Michael Ziemba
In November of 2006, the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes played the undefeated Michigan Wolverines in front of a raucous crowd in the Horseshoe. For the first time in the glorious history of the two programs, the two teams occupied the top two spots in the polls, with the Buckeyes narrowly edging out the Wolverines in the BCS poll. In what was dubbed as the game of the century (stop me if you have heard this since), the Buckeyes outlasted the Wolverines 42-39, spawning talk in college football amongst the fans and the pundits alike for a rematch for the BCS title. At the time, Florida was 12-1 and had just survived a daunting SEC schedule, and predictably, the campaigning began. Urban Meyer, then coach of the Florida Gators, suggested his squad deserved a shot in the BCS title game, noting “That other team (Michigan) had its shot,’’We belong in the game.’’ Then-Gators receiver Percy Harvin chimed in: “Michigan already had its chance. I think we deserve a chance.” Florida president Bernie Machen, also a biased commentator, added: “If they don’t vote for us after tonight, we need a new system. We should be packing our bags for Glendale.”
Just five short years later, many are in fact calling for a new system, though it’s unlikely those cries hail from south of the Mason Dixon line, as this year the Broken Cash Scheme has indeed conjured up a rematch, not so affectionately dubbed Field Goal Fest II– a rematch between two SEC teams, Alabama and Louisiana State. Whining about a broken computer system or penning an op ed piece in the local fish wrap about a utopian playoff system is not the way to get the attention of the BCS gatekeepers–what will is turning off the tv sets en mass, and here’s why you should do it. Read the rest of this entry »
