I’m not a religious person…but I’ll be saying a prayer for an Oregon Ducks victory tonight in the National Championship game in Glendale, Arizona!
I’m sticking by my prediction of a 44-41 Oregon victory over the Auburn Tigers. This should be a game for the ages but only time will tell!
Go Ducks!
The Stanford Cardinal proved tonight what most of us on the West Coast always knew: if not for the Oregon Ducks, they would be playing for a National Championship.
In its first BCS bowl game in more than ten years, Stanford survived a close first half to blowout the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Orange Bowl, 40-12.
With the victory, the #4 Cardinal reached 12 wins for the first time in the school’s history. Now the question remains: what’s next for Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck?
From ESPN:
Luck, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns Monday night to lead Stanford past Virginia Tech (No. 13 BCS, No. 12 AP) 40-12.
It was a performance reminiscent of Elway, the former Stanford quarterback who is expected to become the Denver Broncos’ chief football executive this week. He served as an honorary captain, and ex-Stanford QB Jim Plunkett was also on hand to lend support.
The Cardinal (12-1) likely will end the season ranked in the top 5 for the first time since the unbeaten 1940 team finished No. 2. Their success comes only four years after they went 1-11 and hired Harbaugh as coach to lead a turnaround.
We’re still 8 hours away from the latest BCS poll coming out, but I can already smell more controversy. What else can you expect from a broken system where a Champion is decided by computers.
While I don’t know how the new BCS poll is going to break out, here is what I expect to see come 5 p.m. (PT) this afternoon:
1. Auburn
2. Oregon
3. Boise State
4. TCU
5. Michigan State
Whether I’m right or not, I have no clue. But, after seeing how the BCS moved Oklahoma to the top of the heap last week, it only stands to reason that Auburn will move up to number one, jumping over fellow undefeated Oregon and Boise State. I understand jumping Boise State. As much as I LOVE the Broncos, the only way that they will get into the National Championship game is if they go undefeated, and there are no other undefeated teams from the Big 5 conferences (I only put 5 because I believe that it is a TRAVESTY that teams from the Big East are even considered in a BCS conference).
But jumping the Oregon Ducks…this is just wrong. Don’t get me wrong…Auburn is one of the top teams in the country, and they have shown this on the field. But, Oregon SHOULD be number one. Auburn has played better competition, but they have only been impressive in a couple of their games. They’ve won a handful of games by less than a touchdown, while Oregon has DOMINATED the teams that they have played.
Is it an East Coast bias…maybe. Is the BCS a joke…yes! Something must be done, and done quickly. I will continue to say this every week…a playoff system needs to be implemented. Let’s take the top 16 teams and let them battle it out at the end of the season. What’s the best sporting event of the year? The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Look at the excitement around the three weeks of March Madness! I have two words for you which demonstrate the need for a tournament like we see in college basketball: Butler Bulldogs. The little school came within a 3 pointer of defeating the Duke Blue Devils in the championship game earlier this year. Boise State is the Butler of football. Shouldn’t they be given a chance too? Let’s play the games on the field…not on computers!
Who would you put #1? Will #1 go down for a fourth straight week next week? Who finishes the season #1 and 2?
Here’s a look at the BCS rankings for November 22, 2009:
Florida remains No. 1, followed by Alabama, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, Boise State and Georgia Tech. Oregon jumped up three spots, to No. 8, with their dramatic victory over Arizona. Pittsburgh and Ohio State remained ninth and 10th.
Only one non-Big Six team is guaranteed a spot in the BCS if it meets the criteria. Any others would be at-large candidates. At-large candidates must have at least nine victories and finish in the top 14 in the final BCS standings.
From Rivals.com:
The three components of the BCS standings are the coaches’ poll; the Harris poll, voted on by media members and by former players, coaches and administrators; and six computers. Each of the components counts one-third. The best and worst computer rankings are thrown out, and the sum total of the remaining four is divided by 100 (the maximum possible points) to come up with the BCS’ computer rankings percentage.
