Wrapping it Up

As I sat watching the BCS National Title Game at Pappas Burger in Fort Worth, TX, one thing came to mind. Ohio State had just as much talent on the field as LSU. There were just a few things that gave LSU the edge.

First was the coaching. I don't necessarily mean the Head Coach, but the coaches in general. The LSU coaching staff had the edge in three areas. Number one: adjustments. The Tiger coaches were able to make adjustments. As the game went, when something went wrong, the LSU coaches made the necessary adjustments to put their players in the right places to make plays. Number two: focus. The LSU coaches kept their players focused on the task at hand. It was conceivable to believe, once LSU got behind, that the players could lose focus. But LSU had played from behind before, so the early lead did not cause panic. On the other side, however, once Ohio State had multiple things go wrong, their players made serious mistakes such as the personal foul penalties. Number three: confusion. Ohio State was on it's heels the after the first couple of LSU drives. The coaches did a great job of using various sets and mixing the play-calling up. Further, they did a great job of getting the ball to the paymakers. On the defensive side of the ball, LSU blitzed at the right times, came up with crucial stops, and the defensive line actually overpowered the Ohio State Offensive Line rather than run around them like Florida did last year.

Receivers vs. Cornerbacks. Give the win to LSU's cornerbacks. Last year, Florida's front four was too hard to block for Ohio State and the rest of Florida's defense sat back in zone and took everything away from the Buckeyes. This year, LSU was able to bring more pressure against an improved Ohio State Offensive Line because their corners were able to go man to man with the Buckeyes' receivers. QB Todd Boeckman didn't have anywhere to go with the ball and ran out of time waiting. Ohio State really missed last year's star recievers Ted Ginn, Jr. and Anthony Gonzales.

Finally, Quarterback. It was LSU's Matt Flynn (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Matt Damon) against Ohio State's Todd Boeckman. Ohio State's offense was similar to Oklahoma's offense this year, and failure to produce a complex passing attack cost the Buckeyes (and the Sooners). Both offenses relied on the strength of their running backs. The passing game was basically based on play action and the success of the running game. Each team chose to run over, through and around you and when they thought you are not looking, they threw the ball deep down the field with each QB's big arm. These days, in football, whether college or pros, a QB who can make plays and can get the ball in the hands of playmakers is really what brings success. A local sports columnist likes to say that the game is about the quarterback, and I think he is right. Matt Flynn was a playmaker, but Todd Boeckman was not.


To the Future

I will be changing the format of collegefootballtopten.com in the coming weeks. The site will be totally supported by WordPress. It will give me more freedom to just write. The change will be progressive. I hope to have a few top ten lists in the coming month as well. We will continue to get the site up to speed with, hopefully, some new features in the Fall. There were not many reader comments this year, so, I hope to solicit more comments next year and get more reader involvement.

For What It's Worth: LSU Deserves the National Championship

When the Georgia Bulldogs pounded Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, the last undefeated team in the Bowl Championship Subdivision lost. Or so it would seem. LSU Coach Les Miles commented that the Tigers had not lost in regulation all season long after LSU lost in triple overtime to Arkansas the day after Thanksgiving. I think a few people thought Miles was delusional. Unfortunately for everyone else in college football, he was right. And, now, his words ring more true than ever.

No one else in college football (the Bowl Subdivision) is undefeated. Not Hawaii, not the Patriots (wait, they play in the NFL), not anyone. Hawaii, who lost to Georgia (see above) and Kansas stand as the two one loss teams. Even Ohio State, who had just one loss entering the National Title game, now has two losses. Kansas and Hawaii are the closest thing to perfect records as we have. Further, their is a line of two loss teams, some who won their bowl game, who are considered top 5 teams. West Virginia, Missouri, USC, Georgia all have two losses and closed with quality wins in bowl games.

Let's consider Miles' argument that the Tigers have not lost in regulation the entire season. It is true. In days past, as he mentioned, the old system which did not include overtime would have been in place. Therefore, the Tigers or one of the two opponents which they lost to in overtime, Kentucky or Arkansas, would have had to either go for the win or the tie in those games. I do not think that this LSU team would have lost both games in that situation. At worse, I think LSU would have been 11-1-1 (remember, they won the in SEC Title Game, 13 games played) . It is possible to have been 11-0-2. That would be good enough to deserve the National Title.

But let's look at this year. No other team in the country was undefeated in regulation. No one else. LSU was. It was a remarkable feat considering the number of injuries this team endured. LSU could have said folded when the injuries hit them, but they fought on. They played, week in and week out, the best competition from the best conference in the country. They took everyone's best shot.

