I am fortunate enough here in Monroe to hear ESPN radio 24/7. The discussion on Colin Cowherd's show was that Ohio State fans are not objective in their reasoning as to why they aren't ranked higher. It got to the point of talking about "Well, who has _____ played?" Cowherd doesn't use this logic as a basis for determining good teams. But he did start talkinig about LSU's schedule and said that we have the toughest schedule in country by playing (and beating) UF, Auburn and Bama and possibly UGA. At least someone is giving us some cred unlike those stupid computers. To be fair he also said that he can look at anyone's schedule and rip it apart and he made really good points concerning the "who's beaten who" argument and why it isn't a good factor in choosing the best teams. But hey, and LSU love is welcome!
Mathematically, LSU's other 8 opponents drag us down. Those 3 are the toughest 3 anyone has had to play, but the other 8 suck. Bottom line. Stop hating on the computers that handed you a BCS title in 2003.
The computers handed us "keys" to the door that opened and allowed LSU to play for the MNC, they EARNED the title, on the field.
Erik Kuselias on ESPN radio's Sportsbash was "ripping" LSU yesterday. He said he didn't want to hear the Katrina (probably doesn't even know about Rita) excuse because he had donated his time and money and said the Tigers should get no sympathy votes. He was literally pleading with voters not to vote for LSU to leap frog Jo Pa if we win out. He also mentioned (not by name) that LSU had lost to a team that isn't even going to a bowl and how it took last minute heroics for us to beat ASU. I bet he was also someone wanting to throw Jo Pa under the bus last year. Send this guy an earful if you'd like [email protected] I intend to tell him we don't NEED any sympathy but I intend to to set him straight on the facts.
If I recall correctly, the only thing consistent in 2003 was that LSU was #2 in both human polls AND the BCS. So we didn't get handed anything. If there was no BCS that year and went strictly on polls, we would have still been in that game. Right? The BCS annoys me. None of the logic of University presidents and the NCAA holds enough water for me to believe we can't have a 4 or 8 team playoff. Hell I'd be happy with a "Plus 1" method. Think of the advertising dollars and publicity and LOVE the NCAA would get from it. Because right now the NCAA does not have a good image right now.
Yunno, all that strength of schedule stuff is relevant I guess, to a point. All comes down to when you catch 'em on the schedule. As the wise man said, "timing is everything." Arguably a case in point, Ohio State got better all year or so it seems. Obviously, Texas got better too. But I'd bet if you asked Mack Brown, he'd say he's glad that he got to the OSU when he did. Then take Tennessee. I wish the Tigers had played them last week. They've backslud (as Dizzy Dean would say) all year since their win in Baton Rouge. Doesn't seem to matter now where the coondogs were ranked then. I remain pissed that we bought our way out of the Texas A&M series simply because once gone, it's more difficult to get back. That was a great series. But, as the ups and downs of programs go, playing them and beating them wouldn't have helped much this year because they're so pitiful. Timing. Bottom line, you gotta get some decent out-of-conference opponents. Hope we can pick up some interesting ones sooner or later. By the way, LSU Dork, I used to work in Monroe regularly during the late 70s through the 80s but haven't been around the Ouachita in about 15 years . Always enjoyed those big ole mugs of frosty beer at the Mohawk. Is that place still there ?
So hypothetically speaking, if we had not lost to TN this year we would be in exactly the same spot as the Barners last year. I know some people say that we may have jumped TX for the #2 spot, but come on, can you actually believe that. We played so many games close this year that we would still be #3. Probably the only difference would be us being #3 in the BCS. If USC and TX remain undefeated then it really doesn't matter if we would have won against TN. The only thing that chaps my arse is that if we do win out we will play WVa or even worse SFU. The only thing that would have helped this situation is if the Sugar Bowl was the National Championship Game this year, but it is not. :geauxtige :geauxtige
That guy is such a TOOL. There's an ole joke about sports personalities/writers "don't let the facts get in the way of a good story!" Well that certainly applies to him. For someone who is a national pundit this guy does very little research or is just plain stupid for NOT knowing what he's talking about. Aggrevates me that he gets a free pass and no one calls him out on his erroneous statements. Example: I heard him say that LSU should've lost to Auburn because Vaughn missed some field goals. I was like - ummm did you even research the fact that LSU's Chris Jackson missed some field goals too and Dwayne Bowe and Early Doucet dropped passes in the end zone that should've been touchdowns. And oh by the way Vaughn's field goal in overtime would've only tied the game, not won it. It's just shotty journalism/broadcasting. Making a statement with only half-truths and even that is a stretch.
