Congrats to LSU in the AP Poll

[Genevapics]

Fair enough...

[jdbwolverines]

Originally Posted by Genevapics

That's 65-12 over 6 seasons. Now, I don't know about you but that is pretty impressive to me. Name one other team in the country that can boast those numbers.

As much as it pains me to say it I would say Ohio Sate has been as equally or even more dominating over the last 6 seasons. Since 2001 (when Tressel also started) they have gone 67-14 beaten more ranked teams and loss to fewer unranked teams. Both have gone 4-2 in bowl games and each won a BCS championship, although USC won a share of it in 2003. I would also argue that over these same years the Big Ten as a whole has been significantly better than the Pac-10, although not this year. Oklahoma has had very similar results also, especially if you go back and additional year to 2000 (when they won the BCS) in again what most would consider a harder conference.

Originally Posted by Genevapics

As far as Southern Cal bringing in the big bucks... myabe TV revenue, but certainly not Gate Receipts. Southern Cal doesn't travel as well as many other team around the country and certainly does not generate the type of Gate revenue that say a Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, Penn State, etc. do.

The main sources for revenue for college football programs are gate receipts, TV contracts/Bowl payouts (which are spread throughout the conference), and apparel contracts. USC currently averages 8th in attendance and less than 1000 out of the top 5. USC is probably the only reason that the Pac 10 can still command a lucrative TV schedule and earns the top bowl money every year for the conference. I couldn't quickly find any stats about their apparel contract but I wound bet it very comparable to the nations other top programs. USC's complete dominance of the west coast market make their Financial figures stand out even more. UCLA was next in attendance at 24th for example.


I think most people would agree that the current poll system is broken. They shouldn't come out until at least the 3rd or 5th week of the season, or even later such as the BCS. The voters in the polls should pry also be looked at. How many coaches actually have enough time every week to watch games outside their opponents to rank the top 25. The AP Poll which is made up of the most competent voters in my opinion isn't even a factor in the BCS. Don't even get me started on the Harris poll which somehow is a part of the BCS.

Don't take me as trying to just bash on USC either. I think all top programs are probably overrated at the beginning of the season (my beloved Wolverines are a perfect example) and non-historical powerhouses are under valued. Well I guess thats just my .

[Genevapics]

My Michigan friend, I agree with everything you wrote. I would like to see some of those revenue figures, but it sounds legit.

Here is where I will disagree somewhat with your opinion of the BIG-10. It's a good conference no doubt. And whether it is better than the PAC-10 is up for debate. But let's face it, the BIG-10 is still a "3 yards and a cloud of dust" conference. Last yeat Florida and Southern Cal exposed both Ohio State and Michigan. Both BIG-10 teams were good, but not as good as advertised. And the real reason is that both schools had a lack of speed on either side of the ball.

Miami introduced the CFB world to what speed could do back in the early '80's. Florida State and Florida quickly caught on, as did most of the SEC. The PAC-10, may not have been as fast back then, but the conference was able to use the air attack to counter the physical teams outside the conference. The BIG-10 and BIG-12 conferences, for the most part, have remained unchanged, with a few exceptions. If Purdue could get the athletes, they would be dangerous! Tiller knows he can't compete with Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, so he does what he can, he passes the ball. Forget about Iowa, as every year, they are supposed to be legitimate and every year they come up short.

Look, the PAC-10 is, was and always has been Southern Cal and the 9 dwarves. Hey it is what it is. Can the rest of the conference play good football? Absolutely. But for the most part, it is Southern Cal that carries the flag. That is not to say the PAC-10 is a weak conference, but there is really only one top dog that hunts. There are some programs (Cal, UCLA, OSU & ASU) that want to dethrone Southern Cal, but they just are not there yet. When Don James left Washington, the Huskies went down hill. They have yet to recover.

Good post, my Michigan friend. IMO, if the BIG-10 ever learns to the throw the ball, it will be a dangerous conference. Could you imagine Norm Chow at Michigan? Lord, please let Miles get the job once Carr retires.

I will say this, Tressell has done a fantastic job at Ohio State. Didn't he win a championship or two at Youngstown State?

Good stuff, Michigan, good stuff.

