Must See Sports – Fourth Weekend of March 2014

Last week's advantage/disadvantage record, excluding series: 5-1
2014 Advantage/Disadvantage Record, excluding series: 19-16
2014 Advantage/Disadvantage Record (series only): 0-0

March Madness is here!!!

Thursday, March 20

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

East Region – Second Round

(10) St. Joseph’s Hawks vs (7) Connecticut Huskies

Connecticut has Shabazz Napier at point guard and has played solid D all year. Give me UConn.

Advantage: Connecticut


Midwest Region – Second Round

(12) North Carolina State Wolfpack vs (5) St. Louis Billikens

N.C. State got red hot in the ACC Tournament. St. Louis has been ice cold of late. N.C. State forward T.J. Warren (25 PPG, 7 RPG) has been on fire lately and will bring it to a Billikens team that is ripe for an upset. Still, I like the Atlantic 10 regular season champions and their defense. The late coach Jim Valvano is not walking through the door and I think the Wolfpack’s Cinderella’s run is over.

Advantage: Saint Louis


(10) Arizona State Sun Devils vs (7) Texas Longhorns

Texas has been all brawn and no skill all year.  Simply put: they can’t shoot. They can clobber inferior opponents in the paint on both sides of the court. Arizona State is a bit more balanced offensively and tested against tough Pac-12 competition. Their greatest weakness is against strong shooting teams. Texas is not that. Give me the “underdog” 10th seed.

Advantage: Arizona State

UConn will go as Shabazz Napier goes. 1

Friday, March 21

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

South Region – Second Round

(10) Stanford Cardinal vs (7) New Mexico Lobos

This game could swing either way but I find that Stanford is often reliant on taking jump shots set up by isolation without a strong offensive rebounding component. New Mexico is a patient defensive team that moves the ball around on offense. They take their fair share of jumpers also, but get their fair share of second chance opportunities and give up very few. The Lobos have also taken two of three against top 10 ranked Mountain west Conference rival San Diego State. The Cardinal is 1-2 against the top 10.

Advantage: New Mexico


(12) Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs (5) Virginia Commonwealth Rams

Both of these teams like to press and trap their opponents on defense and both do it well. I like shooters in mid-major contests and Jacks wait patiently to take smart shots and shoot the ball well. I like this potential 12-5 seed upset because SFA is just the kind of team that a recent Final Four team like VCU could overlook and underestimate, notwithstanding the proven coaching skills of Rams coach Shaka Smart.

Advantage: Stephen F. Austin


Midwest Region – Second Round

(11) Tennessee Volunteers vs (6) Massachusetts Minutemen

Tennessee is going to get a glimpse of the ball-attacking defense and up tempo offense of UMass, led by point guard Chaz Williams (16 PPG, 7 APG). Tennessee will depend on junior forward Jarnell Stokes (18 PPG, 13 APG) to clog up the lane a pick up second half points for the Volunteers. I think Massachsetts is ultimately going to prove to be too athletic for a Tennessee team that had to scratch and claw just to get into the Big Dance.

Advantage: Massachusetts

Can Shaka Smart coach the Rams to the Final Four, again, now that VCU is the hunted and not the hunter? 2

Saturday, March 22

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – Third Round

Check with the Hat Trick on Saturday morning for Third Round NCAA Tournament previews.

Sunday, March 23

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – Third Round

Check with the Hat Trick on Saturday morning for Third Round NCAA Tournament previews.

Tuesday, March 25

NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks

The contrast between Eastern Conference and Western Conference NBA basketball is striking. The Mavs winning percentage is close to .600 and they are battling for the final playoff spot in the West. The New York Knicks were 21-40 earlier this month and now are only four games back of the final spot in the East. Life is not fair.

As much as point guard Monta Ellis (19 PPG, 6 APG) has injected into the Dallas offense, returning this recent NBA champion (2011) to relevance, the Thunder are just too hot and too loaded for the Mavs right now.

Advantage: Thunder

Monta Ellis, left, has been the catalyst to spring Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs back into the playoff picture. 4

Wednesday, March 26

NBA

Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers

If the Heat are intent on catching the Pacers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, they will help their chances by winning their last two matchups against the Pacers in the regular season.

