The BCS And The Little Sisters Of The Poor

Go ahead, NCAA, I dare you: crown a national champion based on an on-field playoff, not political wrangling. It is a pretty straightforward concept that has found a home in virtually all college team sports, including college baseball and basketball.

But, you say, this year’s National Championship game will pit two undefeated teams (Auburn and Oregon) like it is supposed to do. Unless, of course, you have three undefeated teams. Then we have a problem.

I would suggest you might want to ask TCU – the third undefeated team at 13 - 0 – what they think of the affair. Or ask the players what they would prefer to do – to win it on the field, winner take all, or to do it in the polls. I think we all know the answer. In that regard, college football players are not much different than those college baseball or basketball players.

Sadly, what this comes down to isn’t what is right for the student-athlete. It is a simple issue of the haves and the have-nots of college football. Or, as Ohio State University president E. Gordon Gee stated, “very fine schools” (presumably Ohio State is in that category) versus “the little sisters of the poor” (TCU and Boise State as but two examples).

Yes, those are Gee’s words. They epitomize a mentality that is at the very heart of the idiotic Bowl Championship Series. And that is only scratching the surface. Look no further than Gee and his employer – the Ohio State University – to find an example of the hypocrisy behind the BCS.

We have been told by countless university presidents how a bowl system (or lack of a playoff format) is better for the students. Ask the athletes what they think is best. Better yet, once again poll those in the TCU locker room for the answer. I think you’ll hear something along the lines of …

… bring on Auburn … or Oregon. Next week.

Or you could ask someone like THE Ohio State University president E. Gordon Gee, the man who stated that “I don't know enough about the Xs and Os of college football". So if that is the case, why open your mouth to state “we do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor. We play very fine schools on any given day". You know the ones – Indiana, Purdue, Minnesota, Marshall, Ohio, and Eastern Michigan – the true football powers of 2010.

It must be tough being one of the Older Brothers Of The Rich in this college football BCS landscape.

Schools such as Ohio State University refuse to schedule schools such as Boise State or TCU in the regular season because, well, they might blemish their record. Even with a good regular season record (against a group of rather lame teams), it hasn’t helped them at bowl time. Take a look at the bowl game record of Ohio State against the SEC: 0 – 9 prior to tonight’s Sugar bowl. Not that the Big 10, home of some of the aforementioned “very fine schools”, has much to brag about this bowl season. It looks to me like they were 0 – 5 on New Year’s Day. While we’re at it, let’s add Nebraska’s loss to Washington, since the Children of the Corn will be a fine addition to the Big 10+2 next year.

Speaking of the game tonight, the Ohio State University has 6 players with “delayed suspensions”. What? They will be suspended at the start of next season, but what about tonight? No worries, we are told, really, they promise they will be here next year to serve their suspensions.

I guess Ohio State University has great faith in their athletes. My guess is that at least 3 of the players who promise they are returning will go pro, and break that promise after they lose to Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. Terrelle Pryor, I am looking at you.

But then you have Gee’s Little Sisters Of The Poor. Ahhh yes, TCU, the first non-automatic qualifier to win a BCS game. I truly enjoyed watching the Rose Bowl officials squirm over that one. Or how about Boise State – who lost one game, on the road, to a strong (ranked) Nevada team, by a field goal in OT, and suddenly they plummet to the Who Cares Bowl? Oh, and what about the $8 – 10 million dollars that BSU lost with that one missed field goal? I am sure that was money that was graciously funneled into … the Older Brothers of the Rich.

Has everyone in the BCS forgotten the smack-down delivered by Utah over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl two years ago? Or the stunning in-your-face performance of Boise State over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl?

Nope. They haven’t forgotten. They just keep hoping that the Little Sisters of the Poor will miss field goals in overtime. At least that way, the Older Brothers of the Rich won’t have to lose in the Rose Bowl.

Photo credit: seantoyer