Sugar Bowl (what a joke)

[Dossenator]

Sugar Bowl takes Virginia Tech who just got BLASTED yesterday....and then Michigan. This system is a joke. These bowls should be able to take the best available teams. Ark is setting there at #6 in the BCS and getting left out....instead it is BCS #11 vs #13. Just crazy! And can someone explain why the Sugar did not pick Boise State over either Virginia Tech or Michigan. #6 Ark vs #7 Boise would have been a good game against higher ranked BCS teams (why not reward the teams for their seasons based on the final outcomes of the rankings). Again...just crazy!

No offense to the fans of Michigan and Virginia Tech on here. Just frustrating.

[Spence]

The championship game is a joke. They have taken the SEC's chance to prove they are the best conference away from them. We just get to see the SEC championship game.

[Eric]

I'll be the first to say that I think Kansas State and Boise State are more deserving than Michigan. Heck, Michigan State is more deserving than Michigan is. Michigan got shielded by the divisional arrangement (the #2 team in any divison is always at an advantage over the conference championship loser if they have identical records). My ideal matchup would have been Boise State vs. Michigan (as a fan), for fairness I would have gone with Boise State vs. Kansas State.

[Dossenator]

Eric...same thing happened to Ark in 2006. They win the SEC West outright, loss to Flor in a close game in the SEC Championship game, Florida goes to NC Game and LSU gets the Sugar Bowl bid (even though Ark won the SEC over LSU).

Boise St vs Kansas St and I would have no issue with that. I understand the rule that keeps Ark out (no more than 2 teams from a conference). However, Ark did finish ranked above both Boise and Kansas St (so I guess I would have a little bit of an issue with it). But it seems more fair than Virginia Tech vs Michigan.

Oh well...it comes down to who will make the BCS the most money. They feel Michigan and Virginia Tech will make more money than Boise vs Kansas St.

[Spence]

I'll be the first to say that I think Kansas State and Boise State are more deserving than Michigan. Heck, Michigan State is more deserving than Michigan is. Michigan got shielded by the divisional arrangement (the #2 team in any divison is always at an advantage over the conference championship loser if they have identical records). My ideal matchup would have been Boise State vs. Michigan (as a fan), for fairness I would have gone with Boise State vs. Kansas State.

Delany fought tooth and nail against matching up Michigan and Boise State.

[Eric]

I'll be the first to say that I think Kansas State and Boise State are more deserving than Michigan. Heck, Michigan State is more deserving than Michigan is. Michigan got shielded by the divisional arrangement (the #2 team in any divison is always at an advantage over the conference championship loser if they have identical records). My ideal matchup would have been Boise State vs. Michigan (as a fan), for fairness I would have gone with Boise State vs. Kansas State.

Delany fought tooth and nail against matching up Michigan and Boise State.

Now that would not surprise me at all.

[Spence]

I am so tired of Delany it isn't funny. I don't have a problem with Michigan being in the BCS, I'm just tired of all the manipulation going on.

[Eric]

The bowl system is about getting good draws and I'm not necessarily against that, just don't let politics completely cloud any sense of worth regarding who goes where. TCU gets Louisiana Tech, Boise State gets 6-6 and coachless Arizona State, Baylor gets 7-5 Washington who is treading water right now, Southern Miss gets #2 WAC Nevada, etc. It's not really fair.

[Spence]

The bowl system is about getting good draws and I'm not necessarily against that, just don't let politics completely cloud any sense of worth regarding who goes where. TCU gets Louisiana Tech, Boise State gets 6-6 and coachless Arizona State, Baylor gets 7-5 Washington who is treading water right now, Southern Miss gets #2 WAC Nevada, etc. It's not really fair.

I agree. The bowls have to pay the bills. They need interesting matchups. I just don't like that Delany has his nose in this.

[..fanatic]

No one was any more shocked than I was when I found out about 30 minuts before the announcement that Virginia Tech received a BCS bowl bid. While it is within the framework of the rules, I'm just stunned.

That said, I was sad, mad and disappointed of how the Hokies played in a rematch against Clemson. This announcement - though I don't think we're worthy - made me happy for one reason and one reason only. We get to play the winningest program in college football history for the first time ever. I just hope and pray our coaching staff has learned something after 2 failed attempts at beating a not-so-great Clemson team. If they haven't, Michigan may hang half-a-hundred or more on us.

[Derek]

I am so tired of Delany it isn't funny. I don't have a problem with Michigan being in the BCS, I'm just tired of all the manipulation going on.

THERE is the rub. It's manipulation NOTHING MORE.

i've said it before in another thread. But I will NOT watch the NCG.

I can't believe they did this anyway, KNOWING what they did 2006 and 2007, and rubbing it in our faces.

[Spence]

I am so tired of Delany it isn't funny. I don't have a problem with Michigan being in the BCS, I'm just tired of all the manipulation going on.

