While the call of putting 1 second on the clock was correct, it seemed like a strange thing to be reviewed. After all, if the exact same play had happened with 14:06 remaining in the fourth quarter there wouldn't have been a review to see if the clock should be at 14:01 or 14:00. If you won't review it in the first minute of the fourth quarter, should you be reviewing it in the last minute?
Sadly, the melange of computer rankings, power polls, human voters (except for the SportsJournalists.com poll) and whatnot in the BCS formula didn't penalize Texas for a sub-par Big 12 title game. Sure, Texas vs. Bama will be more entertaining than Bama vs. one of the undefeated mid-majors. But as an advocate of BCS anarchy, that's what I wanted to see.
Speaking of bowl anarchy, how about Rep. Joe Barton down in Texas? The wacky A&M alum is pushing Congress to meddle in the BCS. Yesterday, he got a House subcommittee to approve legislation that would ban the promotion of a "national championship game" unless it came via a playoff system.
You go, Joe. You go.
* - Mythical because there is no playoff system.
2. You really think your favorite team is excited about playing in the Beef O'Brady Bowl or spending New Year's Eve under lock-and-key in a hotel room or Christmas in Shreveport? No, of course not.
But they do love the freebies. From PS3s to iPods to HDTVs to more Nike gear than Elin Woods has shredded in the past two weeks, players make out like bandits when they go to a bowl game.
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/64318
3. A few years ago, I had a Heisman vote. About the time I began blasting Houston Nutt with both barrels, I lost that honor. The state representative who doles out the ballots said it was because "I never see you in the press box at Arkansas games." He then promptly gave my old ballot to the Voice of the UCA Bears. At the time, UCA was a Division II athletic program. But I guess the radio guy was seeing tons more Heisman-worthy athletes in Estes Stadium than I was via CBS, ABC, ESPN and whatever other channels DirecTV brings into my house.
No, I'm not bitter. Why do you think that?
Anyway ...
Ndamukong (which means "House of Spears") Suh, the Nebraska DL, should win this year's Heisman. But he won't. In part, because Nebraska did a poor job promoting his candidacy. He's also hurt by few appearances on national TV. Also, as a defensive player, his on-field worth is difficult to quantify. It's easy for a voter to look at the stats produced by a QB, RB or even WR and see how that impacted the game. For a defensive player to win the Heisman, we'll need a Moneyball-esque revolution in college football. A stathead needs to develop formulas like baseball's PECOTA, VORP and DIPS for football.
Toby Gerhart, the Stanford RB, is also hurt by lack of exposure. Stanford played several night games, meaning 10 p.m. kickoffs on the East Coast. Despite piling up 26 TDs and 1,786 yards, Stanford is 8-4. That's another strike against him.
Mark Ingram, the Alabama RB, is the current leader at http://www.StiffArmTrophy.com, a site which tracks announced votes (like the Otis Kirk vote for Ryan Mallett
Honestly, I'm not sure who'll win. If I'd not been robbed of my ballot by cronyism among the IRPC, I'd vote Suh, Gerhart, Ingram.
4. Recurring Items
The SportsJournalists.com Top 25 is here.
Awful Announcing: Your Full 2009-2010 College Football Bowl Announcing Schedule
5. M8B Prediction
Will Navy (-14) cover against Army?
(Views expressed by the Magic 8 Ball do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog, the blog owner nor this post's author. Advice from the M8B is for entertainment purposes only and not for actual wagering ... even though the Magic 8 Ball is 10-6 this season.)
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