Congratulations to the Utah Utes. Very impressive win over the Crimson Tide. Like every other college football fan out there (other than Utah fans), I was shocked that the Utes were ahead 14-0 before ‘Bama even knew the game had started. The Utes were extremely well coached, executed flawlessly, and took out a Nick Saban-coached Alabama squad. Convincingly. The Utes deserve all the credit in the world for bringing the wood, and a surprisingly large contingent of fans to New Orleans.
But to those who are now claiming that Non-BCS teams deserve a chance at the National Title, save your breath. Put the Utes on the road in the SEC, Big 12, Pac-10 or even the Big 10, and they have at least one loss, if not more. Seventeen-to-twenty-one year old college football players can play at the highest level maybe three or four times per year. Florida wasn’t on their game against Ole Miss; USC didn’t have it against Oregon State, OU vs. Texas, Texas vs. Texas Tech. Utah had to get up for Oregon State, TCU, and BYU–all home games. Does anyone think the Utes would be 12-0 if they had to travel to Norman, Austin, Baton Rouge, Gainesville or Columbus?
To me, the most impressive thing about an SEC or Big 12 team is the road wins. Even at home, SEC/Big 12 visiting teams aren’t intimidated by the home crowd in a massive un-friendly stadium. Road wins in those leagues are ALWAYS tough to come by. Utah, BYU, and TCU-type teams don’t have to face these kinds of road contests in their schedules, nor do hey have to face battle-tested opponents at home.
Every year, we hear the same old ‘BCS Buster’ hype. Put these teams in an SEC, Big 12 or Big 10 stadium on a Saturday night, and the madness will stop.
Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, BCS, MWC, SEC, Sugar Bowl, Utah Utes
I think Utah can make just as much of a claim to the title as any other D1 team can in this fictitious system called the BCS.
Until the games are decided on the field by the players and coaches and not in the newspapers by the sports writers, THIS WILL ALWAYS BE A PROBLEM.
Yes, I agree, Utah would probably have at least 1 loss it they played in a “major” conference but so does Florida and OU. Does that mean they don’t deserve a shot? They had their shot and took a very good Alabama team to the woodshed.
ANY system that determines winners and losers of an athletic competiton by votes is flawed. Even the coaches poll is crap. We all know the votes are totally subjective and skewed toward the big time programs and big time conferences.
We all know our society is in love with the “long ball” and that is why the Big 12 has gotten so much publicity this year when in reality the fate of OU will be very similar to that of TT come Thursday night.
Teams travelling for a road game in Utah might be in for a little surprise, just like the NFL teams that visit Denver. Had Utah been ranked #10 or above at the start of the season, they’d be playing this Thursday in the Title Game. Why does USC who lost to Oregon State get so much love when Utah who beat State does not? The UTEs beat Alabama by more than Florida did, beat TCU and started Michigan down the wrong road in the Season Opener in Ann Arbor. Bottom line is that Utah’s resume is on par with that of Florida, USC, Penn St or Ohio St, but the big school bias kept them down this year!
“Put the Utes on the road in the SEC, Big 12, Pac-10 or even the Big 10″
This statement reveals a severe flaw and bias in a typical college football fan’s logic, which is the MWC can’t play at the level of a BcS league. Well, that’s BS.
The MWC was 10-5 versus BcS schools in OOC play in 2008 including a 6-2 record versus the PAC 10. Utah beat every MWC program that by and large were dominating BcS programs.
The flaw in the logic is severe. Utah & the MWC can’t hang with the “big boys”? No … the “big boys” can’t hang with Utah & the MWC.
“… save your breath”? Looks like you kind of wasted yours.