THERE is the rub. It's manipulation NOTHING MORE.

i've said it before in another thread. But I will NOT watch the NCG.

I can't believe they did this anyway, KNOWING what they did 2006 and 2007, and rubbing it in our faces.

I'm going to watch it, because it will be a good game and it isn't Alabama or LSU's fault. My hope is that the justice department crawls waist deep into the corruption in this system and cleans house. This isn't something I'm usually for doing, but this system is as corrupt as anything they see everyday.

[Vileborg]

Same as Fanatic. I was shocked when I found out and then I realized why I shouldn't. We are traveling better than ever this year and contrary to popular belief the BCS bowls are a business not a merit club. The 12th man got VT into the Sugar by paying out so much money in travel during the year and to the ACC title game. I know the Sugar Bowl committee was drooling when VT lost their spot. They are going to make tons of money off this match-up both from TV ratings and from selling out the stadium.

We're lucky the BCS has the locks in place to force the BCS bowls to take certain teams otherwise no one would ever make one on merit. On the flip side. The bowl match ups are some of the best I can remember. There are a lot more games where I want to make sure I see the games this year.

Utah St. and Ohio - I know it's weird but I want to see it.
TCU & La Tech - I want to see how La Tech does against a proven program.
Boise St. & ASU - Not the game I would have chosen for Moore's encore performance but it will work. Viva la Tebow dos.
Southern Miss & Nevada - Both teams were looking to punch people in the mouth and now they get each other.
UNC & Missouri - Both teams were on the edge of being good and I want to see how they match up.
Purdue & W. Mich - I'll admit I want to see it because of it being a board members team. Props to W. Mich.
NC St. & Louisville - I've heard from a reliable source that this Glennon is MUCH better than his brother was at VT.
Texas & Cal - Good Match up
Notre Dame & Florida St. - I just about fell out. I'm going to start doing my Tomahawks now.
Baylor & Wash - RBG and no not Red, Blue, Green.
Iowa St. & Rutgers - Spoilers bowl. Rutgers shook up the Big East and Iowa St. ruined the best run of a team I've seen.
Iowa & Oklahoma - Cause it's Oklahoma and I've started somewhat pulling for them since it's a members team.
Vanderbilt & Cincy - I love great defense and Cincy has had one of those crazy defenses for years.
UVA & Auburn - WOW!!!! The Chic-Fila-A bowl is probably cussing VT for ditching them but drooling at the match up.
Houston & Penn St. - Great Match Up!!!
S. Caro & Nebraska - Heck Yeah!!!
Florida & Ohio St. - Glued to the TV!!!
Georgia & Michigan St. - Glued to the TV!!!
All the BCS bowls exept the Orange which I'm replacing with the Cotton bowl as my 4th premiere bowl this year.
NIU & Ark St. - Arkansas St. is the best opponent Va Tech beat this year. I know sad but don't be hatin Ark St.

BCS National Championship game - My view has not changed and I will not be watching the game. If Oklahoma St. wins against Stanford they will be my National Champion.

[Spence]

No one was any more shocked than I was when I found out about 30 minuts before the announcement that Virginia Tech received a BCS bowl bid. While it is within the framework of the rules, I'm just stunned.

That said, I was sad, mad and disappointed of how the Hokies played in a rematch against Clemson. This announcement - though I don't think we're worthy - made me happy for one reason and one reason only. We get to play the winningest program in college football history for the first time ever. I just hope and pray our coaching staff has learned something after 2 failed attempts at beating a not-so-great Clemson team. If they haven't, Michigan may hang half-a-hundred or more on us.

To beat Michigan you have to account for Robinson, play gap defense, and throw the ball on offense. Michigan can stop the run OK, but their secondary is just bad. Ohio State had two recievers wide open all day when we played them, but our QB couldn't hit them. The Michigan D is much improved over last year, but they still lack speed in the secondary to be good. Their technique is lots better this year, but they the don't have the talent in the secondary.

[Brian Roastbeef]

The championship game is a joke. They have taken the SEC's chance to prove they are the best conference away from them. We just get to see the SEC championship game.

And this right there is the underestimated crux of that particular matter. LSU-Alabama for the National Championship is a missed opportunity for the SEC. Whichever team wins, the question will remain as to whether the winner of the Fiesta Bowl could have done better (especially if Okie St. wins in a blowout.) Possibly LSU and Alabama were playing on an entirely different level, but the only way that any doubt to that would have been erased would have been for them to clobber Oklahoma St for the title. Now the doubts will remain forever.


And back on topic... Virginia Tech is just a complete WTF... reminiscent of '01 when they were chosen for the Gator Bowl over Syracuse citing the legions of fans more likely to travel for the matchup. I can understand it business-wise, but it is frustrating sports-wise... Overall this is shaping up to be an embarrassing year for the BCS in my opinion.