Thursday, January 11, 2007

College Football Round-up

Just to quickly wrap up the college football season.
1) I had Florida winning that game all the way; and those Michigan fans who repeatedly claimed OSU would kill Florida were idiots. That being said:
--- What the hell was Tressel thinking? The guy is a snobby douche, but he's always been a top notch play caller and has had OSU phenomenally prepared when they have time off. But, for whatever reason, he ditched his effective running game in favor of a spread-passing attack which Florida was killing with the blitz. Troy Smith (who I may have been premature in anointing as the next Drew Brees) was constantly harassed and Ginn was knocked out. I don't know why they didn't stay with the ground game; but I'm sure glad they didn't, because it sure warmed my heart to see OSU get obliterated.
- -- How great would it be to be a Florida fan? Ignore the obvious that you have just won a basketball and football NCAA championship in the same year (the two holy grails for college sports); but in 2007 you will have 2 of the most talented basketball players in the game (Noah and Horford); and the two most exciting football players in the country in Harvey and Tebow. Harvey already looks much more polished than Ginn ever has, and Tebow is one of the most phenomenal athletes I've ever seen. How is it that in every game Tebow ALWAYS got 3 yards on that QB slam play they run - no matter the defensive alignment. He's awesome to behold. Damn you, Gainesville.
---- My main concern with Michigan was not the USC game plan, or the fear of a large talent discrepancy between what we thought we had and what we actually did have. No, my fear was how Michigan got worse throughout the year. Northwestern, Ball State, Ohio State, and USC were all very bad games this year. And the only good team we beat all year was Wisconsin.
--- The biggest problem with the BCS is it WANTS to be a playoff. It's whole goal is to determine who's #1 on the field; yet it stays married to this antiquated bowl system and poll system. You either have to go one of two ways: Go back to the old bowl system when the actual bowl had meaning, and the Coaches or AP awarded the title on their own accord. (Was I the only one that liked watching the Cotton, the Citrus, the Orange, the Rose, the Holiday just because they were cool? Didn't it use to be a big deal to win a Cotton Bowl? OR, go all the way and use the bowls as a means to an end and have an 8 team playoff. This bullshit as it is now doesn't make sense at all to me. I mean it ends with a coaches poll where the coaches can't even vote for #1 and #2. WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN???
---- Michigan's prospects: Well, it sure is nice to have Henne, Hart, Long, and Burgess back but I can't see us being any better than we were this year. For us to succeed we'll have to switch into an offense first-squad-- and hope to score 30 points a game. We really can't hope to win with field position and defense. I think Manningham and Arrington have a shot to be the best WR duo in Michigan history next year if they can stay healthy, and we can give Henne time.
---- What about that Boise State game?! If I was a voter in the AP bowl I would have gone ahead and given Boise my vote. Do I think they are the best team in the country? Hell, no; but I really don't have any idea who is; and it'd be nice to stick it to the BCS voters.