Orange Bowl picks KU - The Capital-Journal - Page 6

**Lzen** · 12-03-2007, 08:45 AM

http://cjonline.com/stories/120307/haw_222349859.shtml
Jayhawks will face Hokies in Miami
By Tully Corcoran
The Capital-Journal
Published Monday, December 03, 2007

LAWRENCE — The juices splashed and ran down James McClinton's chin in this, the ultimate celebratory move for a defensive lineman.

Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins walked into KU's meeting room with a bag of oranges, and everybody knew. The Jayhawks were Orange Bowl-bound, and McClinton could think of only one way to celebrate. He caught the orange, jammed it into his mouth and chomped off a bite bigger than Miami.

Kansas has an allotment of 17,000-18,000 tickets, on sale at orangebowl.org.

"I thank the Lord for this game," he said.

And that was the general sentiment. For a program that has never been to a BCS bowl and hasn't been to the Orange Bowl since 1969, Sunday's announcement, coming at the tail end of the winningest season in Kansas history, was hard to take for granted. Especially for tight end Derek Fine, who committed to what once was a moribund program and was on the team in 2003 when the Jayhawks went to another Florida bowl, the Tangerine Bowl.

"I like oranges better," Fine said. "They taste better, they're bigger."

Win or lose, playing in the Orange Bowl means the 2007 Jayhawks will go down as one of the top three teams in Kansas history, alongside the Orange Bowl teams of 1947 and 1968. For a program that five years ago was a conference laughingstock, 2007 has been one giant leap.

"It was just great to stand in that room and watch those kids when they found out," KU coach Mark Mangino said. "It was like when my kids were knee-high and it was Christmas morning."

The selection pairing the No. 8 Jayhawks (11-1) against No. 3 Virginia Tech (11-2), as always, is not without controversy. And it didn't spare any hearts, especially those in Columbia, Mo. Missouri, which beat Kansas and is ranked a spot higher in both major polls, lost to Oklahoma on Saturday night in the Big 12 championship game. Sunday, fell out of the BCS entirely, accepting a bid to the Cotton Bowl.

"Missouri and Kansas were basically back-to-back next to each other," said Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms. "With the result of the (Big 12 championship) game, having a two-loss team versus a one-loss team was probably the biggest thing we looked at. We knew whatever way we went, you could make a case for the other side."

There were no tears shed in Lawrence, where Joe Mortensen was asked if he felt sorry for the Tigers.

"No," he said.

There also wasn't much suspense in Lawrence, not within the Kansas athletic department, anyway.

Since Saturday, Perkins had been working the phones, literally all day and all night, talking to bowl representatives, ironing details, scenarios and, to a lesser extent, making KU's case. He felt all along KU would wind up in a BCS bowl. He just didn't know which. Heading into Saturday's games, KU was a candidate for the Rose, Orange, Fiesta and Sugar bowls. Once Illinois qualified for BCS play, KU was eliminated from Rose Bowl contention. Once Hawaii qualified, the Sugar Bowl was out. Then game the Orange Bowl, which got to choose its teams ahead of the Fiesta Bowl.

"The Orange Bowl was very strong, really pursuing us," Perkins said. "We were talking quite often, regularly through the whole process.

"The good thing that I was pleased about was everybody was interested in Kansas. That was the most important thing."

If the Orange Bowl hadn't chosen KU, the probability the Fiesta Bowl would have was "very strong," Perkins said. Instead, the Fiesta took West Virginia and Oklahoma. Since the BCS rules allow just two teams from one conference into its bowls, that left out Missouri, which brings up the song that has played all season at KU, a tune about the Jayhawks' schedule, which includes no wins against teams ranked in the final Top 25 and ranks among the softest in the nation.

Perkins said the schedule was never part of the discussion.

"We don't have any argument," Perkins said. "We're in the BCS. So we have no argument. Our schedule didn't bother us. We don't have to be apologetic about anything. What people don't realize is schedules are made a long way out, so you don't realize how things are gonna happen, and we had no problem with our schedule. We're playing in the Orange Bowl."

