I was going to harp on all the big sports media outlets for not really stepping up and calling out the cruddiness of the BCS, but in November, SI came out with an expose that was well-written and boisterously against the BCS, so I couldn't complain.
However, I still feel like I owe Kurt my annual post about my/our hatred of the BCS. This year is the year that the BCS looks the best, because it's clearly no argument that Oregon and Auburn are the best teams, as they are the only 2 undefeated teams. Well, except TCU, but they're from a crappy conference and we all know that teams from crappy conferences, no matter how good that particular team is, can never beat the best teams from the BCS conferences:
2008: #7 Utah 31, #4 Alabama 17
2006: #9 Boise St 43, #7 Oklahoma 42
Clearly TCU wouldn't stand a chance against Auburn or Oregon, so let's just forget about it. When the Frogs beat Wisconsin by a couple of touchdowns, we'll know that there's no way that would've happened against Auburn or Oregon as well. So the BCS worked out perfectly this year. They got it right.
I have to give Mark Cuban major props for trying to get some change done the old-fashioned way. It's pretty easy to find BCS-haters nowadays. When I wrote my first post, I had to search and search for anti-BCS anything, and it was scarce and never from any main media outlets. Now all you have to do is a search on "BCS Bill Hancock" and you'll get pages of articles detailing the secrecy and hypocrisy of director Bill Hancock's work as directory and weak defenses of criticism.
Anyway, I have a lot of faith in Mark Cuban. A lot of people dislike him, I love him. I won't defend everything that he does or says, but I like his enthusiasm and determination to follow his own path despite the constant media mockery. And if he takes down the BCS with this current "business idea", then he'll be my hero. Of course, the meathead college football announcers at ESPN like Jesse Palmer mocked him, but that won't stop him. 95% of America wants a playoff, and by gum, we'll get our playoff before this century's done. The other 5% of America are old geezers who think these new plastic helmets are for wimps, Army is still a national power, and that FDR just barely died.
BCS Director Bill Hancock's main defense of the BCS focuses on its popularity. It's true, the BCS championship games get more viewers than most sports finales. However, it is not BECAUSE of the BCS that it gets so many viewers, it is in SPITE of the BCS. Football is America's sport, and we love it. We watch football because we like the strategy, the intensity, the battles of strength vs wit vs speed vs surprise. We love the deep pass, the big hit, the 4th-and-short, and the crushing block. We love football because we invented it. It's our baby, and soccer can get pretty tedious. College football exists in every corner of the land. You can pick your local team or your father's team or your enemy's rival team. We watch because we have to, it's in our blood. It's the only sport on during the dark, cold days of Christmas break, where we don't have work but also don't have anything to do. College football is a great product, and it might even surpass the popularity of the NFL if it had a playoff.
Pointing to its popularity as proof that "the system" works is like the producers of The Office attributing good ratings because of Michael Scott. This couldn't be further from the truth: people watch the show for all of the other characters and The Office's popularity is in spite of Michael Scott.
Let's also stop pretending that the main interest of the BCS is the student-athletes. If not for the millions of fans, college football would be like every other college sport, like volleyball. If only a handful of people cared about each game, then I guarantee there would be a playoff. The way Bill Hancock talks about it, the bowls just want the student-athletes to have a great time at their bowl game, and to heck with the fans.
Well, I'm going to keep it short this year. There are much better articles out there that skewer the BCS much better than I ever have, but for those of you who don't want to read them, just take my word for it: The BCS is evil. Secret combinations abound. Don't you stand for it, not for one second.
2 comments:
I really like your point that college football thrives in SPITE of the BCS. I really wonder just how much more popular college football would be with a 16-team playoff. I've said it a few times, I'll say it again: I'm DONE with college football until they get a playoff. Other than BYU games, not another game--bowl or regular season--will I watch until there's a playoff.
And on Mark Cuban, each successive year I like him more and more. The sports world needs more ambitious and involved owners like him. I used to think he was obnoxious (and frankly, he kind of is), but he's a go-getter. Good anti-BCS rant.
Good job on keeping this concise Kent. For as long as I waited for you to finish writing it the other day I was prepared for a long rant. But instead I got a well-written, to-the-point, jokes included post to bash the BCS.
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