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BOISE STATE WIN PROVES NEED FOR COLLEGE PLAYOFF
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Boise State's Ian Johnson dashes to the end zone with the game-winning two point conversion in overtime.
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In the most improbable and exciting victory in College Football Bowl history ~ Boise State not only shocked the nation but proved that the time has come for a National College Football Championship tournament. Just read this excerpt from idahostatesman.com ~ which can hardly contain its enthusiasm.
Excerpt: GLENDALE, Ariz.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/104/story/65884.html
" Discard the old modifiers. Boise State is no longer mid-major. No longer an upstart. No longer Cinderella. These Broncos are bonafide. Boise State emptied its playbook and shocked the world, striking a blow for underdogs everywhere by knocking off tradition-rich Oklahoma 43-42 in Monday's Fiesta Bowl.
In one of the most exciting college football games ever played, the Broncos reached the summit of college football. And, in the process, checked off all the items on their to-do list: perfect season, a Bowl Championship Series bowl victory and, finally, the admiration and respect of the entire nation.
"It puts Boise State on the map. There are no little guys at BSU," wide receiver Legedu Naanee said during the Broncos' euphoric celebration at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The Broncos erased all doubts and debate about their standing in college football. Champions of the Western Athletic Conference, they proved they can go toe-to-toe with any team in the nation.
Bring on No. 1 Ohio State, the only other undefeated team in the nation.
"We deserve a shot at the national championship,"quarterback Jared Zabransky said. "
Or these excited words from John lopez , Houston Chronicle john.lopez@chron.com
" You might think the Buckeyes or Gators are the best come next Tuesday. You might say Boise State's schedule doesn't compare to those in the Big Ten or Southeastern Conference, and on that front you would be right.
But you wouldn't know. Besides, in the wildly successful and captivating NCAA basketball tournament, it never is about the season's results. It's about one tournament and all the accompanying pressure and stakes revealing things even the victors did not know they possessed.
It's about a deserving dreamer taking a chance, just one chance, at knocking off Goliath and slinging the stone strong and true.
That's what the Broncos did to end the year perfectly perfect, leaving college presidents and all those who say a playoff system would not be a better system looking foolish.
Tell us again, college presidents, how the game and its fans do not need and would not benefit from a playoff system that indeed would give us more of what we saw Monday night.
Ha. Tell us again. That would be the most unbelievable thing of all. "
And under my Roland Championship College Playoff system ~ the two undefeated teams in the nation ( Boise State and Ohio State ) would have squared off two weeks ago and a true legitimate champion would be crowned next Monday.
Here's what it would have looked like ~ and it would indeed have been December Madness.
Starting the weekend of December Dec 15 & 16th ( after two week preparation ) First Round
#1 Ohio State plays #8 Boise State / #2 Florida plays #7 Wisconsin / #3 Michigan plays #6 Louisville / #4 LSU plays #5 USC
Let's say the top seeds all win ~ the following weekend would be the SECOND ROUND
#1 Ohio State plays #4 LSU / #2 Florida plays # 3 Michigan
The following weekend is the true national championship which, in this scenario, would be #1 Ohio State versus #2 Florida ~ which would be a true national championship game.
Making the BCS FINAL EIGHT would be the realistic goal of all top football programs and would result in stronger schedules, more fan interest and greater revenue for both the colleges and advertisers.
It's a WIN,WIN deal for everyone but particularly the fans ~ who won't have to wait six weeks, like this year, to watch two rusty teams play for a disputed national championship next Monday night ~ while undefeated Boise State knows it deserved a shot.
Allen L Roland http://blogs.salon.com/0002255/2007/01/03.html
Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on Conscious talk radio www.conscioustalk.net
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