Sports Columnists

By Doug

January 3, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Finally Mark Bradley writes an article about college football that makes sense. The Rose Bowl is always the fly in the Punch Bowl, UGA and USC would have been a great game. It’s amazing how this country elects a President and chooses a National Champion in college football.

By Scott

January 3, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

First!

Go Dawgs!!

By Skydawg

January 3, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

I agree 100% Mark. The funny thing is, I feel another upset coming tonight in the Orange bowl. Call me crazy, but I feel Kansas may pull one out of their rear-ends.

By BirdMahn

January 3, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

The BCS is run by the influence of the talking heads at ESPN. What a crock of crap! LSU gets 3 chances to win the national championship this year? Bring us a real playoff!!!

By Dave

January 3, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

The BCS is a farce designed only to preserve the Bowl System. A playoff system can preserve the bowls by making the lower tier bowls as the first round of playoffs, the second tier bowls the second round, and so on. The National Championship Game would be rotated within what is now the BCS bowls. You could even have a consolation bracket with what remained of the BCS bowls to decide who is 3, 4, 5, etc. You don’t think that there is maybe 3 TIMES the money to be made in that format than what is now made? You think that the fans WOULDN’T go to the games if they were done like that? Yeah, like they don’t do it in every other sport, both pro and collegiate. Someone obviously has pics of someone else’s wife. That’s the only reason I can think of to continue with the current set up.

By SPectrumsp

January 3, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Mark…

Home run for an article (I’m past football, now getting ready for Spring Training!)…

I read the other day that the Sugar wouldn’t release UGA to plan in the ROse…Mark, it there any validity in that?

By JB

January 3, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Football people aren’t calling the shots, TV and the money people are. what a waste this year. What coulda shoulda woulda !!!!!!!!!!!!!Not going to happen. I don’t think Most college Presidents will support any kind of extended season. I think we need TWO polls. One East of the Mississippi and one to the West. Then let the two number one’s play for the title. All , and I mean all media people want USC in the game every year. Ask Auburn. The powerful Southern Schools don’t have a chance. I have no idea why they were hell bent on LSU this year ? I promise you, if USC and Ohio St. and Georgia are all 12-0 next year, The Dawgs will be left out, and That’s after beating Alabama, Tenn, Arizonia St.,LSU,Auburn and Fla. Ohio ST. will have beaten basically NO ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Ty

January 3, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

I think most people want to know and see who the best team is. Bowls will not prove it because they are only interested in themselves and not college football.

We need a committee to select the bowl match ups and then take four teams from those games and have a Final Four. No telling how much money you could sell these three games for to cities, sponsors and television. It would be a lot more than bowls.

Why a committee? It works pretty well for basketball. The clowns on ESPN would have little to no influence because we would no longer have to deal with incompetent writers who are voters. Teams would be working on their strength of schedule(SOS). Ohio State is a #1 seed with about the 50th best SOS. How many times did you hear the NCAA committee give a #1 seed to a basketball team for having a lousy schedule?

By Rick

January 3, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

Mark, do you and Terrence ever hash this out over donuts? That’d be a pay per view dual worth watching!

By Phildo

January 3, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

The phony baloney BCS does it yet again. Unbelievable. Here’s the answer.
8 top final BCS poll teams to play it off Quarter-finals at host school (screw the bowls) Losing 4 teams still eligible for other bowls Semi-finals at 2 bowl sites submitting highest bids to NCAA Final at bowl site submitting highest separate bid to NCAA All other bowls still played for also-rans. This puts more money in the school, NCAA, and bowl pockets, and it eliminates the never ending drama with the current system. Win-win-win situation

By dawgman

January 3, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

What a shame for Missouri to take home $1 million from the Cotton Bowl while Hawaii and Illinois take home $8 million from BCS “appearances” and I use that term with intent. Do you suppose Fox noticed the ratings in the fourth quarter of the Rose or Sugar bowls? THEY are who can change the system.

By Dawgcrzy

January 3, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

We all talk about a playoff,but what is it going to take to get one?

By Wood Dawg

January 3, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

Good article, Mark. The whole point of team sports is to compete against other teams to determine who the better team is on that particular day. That’s why Georgia has no beef with the fact that they didn’t play for the SEC title this year. They clearly had their chance to prove it on the field, and just weren’t able to get it done this year. Can you imagine the excitement/hype/advertising prices that an 8, 16, or even 32-team tournament would produce at the end of each season? Can you imagine how many more opportunities Lee Corso would have to make the wrong picks? It would be incredible! I hope I live long enough to see it.

By Russ

January 3, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

College football is a joke. If you like following sports where the champion isn’t determined on the field, but rather by people voting how good they think a team performs, you must also be a huge figure skating fan.

By ol'sport

January 3, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

I think “Dave” is on to something that could be worked with. That way, the lesser bowls still exist and maybe even benefit tremendously! His idea certainly makes for thought. Someone has to take the ball and run with it that has some influence, though. We’ll see if anything happens.

By BigDawgFan

January 3, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

Great column, Mark, unlike your compatriot’s joke column. Dawgs will be BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD next year !

