Best question of the collegiate post season: "Why do the coaches have a post-bowl poll?"
Or maybe even, "Why do the coaches have a poll?" Period.
It's the proverbial screen door in a submarine.
Nonetheless, it ain't right that a coach declare an intention, then fail to follow through. If you say you're gonna vote your kids #1, then do it. When Grant Teaff calls and reads you the fine print from the American Football Coaches Association BCS-poll contract, tell him to kiss off--politely. Words on paper written by a phalanx of lawyers overrides your judgement on the best team?
Yes, you were raised right, to respect that a deal is a deal. To fulfill your commitments, even if someone else negotiated your commitments. But what happened to the courage of your convictions? Isn't that an equally important life lesson imparted by your folks and your grandad. No different than eschewing style points, i.e. not running up points on a beaten foe, even if it might improve your poll position.
Utah's Kyle Whittingham exhibited that courage and did what he said he would do, voting his kids #1. His vote appears to have been included in the final poll results. Two other coaches were swayed to renege in the days between bowl win and poll vote. Before his Gators won the Beauty Contest Series, Urban Meyer said he had no problem with a coach "voting for his kids."
Wimpy. It's wimpy to waffle, to be talked out of your position. To say one thing and do something different. Don't be Coach Wimpy. And it's about the kids, the ones in your house, not some else's house.
As the BCS evolved, AP pulled out with concerns that the machinations of a flawed system may compromise poll voters in their day jobs. With each passing year the AP concerns appear more valid. Coaches are now essentially told--by attorneys--they can no longer vote as they see fit, raising serious questions about the independence and, ultimately, the integrity, of the AFCA.
The Harris poll, a patchwork substitute hurriedly thrown together to replace AP, has a few--or perhaps more than a few--absurdly uninformed, disinterested, and unqualified voters, to the point of raising questions about its validity.
Is it possible the BCS eats its own? Originally an evolutionary idea conceived by university presidents, television, and bowl committees to thwart or defuse playoff pressures, is it now inevitable that the BCS compromises any institution recruited to help verify the veracity of a moving target--crowning a champion without actually playing off to a championship?
Unhappy coaches, once they take stock of the situation, will add their voices to that of the AP. The Harris poll, lacking credibility and with no independent standing, is merely a lackey, a creation of the BCS. The computer rankings have already proven subject to whim after being ordered to eliminate margin of victory from formulas. More BCS direction on how to "think" may be forthcoming this off-season, further compromising the original goals and intents of the computer-model mathematicians.
BCS supporters, fewer with each passing year, must feel increasingly like the circling wagons of the old west. Perhaps the BCS hierarchy should compare notes with Republicans left in D.C.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Remarkable
The 12-1 Texas Longhorns should get a few votes for #1 and a lot of votes for #2. Nothing original here but let's review reality, without coach speak, regarding this team's season.
Offense:
Not much of a running game. We saw glimpses of good from Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whitaker, Vondrell McGee, and Cody Johnson, but not championship caliber. Beanie Wells, we know now, is a running back. Texas' running game probably does not even rise to 'workmanlike.' When your QB is not Vince Young and leads the team in rushing, not good.
A short passing game. Two of the best possession receivers ever in Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley, but no ability to stretch the field. The better defenses did not worry about the deep pass. The young receivers developed well but this was offset by season-long injuries to the only two pass-catching tight ends, a key position in this offense that became a non-factor.
Offensive line, good but a year away. A line with one senior in the two-deep exceeded expectations, but curiously dropped off somewhat after an exceptional OU game. Minor injuries and a Buck Buchanan brain hemorrhage damaged continuity and depth.
Quarterback. Thank goodness for Colt McCoy and no injury to Colt McCoy, in that order.
Summary: When the smoke clears and numbers are crunched, nickel-and-dime sustained drives in game after game are the story of the season. Go back to OU, Missouri, and Oklahoma State discs and study the 60+ yard drives with few game-breaking plays and an extraordinary number of third down conversions. Incredible passing accuracy and clutch possession receivers; call it the third coast offense.
When D coordinators figured out how one-dimensional the Longhorns truly are, it made a difference. A veteran Oklahoma State team exploited the advantage for 60 minutes; ditto for Texas Tech in the first half a week later.
Defense:
Too many ends. The D line held its own despite guys playing out of position, Roy Miller the only true tackle. Brian Orakpo and Miller superb; Sergio Kindle, Lamarr Houston, unsung Aaron Lewis, and Henry Melton darn good. QB pressure was critical in the OU and Tech second halves and for 60 minutes versus everyone else. Linebacking improved, particularly against the run, but short of the expected rave reviews.
