AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThanks for a great season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On the morning of the BCS championship game SEC Commissioner Mike Slive wondered out loud: Was the craziness of the 2007 college football season—with all of the upsets and wild finishes—just an aberration? Or was it a sign of things to come? Is this the way college football is going to be for the foreseeable future?
I think the answer is yes which means we’re going to be having a lot of fun.
After coming to you on almost a daily basis since July 9 I’m going to take a little break to let you get through the Silly Season that is recruiting. We’ll come back sometime around spring practice or if there is news that we need to kick around.
As I have traveled around the country a lot of people have asked me if this was the wildest football season I’ve ever been through. I’ve always said yes. And I can prove it. During the 2007 college football season:
**—I went to Lexington, Ky., three times to watch college football and saw three great games.
**—I saw Georgia wear black jerseys, which evoked an emotional reaction I haven’t seen since Herschel.
**—I saw a 7-6 team (Alabama) almost beat the national champions (LSU).
**—I saw Auburn kicker Wes Bryum handle the pressure to make a field goal twice to win at Florida.
**—I saw Kentucky beat the No. 1 team in the nation (LSU) in triple overtime.
**—I sat in a press box full of Florida writers and saw them smile when Ron Zook, the former Gators’ coach, led his Illinois team to an upset of No. 1 Ohio State. Who said sports writers don’t have a heart?
**—I saw Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, whose tenure seemed in peril after a horrible loss to Alabama (41-17), survive four SEC East elimination games against South Carolina (27-24 OT), Arkansas (34-13), Vanderbilt (25-24), and Kentucky (52-50) to reach the SEC championship game. Say what you want about Fulmer, but he can coach with his back to the wall.
**—I jumped on a plane to Fayetteville, Ark., to chase Bobby Petrino, whose presence will certainly add some flavor to the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin this May.
**—I saw LSU begin Dec. 1 ranked No. 7 in the BCS and by midnight the Tigers were headed to the BCS championship game.
**—I saw Hawaii and its fans enjoy the greatest football moment in school history (Sugar) . Today the coach (June Jones) is at SMU and the athletics director (Herman Frazier) has been fired.
**—And I saw the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans and the unspeakable devastation that STILL exists some 27 months after Katrina hit. That put the rest of this stuff in its proper perspective.
Thanks for your support and your input, which made it a season to remember. I appreciate it.
TB
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By 08 Sugarbowl Beatdown
January 11, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
What a year!!
By Lloyd
January 11, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Tony, Thanks for your updates every day. I have throughly enjoyed your insights. Keep up the good work.
Lloyd
By Josh
January 11, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
The AJC may not have many good writers, but they have the best college football writer in the nation. TB, you’re a class guy and thanks for the hard work this season. See you in 2008.
By mcdawg
January 11, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this
its going to be a long hot summer-cheers to a job well-done!
By joe
January 11, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
Thank the Lord…UGA fans will not have this outlet for a while to gripe about how they didn’t get a shot at the NC and how they will steamroll over everyone in the SEC next year because of it…
By TDone
January 11, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
Tony,
Did you see anything in the ACC? If not, then change your name to Mr. SEC College Football.
And they say the AJC is not bias…
By Jumbo
January 11, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
I’m a LSU season ticket holder and long-time Georgia resident. I always enjoy your articles Tony. You are not always right(but who is) but you certainly keep fans interested. There is no sport better than college football and there is nothing like SEC football.
By Dannyboy
January 11, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Thanks, Tony! You said more, and gave as much insight into the game we love so dearly everyday than the majority of the writers that write a feature article once a week…all of this in your “blog”! Enjoy your much deserved time off. Can’t wait until you wet our appetites again with your daily gems. ‘Till next season.
By GeoffDawg
January 11, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
Don’t blame Tony TDone. I think most people forgot the ACC played football this year.
By smitty
January 11, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
There wasn’t anything to see in the ACC anyway…
By reservoirDAWG
January 11, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
A fantastic season of football. I’m looking forward to next year when as Joe states, the DAWGS steamroll everyone in their path. GO DAWGS
By JDW
January 11, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the good stuff Tony. BTW could you take TM with you on vacation and leave him there.
By Joe Mac
January 11, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
MY GOD! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO UNTIL AUGUST?
By Football Fan
January 11, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
Did the ACC play football in 2007, or just show up?