By Richard

January 3, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

Of course, Georgia could always try and schedule a series with Southern California. Sadly, we all know that will never happen. Georgia doesn’t want to give up one of its guaranteed cupcake home games for a potential loss, even if it is potentially classic matchup. And Dawg fan, don’t argue about how tough the SEC is and that you lose a game every year to the Cocktail party. You’re right on both accounts. The issue here is why do you bring in Troy and Georgia Southern when you’ve got a chance to play a regular season game in the Rose Bowl and have practically every college football fan (and recruit) tuned in to watch it?

By Mark Kelly

January 3, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

The only way to correct this mess is to create a playoff system. Every other sport in every division has a national playoff system. I know the host cities of the bowl games want the revenue, but that can be coordinated for lower tier teams that don’t make the playoffs.

But really, other than the most die-hard fans, who wants to see two 6-6 teams playing for the chance to avoid a losing season?

Who other than crazies want to go to a bowl game after a 7-5 program fires its coach?

And who really cares when a 6-6 ACC team travels across the country to play a game in San Francisco and ends up with a losing record (and they go broke in the process)?

The 12 game season is financial slight of hand agreed to so athletic directors can add some more 0000s to their football ledgers. By allowing games against 1-AA (or whatever subdivision they call it now) to count for bowl participation, the NCAA has cheapened the product.

Add a playoff — 8 or 16 teams — and Division I football will finally have a champion decided on the field and the product will be greatly enhanced.

Get it done!

By BufordBuzzard

January 3, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! who cares

By The Voice of Reason

January 3, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Note to JB. Both OSU and USC cannot be 12 and 0 next year because they play each other in the regular season. If the winner of that game goes 12 and 0, UGA will not be No. 1. Arizona State is a good start but it ain’t USC or OSU.

By STRETCH

January 3, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

THEY DO IT IN HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR COLLEGE, DIVISION 1-AA, AND THE NFL…SO WHY NOT DIV 1???!!! HAVE THE DANG PLAYOFFS AND STOP WITH THESE BORING GAMES.

AND STOP WITH ALL THE SPONSERSHIP CRAP, I MEAN….WHO CARES ABOUT A “TOSTITOS” ANYWAY! AND WHAT THE HECK IS A “POINSEITTA” BOWL???? I REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN EVERY BOWL WAS EASY TO RECOGNIZE. IT WAS JUST THE SUGAR, GATOR, ORANGE, FIESTA, COTTON, ETC…NOW ITS TOO MUCH ECONOMICS AND MONEY HUNGRY COORPERATE GOULS IN FOOTBALL, AND IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT THAT!

By T

January 3, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

* Rarely agree with you, but do today.. this is the first year in my life that I have not made watching bowl games a priority… horrible matchups and late start times have made the less important this year. I am already pining for next fall*

By War Eagle

January 3, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Hey Mark, you are still p*because you got a non-BCS bowl game coverage and you screwed it up (Chick Fil A).Have you ever seen teams have bad days,ex: UGA-Tenn,Bama-MonroeLA, WVA-Pitt?. Hawaii was poor selection, WVA and USC had good days, Hawaii was a poor selection. Final poll will be Ohio State-LSU winner #1, USC #2, WVA #3, UGA #4. The dawgs got a loose cannon with Hawaii selection, will hurt them in the final poll.I believe 10 teams in SEC would beat Hawaii.

By Klesko

January 3, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

Bradley, you are not bright enough to be writing for a major newspaper, even if it is the AJC. The BCS is fine. A few blowouts does nothing to support your argument. Are there not blowouts in the NCAA Basketball tournament? Did Buford not beat Lovett 50-0 in the state football finals. The BCS and the bowl system is what makes the regular season in college football so much fun to watch. Don’t break up a good thing because you are not smart enough to see what is going on. College football is fine the way it is.

By Todd

January 3, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

Limit the schedules to 10, but no more that 11 games and ahve all games completed by the last weekend in November [High Schools do it]. Take the top 8 from the poll, that way you will/SHOULD have at least 5 of the top 10 teams. Bracket and let them play. Have corporate sponsors with revenue going to the bracket teams on an escelating increase all the way to the final game. Leave the current bowl games in tact for the teams not in the top 8. That way the scools get their money. And bracket teams get their money as well. Enough said.

By BigP

January 3, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

The original purpose of the Rose, Orange, Cotton, Sugar, Tangerine, Sun, Gator and even PEACH bowls were to bring tourists to a city and to promote a worthy charity. From a football view they also allowed matchups that were not possible most regular seasons. All still great reasons for bowls games, plus reward kids for having a “winning season”.

Every bowl created since about 1970 was about the motivation to make money and copy the original idea until it’s just morphed into a ugly duckling. You simply can’t “undo” that much history in a few years. It will take 10-20 more years to get the bowl system in line with a playoff system. We have actually come a long way, but until you lower the impact of “voting” on teams and raise the impact of head to head competition it will continue to be highly controversial and political.