As it is designed to do, the Orange Bowl will create an intriguing matchup between the nation's No. 4 defense and Kansas' No. 6 offense. But that is a discussion for another day.

Sunday, the Jayhawks were soaking the moment, and the orange juice.

"It's been a great journey here for my five years," senior running back Brandon McAnderson said. "The opportunity that's in front of us is huge."

Tully Corcoran can be reached at (785) 295-5652 or tully.corcoran@cjonline.com.

**Lzen** · 12-03-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

You sound just like MU fans heading into the OU game last Sat., looking back on the previous matchup.

Not playing your best in big games reflects on the quality of the team. KU wasn't up to it for 3 quarters. That counts. That's part of the makeup of KU. If, if, if ... But you didn't. Jeez, you as a Chiefs fan should know all about that.

Maybe you're used to seeing Reesing make all those throws in the past because -- here it comes -- he hadn't faced a team as good as MU.

You won't admit it, but you're really trying to argue that you ALMOST BEAT MU. If another pass had gone this way or a FG stays straighter or ... You're chipping away at MU's win. You're dismissing all your mistakes but holding MU accountable for theirs -- like a flipped ball from Moore on 3rd and 25. Well, hell, we had you in a deep hole, and if only Moore had been a tad more discreet ...

See how that works?

Hey, I can reflect on that game all I want. As long as KU players don't, it doesn't matter. And from the sound of things, they are very excited to be where they are. I admit that KU was obviously not ready for the big time when they played MU. You guys won and that is all that matters in the end. It just really annoys me when MU fans go around holding their crotches and talking like their team is vastly superior. I just don't see it. But I digress. I will stop arguing this now. It really is pointless.

**Lzen** · 12-03-2007, 04:24 PM

Another reason to stop this arguing is that I like some, not all, of you MU guys. But these threads about KU makes us both seem like douche bags. Perhaps I will think about just ignoring these. Don't know if I have the will power to do that, though.

**RockChalk** · 12-03-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddha

Missouri rolled Kansas...end of discussion.

yeah, you all certainly "rolled" us. what OU did to you is what I would consider "rolling"...you all beat us

if KU MU faced off 10 times, each team would win 5

siberian khatru · 12-03-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

Hey, I can reflect on that game all I want. As long as KU players don't, it doesn't matter. And from the sound of things, they are very excited to be where they are. I admit that KU was obviously not ready for the big time when they played MU. You guys won and that is all that matters in the end. It just really annoys me when MU fans go around holding their crotches and talking like their team is vastly superior. I just don't see it. But I digress. I will stop arguing this now. It really is pointless.

We perhaps suffer from the actions of each fan bases' extremes.

Eleazar · 12-03-2007, 04:34 PM

The last post I will make on the subject, but honestly, truly, nobody may believe me but I don't care what bowl game Kansas goes to. I don't care which one we go to. It's not the national championship so to me they are all pretty much the same.

What sucks about this to me is that it reduces the importance of playing a quality schedule, and rendered the game at Arrowhead meaningless.

The reason good teams don't schedule Florida International etc is because such a schedule, particularly in a year they don't play conference powers, will keep them out of the BCS. But if you can get selected over a team that is ranked higher in every poll and higher in the BCS, then why wouldn't you line up dental schools in the non-con?

Secondly, we all loved the buildup and the battle at Arrowhead. But this rendered that game meaningless. Kansas actually was better off for having lost to Mizzou at Arrowhead, because they didn't get to the conference title game, didn't have to play Oklahoma, and got selected purely on the basis of only having one loss. They got rewarded for losing to their rival, losing late in the season, and losing to the only good team on their schedule.

This is bad for college football. I don't care personally, but it's not good for the integrity of the system.