By TDone
January 11, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
Folks, it does not matter. Not everyone is an SEC fan.
Sort of like are there any Republicans running for President this year. If so, how would you know it?
By jabster
January 11, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with Smitty (and I have had GT season tix for 14 years). Nothing doing in the ACC this year except for a QB the Falcons might ought to consider (Matt Ryan).
Duke stank, UNC stank, Miami stank, UVA had a breakout year but only by UVA standards, GT underachieved, VT underachieved, Clemson underachieved, BC couldn’t close the deal, NCSU stank, Maryland stank, F$U underachieved, and Wake had their expected letdown.
GT “won’t” beat UGA next year except under the condition of “any team can upset any other team on any given day”. But we may do better in the ACC, considering how crappy everyone else will still be.
When your biggest threats are a flukey UVA we play at home, Wake (not on our sked for ‘08), a depleted BC, a perpetually underachieving Clemson (that we play in 70 Degrees and Sunny Valley), and a shark-jumping F$U, it’s looking like the ACC Coastal will be decided when GT visits Blacksburg.
That’s a) not a compliment for GT and 2) assuming GT shows up for the rest of the sked and 3) assuming the team gels quickly under CPJ.
By George G.
January 11, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
WAR EAGLE
By Down on the bayou
January 11, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
What do you mean seeing hurricane damage in New Orleans puts the 2007 season in its proper perspective? Are the two even related?
By AUtiger
January 11, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
Keep up the great work Tony! It was pleasure reading your column during the season and look forward to reading it again next fall.
By UGA99
January 11, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
I know what you mean, Down on the Bayou. Here are some more “relevant” thoughts: -Seeing the Katrina damage puts my choice about what to wear on my date tonight in perspective. -Seeing Katrina damage puts in perspective what color car to buy. -Seeing Katrina damage puts in perspective how much my head hurts. Tony, it was a good football season but leave the “this puts everything in perspective” banalities out of your writing.
By AUtiger
January 11, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Down on the bayou,
I think what Tony meant is College Football is just a sport and the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans are far more important.
By Matt
January 11, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Seriously, IT’S A GAME, people.
By LargeOrange
January 11, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
You also got to see your pups get spanked by the Vols 35- 14.
You are very observant ACC fan. He didn’t write anything on your conference because there wasn’t anything positive to write on it.
By Down on the bayou
January 11, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
AUtiger (and Tony), College football is fun and exciting. A hurricane results in death and destruction. I think we can all agree on which is more serious, and thus there’s no need for “perspective.”
By GeoffDawg
January 11, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
I agree that the rebuilding efforts are more important than football but I think we’ve covered it enough for a football column. Lot of things are more important than football (war against terrorism, finding a cure for cancer, the federal reserve rate, etc…) but they don’t conitinuously belong in the football section of this site. When I want to read about those things, I’ll go to the front page, metro section, or wherever it’s appropriate. Barring all that however, I think Tony is an excellent football columnist 90% of the time and I look forward to reading his articles next season.
By nadlicker
January 11, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
Gez Tony live a little. There are games to watch other than in the SEC. You are such a homer.
By Football Fan
January 11, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
TDone… he didn’t see anything in the ACC because there was nothing to see. Miami lost 41-0 to an average Virginia team, Va. Tech lost to W.Virginia, who lost to Pitt. GT… do I have to say thing else. Duke and UNC…Im glad its basketball season. Come on… you guys need to realize that the ACC is a basketball conference, always was and always will be. So, no he didn’t see anything in the ACC.
By Quincy C.
January 11, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
You Saw LSU win its 4th SEC WEST Championship…3rd SEC Championship…and 2nd BCS National Championship within the last 7 years…. so much for the USC Trojan dynasty….
By TinkerOwens
January 11, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
I’d like to ask Tony if he had any end-of-season comments on the once-proud Oklahoma Sooners, but it does seem like he’s a bit SEC skewed. I realize that we are in the middle of SEC country, but you can’t call bill yourself as “Mr. College Football” unless you have some knowledge of at least some of the other 100+ programs. By the way, I didn’t find the season to be incredibly extraordinary. It sort of reminded me of 1984 (BYU) and 1990 (GT and Colorado), when the nat’l champs sort of won by default. (Sorry, Tech people, but there haven’t been too many champs named after they played in a minor bowl against a .500 opponent.)