By Dave

January 3, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

Klesko, you are an idiot and obviously NOT a fan of college football. In a recent poll, over 80% of college football fans demanded a playoff. It’s the only sport, outside of the Olympics, where the champion is decided in a final opinion poll and not on the field of play. Go back to watching ice skating, Dancing with the Stars and some other meaningless revenue. The overwhelming majority of fans think the BCS/Bowl Selection Committee, in fact, are gutting college football. A true champion is dicided on the field, not a laptop.

By July Jones

January 3, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Welcome to the world of the obvious Mark. The Bowl System worked 90 years ago. So did the abacus and the horse and buggy. National Champs ought to be won on the field, not through a voting process - computer based or otherwise.

How long have you been a sports writer?

By hop

January 3, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

maybe, the TV people will get tired with recent bowl tv ratings off 20-25% from last year.

then and only then will the system change.

college presidents will do nothing until the bowl pay-outs start dropping “big time”due to low TV ratings.

that will happen soon because people are finally getting bored by watching all the bowl miss-matches. the bowl system is a total joke and the tv ratings are reflecting the rejection by the lack of viewing audience.

By July Jones

January 3, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

Ignore Klesko. He’s obviously a UGA fan that loves the Bowl System because it gives him a way to argue why UGA should be declared national champion every year.

After all, they did beat the only undefeated team in College Football -Hawaii. They must be the best.

By Rog

January 3, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

War Eagle is right. Hawaii was a poor choice. Looks as though the BCS wanted to be sure of a Ga. win. They couldn’t beat Southern Cal. Ohio State or L.S.U.

By RT

January 3, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

BCS is not the problem No bowl system or playoff system will work as long as there are so many conferences that play at different levels. Pro sports playoffs work because there is at least some level of parity at that level. Not so in the NCAA. I’d like to see a rule that if you want to play in the BCS, ALL your non-conference games but one MUST be against top 20 opponents from the previous year. If you play a bunch of cream puffs, you don’t qualify.

By Dave

January 3, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

Can you imagine the euphoria, excitement and madness of a college playoff? That’s not even including the king’s ransom that anyone connected to the event would be making. It would make March Madness seem like a summer picnic.

By Jim

January 3, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

I dare say that if there were a play off system there would possibly be less, not more, interest in college football. Who remembers the basket ball champ three years ago besides the fans of whatever school that was. Chances are there are more people that remember Auburn going 13 and 0 and not playing for the championship. The way it is now football fans have something to b*** and moan about year round. The BCS may not be answer but at least we don’t have a Bear Bryant picking his bowl and everybody scrambling for what’s left. Sic em dawgs.

By Joe Davis

January 3, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

Not only does the flaw show up in the game results but the math doesn’t even add up. Take the three BCS rankings of #5 GA and #3 VT at face value.

Poll GA VT Harris 4 5 Coaches 4 6 Computer 6.25 3.75 Avg 5.75 5.92

Anyone want to explain how ‘fuzzy’ math changed a +1/4 point to a -2.0 point? Mark you are right, what a messed up system.

By Lindsey Scott

January 3, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

the BCS is a money pit - that’s all it is.

I’d have loved to have seen West Virginia kick the leg-humpers up and down the field like they did to OU.

Oh well…gotta hate it.

By Buzz

January 3, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

How IMPORTANT is going to a bowl game when 6 teams FIRED their coach for going to a bowl…. Most of these crappy bowls are a major joke. PLAYOFF system is a must, 8 teams, 6 from the major conference winners and 2 at large picks. Quit rewarding below average or average teams bowl bids. All the bowls games are fun to watch but only because we as fans will watch just about anything, give us quality!!!

By War Eagle

January 3, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

This like reading the Auburn 2004, blogs on BCS selections again, only school different(UGA). Auburn deserved to play for NC,12-0, UGA not this year, probably 2-4 teams better this year., but next year a real possibility if they can beat SC at Columbia, Auburn at Auburn and LSU at Baton Rouge. Of course Auburn is like a home game for the dawgs.

By Howard

January 3, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Mark…millions out there share your frustration and disgust with this convoluted, dynsfunctional, ridiculous, and totally inept method of producing a national champion in Division I. I almost wonder if there couldn’t be a class action lawsuit against the NCAA and the BCS…why? Coaches and therefore their schools promise incoming recuits they will have a chance to compete for a national title…that is pure and simple B.S.! I read in a recent Sports Ill. article,which by the way is a magazine which also hates the BCS as much as anyone, placing the blame for the BCS remaining in its silly form squarely on the Rose Bowl and its officials. And after watching USC plunder Ron “Gadzook” and his Illinois team, I think it’s right. This BCS continues to thrive because: 1)college presidents love it because their team might get lucky…not skillful…and get to the title game or one of the big payout BCS bowls (witness what Hawaii and Illinois did!) 2) athletic directors love it because of reason #1, 3)conference commissioners love it because of reason #1, 4) many coaches love it because they know they’re not good enough to survive a four or eight team playoff system and can luck out through the whims of voters…witness what “Lobbying” Les Miles pulled off and what Jim Tressel and Ohio State did, 5)many coaches also love it because they can always fall back and blame the BCS if their teams blows big games during the season which keeps them out of the BCS title game…witness what Mark Richt and UGA are doing…think how embarassing it would be for a coach to blow it in an actual BCS tournament…say in the semifinals or the finals?? Couldn’t whine or postulate about what should or could have been. 6)the electronic media…specifically the TV talking heads love the BCS pure and simple and will say nary a word against it…gives them plenty of stories to run. 7) the fans like me and you keep watching this garbage and therefore the ratings are up and ad revenues are up and therefore everyone stays happy and has no incentive to have a playoff system 8)the bowls out there don’t want it because it would diminish from their games…which is BS. People love football and would still watch all these bowls…anything is better than ice skating or NBA basketball or world’s strongest man junk. The BCS will be here forever…unfortunately unless there is a lawsuit against it or the Congress steps in?? The public is totally screwed!!!