Kiddie corps secondary. Another spot with one senior in the two deep, you knew these young guys would be tested. Considering, they held up well, though it got dicey with Chykie Brown and Ryan Palmer dinged. By midseason Texas sometimes fielded a secondary with essentially no coverage experience from previous years, i.e. all freshmen or special-team sophs. Solid as freshmen, safeties Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon will make those plays in the future.
Summary: The D gave up a lot of yards in the air again but good coaching showed in the red zone, where the field tightens up. By ground or air, this unit tended to foil offenses near the goalline. Texas Tech's winning score was its only offensive touchdown of the second half.
Special Teams:
Still not special enough. Punting and placekicking were solid, but too often Texas lost field position in this key phase--coverage and return-side both. Better than 2007, but still outperformed by too many foes.
Overall:
Fiesta Bowl announcers marveled in the third quarter about the "return" of the exceptional Texas offense and its many weapons. The Buckeye coaches knew the truth--foil the Horns' ball-control passing game and you win. They failed that simple task despite the nation's seventh ranked defense on a battle-tested team with 28 seniors.
McCoy, Cosby, Shipley, a superb underneath passing game, and a pretty good line carried a one-dimensional offense way beyond expectation, without question the most amazing truth of the 2008 season. With few weapons, Texas came within one second of playing for a national championship.
Remarkable.
Offense:
Not much of a running game. We saw glimpses of good from Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whitaker, Vondrell McGee, and Cody Johnson, but not championship caliber. Beanie Wells, we know now, is a running back. Texas' running game probably does not even rise to 'workmanlike.' When your QB is not Vince Young and leads the team in rushing, not good.
A short passing game. Two of the best possession receivers ever in Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley, but no ability to stretch the field. The better defenses did not worry about the deep pass. The young receivers developed well but this was offset by season-long injuries to the only two pass-catching tight ends, a key position in this offense that became a non-factor.
Offensive line, good but a year away. A line with one senior in the two-deep exceeded expectations, but curiously dropped off somewhat after an exceptional OU game. Minor injuries and a Buck Buchanan brain hemorrhage damaged continuity and depth.
Quarterback. Thank goodness for Colt McCoy and no injury to Colt McCoy, in that order.
Summary: When the smoke clears and numbers are crunched, nickel-and-dime sustained drives in game after game are the story of the season. Go back to OU, Missouri, and Oklahoma State discs and study the 60+ yard drives with few game-breaking plays and an extraordinary number of third down conversions. Incredible passing accuracy and clutch possession receivers; call it the third coast offense.
When D coordinators figured out how one-dimensional the Longhorns truly are, it made a difference. A veteran Oklahoma State team exploited the advantage for 60 minutes; ditto for Texas Tech in the first half a week later.
Defense:
Too many ends. The D line held its own despite guys playing out of position, Roy Miller the only true tackle. Brian Orakpo and Miller superb; Sergio Kindle, Lamarr Houston, unsung Aaron Lewis, and Henry Melton darn good. QB pressure was critical in the OU and Tech second halves and for 60 minutes versus everyone else. Linebacking improved, particularly against the run, but short of the expected rave reviews.
Kiddie corps secondary. Another spot with one senior in the two deep, you knew these young guys would be tested. Considering, they held up well, though it got dicey with Chykie Brown and Ryan Palmer dinged. By midseason Texas sometimes fielded a secondary with essentially no coverage experience from previous years, i.e. all freshmen or special-team sophs. Solid as freshmen, safeties Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon will make those plays in the future.
Summary: The D gave up a lot of yards in the air again but good coaching showed in the red zone, where the field tightens up. By ground or air, this unit tended to foil offenses near the goalline. Texas Tech's winning score was its only offensive touchdown of the second half.
Special Teams:
Still not special enough. Punting and placekicking were solid, but too often Texas lost field position in this key phase--coverage and return-side both. Better than 2007, but still outperformed by too many foes.
Overall:
Fiesta Bowl announcers marveled in the third quarter about the "return" of the exceptional Texas offense and its many weapons. The Buckeye coaches knew the truth--foil the Horns' ball-control passing game and you win. They failed that simple task despite the nation's seventh ranked defense on a battle-tested team with 28 seniors.
McCoy, Cosby, Shipley, a superb underneath passing game, and a pretty good line carried a one-dimensional offense way beyond expectation, without question the most amazing truth of the 2008 season. With few weapons, Texas came within one second of playing for a national championship.
Remarkable.
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