sport where we’re told Every Game Counts.
Actually, what this year’s serving of BCS glop tells us is that it’s good to have an aura. Nick Saban has an aura, albeit one of fire and brimstone, which means Alabama has an aura, which means Alabama got a nod it didn’t deserve.
Bama played its two toughest conference games — LSU and Arkansas — at home. It didn’t play either Georgia or South Carolina, the best teams in the SEC East. It played five teams that finished with a winning record, and one was Georgia Southern. The Tide beat three teams that finished the Top 25 of the BCS standings.
Oklahoma State played four such teams and won all four games. It played seven teams that finished with winning records. The Cowboys did, for mavens of minutiae, win their conference title. The knock on them is that they lost to unranked Iowa State. But they did lose on the road, and in overtime.
Alabama, the counter-argument goes, only lost in OT to the nation’s No. 1 team. But Alabama lost at home. Alabama was favored that night and couldn’t win. But because Alabama is coached by the dark lord Saban and because Alabama is from the SEC, which is the feeder league for BCS titlists, the Tide gets a second chance.
And this time the talking heads on ESPN, who make less sense with every week, had no problem with the concept of a rematch or the reality of a non-conference champion playing for the BCS crown. (Oddly enough, some of those same voices hooted down Georgia’s credentials in 2007. “Can’t consider a team that didn’t win its conference,” the ESPN choir harrumphed.) And Saturday night, moments after Oklahoma State finished routing Oklahoma, which entered the season ranked No. 1, some ESPN boys leaped at the chance to say, “Ah, that doesn’t really matter.”
“SportsCenter” opened with the highlights of the SEC title game and then Oklahoma State’s dismissal of its bitter rival. Then the Bristol anchors tossed, as they say in TV, to Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit. Musburger, who had famously lobbied for Georgia Tech to be promoted above Colorado to No. 1 when calling Tech’s victory in the Citrus Bowl in January 1991, started with a little joke. What’s wrong with a rematch, he asked, and cited the extremely appropriate case study of Rocky Balboa versus Apollo Creed.
Then Herbstreit dismissed Oklahoma State by saying the Cowboys had lost in Ames, Iowa, and, more to the point, didn’t pass “the eyeball test.” Which made you wonder: How could Kirk Herbstreit know just how Oklahoma State had looked against Oklahoma? He (and Musburger) had been sitting in a booth in Charlotte, N.C., calling the ACC title game.
Because big-time college football has no playoff grid, ephemeral stuff like “the eyeball test” and someone’s opinion — yours, mine and especially Kirk Herbstreit’s — are allowed to hold disproportionate sway. Alabama won’t be playing for the (exceedingly mythical) national championship because it had a better season than Oklahoma State but because its has the stronger brand. It’s Alabama. It plays in the SEC. It’s coached by Saban. Good enough for me! Give that team a second chance!
And that’s what big-time college football has become — a game of brands, not reality. Is it mere coincidence that ESPN has a 15-year contract to carry SEC games? (ESPN also has a contract with the Big 12, Oklahoma State’s diminishing league, but the bigger Big 12 package is with Fox Sports.)
This was a year when opinion mattered. Five of the seven computer rankings had Oklahoma State above Alabama, but the Tide finished ahead in both human polls. Why? Because of the brand. You cannot tell me that if Alabama’s name were attached to Oklahoma State’s body of work and vice versa that the results wouldn’t have been different. We all know they would have.
And now we’re faced with this scenario: A winner of nothing save some eyeball test can split two games against another team … and be declared national champ. Some “system” this is.
By Mark Bradley
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1,739 comments Add your comment
brad
December 5th, 2011
12:01 am
Reality, what a whining little p*ssy you are.
Realist
December 5th, 2011
12:02 am
Reality, thinking of the next post “Dang, my football team hasn’t won a national championship in 30 years, we got humiliated on national tv yesterday… I’ll mock the state next door to change the subject”. Well played sir, well played.
Sour Grapes
December 5th, 2011
12:02 am
@DP:
Well GA did beat LSU in the first half you know.