By Fan

January 3, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

No doubt the BCS is messed up. But sorry, UGA, just because you finished strong doesn’t give you an automatic “in” to the BCS title game. This year’s “controversy” over who should be mnatched up doesn’t rival 2004-5 when Auburn was undefeated yet ignored. Be patient - your turn will come soon! The SEC is making a statement with its overall talent and is finally starting to get the credit it deserves nationally. Don’t make the whole conference look bad by whining about playing in the Superdome a week earlier than you think you deserve.

By Beating Dead Horse

January 3, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

So many observers have said that preservation of the current bowl system is about money.

Who can answer this? In the current system, there is ONE meaningful postseason game toward determining the national champion, and 30-odd meaningless games. In an eight-team playoff system, there would be SEVEN meaningful games and 30-odd meaningless games. Why is there more money to be had in the current scenario than in the playoff scenario? No sane person can reason that there is.

It’s not money. Something else is up. Maybe the earlier commenter is right…someone has serious incriminating pictures of someone else.

By Lawrence

January 3, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

There is still a chance that Georgia could claim a share of the national title. If Kansas beats Virginia Tech and LSU wins unimpressively over OSU, Georgia could win the Associated Press title. I’m hoping for LSU to win 6-3 in a no-touchtown game filled with fumbles, interceptions, and penalties.

By JD of ATL

January 3, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

Right On Target Mark. The BCS committee are total morons. A 75 IQ college fan could’ve seen this all coming down the way it has. For the record I watched the GA Game…I have and will boycott all other games. Hey Fans: Boycott the BCS and all the advertising money…send a message like the Dawgs sent.

By Fan

January 3, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

Next thing you know, Bama will want to claim a share of the title, too. After all, Bear used to be their coach - that’s all the reason they need.

By Bow Wow

January 3, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

Georgia wasn’t invited to the Rose Bowl because of their gangsta image and poor sportsmanship demonstrated during the last part of the season. Contrast Richt’s childish behavior with that of Pete Carroll. It is a good thing for Georgia that they didn’t play Southern Cal because the Dogs would have been humiliated on the field and on the sidelines.

By WhatDoYouGotLoren

January 3, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Remember, the BCS was concocted by the Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference because they couldn’t get a team ranked high enough to win a National Championship. The Michigan and Ohio State’s of the Big Ten will always have a national title shot becuase, aside from the ACC, their conference is, from top to bottom, the worst of the “BIG” conferences in the country!!!!

Michigan and Ohio State beat up on your conference patsies and play one important game in your schedule, against each other for the Big Ten title and the BCS title game.

Wonder why USC and Ohio State are always in the mix the past few years? They don’t play a conference title game.

By Really?

January 3, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Who do you guys think played a tougher schedule this year? USC or UGA!

I’ll give you a hint… out of the 13 games that USC played this year only 5 of those 13 teams finished the season with a .500 record or better.

Out of the 13 games that UGA played this year 10 of those 13 teams finished the season with a .500 record or better.

Any thoughts?

By awesome

January 3, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Until us fans get together and start boycotting games, there isn’t going to be a playoff system. Anyone with a half a brain knows a playoff system would be AWESOME. An institution as large as the AJC could coordinate it. We need to have a huge petition stating that we will boycott next year’s BCS championship game unless there is a playoff, have it delivered to the NCAA and then stick to it if we don’t get a playoff next year. Even if they start small (4 teams) with a plan to expand it over the years to 16 teams, that’s better than this crap we have to put up with every year.

Oh, and the argument that it waters down the regular season is a load of crap. How many seats have been left empty because of the conference championship games? Probably none. Get rid of the conference championship game, play 11 games, and then a 16 team playoff. The most any team will play is 15 games (only 2 teams). Everyone is playing 13 or 14 now. Like someone posted earlier, you can tie these games to bowl games and also have lower tier bowl games for teams that didn’t make the playoff.

Geeeees, it takes a little thought to make it work - but I’d bet those guys working for the NCAA all make over 6 digits - earn your freaking pay for once.

One final point - ask any I-AA team’s fans if they would like to switch from their playoff system to the BCS system and watch them almost kill you. Unless you have experienced the playoffs (like watching GSU win it all 6 times), you can’t appreciate how great it is. In 22 years of watching GSU, I have never heard any team complain after the season that they were the real No. 1 team - NEVER!!

GATA!!

