It's a BCS thing; you wouldn't understand
posted by LW, Friday, May 22, 2009
Now let's make this very clear before we go any further:
There are plenty of clowns in the media who have no idea what they're talking about and are incapable of writing/talking authoritatively on the sports they cover. This is not a blanket defense of the media as all-knowing and undeserving of some heat. The more the media is scrutinized, the better -- and now more than ever.
But the "never played the game" thing is an absolute riot given the proliferation of clowns on the media landscape who actually did play or coach the game.
Lee Corso, anyone?
Lou Holtz?
Mark May?
I'll stop there.
Anyway, turns out Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is using similar logic to defend the BCS system.
In response to Barack Obama's call for a playoff, Delany insults the intelligence of not only Obama, but the overwhelming (and growing) number of people who are ready for an end to this hypocritical charade.
"He probably has an interest as a fan," Delany said. "He's a scholar and a lawyer and a great politician, but I don't think he really understands the complexity of the issue."
Ah ... the old, "it's too complex; you really wouldn't understand" argument.
If that's the best explanation for the empty feeling college football fans have at the end of the season, then let's just abolish the system right freaking now.
There's also this:
"The people I work for are the presidents, the coaches, the faculty and the athletic directors. It's not unanimous, but there's a super majority in each of one of those groups that support what we're doing."
Seriously?
This guy would be a great politician.
Wonder if Delany has seen this playoff proposal.
Then again, maybe it's too simple for him to understand.
Olin Buchanan of Rivals answers an intriguing question: Whose quirky offense is harder to prepare for, Paul Johnson's or Mike Leach's?
Buchanan consulted a neutral observer in Kentucky defensive coordinator Steve Brown, who gave this take:
"You defend the pass more than you do the option. It's just familiarity," Brown said. "Both offenses are extremely tough. I think Texas Tech's offense is very hard to stop, especially when they have a good quarterback. The problem with Georgia Tech is you don't see that offense a lot. It takes more discipline to defend that and more time to defend.
"In my opinion, the triple option would be more difficult because you don't see it that much. You can't get prepared three days before the game to play that offense."
More evidence of the SEC's coming windfall from its massive TV deal: Georgia approved spending $40 million on facilities upgrades, including an indoor facility for the football team.
The article states that the money will be covered by donations and bonds, but you have to think the TV deal played a role in moving forward in the face of the tough economic climate.
Bad news for folks in the ACC: Matt Hayes of The Sporting News thinks North Carolina and Miami are on the rise.
On the Heels:
Mack Brown proved in the 1990s that you could bring talent to Chapel Hill and win consistently. Now Butch Davis is doing exactly what he did at Miami: building his team around punishing, athletic defensive linemen and elite skill players on offense.
Davis has signed 26 five- and four-star players in his three recruiting classes, and much like the personnel situation at Notre Dame, the experience will kick in this fall. The Tar Heels lost four games last year by a combined nine points, but if quarterback T.J. Yates stays healthy, this team wins 10 games for the first time since 1997's 11-win season under Brown.
On the Canes:
This, I'm baffled by: Robert Marve somehow has made more news this offseason than the Miami Hurricanes.
While we're all so enthralled (really, just ESPN) with Marve's choice of colleges after he left Miami because he lost the starting job (quick hint, everyone: he won't win the job at Purdue, either), we've forgotten that Jacory Harris is a big-time talent. Watch how he develops in Year 2 without a hint of quarterback controversy -- and under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple.
There's a common thread among the four teams on the rise: an upgrade in recruiting. The Canes have recruited better than any of the four, and consistent, efficient play at quarterback -- something the team has lacked in coach Randy Shannon's two seasons -- will change everything.
In the ACC Sports Journal, a spring review of Virginia.
Tough loss last night for the baseball team.
It's easy to say this in hindsight, but you really have to wonder about the decision to remain in the Triangle after Saturday afternoon's finale at N.C. State.
That's eight nights away from home before last night's defeat to Virginia. That's a lot of sitting around in hotel rooms.