While strength of schedule isn’t a BCS component, all six computers have a strength-of-schedule factor in their rankings.
The fourth-place team in the BCS is important because Alabama and Florida play each other in the SEC championship game, meaning the fourth-place team has a chance to jump to second should Texas lose either its regular-season finale to Texas A&M or to Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game.
After the Ducks thrilling victory over the Arizona Wildcats in double overtime, the stage is set.
What a Civil War it is going to be on December 3.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is the biggest Civil War game in history and probably the biggest sporting event in the history of the state of Oregon.
So…who’s gonna win?
I’ve got both a Ducks and a Beavers hat sitting in front of me. Which will I wear? Tune in on December 3!
Suspended running back LeGarrette Blount has been reinstated by the University of Oregon and will be eligible to play this weekend when Oregon Ducks take on the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Not sure how I feel about this. I was fine with him sitting out the season, but on the other hand, I’d like to see Oregon make it to a BCS Bowl 
What do you think? Was the suspension too harsh? Should he be allowed to play in 2009?
From ESPN:
Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, who was suspended for the season after punching a Boise State player in the wake of the season opener, has been allowed to rejoin the Ducks.
The university requested Blount’s reinstatement, which was approved by Pacific-10 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott on Monday.
Blount issued a statement saying he was grateful to Oregon coach Chip Kelly for giving him a second chance.
“Now it is up to me to prove to people that their lasting impressions of me are not what they saw in Boise,” he said.
Blount punched Byron Hout following the nationally televised opener, bringing the Broncos’ defensive end to his knees. The next day he was suspended for the season by Kelly, but he was allowed to keep his scholarship and practice with the team.
Some changes in the BCS Rankings this week as although Florida remained #1, the Texas Longhorns leaped past the Alabama Crimson Tide and took over the #2 spot. Alabama slipped to #3.
Iowa remained in the fourth spot but lost some ground in the computer rankings with their struggles against the Indiana Hoosiers.
If I’d venture to guess right now, I’d have to go with Florida and Texas in the BCS Championship game in a battle of Heisman hopefuls Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy (no Sam Bradford this year!) There could be as many as 6 undefeated teams this year going into bowl games with Florida, Alabama, Texas, Boise State, Cincinnati, TCU and Iowa all undefeated and only one MUST lose a game between now an then (that being the loser of the SEC Championship game which is setting up to be Florida vs. Alabama).
What a crazy year and a year that we NEED a playoff in college football!
From Rivals.com:
Cincinnati moved up three spots, to fifth, after USC tumbled from fifth to 12th after getting blown out at Oregon. TCU remained sixth and Boise State seventh in the BCS standings. Oregon, LSU and Georgia Tech rounded out the BCS top 10. Oregon moved up two spots, Georgia Tech one and LSU remained the same.
TCU remains the highest-ranked team from a non-Big Six league. A non-Big Six team is guaranteed a BCS spot in two ways. One is if it finishes in the top 12; the other is if it is ranked in the top 16 and its ranking is higher than that of a conference champion that has an automatic berth. This week, the Horned Frogs are higher than any team from the ACC and Pac-10.
Under BCS rules, only one non-Big Six team is guaranteed a spot if it meets the criteria. Any others would be at-large candidates.
Florida is No. 1 in both polls used by the BCS and also is No. 1 in the computers. Texas is No. 2 in both polls after being No. 3 last week; the Longhorns also moved up in the computers, from fifth to a tie for third with Alabama. The Tide dropped one spot, to third, in both polls.
Oregon trails Boise State in both polls, but remains ranked ahead of the Broncos in the computers despite having lost to them in the season opener. Boise State is eighth in the computers. Oregon’s average computer ranking was sixth last week; after shellacking USC, the Ducks’ computer ranking dropped to seventh this week.
Thank you to the University of Oregon for taking a stand and suspending Blount for the season. Yes, he was taunted, but he showed a complete lack of control and this suspension is deserving!