By Hoopie1
January 11, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Where are the dawg fans gonna post their whiny, self adulating blogs? This is apparently the only site available and they have to share it with GT and numerous SEC and ACC fans. Doesn’t say much for a “premier” program. BTW dawg fans, if there is a dawg blog site… go there and keep your self absorbed comments off here. This is the Atlanta paper(regional football captial)….not Athens.
By jabster
January 11, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Football Fan wrote:
“Come on… you guys need to realize that the ACC is a basketball conference, always was and always will be.”
Nope. Not that long ago the ACC won or nearly won the bowl-record competition several years in a row. We were also doing well with OOC games (including Tech over UGA and even Duke over Vandy—and don’t forget the CrimiNoles over the Gators).
That’s why everyone is so disgusted with the ACC RIGHT NOW. We can do better—but not while half the teams stink and the other half are just mailing it in.
Things will change. Things will get better for the ACC. That’s what being a Tech fan for 23 years has taught me.
By reality check
January 11, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
TurDone, Tony isn’t biased. The SEC is the best conference in the country and the ACC just isn’t very good.
Tony only said one thing in this article about Georgia and that was about the black jerseys. He could have said Georgia’s winding up number 2 in the country after starting the season with only 3 returning starters on defense and 3 freshmen starting on the offensive line is a top story, but he didn’t.
Just for those of us who don’t really follow the ACC, what are some accomplishments there you think are worthy of mention?
By oasis
January 11, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
I saw Tennessee drag Georgia up and down the field in Knoxville. There are still patches of silver from the seat of Bulldog britches on the turf at Neyland.
By scooter11
January 11, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
What’s your point, o-a*-is? Nobody denies the loss, but nobody can deny which team rallied past it and made it to a BCS bowl with a much stronger season finish, a dominant bowl result and MUCH higher ranking.
By birdman
January 11, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
i saw tennessee get torn up by LSU in atlanta.
By Osie
January 11, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
Tony, your the main reason I read the Atlanta paper on-line. Thanks, for your articles about the SEC. Look forward to a great 2008 fall pig skin season. Could we start a new spring second college football season. This way we could have two seasons of College Football during the year. Seems so depressing that it all over and all we now have is basketball.
By AltamahaDawg
January 11, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this
TDone, we feel your pain. We know how it is to be excluded. Our football team didnt get mentioned enough as national contenders. Your football team, well, the conference it plays (7th place) in actually, didn’t get mentioned in Tony Barnharts column. Well OK, its all relative to expectations, I understand, but still. We’re right there with ya.
By Tom Trojan
January 11, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
I enjoy your articles about the SEC. Being from California after being raised in Georgia, your articles are very revealing as to how people think in the SEC. Congrats on a great season at UGA and the SEC on the whole! I was cheering for UGA to come to The ROse Bowl, but doubted that happening from the git! Lot of folks out here are from the Big 10 and they enjoy The Rose Bowl too! Why not ask the SEC if UGA can come out and play USC! Better yet, ask USC to come to Atlanta or Athens and play! I went to the game when Fran Tarkenton and UGA came out years ago! Great game!! Yeah, it was a long time ago wasn’t it? Lets do it again, K?
By Dr Morpheus
January 11, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this
I, too, enjoyed Mr College Football this season. My 2007 Phil Fulmer memory- Watching television coverage of the low point of the Dawgs season, the thumping from his Vols, and busting out laughing at the sight of Philip and lookalike DC John Chavis, two big ol’ boys, jumping up and down and waving their arms with excitement. The season went straight uphill from there. Enjoy the win, UT, ‘cause payback is a…….
By Dr Morpheus
January 11, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
For clarification, see the following link:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0758212534
By Hilarious
January 11, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
Anyone see TN get whipped by Alabama and Florida?
By Dr Morpheus
January 11, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Additional info may be found here:
http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0306/ncfapfulmer_195.jpg
By Dr Morpheus
January 11, 2008 9:52 PM | Link to this
Disregard previous link and try this one:
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2004/writers/stewartmandel/07/27/mailbag/p1fulmer_si.jpg
My apologies for the error.
By Dr Morpheus
January 11, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
@%$*!^$$&%???!!!! Just do a Google image search on “fulmer chavis” and you’ll have lots of funny images of ol’ Philip to gawk at.