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2011
12:02 am
Reality,
We beat a top 10 team in Ark whose only other loss is to LSU and we beat a 9-3 Penn State team which is also nationally ranked.
Once again who has Georgia beaten?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Blackoutanyone?
December 5th, 2011
12:02 am
“Watching the SEC championship game replay, Crowell just limped off the field with menstrual cramps”. lol Thank god he picked UGA. Well he’d be redshirting at Bama this year anyway.
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:03 am
What’s Georgia’s best win this year?
Beating up Auburn alot worse than you guys did.
Either way Alabama is a joke of a state.
I say let them win it.
Its like giving someone in Hell ice water.
They have to live in Alabama after its over. That makes they rest of us the real winners.
Why should LSU have to beat Bama twice?
They already won that game. In Tuscaloosa.
kerryb
December 5th, 2011
12:03 am
Bama fans, who have you played? the only good team you played that we didn’t was Arkansas. We beat Auburn worse than you and beat Miss state by nearly the same score. You struggled against a lower division option team and we beat a #23 ranked option team and dominated them. You are not as good as you try to think you are.
Blackoutanyone?
December 5th, 2011
12:05 am
BCS slave… after 12 games if you can’t tell Bama was a better team than OSU then you just don’t understand the game of football.
brad
December 5th, 2011
12:05 am
Reality, you’re a loser no matter where you live. Period.
Sour Grapes
December 5th, 2011
12:05 am
GA’s record this year is 10.5 and 2.5 because, well, you know they did beat LSU in the first half.
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:05 am
9-3 Penn State team which is also nationally ranked.
Penn St is awful. Arkansas is also wildly overrated.
Enjoy the game Bama fans.
Nobody but you guys will be watching or even care.
Heck the way Bama claims National Titles they will probably claim one if they lose.
BCS Boycott
December 5th, 2011
12:06 am
Enjoy watching the BCS crapfest with those three chump QBs(assuming Lee gets some time) badly missing their SEC Speed WRs, and the special teams of Bama puking all over themselves.
The very scary thing, is that LSU is going to borrow the gameplan from Georgia Southern a couple of weeks ago against Alabama. Run that option left, option right, option gut, and beat that sad sack Bama team by 3 scores.
LSU 12
Bama 3
objective observer
December 5th, 2011
12:06 am
The BCS is a flawed system. That being said they did put the 2 best teams in the NCG. Alabama destroyed everybody they played by more than 2 TDs except for the LSU game. I have no dog in this fight, but LSU would destroy every team in the country except for Alabama in my honest opinion. We need a playoff.
JAP
December 5th, 2011
12:06 am
Rehashed topic and article Mr. Bradley.
Thanks for the press coverage though and enjoy watching Alabama play in the BCS championship game.
kerryb
December 5th, 2011
12:07 am
Bama fans, who have you beaten? The only good team you played that we didn’t was Arkansas. We beat Auburn worse than you. Beat Miss State by the same score. We both got beat by LSU. You struggled against a lower Division option team and we dominated the #23 ranked option team. You are not as good as you try to make yourself out to be.
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:07 am
GA’s record this year is 10.5 and 2.5 because, well, you know they did beat LSU in the first half.
And bama’s record is 11.5 and .5
Because you know they were tied and only lost in overtime.
Beno Dawg
December 5th, 2011
12:07 am
Just stupid, LSU has to beat Bama twice to win the title, but Bama only has to win once.
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2011
12:08 am
bcs slave,
Okay state has some legitimate points. However, does any rational person actually believe that a team ranked 107th in the nation defensively in yds allowed could hang with LSU? Seriously? And to add to that they struggled to barely beat a 6-6 Texas AM team by 1 freaking point. Bama did not have a close game the entire season other than an OT loss to LSU in which we missed 3 field goals in regulation and outgained LSU in total yardage.
The purpose of the bcs is to match up the 2 best teams in the nation. That mission has been accomplished. End of story.
And if someone doesnt like rematches than quit watching the NFL where rematches are played constantly and where teams may meet for a 3rd freaking time in the playoffs.