HC_Chief · 12-03-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

They got rewarded for losing to their rival, losing late in the season, and losing to the only good team on their schedule..

Only good team on their schedule? They lost to a non-BCS-bowl bound school.

siberian khatru · 12-03-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

The last post I will make on the subject, but honestly, truly, nobody may believe me but I don't care what bowl game Kansas goes to. I don't care which one we go to. It's not the national championship so to me they are all pretty much the same.

What sucks about this to me is that it reduces the importance of playing a quality schedule, and rendered the game at Arrowhead meaningless.

The reason good teams don't schedule Florida International etc is because such a schedule, particularly in a year they don't play conference powers, will keep them out of the BCS. But if you can get selected over a team that is ranked higher in every poll and higher in the BCS, then why wouldn't you line up dental schools in the non-con?

Secondly, we all loved the buildup and the battle at Arrowhead. But this rendered that game meaningless. Kansas actually was better off for having lost to Mizzou at Arrowhead, because they didn't get to the conference title game, didn't have to play Oklahoma, and got selected purely on the basis of only having one loss. They got rewarded for losing to their rival, losing late in the season, and losing to the only good team on their schedule.

This is bad for college football. I don't care personally, but it's not good for the integrity of the system.

I agree with virtually all of that.

I'm not mad at KU. I'm mad at the system for the reasons you cite. I want a playoff. Always have, even when MU was going 4-7. I'd like to see both MU and KU in a playoff with a shot at the title. I don't know if my blood pressure could handle them meeting up again, though, with even more on the line.

Eleazar · 12-03-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

I agree with virtually all of that.

I'm not mad at KU. I'm mad at the system for the reasons you cite. I want a playoff. Always have, even when MU was going 4-7. I'd like to see both MU and KU in a playoff with a shot at the title. I don't know if my blood pressure could handle them meeting up again, though, with even more on the line.

Hey, if I were them, I'd be happy about backing into a prestigious bowl game. I'd buy a t-shirt and everything.

I just think it's disenchanting for fans like those of these two teams, of teams that aren't traditional football powers, that have to earn respect on the field and in the BCS rankings, to have bowl organizers tell you about how none of that stuff matters. What matters is who they think will make them the most money.

**RockChalk** · 12-03-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

Another reason to stop this arguing is that I like some, not all, of you MU guys. But these threads about KU makes us both seem like douche bags. Perhaps I will think about just ignoring these. Don't know if I have the will power to do that, though.

I don't mean to offend all of the Missouri people, but there are a few of them that are so ignorant (and they know who they are) that I can't help but go off and ridicule them

I don't mean to be a dick about it, but it's hard not to be when you read some of the dribble that a few of them spit out

And I agree that the system is terribly flawed. MU deserved to play in a BCS bowl, but I as a Jayhawk fan really had nothing to do with them not getting selected. Neither really did my school. The problem is the system and the BCS bowl committee handshakers and fast-talkers

siberian khatru · 12-03-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

Hey, if I were them, I'd be happy about backing into a prestigious bowl game. I'd buy a t-shirt and everything.

I just think it's disenchanting for fans like those of these two teams, of teams that aren't traditional football powers, that have to earn respect on the field and in the BCS rankings, to have bowl organizers tell you about how none of that stuff matters. What matters is who they think will make them the most money.

Yep. We're hopelessly idealistic, but I like my college postseason to be about rewarding achievement and determining the best, not making gobs of money (which I think the bowls would make even more of in a playoff, but that's a whole 'nother huge fish to fry).

Eleazar · 12-03-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Yep. We're hopelessly idealistic, but I like my college postseason to be about rewarding achievement and determining the best, not making gobs of money (which I think the bowls would make even more of in a playoff, but that's a whole 'nother huge fish to fry).

It's sad, that wanting the system to be fair and unbiased is being hopelessly idealistic.