Unfortunately for The Heatles, the Pacers are ridiculously good at home. Should Andrew Bynum (9 PPG, 6 RPG, 1 BlkPG, 18 MPG) be back in the lineup for the Pacers by next Wednesday, the Heat will have an even steeper hill to climb as Miami struggles in the paint as it is.

Advantage: Pacers

The Pacers cheerleaders have had no reason to fake their enthusiasm this year. 3

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1) Image from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
2) Image from www.interviewangels.com
3) Image from www.refinedguy.com
4) Image from http://dallas.culturemap.com

Tim Tebow...Peyton Manning...ENOUGH! Training camp is months away! Let's not forget that America's greatest postseason marathon is underway, March Madness!

Aside from the dramatic action and young athletes leaving their hopes and dreams on the court, the NCAA Tournament offers a host of unique and colorful mascots. Trees, oranges, horses, and unidentifiable blobs are just some of the fuzzy rally outfits we see on the sidelines of these games.

Shirley Zeilinger of Best Colleges Online was kind enough to share an article discussing these humanly animated sources of school spirit. So as we head toward the exciting conclusions of regional play, enjoy the following on college mascots. The original article can be found on the blog at http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/.

College Mascot Showdown

Posted on Thursday February 23, 2012
by Staff Writers

 

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College Football’s 10 Most Dramatic Rivalry Game Moments

If you checked in to the Hat Trick for more Joe Paterno coverage, you will not find it today. You won't have to try very hard to find it elsewhere. The victims deserve our attention, but the public could use a break from the tragic happenings in State College, Pennsylvania. There is another group that deserves our attention today: our veterans. God bless you and thank you!

I would, however, like to discuss a little college football today. Some of the season's pivotal games are being played tomorrow. Nebraska has a huge nationally televised Big Ten game on the road. And of course, the fate of the Pac-12 will likely be decided in tomorrow's game between #7 Oregon and #4 Stanford.

Today is a good day to discuss rivalry games. Jennifer Lynch of Top Online Colleges was kind enough to share an article with us about such matchups. The original article can be found on their website, toponlinecolleges.com. Special thanks to Jennifer. Enjoy!



College Football’s 10 Most Dramatic Rivalry Game Moments

College football elicits emotion unlike any other sport. The passion and devotion of the fans are most apparent during rivalry weekends, in which their teams face off with their most hated annual opponent, competing for regional and/or historical bragging rights. In many cases, these intraconference and intrastate clashes have been instrumental in determining conference and national champions, especially those including teams such as Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, and Ohio State. The following dramatic rivalry game moments double as college football's most dramatic moments due to their overall meaningfulness. Regardless of whether you're a fan of Cal, Miami, or some directional school not included on the list, you undoubtedly experienced goose bumps the first time you saw these pieces of college football history unfold.

1. Cannon's Halloween Punt Return — LSU vs. Ole Miss (1959)

   The recent drama in the LSU-Ole Miss rivalry was nothing compared to the drama that transpired during the '50s and '60s, when both teams were national powers. Ranked No. 1, the Tigers' most difficult test of the 1959 season came on Halloween night in Tiger Stadium. Down 3-0, the ball fell into the hands of the Tigers' playmaker, Billy Cannon, during a punt return. Seven broken tackles later, he found the end zone, scoring the game's only touchdown. The clutch play helped him claim the Heisman Trophy. But the defending national champs failed to repeat, as they dropped one to Tennessee late in the season, and the Rebels exacted revenge in the Sugar Bowl.
   

2. The Juice Breaks Loose — USC vs. UCLA (1967)

   Great players make big plays in big games, and no stage was bigger than 1967's edition of the "Game of the Century." The No. 1 Bruins featured Heisman frontrunner Gary Beban and the No. 2 Trojans featured Walter Camp Award frontrunner OJ Simpson — both were determined to lead their teams to "the championship of Los Angeles," an AAWU conference championship, a Rose Bowl berth and a national championship. Beban made the first clutch play in the fourth, tossing a touchdown pass to give the Bruins a 20-14 lead, but it was followed with a missed extra point. The door was left open for the Trojans to claim the lead, and Simpson responded with a game-winning 64-yard touchdown run in which he weaved through and burned numerous Bruins defenders. The Trojans finished the season as the national champions.
   

3. Punt Bama Punt — Auburn vs. Alabama (1972)

   The result of the 2010 Iron Bowl — in which the Cam Newton-led Tigers overcame a 24-point deficit to keep their national championship hopes alive — evoked memories of another comeback that occurred 38 years earlier. The favored No. 2 Tide, attempting to secure yet another national championship, had a 16-point lead with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. A Tigers field goal reduced the margin ever so slightly, but provided little encouragement to the Auburn faithful. On the ensuing Tide possession, the Tigers' Bill Newton blocked Greg Gantt's punt, enabling David Langner to scoop up the ball and carry it 25 yards into the end zone. The Tide got the ball back, and it happened again — Newton blocked the punt and Langer ran it back, giving the Tigers a 17-16 lead, the eventual final score. Fittingly, the series of events inspired cries of "Punt Bama Punt" from Tigers fans.
   

4. Run, Lindsay, Run! — Georgia vs. Florida (1980)

   Entrenched inside their own 10-yard line with the clock ticking on their perfect season, the No. 2 Bulldogs needed to convert on a third-and-long to keep hope alive. Not only did they make it happen, but Buck Belue's 25-yard pass to Lindsay Nelson quickly turned into an improbable 93-yard touchdown pass, as the receiver sprinted past the Florida defense. Georgia fans will forever remember radio play-by-play man Larry Munson's famous call: "Run Lindsay, 25, 20, 15, 10, Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott." Led by freshman phenom Herschel Walker, the Dawgs went on to win the national championship.
   

5. The Play — Cal vs. Sanford (1982)

   John Elway's final game as a Cardinal foreshadowed some of the early career heartbreaks he would endure in the NFL. Late in the fourth quarter, with his team trailing 19-17, he converted on a 4th-and-17 on his own 13-yard line and drove downfield, setting up a go-ahead field goal for Mark Harmon. Elway called timeout with eight seconds remaining before the kick, and four seconds remained after it occurred. A celebration penalty bumped Stanford's ensuing kickoff to the 25-yard line, giving the Bears enough room to execute a chaotic flurry of laterals. At some point near the 45-yard line, Mariet Ford received the ball, avoided a tackle and sprinted into the Stanford band, which had prematurely taken the field. As three Stanford players descended upon him, he tossed the ball to Kevin Moen, who ran into the end zone, memorably running into a trombone player. Today, debate still persists about whether or not a couple of the laterals were legal.
   

6. Goodbye, Hello Heisman — Michigan vs. Ohio State (1991)

   Michigan was clearly the better team in 1991, as evidenced by the manner in which they controlled the first half. The final touchdown of the second quarter would become the most memorable in the game, perhaps the rivalry, and one of the most memorable in college football history. Heisman favorite Desmond Howard fielded a Buckeyes' punt at the Wolverines' seven-yard line, weaved through OSU defenders, rocketed down the sideline and completed a 93-yard touchdown return. The play was capped off by his Heisman pose, which came right on cue with play-by-play man Keith Jackson's call: "Goodbye, Hello Heisman!" Michigan won the game 31-3, and Howard accepted the Heisman Trophy two weeks later.
   

7. Wide Right I — Miami vs. Florida State (1991)

   A missed field goal from this rivalry could occupy several spots on this list, but we opted to avoid the overkill and go with the original. The Noles were undefeated and ranked No. 1, with a marquee win over Howard's Michigan squad, and the Canes were undefeated and ranked No. 2. As expected, it was a hard-fought affair with neither team maintaining a comfortable lead for an extended period of time. Down 16-10 in the fourth, Gino Torretta led the Canes down the field, setting up a Larry Jones one-yard touchdown run. The Noles ensuing drive was assisted by a pass interference call on the Canes' Ryan McNeil, which put the Noles on the Canes' 18-yard line. Confident in his kicker — Gerry Thomas was three-for-three on the day — Bobby Bowden elected for the field goal on third down. The 34-yarder sailed wide right, and the Canes stormed the filed in jubilation. Miami finished the season undefeated, splitting the national championship with Washington.
   

8. Choke at Doak — Florida State vs. Florida (1994)

   The Noles' other rival has been the source of many great games, the best of which occurred during a year when both teams were extremely talented, but were late-season national championship long shots. Three touchdown passes and a touchdown run from future Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel gave Florida a commanding 31-3 lead early in the fourth quarter, but it was quickly relinquished. Spurrier uncharacteristically went conservative on offense, taking the wind out of Wuerffel's sails. A five-yard touchdown run from Zack Crockett put the Noles on the board. Danny Kanell led the team downfield during its two subsequent possessions, both of which ended with touchdowns. James Colzie's interception allowed the Noles to conduct a 60-yard touchdown drive to tie the game with 1:45 left. They would get the ball back yet again, but failed to score, and thus the game ended 31-31. It remains tied for the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in college football history.
   

9. The Superman Play — Oklahoma vs. Texas (2001)

   Before the Vince Young and Colt McCoy eras, the Longhorns struggled to win big games — the games they needed to win in order to capture a national championship. Their early-2000s affairs with the Sooners are prime examples, as they either lost in embarrassing or close fashion. This one was the latter, as both teams struggled to score points on the stout opposing defenses. Quentin's Griffin's 2-yard touchdown run in the first half gave the Sooners a 7-3 lead, which they held deep into the fourth quarter. Pinned at their own three-yard line with 2:06 remaining, the Horns' comeback drive ended just as it started. Chris Simms' first down pass was deflected by Roy Williams, who flew in over a blocker on the blitz. The ball fluttered into the hands of Teddy Lehman, who strolled into the end zone with the game-sealing touchdown. It was the second of five consecutive losses for the Horns in the Red River Shootout.
   

10. Bush Push — USC vs. Notre Dame (2005)

    Neither an intraconference nor an intrastate rivalry, the annual USC-Notre Dame matchup is heated because of the sheer mystique carried by both programs. Undefeated and surging toward a national championship repeat, the Trojans were tasked with fending off the upstart Irish, who were led by first-year head coach Charlie Weis. A back-and-forth slugfest, the Irish captured the lead late in the fourth quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by Brady Quinn. With less than two minutes to drive downfield, the Trojans converted on a fourth-and-nine pass from Matt Leinart to Dwayne Jarrett that put the ball on the Irish's 15-yard line. A Leinart scramble toward the end zone was stopped short at the goal line and the ball was knocked out of bounds. Time ticked off the clock, but the officials elected to place seven second back on it. The Trojans won the game on Leinart's plunge into the end zone with the assistance of Bush's Push. Of course, they lost to Texas in a classic national championship game.
    

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College Football’s 10 Most-Hyped Games of All Time

Tomorrow, college football's GAME OF THE CENTURY will be played! #1 LSU travels to #2 Alabama to play a nationally televised SEC showdown that could determine the national champion of college football. Jena Ellis of Online Certificate Programs was the lady that treated us to her article, 10 Surprising Athletic Programs That Used to be Powerhouses last month. On the eve of the most hyped up regular season college football game in years, I thought an article about hype would be fitting. I'd like to say a special "thank you" to Jena for submitting this well-timed piece. The original article can be found at http://www.onlinecertificateprograms.org.


HYPE, HYPE, HYPE!!!

No sport does big games like college football. With just a small handful of matchups per season, one loss can result in the ruination of your quest for a national title — of course, the biggest games typically involve the top teams in the nation. The drama is only heightened if the matchup involves two bitter rivals, such as USC and UCLA, who are battling over regional bragging rights and recruiting territory, the latter of which determines how long a program remains a national power. The games listed below have been the most anticipated in college football history because of the aforementioned reasons. In the context of their eras, each was truly thought to be the "Game of the Century."

1. Notre Dame 18, Ohio State 13 (1935)

   Considered the original "Game of the Century," the 5-0 Irish faced off with the No. 1 Buckeyes before a then-record crowd of 81,018 in Ohio Stadium — OSU officials said that they could've seated 200,000. It was the first time the two powerhouses had met, so a lofty battle was sure to ensue. Favored by many writers, OSU took a 13-0 lead into the fourth quarter. With fewer than three minutes remaining, down 13-6, Notre Dame drove downfield, setting up a 33-yard touchdown pass from Andy Pilney to Mike Layden. The onside kick was recovered by OSU, seemingly ending the game. But, with the less than a minute remaining, tailback Dick Beltz fumbled the football, and Notre Dame recovered. Pilney completed a 30-yard run, but had to be carried off the field due to a knee injury. Bill Shakespeare, an Ohio native, replaced him, and proceeded to toss the game-winning 19-yard touchdown pass.
   

2. Army 0, Notre Dame 0 (1946)

   Ranked No. 1, Army was prepared to fight No. 2 Notre Dame to preserve its spot atop the polls and continue its 25-game winning streak. The game was expected to resemble the classics of years past, as each team featured a high-powered offense and Heisman-caliber players — Army fullback Doc Blanchard won the Heisman the previous season, Army halfback Glenn Davis would win it that season, and Notre Dame quarterback Johnny Lujack would win it the next season. Of course, the game unfolded the opposite as expected, finishing in a 0-0 tie. Remarkably, Blanchard and Davis were held to just 79 yards, an incredible feat by the Notre Dame defense. Despite the fact that both teams finished the season undefeated with a tie, Notre Dame was declared the nation champion by the Associated Press.
   

3. Notre Dame 10, Michigan State 10 (1966)

   After suffering through a bit of a down period by their standards, the Irish were poised to once again become college football's preeminent program. Michigan State, the defending national champ, simultaneously held No. 1 and No. 2 spots on the polls, with Notre Dame holding the other No. 1 and No. 2 spots. State impressed early in Spartan Stadium, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, while knocking out Notre Dame quarterback Terry Hanratty. Second-stringer Coley O'Brien stepped in and threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to halfback Bob Gladieux, reducing the margin to a field goal at the half. In the beginning of the fourth quarter, Joe Azzaro's 28-yard field goal tied the game, but, a few minutes later, he missed a 41-yard go-ahead attempt following an interception. When Notre Dame got the ball back with 1:10 remaining, coach Ara Parseghian opted to play it conservatively, run out the clock, settle for the tie, and maintain his team's No. 2 ranking.
   

4. USC 21, UCLA 20 (1967)

   Led by Heisman favorite quarterback Gary Beban, UCLA was the top team in the nation according to both polls. The Trojans, with the unstoppable OJ Simpson in the backfield, were the Bruins' biggest potential roadblock on the path to the national championship. A heated cross-town rivalry, the pair battled to a 14-14 tie entering the fourth quarter. As expected, UCLA's star came through — despite being hurt — tossing a touchdown pass to Dave Nuttall, but the extra point was missed. Simpson responded with a career-defining, highlight-reel 64-yard touchdown run in which he weaved through numerous Bruins defenders. The extra point gave USC the lead, which it held until the end. The Trojans — not the Bruins — finished the season ranked No. 1 in both polls.
   

5. Texas 15, Arkansas 14 (1969)

   The presence of President Richard Nixon — and a group of accompanying protestors — signified the importance of this "Game of the Century," which pitted the No.1 Horns against the No. 2 Hogs in Razorback Stadium. The winner would capture the Southwest Conference championship, a Cotton Bowl berth, and possibly the national championship. Trailing 14-8 with 4:47 remaining in the fourth quarter, Texas converted on a surprise 44-yard play-action pass from James Street to Randy Peschel on fourth-and-three. Halfback Jim Bertelsen finished the drive with a game-tying touchdown, and the extra point put Texas on top for good. Half of the nation's television sets tuned in to the game on television, a statistic on par with Super Bowl ratings today. Texas beat Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl and was awarded the national championship.
   

6. Nebraska 35, Oklahoma 31 (1971)

   Before the Big 8 became the Big 12 and Oklahoma and Nebraska joined separate divisions, the rivalry between the two accomplished programs produced some historic matchups, the most memorable of which occurred in 1971. Nebraska, the defending national champion, was ranked No. 1, and Oklahoma was ranked No. 2, coasting on a 20-game winning streak. After Oklahoma's first possession of the game, next season's Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers put Nebraska on the scoreboard first with a 72-yard punt return. The Huskers' claimed a 14-3 lead, but relinquished it when the Sooners scored two touchdowns before the half. It was a back-and-forth affair, with Nebraska claiming the final lead on a 74-yard drive that ended with tailback Jeff Kinney's touchdown, his fourth of the game. At the time, it was the highest-rated college football game of all time. Nebraska went on to win its second consecutive national championship with a convincing win over Alabama in the Orange Bowl.
   

7. Penn State 14, Miami 10 (1987)

   They were two teams that couldn't have been more different. Miami represented the glitz and glam of its city, and Penn State represented the conservative nature of its coach, Joe Paterno. The buildup during the days before the nation championship game was intense — Miami arrived to the pregame steak fry in army fatigues, and defensive tackle Jerome Brown tried to lead a walkout after John Bruno, Penn State's punter, made a Jimmy Johnson hairspray joke. On the field, the Canes outgained the Nittany Lions by 283 yards, but gave the game away with seven turnovers, five of which were interceptions from Heisman winner Vinny Testaverde. With 3:07 remaining in the game, Testaverde started a drive that encroached into Penn State territory. They made it all the way inside the five-yard line, but a sack pushed Testaverde back, and on fourth-and-goal, he tossed his final interception to linebacker Pete Giftopoulos, his second of the game, completing the upset.
   

8. Notre Dame 31, Florida State 24 (1993)

   Bobby Bowden and Lou Holtz were two of the more colorful coaches of the era, a major reason why both were able to attract top-flight talent. Florida State, ranked No. 1, was led by eventual Heisman-winner Charlie Ward, who did everything in his power to guide his team to victory. Down 31-17 with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter, Ward connected with Kez McCorvey on fourth-and-20. A strong defensive stand on the Irish's possession gave the Noles the ball with enough time to tie it. Ward drove the ball to Notre Dame's 14-yard line, but his final pass was knocked down. Previously ranked No. 2 , Notre Dame took FSU's place atop the polls. But that only lasted a week, as Boston College pulled off a memorable upset in South Bend the following Saturday, allowing FSU to go on to win the national championship.
   

9. Texas 41, USC 38 (2005)

   At the time, USC was the two-time defending national champion (according to the AP, at least), having reeled off 34 consecutive victories. Led by previous season's Heisman winner Matt Leinart and that season's Heisman winner Reggie Bush, the Trojan offensive was one of the most talented in history — though Texas led the nation in points scored. Although the Horns were the underdog, they boasted an impressive road victory over Ohio State and they demolished most of their Big 12 opponents. The Horns took a 16-10 lead into the half, and the teams alternated leads in the third quarter. The Trojans appeared to pull away in the fourth, when Bush made a 26-yard touchdown run and Dwayne Jarrett caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Matt Leinart. But the final 6:42 belonged to Vince Young, who first completed a 69-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown run. The Trojans attempted to end the game — and keep the ball out of Young's hands — by going for it on fourth-and-two, handing the ball off to their star of the game, LenDale White. It failed, and Texas took over their 44-yard line. Young led them downfield, scoring on an eight-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-five, giving the Horns their first national title in 35 years.
   

10. Ohio State 42, Michigan 39 (2006)

    Never before had the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry meant so much, as it was the first time the teams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 at the time of the matchup. The winner would not only claim bragging rights, but a chance to compete for the national championship. Ohio State benefitted from playing in front of the home crowd, and went into the half with a 28-14 lead. Two Buckeyes turnovers in the third quarter enabled the Wolverines to claw back. Mike Hart scored two touchdowns, making the score 35-31, but Heisman winner Troy Smith demonstrated his worth by completing an 83-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie. Michigan, refusing to be put away, responded with an 81-yard drive and touchdown pass from Chad Henne to Tyler Ecker. Exhausted from the physical toll of the shootout, Michigan's defense was unable to stop Ohio State on its final possession, and time ran out. It was an effort that would've made Bo Schembechler, who died a day earlier, proud, and even caused some pollsters to wonder if the Wolverines deserved a second shot at the Buckeyes in the national championship game. As it turned out, Florida was selected instead, and the Gators proceeded to defeat the Buckeyes in Glendale 41-14.
    

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Death of the NCAA

Who among us likes to hear someone, correctly, tell us, “I told you so,”? None of us, I would presume. Even when the person reminding us of how wrong we were all along is a trusted friend or a family member, at best, the statement does little more than beg to original question. Often, that expression serves of a source of annoyance and a reminder of the downside of our stubbornness.

The NCAA appears to be very close to a point which its members, fans, and business partners can tell it that. For years, fans, journalists, and countless other people have called for a playoff system in college football. The NCAA has insisted upon not implementing a postseason tournament for football. Every logistical excuse is available. The bowls are rooted in college football tradition. There are travel considerations. There is not a clear set of fair criteria.

I have witnessed sports journalist after sports journalist, over the years, come up with a logistically sound playoff system including as few as three and as many as 16 playoff spots. I always found such columns to be interesting, creative, and fun to read. I also thought often, “This will never happen.”

I probably wouldn't mind hearing "I Told You So" directly from Carrie Underwood, but that may be the only exception. 1

DEATH BY A PAIR OF CUTS

Over this past weekend, Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh announced their intentions to leave the Big East and join the Atlantic Coastal Conference. The ACC accepted. Within the past month, Texas A&M University announced its plans to leave the Big XII and join the Southeastern Conference. Rumors have already surfaced that the Big XII (which is already down to 10 teams) is in danger of losing two more big names in Oklahoma and Texas. These schools are rumored to be eyeing a move to the Pac-12.

Meanwhile, schools such as Texas Christian University, who recently announced its intention to join the Big East Conference in 2012, may be left holding the bag for several years. TCU joined the Big East, in part, as an effort to improve its status for Bowl Championship Series bowl games and greater access to an opportunity to play for the BCS National Championship. With the exodus of Syracuse and Pittsburgh, in addition to rumors swirling about a possible departure by the University of Connecticut, the Big East appears to be following a similar road as the Big XII: major-conference extinction.

The super-sized expansions of the Pac-12, Big Ten, ACC, and SEC are setting up the stage for a college football world with four super conferences and a playoff system revolving around those conferences. The NCAA appears to have zero say-so or influence on conference affiliation. It has made no effort, whatsoever, to set up a college football playoff system and has elected to allow the bowl system and the media to dictate an unofficial champion of its most popular sport. If the NCAA has so little influence or concern about the structure and postseason of its member schools in football, then what, exactly, do these four super conferences need the NCAA for?

Like I said, TCU may be left holding the bag. 2

PEACE OUT

The NCAA has drowned its member institutions with rules, regulations, sanctions, and probation for every possible misstep imaginable, and some that one could not have imagined before reading about it in the news. I would wager that the organizing body is very unpopular among college football fans and that major college football program institutions would prefer the absense of an environment in which non-compliance is an inevitability, considering the number of people, directly and indirectly, connected to a big-time college football program.

This thought crossed my mind last year when the first wave of conference musical chairs, involving TCU, Utah (Pac-12), and Nebraska (Big Ten) began last year and has only been reinforced by some of the recent speculation I have heard on sports talk radio: Once the super conferences are formed and finalized, those members’ football programs will secede from the NCAA and form their own body, their own rules, and their own playoff system in football.

Ten years ago, such an idea would be inconceivable, to the point of laughter. As it stands, the NCAA has neutered itself in football to the point where member institutions are unilaterally deciding membership alignment. I think, barring an intervention or compromise, that it is only a matter of time before the NCAA is plucked from the affairs of major football programs. Once that happens, what is to stop those institutions from doing the same with their revenue-neutral and loss-leading sports such as basketball, baseball, and track?

I am sure this could make an interesting historical attraction one day. 4

I TOLD YOU SO

The NCAA has come under fire for decades for failing to take steps to draw a fair and definitive conclusion to its college football season for major programs. The conference shuffling of heavy hitting, major schools, is the beginning of a massive power shift in college football from a confederation of major conferences, mid-major conferences, bowl committees, and the BCS to four super conferences possessing the lion’s share of the decision making in college football.

The NCAA deflected, rationalized, and compromised on a means of deciding a champion in college football while being heavy handed with institutions failing to dot “I”s and cross “T”s properly. If it does not act very quickly, decisively, and in a manner that is friendly and accommodating to member schools and fans, its day of reckoning will come sooner than later. The NCAA could be on a road to becoming part of the past of major college football and possibly the past of major college sports altogether.

I wonder how Mr. Finebaum really feels. I doubt he's alone. 3

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