By Rog

January 3, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

Lawrence, get real. Some Georgia fans will figure any way for the dogs to get to the top. As someone said earlier, schedule some real teams instead of pushovers. And to JD, the DAWGS didn’t send a message. The game was a mismatch from the beginning.

By Sick college footbal fan

January 3, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

It’s hardly enjoyable to watch games any more. Knowing all season long that the finale will be the BCS - it leaves one despressed about the whole season and the whole system. It’s not fun and entertaining, as some would say, to debate all this under the current system, it’s frustrating to the real fan. A playoff with 16 teams would still have it’s flaws, as they would be selected through the current subjective system of polls, but contrary to what others say, teams 17, 18, 19, etc., would only have a VERY MINOR gripe. It would be far superior to what we have today. If you’re an intelligent person, this is a no-brainer; whereas anyone who says we need to playoff is an absolute idiot.

By Braves Fan 79

January 3, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

I refuse to watch any more of these crap bowls and i bet the championship game will be a blowout as well! Nothing will ever change unless the fans backlash!
Stop supporting this JOKE of a sport and things will change!
On 2 a REAL sport…college basketball!!
Go GT…even thou we dont have a pt guard…

By USC Lost to Stanford

January 3, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

Bow Wow- I assume you didn’t watch all the THUGS from USC dancing all over the field like a bunch of idiots. It went well with the 6 personal fouls during the game.

By DisneyDawg

January 3, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

War Eagle, I don’t dispute your assertion about the 2004 season, but if ever there was a year that cried for the best 2 teams at the end of the season, this was it. And 2-4 teams better than UGA at season’s end? You’re in a small minority who believes that.

By Fan

January 3, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

Until this year, UGA has always been my second-favorite SEC team. But the show of in-your-face attitude by RICHT when he instructed his players to violate a rule and celebrate to the point of penalty made me sick to my stomach. There are better ways to motivate and pump up the players and the fans than to state it’s OK to break a rule as long as Coach says it’s OK. Georgia is a very talented team in its own right, they don’t need to party on the sidelines all during the game to stay motivated. Just think how good they might be if they paid attention to the play action instead???

By Virginia Dawg

January 3, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

I have a totally different problem with the current bowl system. Why do they schedule the major bowls on week nights starting at 8:30PM and lasting till 1:00am due to 3-5 ads playing every time there is a time out on the field or other break in the action. Besides irritating the viewers this must wreak havoc on the players having to wait that long between plays. Success in sports often depends on being in “rhythm”. Other than watching my own team (UGA)in the Sugar Bowl I doubt very seriously I will see more than one half of all the other games, including the BCS Championship. This has got to hurt viewership. Maybe that is why they have to show so many commercials because they can’t charge much for each individual one.

By Really?

January 3, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

Rog- you mean some real teams like USC plays? In case you didn’t get my point from earlier.

Out of the 13 games that USC played this year only 5 of those 13 teams finished the season with a .500 record or better.

Out of the 13 games that UGA played this year 10 of those 13 teams finished the season with a .500 record or better.

Should UGA look to get a tough schedule like USC has? I mean 5 out of 13 and they still managed to lose 2 games.

By awesome

January 3, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

If for no other reason, let’s have a playoff system because NOTHING else has worked!! Heck, we’ve tried everything else, why can’t a playoff get a chance? If it doesn’t work, what is lost?

By War Eagle

January 3, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

Dawgs, only way you got screwed is when you were not prepared for the Tenn. game, drop -passes in the SC game and played Hawaii.<<<. its not BCS>>> if record breaking upsets, especially #2 teams had not ocurred, dawgs(10-2)possible not in the top 10. As The Fan stated, strong finish does not put you in the NC game.Future is bright

By scope

January 3, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

I really think all this hostile energy against the BCS is a waste. Remember, it is wasteful to lose one’s mind!

Think about it, what does the BCS do? Tell us who deserves to play for the national championship, and its arguably done its best job this year. It also allocates the pool of teams for the BCS bowls to choose from, and only the bowl reps decide who goes. Its their fault if the bowl sux.

Even with a playoff, you’re going to have arguments about who gets into the playoff. To avoid, just make it the top eight ranked conference champions, no matter how bad they might be. Then let the bowls have their tie-ins and do what they want, except give them a limited pool of teams to choose based on ranking so that the higher ranked teams (computer polls only?) will play in the better bowls (ranked by prize$$ I guess).

There, I’ve solved it all! (bow)

By JD

January 3, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

The Rose Bowl got what it wanted. Not a competative game, but a chance to further promote USC. A blowout so that next year the polls will begin with USC at or near the top.

By Get Real

January 3, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

Bow Wow:

You have the balls to come on this blog and talk about image and USC in the same sentence?! Pete Carroll and USC may forfeit its wins and National Championship during the Reggie Bush era because of the Bush scandel that happened as Pete Carroll acquiesced.

And what gangast image are you talking about - dancing to Soulja Boy’s Crank Dat??!! My white, private school educated nephew in Savannah taught me that dance this summer. It’s a popular dance among kids today of all races and backgrounds. Get out of here with your racist comments.