Frazod · 12-03-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockChalk

I don't mean to offend all of the Missouri people, but there are a few of them that are so ignorant (and they know who they are) that I can't help but go off and ridicule them

I don't mean to be a dick about it, but it's hard not to be when you read some of the dribble that a few of them spit out

And I agree that the system is terribly flawed. MU deserved to play in a BCS bowl, but I as a Jayhawk fan really had nothing to do with them not getting selected. Neither really did my school. The problem is the system and the BCS bowl committee handshakers and fast-talkers

That's rich, really it is. Pot meet kettle. It's dicks like you pointing and laughing that got all this crap stirred up again in the first place.

And your school and whatever shady below-board crap they pulled to make this deal happen has everything to do with it. That shitbag AD of yours is every bit the cheating slimeball Shanahan is - perhaps even worse, since even the Rat doesn't have the power to render moot games already won by other teams.

Sure-Oz · 12-03-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

The last post I will make on the subject, but honestly, truly, nobody may believe me but I don't care what bowl game Kansas goes to. I don't care which one we go to. It's not the national championship so to me they are all pretty much the same.

What sucks about this to me is that it reduces the importance of playing a quality schedule, and rendered the game at Arrowhead meaningless.

The reason good teams don't schedule Florida International etc is because such a schedule, particularly in a year they don't play conference powers, will keep them out of the BCS. But if you can get selected over a team that is ranked higher in every poll and higher in the BCS, then why wouldn't you line up dental schools in the non-con?

Secondly, we all loved the buildup and the battle at Arrowhead. But this rendered that game meaningless. Kansas actually was better off for having lost to Mizzou at Arrowhead, because they didn't get to the conference title game, didn't have to play Oklahoma, and got selected purely on the basis of only having one loss. They got rewarded for losing to their rival, losing late in the season, and losing to the only good team on their schedule.

This is bad for college football. I don't care personally, but it's not good for the integrity of the system.

end the the thread with this post, perfect.

**CrazyPhuD** · 12-03-2007, 05:57 PM

The biggest problem here is that everyone has been arguing football when football had very little to do with this decision. The BCS choice here was made for business reasons only.

Missouri can say they got screwed but the truth is that the only thing that screwed Missouri was Missouri. Missouri didn't have to win the game to make the BCS. If Missouri would have only lost by a TD they would have been in. Hell if they would have lost by 2 TDs they probably would have been in. But the fact is, in one of the biggest games in school history, Missouri lost by 3 TDs and the game was effectively over in the 2nd half.

What happens when a team is getting blown out? People turn off their TVs and the money you make from commercials goes down. Truth KU may have gotten blown out by even more versus OU, but they didn't play them. The one game that KU lost they played within one score and the game was still on the line at the end. When the game is still in doubt, people watch. People watch better ratings for late game commercials and the more you can charge for them. How many people were still watching the end of the MU-OU game versus the end of the KU-MU game?

Like it or not the BCS is all about making money. That's why it is what it is and why a playoff system would be worlds better. But as long as the BCS gets to pick who is in what bowl that's going to be the case. Why do you think ILL is playing in the rosebowl? Ratings, you have an eastern and a western team. Why is OU playing WVU and VT playing KU?

Everyone in the Big12 would love the KU OU game, it would be the ultimate what if game. If KU had pulled out the MU game would they have played for the championship. But the KU-OU game is all about regional ratings. When you have KU playing VT you get a midwest and an eastcoast team. More people interested, more ratings. Same for OU-WVU. With OU-KU and WVU-VT, you'll have better stories and better rivalry but ultimately fewer people watching, because they are regional games.

KU is in because the BCS believes they'll get better ratings with them in than not. Missouri is out likely because of the 2nd half ratings of the OU-MU game. It is terrible for football fans, but the sad truth of the business world.

You can't say Missouri got screwed by someone else, because they screwed themselves. You take care of business and put on a good show and you'll make the BCS. Put up a stinker and you're out. Be honest, if you didn't love MU or OU how many of you would have watched the 2nd half of the game? MU put up a ratings debacle in their last game and the BCS likely wouldn't want to risk them doing it again.

