Monday, January 01, 2007

Jan. 1 Bowl Wrap:
So Much For Michigan's Worthiness

USC crushes Michigan in the Rose Bowl: See the post below for my take on the short-term "rep" boost for the Big Ten with Wisconsin's win over Arkansas, but it's all moot after Michigan got its ass handed to it by USC.

Michigan fans can argue that the team's BCS snub left it unmotivated, but in reality, they should have recognized that they needed a big win to justify griping over being snubbed by the title game. Again, with this drubbing, the point is moot: Not only is Michigan NOT one of the Top 2 teams in college football this season, they aren't even one of the Top 3 -- obviously, USC is worthy of being ranked higher than Michigan. So so SO obviously.

(PS: I really wish Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musberger would stop disparaging the "bloggers," as if they/we are some kind of scourge on Michigan. It's just taking cheap shots -- not to mention wildly uninformed analysis to the point of making Kirk and Brent simply sound petty and spiteful. Maybe Kirk is just grumpy that this Michigan team he pimped for days after the BCS title-game selection controversy has, in turn, crapped the bed today.)

47 comments:

Kurt said...

I can't wait for OSU to shit on Florida next Monday and I don't even like OSU. And if Florida somehow pulls out a win, my hatred of the school will increase tenfold.

Big D said...

No no no Dan - you can't take the bloggers seriously! We might someday rise up and crush the massice media conglomerate at Disney/ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ABC Family/ESPNNEWS/ESPNU... (I'm forgetting something...)

And that game left me feeling very, very sick. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I also am looking forward to an OSU blowout. And for the very same reason - to prove that they were just too damned good this year.

And to shut up all the SEC apologists. 0-2 as a conference vs. the Big Ten so far...

Big D said...

Just remembered the one I forgot - ESPN Classic. Don't know how I could have overlooked that one...

Anonymous said...

Completetly agree, Kurt.

UMICH (Lloyd Carr) continually displays a knack for fielding teams that shit the bed in big games.

Mega said...

Is it just me or is Boise St poised to crush OU tonight? I could be wrong.

Oh and I agree, so much for Michigan, LMAO!

Big D said...

Boise State is playing out of their minds in this first quarter. I guess it makes sense - they had absolutely no pressure in this game, while Oklahoma had all the pressure in the world not to lose.

And there it is - the obligatory camera shot of nervous members of the marching band. Love that - gets me every time.

Anonymous said...

14-0 boise state! holy crap! I will suggest that Oklahoma as of late has also been crapping the bed in big games...

Who isn't rooting for Boise State to contend for the #2 spot at the the end of the year?

nep1293 said...

Is it just me or does Chad Henne have a lot of Drew Bledsoe in him. All the compliments are always "if you give him time....." or "great arm".

Once USC pressured him it was over

Anonymous said...

That's right, Dan; you bloggers need to be kept down so the professionals such as Skip Bayless and Jay Mariotti can continue to tell me what to think.

I want to add one item that I think is worth nothing. Before the season, Gene Wojciechowski wrote a column on Lloyd Carr in which he quoted Bo Schembechler saying, in so many words, that if Michigan ever thought about firing Lloyd Carr, they'd have to go through him. I don't think Schembechler was joking. I also don't think Carr's job is in any realistic sort of danger.

Will all that said, I do think the death of Schembechler meant Carr lost his biggest fan within the University. While I don't think an 11-2 season is worse than a 7-5 one, it's the way the Wolverines looked in both of losses (in their 11 wins, Michigan trailed for about 22 minutes (IIRC); in their two losses, they never led) that leads me to believe that Carr's on the hot seat (though not nearly as hot as last year).

The bottom line is this: The University of Michigan has to make a decision, if not now, then soon. Do they want to be a second-tier power, or try to move back up to the highest level of college football? The answer, I think, will tell us whether Lloyd Carr will still have a job in a year or two.

Christian Thoma said...

Moving the conversation here:

I don't think it proved that the BCS worked. I think it proved that USC is the #2 team in the country and they don't get a chance to show it against OSU.


Oh please. USC had a chance to prove it simply by beating UCLA. They couldn't do that. If, after all is said and done USC is ranked #2, it's only because no team in the nation was actually deserving of #2.

That said, USC scares me in 2007. Good thing tOSU doesn't start the home-and-home until 2008.

As for Lloyd Carr: my prediction is that he's retiring after next season. TPTB won't force him out early as a result.

If Oklahoma loses, it's because Adrian Peterson is (foolishly) playing. Defying the Ewing Theory does not bode well! (If Oklahoma wins, ignore this comment)

Of course, I do expect Oklahoma to win, but I think it was nice of them to spot Boise State 14 points, wasn't it?

Kevin said...

You're retarded.

