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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 15
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Playoffs and prognostications
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On some recent subjects of interest to the Bulldog Nation:
THE ADAMS PLAN: Did anyone ever seriously think Michael Adams’ eight-team playoff proposal was likely to get anywhere? Sure, a lot of us would love to see such a development, but it’s going to take more than one grandstanding university president trying to show up LSU on its coronation day to gain any traction for such a plan. (I thought it amusing and instructive that almost immediately after Adams, a former PR man, launched his suspiciously timed trial balloon, old nemesis Vince Dooley, who has a much better idea of what’s likely to actually happen in the NCAA, came out on the other side.) The previously offered “plus-one” idea favored by Dooley and many of the conference chiefs, with the four BCS bowls having the teams seeded 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3, seems to have the most chance of actually getting anywhere if they can figure out how to overcome the Rose Bowl’s intransigence. Here’s an idea: Let the Rose wallow in its Pac 10/Big 10 mediocrity, but drop it from the BCS. (It already has a separate TV deal anyway.) Replace the Rose in the BCS with the Peach-fil-A or Cotton or Capitol One and move ahead with the plus-one plan. Don’t you think the Pac 10 and Big 10 ultimately would fall in line? After all, if you were a Pac 10 or Big 10 team with a realistic shot at the BCS, would you rather play in the Rose for tradition’s sake or have a shot at the national championship?
PRESEASON POLLS: In the past, I wouldn’t have been too comfortable with all this talk about Georgia possibly being rated No. 1 or No. 2 going into the season. Too much pressure, too distracting for the players. But recent years have proved that starting out the season ranked No. 1 or No. 2 definitely gives you a leg up (no doggie pun intended). If you win out, even a hot undefeated team (like Auburn a few seasons ago) is unlikely to displace you. And even if you lose, you have a better chance at getting another shot at it (or even two or three shots at it like LSU this year). As long as the Dawgs continue to play with confidence and enthusiasm, I don’t think an early high ranking would be a problem. (The much bigger problem is that killer road schedule we have next year.) But despite ESPN.com and others predicting UGA will start out at No. 1, I agree with my son and some other fans I’ve discussed this with that it’s more likely the AP and coaches polls will put USC in that position (as long as Pete Carroll stays put), with UGA at No. 2. Really, it doesn’t matter whether you’re No. 1 or No. 2 at the start as long as you’re in one of those spots come December.
COACHING CHANGE: If Dave Johnson jumps to West Virginia, as seems likely, UGA’s tight-end recruits just need to ask themselves one thing: Which matters more, who my position coach is or the overall program and its prospects?