By Gen Neyland
January 11, 2008 11:41 PM | Link to this
Dr Morpheus
Didn’t I hear the same remarks about payback after 2006..? Well, it goes to show you never can tell…BUT, UGA gets the week off before the Vols roll into Athens in 2008, so you may be right…I’ll still take a wait and see pill Dr., because I know the Vols ain’t gonna roll over for anybody in 2008…Fact is, they’ll be better than 2007, mark my words…and they will love playing spoiler to the pre-season National Champs…
Congrats to all SEC teams. Top to bottom, we are football…Go Vols
By Gen Neyland
January 11, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
birdman
I too saw LSU squeak it out against UT at the Dome. Did we see the same game, or have you been into Dr. Morpheus’ little black bag..? BTW, did you notice all the underclassmen UT had on the field at the SECCG..? Amazing, wasn’t it..?
By ribdawg
January 12, 2008 4:40 AM | Link to this
To the comment questioning if anything was observed in regard to the ACC…all of America’s viewership observed a half empty stadium in Jacksonville! What a triumpant climax to the season that was 2007.
By bamadon
January 12, 2008 6:19 AM | Link to this
Hate to see that the college football season is over! I have enjoyed reading and laughing at some of the smack talk between rival schools fans! Tony, I listen to your radio show in Nashville every wednesday and read your blog everyday. Have fun the next few months and see you in the summer!! ROLL TIDE AND GO DAWGS
By Roger Searcy
January 12, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
For the record, the bowl records speak for themselves (by conference): Independents-0 wins, 1 loss, MAC 0 wins, 3 losses, Sunbelt 1 win, 0 losses, Wac 1 win, 3 losses, MWC 4 wins, 1 loss, Conf USA 2 wins, 4 losses, Pac 10 3 wins, 2 losses, Big 10 4wins, 5 losses, ACC 2 wins, 6 losses, Big East 3 wins, 2 losses, Big 12 5 wins, 3 losses, SEC 7 wins, 2 losses.
No brag, just fact. SEC rules!
By Eric1
January 12, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
Ho Ho Ho, Six in a row. War Eagle!!!
By steve
January 12, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
238 days ‘till kick off GO DAWGS!!!!!!!
By Brian
January 12, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
TDONE, What was Tony supposed to see in the ACC?
By Dr Morpheus
January 12, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Gen. Neyland
UT had an dramatic and successful season and Phil is to be commended. I also went to the SEC Championship and the thing that really made an impression was the day-glo orange pants the Vols were wearing. I had to wear Ray-Bans when I looked at ‘em.
By Comin' Down The Track
January 12, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
Fellow Dawgs, let us try to remember that no one has ever gotten a trophy for being preseason number one. Everyone is once again 0-0, and fantasy land notwithstanding (i.e. polls, standings, BCS, etc.) everyone has a clean slate. Let us now go forth and build our own fantasy land wherein all peoples of the college football landscape begin anew and have an even chance (yes, even Tech).
By Phil
January 12, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Just think, if it had not been for the BCS Brigham Young er I mean Hawaii would have played Ohio St. for the NC. (I do recall that back in the day BYU won the title by beating up on Idaho St. and other such Monsters)! Wow what a great half-time snore that would have been. Hey I’m a GA. fan, we would have beaten OSU also. But don’t blame the BCS, blame it on us losing to South Carolina or Tenn.
By GT
January 12, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
As we watch mid level basketball teams do well in college sport we are beginning to see parity in all levels of college sports. It is the combination of SEC level schools being more responsible to the quality of student athlete they are letting in the door, the pros taking the best early, scholarship limits and just more good athletes coming out of high school. There are great coaches in every conference as can be seen in the salaries even the worse coaches are commanding. College football is at the center of what is good about America. Pros have gotten too common with drunks fighting and cussing, players acting like thugs and PR glossing over the Las Vegas atmosphere we call our American pastime. A father for generations could spend quality time with his son or daughter on a Saturday afternoon watching future community success stories play football with some of those mature community success stories in the stand with them. A marching band instead of a video of loud cheap music, a fresh faced cheerleader as opposed to a saloon girl, no beer or booze sold at the concession stands, no talking during the stars and stripes. People raise hell but they are accountable, knowing it is the occasion not a way of life. Tech, Auburn and Georgia play in the same place they played 100 years ago and if you are a true southerner your heart is always there on a Saturday afternoon even if you are in Viet Nam or Iraq or wherever.
By EverGator
January 12, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
Thank YOU, for a great season as well!