It sucks that this is about business but it is and Missouri can't really blame anyone but themselves. If they had kept it close they would have been playing in a BCS game. The 2 loss issue was bogus. This was a business decision through and through.

**Bearcat** · 12-03-2007, 05:59 PM

Seriously, grow up people.

1) Mizzou deserves to be in a BCS bowl over Kansas and Illinois. The Rose Bowl tradition sucks, and the system sucks if what a team does on the field isn't 99% of what gets you into a BCS bowl.

2) Kansas didn't orchestrate anything, so quit bitching. They didn't plan on playing a bunch of chumps so they could get a BCS bowl game. They went this route because you have to START winning before you can have any sort of winning tradition, recruiting success, etc. And who cares of Perkins was on the phone this week. What's Perkins going to do, tell them to take Mizzou? Yeah, no other admin was on the phone this week, either.

3) If you forgot, some good teams lost to some really bad teams this year. You can't play in a BCS conference and go 11-1 if you suck, and that's what some here are trying to say. It's not like Kansas had 108 years of difficult schedules and things just happened to work out this year. It might have something to do with a little bit of talent. But, if it makes you feel better...

4) As said before me, the system sucks, and letting Kansas in tells teams they can schedule soft teams and get a BCS bowl without even having to worry about winning the conference; which is obviously why they need another system.

Like I said last night, I think the football team will go ahead and show up and play in the Orange Bowl, if that's okay with everyone else involved. It's Kansas' first Orange Bowl in 40 years, which is enough reason to celebrate.

And you know, call me a glass-half-full person, but if Kansas could keep the score fairly close against a team that held the #1 spot in the nation for a week, and maybe if they could keep turnovers and special teams mistakes down to a bare minimum... and maybe, just maybe, in a season where App State and Stanford beat teams once in the top 5.... Nah.