In case you missed last nights debacle, running back LeGarrette Blount threw a sucker punch at Boise State’s Byron Hout after the Ducks 19-8 loss against the Broncos. Can’t wait to see what the country has to say about this! Thoughts?
From ESPN:
Blount’s suspension includes any bowl games. Coach Chip Kelly said he will remain on scholarship.
Immediately following Boise’s 19-8 victory, ESPN showed Hout taunting Blount as the teams converged onto the field. As a Broncos assistant coach moved to separate Hout from Blount, the Oregon senior threw a right cross that connected with Hout’s right jaw. Hout went down and popped right back up.
“Under no circumstance is fighting acceptable,” the NCAA said in a statement Friday. “If it occurs before or during a game, the officials enforce the rules. If it occurs after a game, institutions and conferences decide how to address the situation. We trust our members to handle these situations appropriately. Sportsmanship is everyone’s responsibility, including student-athletes, coaches, officials, institutions and fans.
UPDATE: Blount has been suspended for the season.
I’m sure it’s being called “The punch seen ’round the world!”
As I watched the game last night, all I heard was about the statement that LeGarrette Blount made before the game about giving Boise State and A%$ whoopin’.
I guess he proved his point.
Check out the video of what happened following the game and let me know your thoughts. Should Blount be suspended, kicked off the team? My guess would be a 2-3 game suspension, but that would not be enough in my opinion.
All I can say is that I believe that his actions are an embarrassment to the University, and the State of Oregon.
From Oregon Live:
Blount punched Boise State’s Byron Hout in the face on the field after the game. Then, Blount put a fist to the helmet of Ducks’ teammate Garrett Embry, who was trying to play peacemaker. And what we have here is a low moment that can not be greeted with tolerance.
Blount left the field struggling with two police officers and two stadium security guards, and with Ducks assistant Scott Frost being towed along. There was a hostile brush with a Boise State fan, too. In the end, there was chaos and volatility all around this team, courtesy of Blount.
The Ducks running back should be arrested and charged with assault today for slugging Hout, who wasn’t even looking. Also, Blount should be served up by first-year head coach Chip Kelly as a reminder of everything the program should never become.
It was cheap. It was embarrassing. It was disgusting.
The Florida Gators won the BCS Championship game and also earned the #1 spot in the final Associated Press college football poll, released just a short time ago.
I may be preaching to the choir, but the championship NEEDS to be decided by a playoff! How come all other divisions of college football can do this and the BIG BOYS can’t? What will it take to institute a playoff system. Please tell me!
This was a great season of college football, only to be ruined by a lack of a playoff system. I don’t want to take anything away from the Gators, they’re a great team and deserve to be national champions. But what about the other deserving schools? What a ratings bonanza this could have been! Just look at what March Madness has done for the NCAA! Oh well, I can dream right?
So, I ask this of everyone: Who would you vote as your national champion? Do we need a playoff? Thoughts?
From the Associated Press:
Florida is No. 1 in the AP Top 25. Utah is perfect at No. 2, though not perfectly happy.
Texas and Southern California also claimed to be the best — but media voters didn’t think so.
The Gators received 48 first-place votes and 1,606 points in the poll released early Friday, after they beat Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS national title game.
Utah, the only team in major college football to go undefeated this season, got 16 first-place votes and 1,519 points.
“I thought we had an outside chance,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a telephone interview with the AP. “There was enough national sentiment, I thought we might get the No. 1 slot. It wasn’t to be.”
Florida won its third AP national championship and second in the last three seasons. Steve Spurrier and Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel led the Gators to the 1996 title.
No. 3 USC received one first-place vote. Texas was No. 4, and will have to settle with finishing ahead of fifth-ranked Oklahoma.
Alabama’s loss to Utah dropped the Crimson Tide to No. 6 in the final poll.
TCU, Utah’s Mountain West rival, finished seventh, followed by Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon.
Boise State led off the second 10, followed by Texas Tech, Georgia, Mississippi and Virginia Tech.
Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Oregon State, Missouri and Iowa rounded out the top 20.
Florida State, Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Michigan State and BYU were the final five.
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