By reality check
January 12, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
Good job this year as usual Tony
By savannah dawg
January 12, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
COME ON SEPTEMBER!!!
By D Gelbart
January 12, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
Hey ACC fans, you get a share on the GT blog. I think the ACC had nothing to talk about although.
Gen Neyland is an idiot. You UT fan forgot that you guys had an off week before UGA this year. Sorry Gen Neyland but, usually in college football the team that has the off week before playing a in-conference divisonal rival usually wins. Gen Neyland, give me one game that has a team having an off week before playing a rival that has lost in the past ten years of the SEC. UGA will be ready when they play UT and probably will crush them and South Carolina next year for revenge.
By Gen Neyland
January 13, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
D Gelbart
Thank you for the positive feedback. I don’t peruse these boards as often as I use to, thereby being late to respond. Gee whiz D, don’t have the info you request in front of me so I’ll bow to your overwhelming knowledge on the subject matter…Who..? As a truly great American from Louisana, Spot Check Billy, said and I’ll paraphrase, ” All I want in this life of mine is some good clean fun. All I want in this life and time is some hit and run…” Glad I caught your short attention span…
By Jon
January 13, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
That TN fan had to get his shot in. You’re gettin’ spanked by the dawgs in Athens next year and you know it. I hope I see you there. Next year Tony will be saying “I saw TN get its feelings hurt in Athens by 30.”
By Quincy C.
January 13, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
I saw LSU beat ut without its starting QB Flynn…and the best Defensive player in College Football…..Dorsey. I saw several thousand orange fans leaving the dome with their tails between their legs….nothing sucks like a big orange….Geaux Tigers
By Quincy C.
January 13, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
I saw LSU beat ut without its starting QB Flynn…and the best Defensive player in College Football…..Dorsey. I saw several thousand orange fans leaving the dome with their tails between their legs….nothing sucks like a big orange….Geaux Tigers
By Blackdawg
January 14, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
I saw my boy Mattie Stafford expose our secert spooning society started by the late great Wallace BUTTS.
Now the whole nation knows how our football team loves to spoon each other, and I wanted to keep it a secert, but I know he didn’t mean to.
By George
January 14, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
It is only right to end the year as any typical UGA fan would by saying,” next year is our year” until next year when the pups and their fans will be b*** and moaning about not making to the national championship game with three losses. Until then dawg fans do yourselfs and the rest of the state a favor and help out the environment and go shed your tears over lake lanier so we can help fill the lake back up!
By D Gelbart
January 14, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Never mind Gen Neyland I don’t need that information now. Gen Neyland I hate to say this but I have to agree with Jon that is about right.
George man that is a stupid post, who is Georgia going to lose to next year? LSU? Nope Georgia will beat them next year because LSU will be rebuilding next year. Tennessee? I don’t think so because Georgia has an off week before them next year. Please say Florida because that most likely will not happen because, their defense is terrible and neither teams have an off week before the Florida-Georgia game next year. Who else is their to lose to? Please say Arizona State, Auburn, and South Carolina because Georgia is not going to lose to any of those.
By Duluthtiger
January 14, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
If you were paid by CBS to go SEC games what Tony is, you would to. I think he provides good ACC coverage during the year.
By D Gelbart
January 14, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
Also George since you want to help out the environment since the body is about 70 percent water why not donate your pathetic existance to Lake Lanier to fill the lake back up.
By Gen Neyland
January 15, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this
D Gelbart
To agree with Jon tells me alot about you…D Gelbart, you are what we regulars generally ignore. We like friendly banter and…If you want UGA Rah-Rah, by a dam ticket to Neyland South…
Quincy C.
CC Gelbart’s note back atcha..and BTW, Dorsey did play in the SECCG..foo…IT’S GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL
By Quincy C.
January 15, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
With 2 National Championships in the past 5 years….looks like LSU reloads instead of rebuilds….be careful
By Quincy C.
January 15, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
With 2 National Championships in the past 5 years….looks like LSU reloads instead of rebuilds….be careful
By george
January 15, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
d gelbert one of the most comical posts I have ever read. The pups will have two losses by OCT 1st. If you are so confiednt the pups will go undefeated next year I will give you 100 to 1 odds I am serious. If you are intersted let me know and I will give you my number to contact me . However much you want to wager.