12-03-2007, 08:45 AM
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $-529308	Orange Bowl picks KU - The Capital-Journal http://cjonline.com/stories/120307/haw_222349859.shtml Jayhawks will face Hokies in Miami By Tully Corcoran The Capital-Journal Published Monday, December 03, 2007 LAWRENCE — The juices splashed and ran down James McClinton's chin in this, the ultimate celebratory move for a defensive lineman. Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins walked into KU's meeting room with a bag of oranges, and everybody knew. The Jayhawks were Orange Bowl-bound, and McClinton could think of only one way to celebrate. He caught the orange, jammed it into his mouth and chomped off a bite bigger than Miami. Kansas has an allotment of 17,000-18,000 tickets, on sale at orangebowl.org. "I thank the Lord for this game," he said. And that was the general sentiment. For a program that has never been to a BCS bowl and hasn't been to the Orange Bowl since 1969, Sunday's announcement, coming at the tail end of the winningest season in Kansas history, was hard to take for granted. Especially for tight end Derek Fine, who committed to what once was a moribund program and was on the team in 2003 when the Jayhawks went to another Florida bowl, the Tangerine Bowl. "I like oranges better," Fine said. "They taste better, they're bigger." Win or lose, playing in the Orange Bowl means the 2007 Jayhawks will go down as one of the top three teams in Kansas history, alongside the Orange Bowl teams of 1947 and 1968. For a program that five years ago was a conference laughingstock, 2007 has been one giant leap. "It was just great to stand in that room and watch those kids when they found out," KU coach Mark Mangino said. "It was like when my kids were knee-high and it was Christmas morning." The selection pairing the No. 8 Jayhawks (11-1) against No. 3 Virginia Tech (11-2), as always, is not without controversy. And it didn't spare any hearts, especially those in Columbia, Mo. Missouri, which beat Kansas and is ranked a spot higher in both major polls, lost to Oklahoma on Saturday night in the Big 12 championship game. Sunday, fell out of the BCS entirely, accepting a bid to the Cotton Bowl. "Missouri and Kansas were basically back-to-back next to each other," said Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms. "With the result of the (Big 12 championship) game, having a two-loss team versus a one-loss team was probably the biggest thing we looked at. We knew whatever way we went, you could make a case for the other side." There were no tears shed in Lawrence, where Joe Mortensen was asked if he felt sorry for the Tigers. "No," he said. There also wasn't much suspense in Lawrence, not within the Kansas athletic department, anyway. Since Saturday, Perkins had been working the phones, literally all day and all night, talking to bowl representatives, ironing details, scenarios and, to a lesser extent, making KU's case. He felt all along KU would wind up in a BCS bowl. He just didn't know which. Heading into Saturday's games, KU was a candidate for the Rose, Orange, Fiesta and Sugar bowls. Once Illinois qualified for BCS play, KU was eliminated from Rose Bowl contention. Once Hawaii qualified, the Sugar Bowl was out. Then game the Orange Bowl, which got to choose its teams ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. "The Orange Bowl was very strong, really pursuing us," Perkins said. "We were talking quite often, regularly through the whole process. "The good thing that I was pleased about was everybody was interested in Kansas. That was the most important thing." If the Orange Bowl hadn't chosen KU, the probability the Fiesta Bowl would have was "very strong," Perkins said. Instead, the Fiesta took West Virginia and Oklahoma. Since the BCS rules allow just two teams from one conference into its bowls, that left out Missouri, which brings up the song that has played all season at KU, a tune about the Jayhawks' schedule, which includes no wins against teams ranked in the final Top 25 and ranks among the softest in the nation. Perkins said the schedule was never part of the discussion. "We don't have any argument," Perkins said. "We're in the BCS. So we have no argument. Our schedule didn't bother us. We don't have to be apologetic about anything. What people don't realize is schedules are made a long way out, so you don't realize how things are gonna happen, and we had no problem with our schedule. We're playing in the Orange Bowl." As it is designed to do, the Orange Bowl will create an intriguing matchup between the nation's No. 4 defense and Kansas' No. 6 offense. But that is a discussion for another day. Sunday, the Jayhawks were soaking the moment, and the orange juice. "It's been a great journey here for my five years," senior running back Brandon McAnderson said. "The opportunity that's in front of us is huge." Tully Corcoran can be reached at (785) 295-5652 or tully.corcoran@cjonline.com.
Posts: 42,458

12-03-2007, 04:24 PM	#77
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $-529308	Another reason to stop this arguing is that I like some, not all, of you MU guys. But these threads about KU makes us both seem like douche bags. Perhaps I will think about just ignoring these. Don't know if I have the will power to do that, though. __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 42,458

12-03-2007, 04:34 PM	#80
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	The last post I will make on the subject, but honestly, truly, nobody may believe me but I don't care what bowl game Kansas goes to. I don't care which one we go to. It's not the national championship so to me they are all pretty much the same. What sucks about this to me is that it reduces the importance of playing a quality schedule, and rendered the game at Arrowhead meaningless. The reason good teams don't schedule Florida International etc is because such a schedule, particularly in a year they don't play conference powers, will keep them out of the BCS. But if you can get selected over a team that is ranked higher in every poll and higher in the BCS, then why wouldn't you line up dental schools in the non-con? Secondly, we all loved the buildup and the battle at Arrowhead. But this rendered that game meaningless. Kansas actually was better off for having lost to Mizzou at Arrowhead, because they didn't get to the conference title game, didn't have to play Oklahoma, and got selected purely on the basis of only having one loss. They got rewarded for losing to their rival, losing late in the season, and losing to the only good team on their schedule. This is bad for college football. I don't care personally, but it's not good for the integrity of the system.
Posts: 80,659