And you have the balls to talk about USC on the feild. The same USC that lost to 4-8 Stanford. UGA never lost to a team that bad this year. AND you lost to an Oregon team that finished the season with THREE straight losses. Then you went on to beat a THREE loss Illinois team ranked lower than the the UNDEFEATED and higher ranked Hawaii team that Georgia beat in its bowl game.

A game between USC and UGA would be an equal match, not the embarassment and humiliation you talk about. However, if USC’s players acted like you, then Georgia would be much more likely to come out and whip the sh1t out of them. You are an idiot.

By jlpate

January 3, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Bradley, who made you an expert on college football. Most of the time you have no clue!! The system is what it is . Without money there are no games or opportunities for games. The system is very similar to the one that was there before the BCS was formed. Forget about it, there will not be a playoff system. Dream up ways to improve the current system and send your suggestions to those who can make it better. Quit B**G and do something productive for a change.

By I know!

January 3, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

Fan- not sure you have been watching football but there has been quite a few coaches that have told there teams to break rules this year which resulted in a penalty. How many caoches told there punter to take a delay of game penalty so the punter had more room to punt? Pretty sure every coach has told his players to break the rules before.

By Top Dawg

January 3, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

SOMEBODY START AN INTERNET PETITION TO BAND TOGETHER AND AGREE TO NOT WATCH ANY BOWLS NEXT YEAR (OR BOYCOTT SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS OF THE BOWL GAMES, ETC.) UNLESS SERIOUS TALKS BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT A PLAYOFF. THIS WHOLE THING IS ABOUT MONEY, AND SO LET’S HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS.

By Dave

January 3, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

They only way a playoff system would work would be a playoff matching conference champions. Such a system would not have included Georgia who was no better than third in the S.E.C. How come no one seems to ask why Tennessee didn’t represent the S.E.C. in the Sugar? Georgia is lucky they got a patsy game. Quit complaining.

By JDAWG

January 3, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

IF LSU pulls out a sloppy close win, UGA should be ranked #1 in the AP poll.

By Jim

January 3, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

I believe the answer to crowning a national champion is really quite simple. The Bowl system is your play off and there needs to be one added game. The problem as I see it is the matchups and naming the two teams to play for the championship before all the games are played. As the different Bowl games are set up for success in both money made and a pre-determined outcome is wrong within itself. If the Championship was decided buy pitting the top four teams and all teams were matched according to their ranking then we would have a clearer picture od who the best team really is. I would first suggest that teams start the year ranked where they finished the year before. Second the Bowl games would pit 1 vs 3, 5 vs 7, 9 vs 11—— and 2 vs 4, 6 vs 8, 10 vs 12—-. The winners of the 1 vs 3 and the 2 vs 4 games would play each other for the championship. The Bowls would bid for the games or rotate throughout the years. Would it be a perfect system; no, but there isn’t one. All teams would start out shooting for a top 4 position and when it’s all over the chips will fall as they may. It’s an idea, will it happen this way, must likely not. Why, too much money and politics involved. To the Dawgs congrats on the game. I’ve seen a lot of things that said that Hawaii was under rated and such, but I don’t believe it, no matter what conf. you’re in a 12-0 record doesn’t come easy. This game just showed how good we are and how bad we wanted to show everyone. Yes we did lose to South Carolina and got our clocks cleaned by TN. We can’t go back and change either so why worry about it. There isn’t anyone in the nation who can say we are the same team today we were then. Next year looks good.

By Top Dawg

January 3, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Dave: This is about doing the right thing year and year out, whether UGA makes the playoffs or not. This is not about UGA getting hosed this year.

By Fan

January 3, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

“Iknow!”: “Intentional delays” are strategic and happen all the time, not just for punts - it’s all about field position. Unsportsmanlike conduct is behavior, pure and simple. They would not have implemented the rule unless they felt that teams were overly celebrating. It’s an example of poor taste, no class, no manners, no civility. When Richt told his team to celebrate, he was encouraging and condoning a level of behavior that is going to be hard to rein back in (and it shows).

By trusty

January 3, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

First I will say UGA fans quit crying. You should not have been in the Sugar in the first place. I agree with Dave that it should have been Tenn.

Second, BCS is a joke. A true champion is not going to be crowned unitl the BCS goes away and a playoff system is put in similar to the FCS (1AA) has right now. But it is all about that $$ so I don’t see the BCS going anywhere.

By Ron

January 3, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

Dead on.

By jackson

January 3, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

We MUST have at least a 4 team playoff. 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3, then one more game. (6 or even 8 teams would be better for fans) The top 4 would be good enough and, only 1 extra game. Work out where they would play,like some neutral sites. All the players would like to know who is best, even in an abbreviated playoff. DO SOMETHING FOR GODS AND FANS SAKE. IT IS ENOUGH OF THIS BULL, well, you know what, SYSTEM.

By BCS is BS

January 3, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

We all know the BCS is here to stay, so let’s try to make it better. Here’s a start…Make all BCS conferences play a conf. champ. game. Yes OS and Mich fans that means adding Notre Dame and making 12 teams. If your conference does not play a champ. game you are ineligible for BCS consideration. Next, all teams must play out of conference games against other BCS conference schools. Again failure to comply eliminates that school from consideration. Finally, the BCS bowls will follow the final rankings to have 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 matchups..no exceptions. Just a thought!