TheAntiMe
December 5th, 2011
12:08 am
College football – or more accurately, college presidents – have bastardized the college football championship all in the pursuit of dead presidents.
The BCS system is utter nonsense. If Alabama beats LSU then these teams will only have one loss each – to each other – but LSU will actually have a conference title and one more win than Alabama, but Alabama will somehow be crowned the champions. Sorry, but that’s horse doo-doo.
Realist
December 5th, 2011
12:08 am
So, Reality, margin of victory matters when UGA beats Auburn by 10 more points than Alabama did, but not when LSU humiliates UGA by 29 points more than they beat Bama. Seriously, 10-3 is a nice little season for a UGA fan… Alabama fires coaches after 10-2 seasons because it isn’t good enough.
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:08 am
Thanks for the press coverage though and enjoy watching Alabama play in the BCS championship game.
Thats just it. Nobody will be watching.
JRock
December 5th, 2011
12:08 am
Roll Tide! The BCS got it right finally, and the 2 best teams are playing each other. Bama will be bringing home #14 very soon!
Sour Grapes
December 5th, 2011
12:09 am
therefore making their record better than OK state, argument over. Team with better record playing in the NC game. Thanks.
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2011
12:09 am
Beno Dawg,
Life just aint fair is it? Did your mamma never tell ya that?
Edvis
December 5th, 2011
12:10 am
Steely Dan is my truth source, I was always a big fan of his songs, so thanks for the reference.
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:10 am
The purpose of the bcs is to match up the 2 best teams in the nation. That mission has been accomplished.
Ummm no it wasnt.
Im sure if Bama loses though they will probably cry about the circumstances and demand they be given a rematch.
GeauxTigers
December 5th, 2011
12:10 am
Hope you Dawg fans enjoyed the beat down yesterday. Bama would clean your clock by at least 3 touchdowns considering how bad we beat you. We will beat them again and get our 3rd NC in 8 years. Deal with it Dawgs!!
BC$ Slave
December 5th, 2011
12:10 am
Black:
If you think you can know bama would beat OkSu simply by watching the games you don’t know the meaning of competition. You don’t know the history of the sport of football.
You don’t win games on paper. You win them on the field.
Until bama beats OkSu on the field…you are drinking the kookaide.
TheAntiMe
December 5th, 2011
12:10 am
College football – or more accurately, college presidents – have molested the college football championship all in the pursuit of dead presidents.
The BCS system is utter nonsense. If Alabama beats LSU then these teams will only have one loss each – to each other – but LSU will actually have a conference title and one more win than Alabama, but Alabama will somehow be crowned the champions. Sorry, but that’s horse doo-doo.
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2011
12:10 am
Reality,
You’re welcome to watch reruns of the kardashians or housewives of orange county while the nation’s 2 best teams duke it out.
So how do you lose by 32 points to someone?
marc g
December 5th, 2011
12:10 am
Man did they get this one wrong… what true college football fan wants to watch this game again? what good if any can this rematch do for the good of the progression of the game? How can 80% of the nation (as the poll on espn earlier on their website showed) want to see ok state vs lsu and alabama gets the nod?
The talking heads were able to convince… I for one am definitely boycotting this game!
Louisiana-Monroe_anyone?
December 5th, 2011
12:11 am
allow bama fans to crow all they want the next month…..the upcoming loss will only be that much more fun to watch!
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:11 am
I mean really. Who wants to watch that snoozefest again ???
Charles in NC
December 5th, 2011
12:11 am
I’d watch either way. Boohoo for “justice”. I don’t feel bad for teams that can’t beat ISU. They don’t deserve a title shot. Alabama lost to the obvious best team. While I can understand both sides of this, no one is clearly right.
Oh and here’s a big secret: there’s not going to be a playoff anytime soon. Why? Because big conferences aren’t going to be blocked from getting multiple teams in, and s,all conferences don’t want a top eight situation. So sad. If you want one uncontested champion, watch golf.
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:12 am
So how do you lose by 32 points to someone?