The National Champion in the Bowl Subdivision of college football has always been about who was the best team from the beginning to the end. It rewarded the team who played the best all year long, not just the last half of the season or whenever. But, it is also about being better than everyone else. This year, each time a team was on the verge of taking the National Title by the horns, they faltered. LSU was given another shot, and they took it. And, they beat the team who earned the right more than anyone else to be in that game on Monday night, Ohio State. Ohio State did everything that would be asked of them to make it to the game. They won their conference title and they finished with fewer losses than anyone else among the BCS conference champions.

When the dust cleared, LSU was the only team remaining. And in a year in which college football was so whacky to follow, it is fitting that the champion has two losses, even if they came in overtime.

By the way, the champions of the Championship Subdivision, Appalachian State, has two losses. They beat all comers on the field in a 16 team playoff. Their record was 13-2 compared to LSU's 12-2. I think LSU's record is good enough.

Oh yeah, some kind of play-off is going to be coming soon to the Bowl Subdivision. It would be a shame if the NCAA has to rename its subdivisions again if a playoff is developed for the Bowl Subdivision.

For What It's Worth: Ciron Black is a Role Model for All Athletes

Rivals.com College Football - LSU's Black proves kindness goes a long way

There is a lot of negative press about athletes these days. There seems to be no shortage of stories about the wrong athletes, professional or amateur, find themselves involved in. Things like violence, cheating (steroids or academic), and other behavior issues are lead articles in newspapers across the country. Very seldom do you hear the story of all of the good kids who do things to help others without seeking any attention or fame.

Of course, their are the photo ops that all athletes are apart of. Public Relations people seem to get them special visits at the local children's hospital where the big game is being played. It really is a good thing to do. It helps the athletes understand the power that their very presence represent. When a "somebody" comes and visits a sick child, or someone who is struggling in a homeless shelter or an elderly member of our society, it opens a new world up to both the visitor and the visitee.

That's what makes the article referenced above so unique. Ciron Black sought out a young patient at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN without the help of the Media Relations Department at LSU where Black is a Offensive Lineman for the Tigers. He admired the young patient's resolve in the midst of great suffering. He simply wanted to let him know that he was pulling for him. What's more, Black asked to write "Mickey," the young patient's name, on the tape he puts on his wrists when plays in the National Title Game Monday night.

It is the desire of this site, to honor college football players who exhibit more than just prowess on the football field. I have even dreamed of an award for such a player. I also believe that several players should be honored during a football season. Ciron Black serves as an example of the kind of football player which should receive such an award. Black is interested in more than just the next "pancake" block on the football field. He is interested in making a difference off the field.

No such award exists this year at collegefootballtopten.com, but if it did, you can bet that Ciron Black would be a nominee. However, next year I would like to begin this award. A good format would be for nominees to be featured each week of the season culminating with the winner just before the first bowl game. Further, I would like the award winner be voted on by readers of this site from among the nominees. Nominees would be accepted by readers as well. I would like all regions of the country to be represented. There are enough conferences in the Bowl Subdivision that each conference could have at least one nominee.

As for Black, he is a role model for all athletes, not just football players. And come Monday night, whether you are rooting for Ohio State or LSU, you might just cheer for Ciron Black. And everybody, will be cheering for "Mickey" and all of the kids at St. Jude Children's Hospital.

For What It's Worth: New Year Could be a Nightmare for BCS

A funny thing happened along the way to the BCS National Championship Game. First, USC throttled Big Ten runner up Illinois. The game wasn't even close. Then, Georgia whipped the only undefeated football team in the Bowl Championship Subdivision.

Tonight, a hungry Oklahoma team is playing a West Virginia team in transition. Teams with interim head coaches haven't done very well in bowls this year. I think West Virginia is a great team, but the transition is more of a distraction then anyone wants to admit. Arkansas got beat pretty good during its bowl game.

So, here is the worst case scenario for the BCS Big Wigs. Oklahoma routs West Virginia tonight in the Fiesta Bowl. Then, LSU beat Ohio State for the National Title, but it turns out to be one of their trademark nail-biters. Then we would be left with four 2 loss teams with an understandable legitimate claim to the National Title. The BCS Champion would be LSU, but who would be the AP National Champ? Oklahoma beat West Virginia soundly, Georgia thumps Hawaii, and USC routs Illinois. All three teams have two losses, same as LSU, and all three won their bowl games handily.

O.K. Does anyone really know who the best team in the country really is this year? In this Nightmare Scenario there are four pretty good teams with two losses. And, Georgia didn't even make it to the SEC Title Game. All of this depends on, of course, Oklahoma beating West Virginia pretty good tonight and LSU winning the title Monday in unconvincing fashion.

Now, if Ohio State wins National Title Game on Monday night, well, then this Nightmare Scenario goes away. So, secretly, some may be pulling for the Buckeyes to win the title and keep this thing from being as "clear as mud." If the Buckeyes win, they have only one loss compared to the others' two (LSU would have 3), and Hawaii lost in their only shot to convince people they were top 5 (maybe top 10) worthy.