Senator Disses the Crimson Tide
by Jan Crawford
Iām no fan of the BCS, which has destroyed the bowls and created the untenable, mindboggling scenario where the National Championship game is played nearly a week after New Yearās Day. But on this one, I have to agree with BCS Director Bill Hancock: Really, doesnāt Congress have more important things to do?
Hancock was reacting to Sen. Orrin Hatchās letter urging President Obama to invite undefeated #4 Boise State to the White House when Obama hosts the undefeated, undisputed #1 Alabama Crimson Tide. Of course, you all know the Tide regained its rightful place atop the college football world after whipping up on Texas in the Rose Bowl last week.
Hatch, who hates the BCS, is all bent out of shape about poor Boise State, which ran the table in the Western Athletic Conference, not getting a chance to take on the big boys of college football. (Of course, Bobby Bowden had a similar problem when he was building his Florida State program, so he decided to take on the big boys in the REGULAR SEASONāby scheduling games with any powerhouse who would play the āNoles. Just an idea there, Boise State).
But I digress. Hatch wants the President to āsend a clear message that champions should be chosen on the field and not in pre-arranged agreements.ā Sadly, he says, inviting them both will not erase the āunfairness of the past.ā
Give. Me. A. Break. That sounds exactly like what youād get from someone who went to BYU and lacks any understanding of the history, the wrangling, the tradition, the classic games, the disputes, the passion that make up college football. (And by the way, where was Hatch in 1984, when a tough Washingtion team got hosed when the National Championship...went to BYU? I didn't hear him whining then.)
Unfairness of the past? Unfairness of the past? You want me to talk about āunfairness of the past?ā
How about 1966, when Alabama finished 10-0 and destroyed a 9-2 Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl, yet finished third? That was the team Bear Bryant called his best ever, yet Notre Dame claimed the crown, even though they played to a 10-10 tie with Michigan Stateāand Coach Ara Parseghian let time run out without even trying to win the damn game.
Or 1977, when Notre Dame again grabbed the title from the Tide. The Irish went into their bowl game ranked #5, with Alabama ranked #3. Alabama destroyed #9 Ohio State. Now Notre Dame fans can say they deserved to leap over the Tide because they beat #1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl. But Notre Dame lost to a 5-6 Ole Miss team earlier in the seasonāa team Alabama crushed 34-13.
Unfairness of the past?
Those were disputed national championships, and those were long before the BCS era. Thatās part of college footballāevery single game matters during the regular season, sometimes things are messy. And, 40 years later, youāre still arguing about how you got totally screwed over and how you hate Notre Dame and what a shame it is that the Bear never did manage to beat the Fighting Irish, but aināt it great how things have worked out over the past decade up there in South Bend?