I dunno. How do you lose to Louisiana Monroe ???
The ratings for this game are gonna shatter records for least viewers all time.
Sour Grapes
December 5th, 2011
12:13 am
LSU has to win one more game to be NC regardless of who that team might be. Unlike GA they don’t care who it is. I am sure they will be ready to play just as they have been for the first 13 games. They have an outstanding team.
Blackoutanyone?
December 5th, 2011
12:13 am
Tide Rising… but UGA won their division and next year that banner will look great over Sanford Stadium. 2011 SEC Eastern Division Champions. In 20 years they’ll bring back the players to celebrate that accomplishment. Hopefully Helen Hunt will still be their coach.
marc g
December 5th, 2011
12:14 am
Bama fans believe they really deserve to be in this game? Hmmmmmm!
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2011
12:14 am
bcs slave,
If we played okay state I would have to say I like our chances. The no. 1 defense in the nation in all 4 major statistical categories against the pokes. Reminds me of when Oklahoma was averaging over 60 pts a game in the last 5 games going into the bcs title game against Florida and scored a whopping 14 pts.
And I have to like our chances against a defense ranked 107th in the nation in yards allowed. Lest you forget when we played LSU both teams were averaging 39 pts a game. We can score some points sir.
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:14 am
So sad. If you want one uncontested champion, watch golf.
Or the NFL. Where they settle it on the field.
No wonder the NFL has much better ratings and popularity than CFB.
mark bradley knows nothing about football
December 5th, 2011
12:14 am
Mark simply put…if you dont think Alabama is clearly the 2nd best team in the country….you are an idiot
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2011
12:15 am
Blackoutanyone,
The dawgs did beat vandy and kentucky mind you. And they’ve had their problems with those 2 powerhouses in recent years.
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:15 am
Why should LSU have to beat Alabama twice ?
Didn’t they already beat them. In Tuscaloosa ???
Blackoutanyone?
December 5th, 2011
12:16 am
BCs slave…. Iowa State
BC$ Slave
December 5th, 2011
12:16 am
Tide Rising:
You are just speculating.
There are too many variables during a game that determines the outcome.
Until bama and OkSU play each other…your opinion is just one of many on the subject.
Opinion doesn’t win games.
If you look at the prognostication record of the talking heads and coaches…you’ll understand that no on is perfect on guessing the outcome of games.
You included.
Realist
December 5th, 2011
12:16 am
Reality, I’m sure LSU or Alabama will proudly add a national championship trophy to their collection, regardless of the TV ratings. And if (giggle) UGA (hahahaha) ever (tehehehehe) wins another, I know your main concern will be TV viewership. Course, keep being pimp slapped by 32 points in your home state, and you don’t have to worry about National Championships like LSU and Alabama do…
GeauxTigers
December 5th, 2011
12:17 am
The SEC East stinks!! Maybe Mark can get you guys into Conference USA will all the realignment taking place. Speaking about not deserving something, there’s no way the Gamecocks shouldn’t had the chance to play LSU in the SEC CG. They destroyed the Bulldogs early in the season and would have been undefeated had Lattimore not gotten injured.
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2011
12:17 am
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:14 am
“So sad. If you want one uncontested champion, watch golf.
Or the NFL. Where they settle it on the field.”
Reality,
Um. Yes. They do indeed settle it on the field. And in many cases games in the playoffs feature….. do I dare say it……. rematches of games that were already played in the regular season. Damn you are stupid.
Reality
December 5th, 2011
12:18 am
And they’ve had their problems with those 2 powerhouses in recent years.
Just like Bama has had problems with UGA in recent years.
Lost 3 of the last 4 times. Auburn has lost 5 of the last 6 to UGA.
Thats 8 of the last 10 for UGA against Alabama teams
UGA owns the state of Alabama.
Tide Rising
December 5th, 2011
12:19 am
And if (giggle) UGA (hahahaha) ever (tehehehehe) wins another, I know your main concern will be TV viewership.- Realist.
UGA win another national title???
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAH