If I'm Bobby Bowden and Houston Nutt, I haven't left a square inch of cork exposed. I've gone to the supply closet for more push pins. I'm checking the printer cartridges to make sure they're as full of it as Urban Meyer.
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| Is Urban Meyer forgetting it was the same BCS system that put his Utes in the Fiesta two year's ago? (Getty Images) | |
The Florida coach couldn't/wouldn't/didn't edit himself this week when he condemned a potential Ohio State-Michigan rematch. If it happens, he said, there should be a playoff system in place, like, yesterday. It would be unfair to Ohio State, to the country and, oh yes, Florida.
That about covers it, unless the homeless or Daughters of the American Revolution get wind of this crime against nature.
What he said is beyond bulletin-board material. It's more of a travesty against the very thing he's grousing about.
A playoff? Try beating Florida State first, something your program has done once in the past 20 years in Tallahassee. Get through that and good luck against the hottest team in the SEC, Arkansas.
Talk about looking ahead. At least wait until the end of the season to state your case, Urban. Doing it now is a direct insult to the next two opponents, which just happen to be an archrival and the nation's 5th-ranked team.
On the Tommy Tuberville Scale of outrage, the timing of Meyer's comments almost seems logical. Tub started angling for a playoff -- and pimping SEC superiority -- in October, 13 days after being embarrassed at home by Arkansas.
And less than a month before being embarrassed more by Georgia. Once again, at home. Meyer has only a slightly slimmer ledge to stand on.
First, part of the reason he is at Florida is because of a rematch. The Gators greatest moment was made possible 10 years ago because of a revenge victory over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
"Completely different era," Meyer said.
Which means exactly what? Florida State beat Florida by three in the regular season, then played the Gators again 33 days later for the national championship.
Ohio State beat Michigan by three on Saturday. The two could meet for the national championship 48 days from now.
The only variable seems to be time.
Look, I like Urban. Unlike a lot of his peers, he actually has something to say when he opens his mouth. His candor is welcomed. It is misguided in this case.
The one coach who has the most right to lobby, hasn't. Lloyd Carr was the picture of class Saturday night after an incredibly emotional 36 hours.
A day earlier he lost his mentor, Bo Schembechler. He had just played the No. 1 team in the country off its feet in its own building, scoring the most points in seven years (39) on the Buckeyes.
Rematch? "I don't have any thoughts right now on that," a forlorn Carr said. To Lloyd's credit, we haven't heard a peep out of him on the subject since that night.
I'm sure the BCS presidents are ready to cave in to a playoff now that Meyer has weighed in. Yup, it's time to scrap the system. A second-year SEC coach who has won -- what, so far? -- says there should be a playoff.
Part of this smacks of SEC arrogance. Part of it is Meyer's naiveté. Does he forget that it was this same BCS system that got Utah to the Fiesta Bowl two years ago? (A Congressionly mandated revised system)
In the old system, Utah would have been playing in the Las Vegas Bowl. (Yeah even if we went 12-0. That's why the system was and still is flawed. Who is this guy and what research is he doing. We would have gon to the Liberty Bowl.
But with a playoff, who knows where we would have gone? Probably all the way to the top!)
The system also catapulted Meyer to hot-coach-of-the-moment status, essentially got him his big-time shot at Florida. (Wow! It wasn't the system that got him his fame. I can't believe he is giving the BCS credit for Urban's and Utah's accomplishments)
We're getting a mixed message. Michigan doesn't belong but USC and Florida do? (In a playoff system they would still belong, but other teams would be given an equal shot at Ohio St. not just Michigan again, BORING! Open your ears and listen to what
Urban is really trying to say!)
Here are some ideas, Urban:
- Beat Auburn. At least make Auburn score. You're in this position because the Tigers won 27-17 on Oct. 14 without scoring an offensive touchdown.
- Beat South Carolina by more than the fingernail on Jarvis Moss' hand that blocked a field goal attempt to preserve a one-point victory. (I'm sorry but that was a good game! The SEC is one of the most talented conferences this year. Not all games are
- going to be blow outs and "style point" acheivements. I think that hard fought game deserves more "style points" than running up the score!)
- Don't play Western Carolina, ever. You know better. But if you have to play the last-place team in the Southern Conference, do it in September. (Ohio St. and Michigan have played no name teams too. Why even bring this up? Not a valid point)
If you're looking for a reason why you're in this predicament, check your schedule. It is inferior to USC's. Out of conference, the Trojans scheduled Nebraska (Big 12 South winner), Arkansas (SEC West winner) and No. 6 Notre Dame.
Florida scheduled two teams from Conference USA (Southern Miss, Central Florida) and the aforementioned Western Carolina in addition to Florida State. (These schedules are made 4 or so years in advance. How can you know how good the team will be?
So because by chance USC rolled the dice and gets to play ranked or conference champion teams out side their conference and Florida has to play ranked Arkansas (#5), Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU they are not contenders. By the way all of these teams
are tanked higher than Nebraska. It looks to me as if the odds ended up in Floridas favor. Is this guy a USC fan or something?)
Don't talk to me about the SEC conference schedule, either. Florida and USC each will have faced seven bowl-eligible teams in-conference.
Beyond the numbers, Florida doesn't pass the eye test when compared to other contenders. (See above again) Its offense is torture to watch at times. It keeps getting defensive linemen suspended.
No wonder that on Oct. 29, Florida was No. 4 in the BCS and hasn't budged since. (Well duh! Not much has happened to the teams up top. The only team that has lost is Michigan and that was to #1 OSU)
Meanwhile, USC moved from No. 8 (following its only loss to Oregon State) to No. 3. Win its final two and the Trojans deserve to zip past Michigan into the No. 2 spot.
Hey, what do you know? There would be no rematch. Isn't that what Urban wanted? (No you are not listening.)
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