Christmas is here once again, and it is time for wishes. Here are a few that would be nice to get.
First, for the advocates and perpetuators of the seriously flawed BCS system to stop lying to everyone about the reasons for the system. The BCS is not about academics, protecting the regular season or safeguarding the bowl system. The system is about hording revenue for a select few.
The bowl system can be protected while incorporating a playoff. Take the top 10 teams from the final BCS rankings, seed them, give the top three a home game, put the 4/5 game in one of the BCS bowl sites, hold the semifinals in two of the other BCS bowl sites and the championship in the final BCS site. Rotate them like they do now.
Big conferences win, fans win, the importance of the regular season remains intact, revenue is earned and integrity is protected. Get it done.
If timing is an issue, start the playoff games a week early. There is too much time between the end of the regular season and the BCS games anyway.
Second, if a playoff is not possible, then at least have the BCS games not on January 1 played on a weekend night. Change is inevitable, but is it too much to ask that they play the BCS games on Friday, Saturday or Sunday?
Third, witness a competitive NC game. The last exciting game was Texas’ thrilling win over USC five years ago. Most of the title games have been duds, and that reflects the weakness of mythical No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup the BCS system supposedly guarantees.
Oregon and Auburn appear ready to put on an offensive explosion with Cam Newton and LaMichael James leading the way. Hopefully they’ll deliver.
Fourth, for Urban Meyer to get a one-year stint at Ohio State as offensive coordinator. The Buckeyes are coming off their best offensive season in Jim Tressel’s tenure, but the competition was mostly garbage. The offense is good, but the stats are grossly inflated.
Last week, Terrelle Pryor suggested he would dominate in a spread option offense. Don’t take this the wrong way, but the experiment to make him a pro-style QB is not exactly working.
Meyer is available. Get him and the Buckeyes easily win the 2011 championship.
Lastly, for Joe Paterno to reconsider his decision to return next season and officially retire after the Outback Bowl. Few, if any, have meant more to the game than Joe Pa. He’s also earned the right to step down whenever he pleases. Regardless, it is time to call an end to his era.
The Big Ten has slowly come out of its five-year down cycle partly fueled by an infusion of younger coaches and better coaches. Bret Bielema and Pat Fitzgerald along with new additions Bo Pelini and Kevin Wilson (not so young, but the best prospective coach Indiana has ever had) will continue to pay dividends for the Big Ten.
The landscape is ripe with young, dynamic coaches ready to take over for the legend. The timing is right for a change.
Overtime
Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater will meet in the Division III Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl this Saturday for the sixth consecutive year.
Mt. Union has won 10 championships since 1993, but Whitewater has won two of the last three against the Purple Raiders.
The six-year run for both of these schools is incredible. Check out the game if you want to watch authentic football being played by kids that play for the love of the game.
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