Here is my email to Ivan Maisel. I had help with the numbers from the Advocate. I have been extremely disappointed with the National Media (yourself included) and the biased reporting on the behalf of USC. I agree that USC deserves a share of the Natl Championship; however, to say that the Sugar Bowl is meaningless and USC should be the undisputed Natl Champion is unjust and unfair to both LSU and OU. Without a playoff, there is no system available to produce an undisputed Natl Champion under this year's circumstances. Arguments can be made that OU shouldn't be able to win the NC without winning its conf championship; however, this scenario can always happen in college basketball. To think the media's opinion is so infallible to be able to distinguish the best team of the year through a poll vote is laughable. Wasn't the media ready to declare OU the best team of all time until the Big 12 title game, or last year I believe the media was calling U of M on the best of all time until OSU win the Fiesta. You should take a look at the numbers to compare how close these teams are in strength: National ranking in schedule strength, according to seven BCS computers: 1. Oklahoma (11th). 2. LSU (29th). 3. USC (37th). Games against the BCS top 25: 1. LSU (4); 2. OU (3); 3. USC (1). Victories against the BCS top 25: 1. LSU (3); 2. OU (2); 3. USC (1). Games against teams with five or more losses (low number is best): 1. LSU (7). 2. OU (8). 3. USC (11). Keeping the above in mind, let's rank them by: Points: 1. OU (587); 2. USC (506); 3. LSU (454). Points against (low number is best): 1. LSU (140); 2. OU (193); 3. USC (225). Margin of victory: 1. OU (35.16 points); 2. LSU (24.15); 3. USC (23.42). Margin of defeat (low number is best): 1. USC (3 points); 2. LSU (12); 3. OU (28). Per-game scoring margin: 1. OU (45.2 points to 14.8); 2. LSU (34.9 to 10.8); 3. USC (42.2 to 18.8). The fact of the matter is without a playoff, we are stuck with a split National Champion this year. And for you to report the Sugar Bowl is worthless and USC is undoubtedly the National Champion is just poor journalism and unfounded opinion.
Below is the email I received from the idiot! I have received several hundred emails on this subject, as you can imagine, so I will try to answer the concerns that everyone brought up. Sorry for the impersonal nature of my reply, but I'm not going to write several hundred individual replies. Many fans agreed with me. Many did not. For those who didn't: 1. Re OU: yes, losing at the end of the season should count for more. Teams are supposed to get better as the season goes on. If we had a playoff system, and OU lost at the end of the season, they wouldn't be playing Sunday night. 2. Re LSU's loss compared to USC's loss. The Tigers lost by two touchdowns at home to a team that finished 8-5. The Trojans lost by three points on the road in triple overtime to a team that finished 7-6. I don't think there's a great distinction there. 3. You are incorrect. My parents married before they had me. 4. USC was No. 1 going into the bowls, and beat a very good No. 4 team by two touchdowns. History tells us that's sufficient to be No. 1. 5. The BCS is the system that was in place before the season, and LSU and OU played by its rules to get to the Sugar Bowl. But that doesn't preclude the polls from awarding their championships, nor does it preclude me -- and all of you -- from expressing opinions. We all have. 6. I may not agree with it, but the winner of the Sugar Bowl will still win a share of the title, get rings, and sell t-shirts. Enjoy it. Thanks for writing, especially if you were polite and/or signed your name.