By reality check
January 15, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
george, if I thought you could cover your bet I would say sign me up for $1000. Even if I lost $1000 is peanuts to me.
If Georgia doesn’t lose two games - and I don’t believe they will lose any before October - you would owe me $100,000. I can’t believe anybody stupid enough to make that bet could cover it.
I would require a responsible party hold the money. If you can come up with your end, let’s do it!
By JamesD
January 15, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
I’m in for 1k also George. Post the number.
By The Deeb Plan
January 15, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
I have a plan for playoffs in the top division of college football. Will you please do something to make it happen?
The benefits of the plan I explain below are clear. Every year a legitimate national champion would emerge. The length of the season would be practical. Teams from all conferences would have a chance to be a national champion. Every game would matter because seeding in the playoffs depends on each team’s record or ranking. Finally, in addition to the playoffs, traditional bowl games will still be played.
Here is how we do it:
First, divide all schools that wish to have a chance at the national championship into 12-13 team conferences. There would be 10 conferences. Divide each conference into 6-7 team divisions. Second, play an 11 game regular season in which each team plays a “round-robin” in their conference division and an assortment of non-conference games.
Third, the winners of each division play a conference championship game at the end of the regular season.
Fourth, the conference champions and two wild card teams would play an NFL-style 12-team single elimination playoff. The teams would be seeded either according to ranking in the AP poll or according to their overall win/loss record. The top four teams would have a first-round bye. The wild-card teams would be the top-ranked teams that didn’t win their conferences. The national champion could be determined in four rounds of games. The most games that any team would play in the season would be 16, which is nearly the same number of games that the champion of the NCAA Football Championship Division must play. If Appalachian State can do it, why can’t Michigan?
Meanwhile, all of the teams that are not included in the playoffs participate in the traditional bowl season.
Please consider my proposal. College football needs this! Thank you.
By D Gelbart
January 15, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
George are you serious? Hmm, lets look at the schedule before October 1st: Georgia Southern Central Michigan South Carolina Arizona State Alabama Okay first two are automatic wins for the Dawgs. South Carolina is a big blowout win for the dawgs because UGA is mad at Steve Spurrier. UGA will probably smack Arizona State big in Tempe,AZ if they play like they did against Southern Cal. Alabama will be pretty easy contending on the home field. I’m not placing a wager on it. None of the teams above will beat UGA except under the condition of a team can upset any other team on any given Saturday.
By reality check
January 16, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
george? Where are you big mouth?
You have two takers if you can come up with the resources to hold up your end.
By m
January 22, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
And you didn’t even mention the greatest single event of the entire season…the FIRING OF THE WORST COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH IN HISTORY….CHAN GAILEY. Our gain is the KC Chiefs loss. HALLEEEEELOOOOOOYEAH!!!!
By Curtis Juma
January 24, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
Good Day Atlanta -
Writing from Seattle as a UW Husky fan. We have been in search for a Defensive Coordinator for some time now and heard recently that your old D.C. at GT, Jon Tenuta, was possibly coming here. Is there any truth or basis for this rumor? Thanks - A Fellow Football Fan
By Curtis Juma
January 24, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
Good Morning Atlanta’
I am writing from Seattle as a UW Husky fan. We have been searching for a new defensive Coordinator for some time now and have heard rumblings that your old D.C. at GT, Jon Tenuta, might be coming to the UW. Is there any validation to this rumor? Thanks - A Fellow Football Fan
By Curtis Juma
January 24, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
Good Morning Atlanta’
I am writing from Seattle as a UW Husky fan. We have been searching for a new Defensive Coordinator for some time now and have heard rumblings that your old D.C. at GT, Jon Tenuta, might be coming to the UW. Is there any validation to this rumor? Thanks - A Fellow Football Fan
By Curtis Juma
January 24, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Sorry for the double post, didn’t realize the delay - Seattle.
By Hoopie1
January 24, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
Chris, It’s hard to say. Tenuta is a very good DC that is at a stage that many coordinators get picked for head coach. He has interviewed for several HC and DC positions. He is probably asking for big $$$ to remain a DC. JMO.
By Curtis Juma
January 25, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
From what we’re hearing up here in Seattle today is that it’s one of the other Defensive Coordinators’s from your area - Ed Donatell - that has been hired as the new D.C. at the UW.
I know he has some old UW ties with Jim Mora, but not much else. What kind of a job did he do for your Atlanta Falcons? Thanks