By trusty

January 3, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

First, UGA fans stop crying. I agree with Dave you should have not been in the Sugar anyway.

Second, until the BCS goes away and a playoff system is put into place similar to the FCS (1AA) playoff system a true FBS Champion will not be crowned. It is all about that $$.

By XXXX

January 3, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

This is so simple that we should not even have to say it. Let all the mediocre teams play all the insignificant bowls as they do today. Now take the top 8 ranked teams. I can tell you that the top 8 would be available for one or two “extra” games. #8 and 1 play in the Orange, #2 and 7 play in the Sugar, # 3 and 6 play in the Rose, and #4 and 5 play in the Fiesta. Rotate these every year. The winning four play two games and the two winners of these two games play in a final game. So you now have 3 NEW BOWL GAMES which should interest all the money people. I defy anyone to tell me how this will make less money than the current stupid system.

By Fan is a baby!

January 3, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

Fan- You must be a fan of one of the teams we beat this year or you wouldn’t be crying about a celebration penalty. By the way Richt didn’t tell the whole team to celebrate just the players on the field. The team took it upon there own to rush the field. I am sure whatever loser team that you cheer for has never received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty before. Get over it! Everybody else has!

By thirsty

January 3, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

Ohio State, USC, UGA all for undeated next year…the dawgs will get left out.

This won’t happen, as OSU and USC play next year!

By thirsty

January 3, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

Ohio State, USC, UGA all for undeated next year…the dawgs will get left out.

This won’t happen, as OSU and USC play next year!

By Really?

January 3, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

Who do you guys think played a tougher schedule this year? USC or UGA!

I’ll give you a hint… out of the 13 games that USC played this year only 5 of those 13 teams finished the season with a .500 record or better.

Out of the 13 games that UGA played this year 10 of those 13 teams finished the season with a .500 record or better.

Any thoughts?

By Top Dawg

January 3, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

UT is not the school, the team or the fan base that UGA is. So, do NOT start whining now, hillbillies. You barely beat Wisconsin, and as for the future, with David Cutcliffe gone (again), you will slide back into mediocrity very soon.

By Me O My

January 3, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

If Jim, Jackson, XXXX, and others can figure out some logical formula to solve this STUPID BCS INSANITY to give Fans, Coaches, Players $$$$Mongers etc. some closure, then why and what is the REAL holdup? THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH. DO SOMETHING IN THIS OFFSEASON TO FIX THIS MESS!!!!!!!!

By Bob

January 3, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

Rog, You are a nut. Why for love of heaven would the BCS (whatever that mythical organization is anyway) want UGA to win or to lose? They proclaim their only intent is to crown the National Championship. That is why there isn’t even a BCS standing after the bowl games.

Congressional interference forced the issue for non-BCS conferences and once Hawaii made the top 12 they were REQUIRED to be invited…PERIOD. The Sugar happened to have last draw this year and everyone knew all along that if Hawaii climbed to 12, they would be New Orleans bound. UGA, LSU, Tennessee or whoever had zero control over that.

By the way, all those non-BCS AP writers thought pretty highly of Hawaii too, so don’t blame the BCS for that crap.

If the College Presidents insist on not having some sort of playoff, then at least lets modify this select process. End the Conference ties….each BCS conference should still get a slot, but not necessarily linked to any one bowl. Lets try to at least match up 3 vs 4 and 5 vs 6 etc. Make it mandatory that the top 10 teams in the poll of your choice get into the 5 BCS games UNLESS a BCS Conference Champ would be left out. A plus one would be a big help…not perfect, but a big help. But the Rose Bowl will absolutely NEVER give up their precious Big Ten (Eleven??) match up with the PAC Ten even if it meant Minnesota was playing Stanford. That will remain the biggest single hurdle to making something out of this mess.

By Bird Dawg

January 3, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

As much as I would love a playoff to decide the true #1 What would stop certain teams from sitting their first string for the final week like the pros do. I would not waste money to see 2nd and 3rd strings in the reg. season. I do like the thought of a committe to decide on a six team playoff,top two getting byes would make all teams fight from beggining to the end of the season

By BCS Slave

January 3, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

I agree that conference championships should be required in the playoff. But we still have a problem with the ranking system. The media and coaches are biased. We will never get a fair system if they rank teams. We need a committee made up of people who have no Div IA affiliations to rank teams. Teams should not even be ranked until conference championships. Then use the won-loss record, computer polls, SOS and head to head as criteria for ranking.

By Fab

January 3, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

UGA get over it. You’re not in the BCS hunt this year, so don’t get your drawers in a wad. “Fan is a baby!” - doesn’t matter who my team is. UGA’s team’s behavior at the FL game (and since then) was in poor taste by sportsmanlike standards. Yeah, most teams get them every so often, but when it does you usually see the coach chewing off the a** of the offending players instead of patting them on the back.

By BCS Slave

January 3, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

The media and coaches involvement in ranking teams makes them part of the BC$ mess. They have to go if we are to have any hope of integrity in the process. Those guys have too many conflicts of interest to be voting in the BC$. They make this a true beauty contest.