[macjoe53]

Originally Posted by Genevapics

.You make the claim that the two teams that Southern Cal lost to, were unranked. That is both true and false. If you look at the Final Regular Season BCS Standings (12/3/06, which is before the Bowl Games) both Oregon State and UCLA were ranked. [Link: http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/2...chive_bcs.html ] Oregon State finished the season 10-4, ranked No. 22, while UCLA finished the season 7-5, ranked No. 25 in the country. Again, these are the Final Regular Season BCS Rankings (12-03-06) taken at the end of the Regular Season.

It is true that when we lost to both Oregon State and UCLA, neither team was ranked at the time. If this is your argument, then you are correct. The question is, "Which is more important? The ranking of a team when you lose to them or their ranking at the end of the season?"

FIGHT ON!

As you stated, both of those teams were unrated when the played USC and won. They were not ranked until after the season was over. What difference does it make? I would guess that in the minds of the voters it is worse to lose to a unranked team at the time than it is to lose to a ranked team at the time. Look at what happened when a ranked team loses to a unranked team - they drop further in the polls than if they had played a close game and lost to another ranked team.

I am not taking a shot at USC with this and the winning tradition at USC goes further back than Pete Carroll who has earned his placed as one of the top college coaches ever. (For the record, I'm not a big USC fan - in the PAC 10, I prefer Washington).

As for the polls, I believe they are not 100% indicative of who the best team in the country is at all times. The poll system is flawed. For it to be perfect, those voting would have to watch every single game played by ranked teams every weekend before voting. The voters don't have that much time. The watch maybe three of four FULL games at the most and then rely on game statistic and reports to make their decision. And if you don't think the media has a bias, then explain why Notre Dame is always on tv!

The coaches poll is even worse from that standpoint because they are active coaches who are probably more concerned with what's happening on their playing field than on USC's, LSU's or Florida's.

My point is the polls aren't perfect but it's all we have because a playoff system under the current paradigm of college football wouldn't work and wouldn't be allowed anyway by the people in control of the BCS.

[jdbwolverines]

Genevapics, I think I have to agree with everything you said there also. I look at the rest of our schedule this season and teams like Illinois and Purdue are scaring me because of how they run their offense and Michigan's complete inability to stop the spread. They couldn't beat Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State using the run it down your throat mentality so the adapted and now were starting to pay for it. If we can land Les Miles after Carr leaves, I'll pry be chain smoking cigars in celebration.

God, first I'm giving props to Ohio State, now agreeing with USC fans, what is this world coming too?

[macjoe53]

Originally Posted by jdbwolverines

Genevapics, I think I have to agree with everything you said there also. I look at the rest of our schedule this season and teams like Illinois and Purdue are scaring me because of how they run their offense and Michigan's complete inability to stop the spread. They couldn't beat Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State using the run it down your throat mentality so the adapted and now were starting to pay for it. If we can land Les Miles after Carr leaves, I'll pry be chain smoking cigars in celebration.

God, first I'm giving props to Ohio State, now agreeing with USC fans, what is this world coming too?

Don't plan on getting Miles without a fight!

[Genevapics]

Originally Posted by macjoe53

... And if you don't think the media has a bias, then explain why Notre Dame is always on tv!

Notre Dame is a special case. Notre Dame was winning football games and National Championships before TV was even invented. Couple that with the fact that they are in the midwest and it was a team that, "America could get behind." Notre Dame is rich with history, tradition and above all winning. I take nothing away from them at all. NBC obviously felt then and probably still does today, that owning the broadcasting rights to all Notre Dame home games makes financial sense. I would have to agree. Let's face it, you really cannot talk college football history and not include Notre Dame in there somewhere. IMO, Notre Dame is still the most prestigeous coaching position in the game. And when they come knocking on a young man's door during recruiting season, I would figure more mothers and fathers open their doors to Notre Dame than to any other college program. That is why I feel at some point in time, Notre Dame will be back among the elite. Will it be Weis to lead them there, that I cannot say for sure. Think about it: What CFB program is ready to step in and replace Notre Dame as, "America's (CFB) Team?"

Originally Posted by macjoe53

... My point is the polls aren't perfect but it's all we have because a playoff system under the current paradigm of college football wouldn't work and wouldn't be allowed anyway by the people in control of the BCS.

I agree with you here 100%

[Genevapics]

Originally Posted by jdbwolverines

... God, first I'm giving props to Ohio State, now agreeing with USC fans, what is this world coming too?

Hope there are no Sparty fans here...