Michigan's worthiness had absolutely nothing to do with whether or not they won this game. It was whether or not, at the time, they were perceived as the second-best team in the country. Michigan was percieved as the second-best team in the country but was left out of the national championship game, therefore they were screwed.

Personally, I think USC is the second best team in the country, and they just laid an egg vs UCLA and Oregon St.

Based on who is the best team, my rankings would go like this:

1. OSU
2. USC
3. Michigan
4. Florida

Then LSU would probably be fifth, followed by maybe Wisconsin.

Christian Thoma said...

It is no more ludicrous than your sudden claim that the BCS worked based on a game that isn't even the title game. So when OSU beats Florida 50-3 does that mean the BCS worked?


Yes. Ditto if Florida beats OSU 50-3. Right now, there are only two teams that have a legitimate claim to the national championship: either OSU undefeated or UF with 1 loss. (Sorry Wisconsin, Louisville and Boise State fans, but that's the truth.) Michigan could've had a claim if they had won (and tOSU had lost) because they'd have 1 loss like Florida. Now they don't.

Personally, I prefer it this way. Look at the major sports in 2006:
Steelers, Super Bowl Champions.
Heat, NBA Champions.
Florida, College B-Ball Champions.
Hurricanes (yes, my beloved Hurricanes), NHL Champions.
Cardinals, MLB Champions.

Not a single one of those teams would've been in the discussion as one of the top two teams in the league before the playoffs started. None of them.

Yet it's the BCS, which is about to set up yet another national champion without (serious) argument, that is the one derided constantly? Sure, playoff systems are great because it gives teams outside of the top 2 a chance for the trophy ... but it does not crown the best team in the league. Just the one that got lucky/hot when the time was right.

nep1293 said...

I think the fact that USC is so young leads to losses like the UCLA game. They may be the # 2 team in the country, heck the way they played today they might have beaten Ohio St, but in no way did they deserve to play in the championship game based on their regular season results.

We could say that Boise deserves to be in the championship game right now (leading 21-10, just in case they lose this game), but they didn't deserve it at the time either.

Nobody truly earned the #2 spot. Florida got it, case closed.

TJ said...

greatest. game. ever.

ok, maybe second greatest after last year's rose bowl. but seriously--holy shit.

Unknown said...

wow.

ridiculous

nep1293 said...

If Boise goes on to win that play will be up there with Cal-Stanford, Flutie, Kordell.... unbelievable

Unknown said...

How did OK get the 2 point after the TD?

It says Paul Thompson passed to himself.

nep1293 said...

that was quick, Go BOISE +7.5!!!!

Unknown said...

Why do mainstream media shit on bloggers? Check yours out, Dan.

for every quality blogger out there, there are thousands of crappy bloggers.
USC lost to UCLA and Oregon St. Crapping the bed once happens.
Twice is not a fluke.
USC wasn't #2 at end of season. And #2 doesn't matter after the BCS seedings are done. So whoopee for USC.
Considering who they lose to, the loser of OSU - FLA should still be #2 in the country.

TJ said...

going for 2?!?!?

Mega said...

Uh, did Boise St just lose?

Holy crap, what a game.

Mega said...

Wait, spoke too soon =)

Mega said...

OH MY GOD BOISE ST WINS!!!

TJ said...

greatest. play. ever.

nep1293 said...

I think we just witnessed the 2007 Game of the Year

Mega said...

Someone tell me, what do they call the play Boise St just ran?

Statue of Liberty?!

Spencer said...

Game Of The Year:
2006: Rose Bowl
2007: Fiesta Bowl

TJ said...

I think we just witnessed the 2007 Game of the Year

Um, yes. Wow. There is no way that gets topped. I honestly think I prefer this game to last year's Rose Bowl at this point. But that might just be the Instant History talking.

Unknown said...

its not IH...that such an underdog could pull this upset...with the plays that they used...
incredible!
That was friggin' sweet!!

nep1293 said...

The question now is where does Boise end up in the rankings??? Do they deserve the #2 spot if Ohio St beats Florida. It's not really that important in the grand scheme of things but I'm sure it would be nce for their program.

Unknown said...

Chris Myers just totally fucked up Ian Johnson proposing to his girlfriend.

What a dumbass!

TJ said...

tell me someone just saw that--ian johnson just proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend during his post-game interview. just wow.

nep1293 said...

Myers is an idiot. I wonder if Ian Johnson will knit her an engagement ring.

TJ said...

Chris Myers just totally fucked up Ian Johnson proposing to his girlfriend.

But not as bad as he fucked up the lame habitat for humanity pass thing at halftime.

nep1293 said...

BTW, nice looking girl!!!

Unknown said...

Myers basically says as Johnson finishes answering a question (the g/f is standing next to johnson)
'Congratulations on the game and, oh, i know you wanted to propose to your girlfriend, so go ahead'
as johnson has a stupefied look on his face.