By R LM

January 3, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

I think that there is no doubt that USC did not want to play Georgia. The folks at the Rose Bowl were not about to have USC lose. They were not about to risk USC being number one. Let’s hope that LSU does not embarrass the SEC by losing to a team without a good schedule. They have been uneven at times and got in the BCS because of the lobbying of their coach from what I have heard.

By R LM

January 3, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

I think that there is no doubt that USC did not want to play Georgia. The folks at the Rose Bowl were not about to have USC lose. They were not about to risk USC being number one. Let’s hope that LSU does not embarrass the SEC by losing to a team without a good schedule. They have been uneven at times and got in the BCS because of the lobbying of their coach from what I have heard.

By Bob

January 3, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

I am not a USC basher. They have a tremendous tradition and one of the best overall programs in the history of college football. They also schedule out of conference better than anyone in the country. Period. It is not their fault that Nebraska and Notre Dame sucked so bad this year.

That being said, UGA played a much more difficult schedule this year than did USC. Counting the bowl schedule and opponents, USC played 5 teams with winning records (Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, ASU and Illinois). Eight of their opponents had LOSING records. UGA played 9 teams with winning records (Oklahoma State, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Troy, Auburn, Kentucky, Georgia Tech and Hawaii). They played 1 team at .500 (S. Carolina) and only three teams with losing records. Yeah UGA lost to S. Carolina and Tennessee, but that is nothing compared to losing to Stanford, a 41 point underdog. Georgia beat up on Western Carolina, while USC beat up on Idaho….pretty similar stuff there. BTW, a healthy USC scuffled to beat the 1-11 Idaho Vandals which just happened to be the last place team in Hawaii’s WAC. The Warriors beat Idaho by 4 touchdowns.

USC is an outstanding team and they might indeed beat the Dawgs, but lets not create mythical stuff here for the Men of Troy.

By bobbylee

January 3, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

USC already beat UGA once this year, how many times do you want to hear from Steve ?

By Bob

January 3, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Fab, Get over that celebration in the endzone for crying out loud. It was supposed to be only by the team on the field and got away from them because the players misunderstood. Lesson learned for Richt. That being said, some of us are getting sick and tired of hearing that whining.

Fact is that the single most unsportsmanlike event in that game was the cheap shot on Stafford. Nothing else even came close.

And did you see the Florida stunt in the Capital One bowl when they went to midfield to taunt the Michigan team. Reptiles are stupid creatures aren’t they? I mean, you are heavily favored and you decide to provide additional motivation by trying to embarass the Michigan team in their coach’s last game. That was much more classless than anything UGA ever did to them. Pathetic is much too nice and yeah, it really worked didn’t it?

By Bob

January 3, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

A GOOD START IS FOR US ALL TO NOT WATCH VA TECH & KANSAS TONIGHT. IF THE RATINGS FOR THE CRAP THEY DISH OUT TO US GO LOW ENOUGH, THEY’LL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

By braveswin

January 3, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

“fan” I’m pretty sure thats a typo.The letter you’re looking for is up and to the left of the “n”

By GT

January 3, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

A journalist complaining about this situation, especially Bradley, is too rich. Journalists are part of the reason this surreal system has not changed. They don’t want the system to change. As long as the championship is mythical, hot air sells. It’s an OJ trial every year with the writers, the television analysis, radio talk show pundits playing the Cochran part perfectly, defending whatever special interest group suits their pocketbook. I think Wake Forest scared them to death last year. Ohio State has one of the biggest alumni base in the country, let’s make them national champions and win favor from the masses, making ratings higher and making more money compromising. When OSU gets blown out by Florida pretend not to have said anything, and then load up for next year like this year never happened. Nine out of ten journalists once again pick OSU as the hands down winner. OSU fans turn in to ESPN, buy newspapers and in general make money for the party that strokes them. “Your children sure is pretty, give me fifty cents”. You would think journalist at a news conference would argue more among themselves, instead they all seem to go along with whatever question is asked like a pack of wolves. One guy asks a question another guy follows up on the first guys question like they all are the same. Maybe they are. If they ever start running the country like they do sports, we are all in trouble.

By brooksdawgs

January 3, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

These blogs are fun aren’t they.

I just love the people that talk about UGA being a bunch of thugs. Give it a rest people celebrating is part of football in today’s world. UGA does nothing different than any other program and allowing the players to celebrate within the rules is good for the players. Richt didn’t tell the whole team to go on the field in the UF game.

Tenn. people on the board saying you all should have been in the Sugar. Come on, no conf. champ. losing team has ever done that. Also what makes you think you deserved it over UGA other than beating us on an off day. Cal, UF and ALA destroyed you and we beat two of those teams.

To the talk of playoffs. If you talk playoffs we will almost have to elimanate the polls or at least not care about them as what happens in college basketball. The field would have to be 16 teams or more. You would have to take all conference champs in D1 just because what if Hawaii would have been good as the talking heads thought. Oh and there has to be a conf. championship games. After the conf. champs there would have to be some group as with basketball that determines the teams. Record, SOS and playing only BCS conf. scho