12-03-2007, 05:57 PM	#89
CrazyPhuD Meow Join Date: Jun 2005 Casino cash: $10005050	The biggest problem here is that everyone has been arguing football when football had very little to do with this decision. The BCS choice here was made for business reasons only. Missouri can say they got screwed but the truth is that the only thing that screwed Missouri was Missouri. Missouri didn't have to win the game to make the BCS. If Missouri would have only lost by a TD they would have been in. Hell if they would have lost by 2 TDs they probably would have been in. But the fact is, in one of the biggest games in school history, Missouri lost by 3 TDs and the game was effectively over in the 2nd half. What happens when a team is getting blown out? People turn off their TVs and the money you make from commercials goes down. Truth KU may have gotten blown out by even more versus OU, but they didn't play them. The one game that KU lost they played within one score and the game was still on the line at the end. When the game is still in doubt, people watch. People watch better ratings for late game commercials and the more you can charge for them. How many people were still watching the end of the MU-OU game versus the end of the KU-MU game? Like it or not the BCS is all about making money. That's why it is what it is and why a playoff system would be worlds better. But as long as the BCS gets to pick who is in what bowl that's going to be the case. Why do you think ILL is playing in the rosebowl? Ratings, you have an eastern and a western team. Why is OU playing WVU and VT playing KU? Everyone in the Big12 would love the KU OU game, it would be the ultimate what if game. If KU had pulled out the MU game would they have played for the championship. But the KU-OU game is all about regional ratings. When you have KU playing VT you get a midwest and an eastcoast team. More people interested, more ratings. Same for OU-WVU. With OU-KU and WVU-VT, you'll have better stories and better rivalry but ultimately fewer people watching, because they are regional games. KU is in because the BCS believes they'll get better ratings with them in than not. Missouri is out likely because of the 2nd half ratings of the OU-MU game. It is terrible for football fans, but the sad truth of the business world. You can't say Missouri got screwed by someone else, because they screwed themselves. You take care of business and put on a good show and you'll make the BCS. Put up a stinker and you're out. Be honest, if you didn't love MU or OU how many of you would have watched the 2nd half of the game? MU put up a ratings debacle in their last game and the BCS likely wouldn't want to risk them doing it again. It sucks that this is about business but it is and Missouri can't really blame anyone but themselves. If they had kept it close they would have been playing in a BCS game. The 2 loss issue was bogus. This was a business decision through and through.
Posts: 8,523

12-03-2007, 05:59 PM	#90
Bearcat Would an idiot do that? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arizona Casino cash: $-855069	Seriously, grow up people. 1) Mizzou deserves to be in a BCS bowl over Kansas and Illinois. The Rose Bowl tradition sucks, and the system sucks if what a team does on the field isn't 99% of what gets you into a BCS bowl. 2) Kansas didn't orchestrate anything, so quit bitching. They didn't plan on playing a bunch of chumps so they could get a BCS bowl game. They went this route because you have to START winning before you can have any sort of winning tradition, recruiting success, etc. And who cares of Perkins was on the phone this week. What's Perkins going to do, tell them to take Mizzou? Yeah, no other admin was on the phone this week, either. 3) If you forgot, some good teams lost to some really bad teams this year. You can't play in a BCS conference and go 11-1 if you suck, and that's what some here are trying to say. It's not like Kansas had 108 years of difficult schedules and things just happened to work out this year. It might have something to do with a little bit of talent. But, if it makes you feel better... 4) As said before me, the system sucks, and letting Kansas in tells teams they can schedule soft teams and get a BCS bowl without even having to worry about winning the conference; which is obviously why they need another system. Like I said last night, I think the football team will go ahead and show up and play in the Orange Bowl, if that's okay with everyone else involved. It's Kansas' first Orange Bowl in 40 years, which is enough reason to celebrate. And you know, call me a glass-half-full person, but if Kansas could keep the score fairly close against a team that held the #1 spot in the nation for a week, and maybe if they could keep turnovers and special teams mistakes down to a bare minimum... and maybe, just maybe, in a season where App State and Stanford beat teams once in the top 5.... Nah.
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