Myers made it very romantic.

TJ said...

Why are they talking about the Rose Bowl still on ESPN? Who cares? They must not be done putting together the crazy Fiesta Bowl highlight reel, since everything happened at the end.

TJ said...

One more thing: does anyone know if itunes is going to sell the condensed versions of the BCS games again this year?

Unknown said...

the rose bowl is already linked as an itune on espn.com.

so i assume the answer is yes

Unknown said...

Myers, that didn't deserve a wow...

and chrth...
Personally, I prefer it this way. Look at the major sports in 2006:
Steelers, Super Bowl Champions.
Heat, NBA Champions.
Florida, College B-Ball Champions.
Hurricanes (yes, my beloved Hurricanes), NHL Champions.
Cardinals, MLB Champions.


you just highlighted every reason why extended playoffs suck - they make the regular season worthless when .500 teams get hot for 3 games in football or 12 games in baseball to take the championship.

The BCS works just fine, it is that everyone expects perfection - with 50 teams haveing a realistic shot at a title each year, the only way for it to be perfect is to play 49 games. Think about it.

The real evil is the coaches poll, not the BCS and certainly not the computers.

BobbyStompy said...

Dan, you make me hate Florida so much. So much.

All I want is for you to eat crow when OSU wins, and on top of that, admit the #1 ranking you gave UF basketball was/is stupid and proposterous.

Ugh.

And where is the Boise State freak-out post? You gave one to Rutgers.

Big D said...

@ nep1293:

I wonder if Ian Johnson will knit her an engagement ring.


Now that's comedy...


Still waiting for the Boise State "Best.Bowl.Ever" post.

Anonymous said...

All other major sport teams know exactly what they have to do to win a championship. Make the playoffs and then win/survive to keep playing.

Boise State just went 13-0...and CAN'T win the national championship.

Wisconsin went 12-1...and CAN'T win the national championship.

USC went 12-1...and CAN'T win the national championship.

Louisville went 12-1...and CAN'T win the national championship.

How, again, are Ohio State (possibly 13-0) and Florida (possibly 13-1) more deserving than those four teams?

Anonymous said...

Well, Dan has a baby now, so "crapped the bed" probably IS his favorite phrase.

Christian Thoma said...

How, again, are Ohio State (possibly 13-0) and Florida (possibly 13-1) more deserving than those four teams?

Well, USC went 11-2, not 12-1, so there's the answer for that one.

Louisville can not be addressed until we see if they beat Wake Forest tonight. But Louisville would be playing tOSU next Monday if they had beaten Rutgers. They knew exactly what they had to do, and they couldn't do it.

Wisconsin lost to Michigan. If they had won, they'd have a gripe. They knew exactly what they had to do, and they couldn't do it.

Boise State is tough, to be honest. The answer is simple, though: move up from the WAC or go independent and schedule tougher opponents. It's a harsh world out there.

Anonymous said...

@chrth:

Thanks for the corrections. Not enough sleep last night from watching the Fiesta Bowl.

My simple point: There is no guarantee in any given year that running the table, or losing one game, will get you the shot for the title.

How can you ever schedule tougher opponents when CFB teams set their schedules 3-5 years in advance? (I still don't know why it is so necessary to do this.)

Plus, how many BCS teams would be willing to travel to Boise (as part of a multi-year home & home contract) instead of scheduling a home game against D-IAA Directional School or BCS Perennial Conference Doormat?

This is the Gonzaga CBB argument all over again, except this time there is no motivation (read selection committee/RPI/playoff) to schedule these type of games.

Christian Thoma said...


My simple point: There is no guarantee in any given year that running the table, or losing one game, will get you the shot for the title.


Granted.


How can you ever schedule tougher opponents when CFB teams set their schedules 3-5 years in advance? (I still don't know why it is so necessary to do this.)


Well, it's like you say below: don't schedule the doormats. tOSU (to use an example) already has Miami and USC lined up over the next few years. Even if those teams have 'off' years, they're still likely to go 9-3. Plus, the polls are a lot about perception. Showing that you're making an effort to schedule big name opponents carries a lot of credence, even if the team that shows up isn't as good as anticipated.


Plus, how many BCS teams would be willing to travel to Boise (as part of a multi-year home & home contract) instead of scheduling a home game against D-IAA Directional School or BCS Perennial Conference Doormat?

This is the Gonzaga CBB argument all over again, except this time there is no motivation (read selection committee/RPI/playoff) to schedule these type of games.


I think the motivation is starting to show up. I think after Auburn goes undefeated but doesn't sniff the title game, teams are starting to realize that scheduling tougher opponents is a necessity. I can definitely see Boise State home-and-homes becoming more likely.

Of course, by then they'll be 4-8, but hey, it's about perception, right?