LW
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I always get a kick out of it when the "he/she never played the game" response is used by a coach/player/fan whose team comes under scrutiny by someone (usually someone in the media).
Now let's make this very clear before we go any further:
There are plenty of clowns in the media who have no idea what they're talking about and are incapable of writing/talking authoritatively on the sports they cover. This is not a blanket defense of the media as all-knowing and undeserving of some heat. The more the media is scrutinized, the better -- and now more than ever.
But the "never played the game" thing is an absolute riot given the proliferation of clowns on the media landscape who actually did play or coach the game.
Lee Corso, anyone?
Lou Holtz?
Mark May?
I'll stop there.
Anyway, turns out Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is using similar logic to defend the BCS system.
In response to Barack Obama's call for a playoff, Delany insults the intelligence of not only Obama, but the overwhelming (and growing) number of people who are ready for an end to this hypocritical charade.
"He probably has an interest as a fan," Delany said. "He's a scholar and a lawyer and a great politician, but I don't think he really understands the complexity of the issue."
Ah ... the old, "it's too complex; you really wouldn't understand" argument.
If that's the best explanation for the empty feeling college football fans have at the end of the season, then let's just abolish the system right freaking now.
There's also this:
"The people I work for are the presidents, the coaches, the faculty and the athletic directors. It's not unanimous, but there's a super majority in each of one of those groups that support what we're doing."
Seriously?
This guy would be a great politician.
Wonder if Delany has seen this playoff proposal.
Then again, maybe it's too simple for him to understand.
Olin Buchanan of Rivals answers an intriguing question: Whose quirky offense is harder to prepare for, Paul Johnson's or Mike Leach's?
Buchanan consulted a neutral observer in Kentucky defensive coordinator Steve Brown, who gave this take:
"You defend the pass more than you do the option. It's just familiarity," Brown said. "Both offenses are extremely tough. I think Texas Tech's offense is very hard to stop, especially when they have a good quarterback. The problem with Georgia Tech is you don't see that offense a lot. It takes more discipline to defend that and more time to defend.
"In my opinion, the triple option would be more difficult because you don't see it that much. You can't get prepared three days before the game to play that offense."
More evidence of the SEC's coming windfall from its massive TV deal: Georgia approved spending $40 million on facilities upgrades, including an indoor facility for the football team.
The article states that the money will be covered by donations and bonds, but you have to think the TV deal played a role in moving forward in the face of the tough economic climate.
Bad news for folks in the ACC: Matt Hayes of The Sporting News thinks North Carolina and Miami are on the rise.
On the Heels:
Mack Brown proved in the 1990s that you could bring talent to Chapel Hill and win consistently. Now Butch Davis is doing exactly what he did at Miami: building his team around punishing, athletic defensive linemen and elite skill players on offense.
Davis has signed 26 five- and four-star players in his three recruiting classes, and much like the personnel situation at Notre Dame, the experience will kick in this fall. The Tar Heels lost four games last year by a combined nine points, but if quarterback T.J. Yates stays healthy, this team wins 10 games for the first time since 1997's 11-win season under Brown.
On the Canes:
This, I'm baffled by: Robert Marve somehow has made more news this offseason than the Miami Hurricanes.
While we're all so enthralled (really, just ESPN) with Marve's choice of colleges after he left Miami because he lost the starting job (quick hint, everyone: he won't win the job at Purdue, either), we've forgotten that Jacory Harris is a big-time talent. Watch how he develops in Year 2 without a hint of quarterback controversy -- and under the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple.
There's a common thread among the four teams on the rise: an upgrade in recruiting. The Canes have recruited better than any of the four, and consistent, efficient play at quarterback -- something the team has lacked in coach Randy Shannon's two seasons -- will change everything.
In the ACC Sports Journal, a spring review of Virginia.
Tough loss last night for the baseball team.
It's easy to say this in hindsight, but you really have to wonder about the decision to remain in the Triangle after Saturday afternoon's finale at N.C. State.
That's eight nights away from home before last night's defeat to Virginia. That's a lot of sitting around in hotel rooms.
LW
For questions or comments on this blog entry, please visit The West Zone message board.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
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