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 Tuesday, December 4, 2001
A Tennessee win would lead to chaos
By Brent Musburger
Special to ABC Sports Online
Tennessee may take everyone off the hook, but folks, I've got my first major issue with the BCS formula and it revolves around who's No. 2 if LSU upsets Tennessee Saturday night in Atlanta.
|  | | Eric Crouch and the Huskers are not out of the championship hunt despite losing their last game 62-36. |
If the mathematical compilation used by the BCS elevates Nebraska into the Rose Bowl against Miami if Tennessee falls out of the No. 2 spot, I find that blatantly unfair to Colorado and Oregon.
The Colorado case is simple: The Buffaloes manhandled the Huskers 62-36, and they went on to upset Texas to win the Big 12 championship in Dallas. For the life of me, I don't see how you can rate a team in the Big 12 ahead of Colorado after the Buffs won the conference championship.
Oregon is ranked No. 3 by both the writers and coaches this week, and even though the Ducks didn't play in a conference championship game, they finished on a higher note than the Huskers did.
Now don't get me wrong, this is not an anti-Nebraska point of view; no one enjoys going into Lincoln more than I do, and the Huskers' victory over Oklahoma this year was one of the high points of the season for our broadcast team. But winning a conference championship must stand for something. Otherwise, why play it?
I find this year's possible controversy to be more troubling than a year ago when Florida State edged out Miami for a spot in the national championship game even though the 'Canes beat the 'Noles head-to-head. I've always felt the critics of last year's FedEx Orange Bowl matchup were conveniently overlooking Washington, a good team that beat Miami in Seattle and went on to win the Rose Bowl over Purdue. The selection of Miami or Florida State to play Oklahoma for the championship was highly debatable; there is no debate between Colorado versus Nebraska. Fair is fair, and the conference championship must count for something.
Even if Tennessee wins Saturday night, Roy Kramer and the other architects of the Bowl Championship Series must sit down and address the issue of the true meaning of a conference championship. What boggles my mind is that all eight computers used in the BCS standings have Nebraska rated ahead of Colorado. Obviously, the computers were busy shopping on the day after Thanksgiving and didn't see what happened in Boulder.
Of course, Tennessee can make this entire discussion moot. You have to admire any team than can go into The Swamp, and handle the Gators the way the Vols did. But the Volunteers should send an extra game ball to the oddsmakers who made them a three-touchdown underdog to Florida. That was the rallying cry in Knoxville all week long.
But the Volunteers can't pack for Pasadena yet. I have the utmost respect for LSU coach Nick Saban. He is a defensive specialist who may someday wind up back in the NFL as a head coach. Tennessee running back Travis Stephens will find it much harder to dominate against a Saban defense than he did against the Gators.
Brent's Heisman Ballot
I am not going with the chalk for my three selections.
My third place vote goes to the year's best defensive player, Miami safety Edward Reed. He has been dubbed by Larry Coker as his coach on the field.
My second place vote goes to Fresno State quarterback David Carr. He's the surprise story of the year, the architect of upset victories against Colorado, Oregon State and Wisconsin. He probably won't be picking up the Heisman, but don't be shocked if he's one of the first players marching to the podium next spring in the NFL draft.
As for my first place vote, well, I'll admit it's personal for a player who has been an absolute pleasure to deal with ever since I met him. He's also the winningest quarterback in his school's storied football history. He may not be a prototypical passer, but he is a multiple offensive threat, who has rushed for more touchdowns than any quarterback in history. That's why I am voting for Nebraska's Eric Crouch to win the Heisman.
But folks, this is by no mean's a prediction. One hanging chad could turn this one.
Notre Dame
Finally, there's Notre Dame.
Folks, I have no idea who Notre Dame will finally hire as a head coach, but I deeply believe there's a bigger issue facing the Fighting Irish. I truly feel that Notre Dame should swallow a little pride, and quietly petition the Big Ten to become the 12th team.
|  | | Knute Rockne would even struggle to have Notre Dame challenging for the national title every year. |
Irish fans may find this hard to believe, but in today's world, it is impossible to compete for a national championship year in and year out. There are too many good players spread across 50 states, and there are no longer just a handful of quality coaches. There are dozens and dozens. Knute Rockne could come back and he would find it impossible to compete for the championship annually. But being in a quality conference would allow Notre Dame to take aim at the five bowls that have lucrative agreements with the Big Ten.
And because the Irish would become the 12th team in the conference, the Big Ten could join the SEC and the Big 12 in being allowed to play a conference championship game at the end of the season. How much money do you think an Illinois-Michigan rematch played in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis would have generated for the conference?
The two BCS conferences which hold such championship games right now will tell you how important those games are for the schools and fans. Dallas welcomed Colorado and Texas with open arms last weekend, and Atlanta will do the same this Saturday for Tennessee and LSU. Gary Barnett will tell you that it was more important for the Buffaloes just to win the Big 12 than to worry about where the BCS boys are going to place his team in January.
This has been a great college football season, and it isn't over yet. The entire state of Nebraska will be pulling for LSU Saturday night -- not to mention anyone who wants outright BCS chaos!!!!
Me? I'll watch and enjoy and get ready for the Sega Sports Las Vegas Bowl between USC and Utah on Dec. 25.
What could be better than spending Christmas in Las Vegas with Gary Danielson and Jack Arute? Man, I can't wait for Wayne Newton to sing "A White Christmas," or Danny Gans imitate Wayne singing "White Christmas."
Have a happy everybody.
Brent Musburger is a play-by-play announcer for ABC's coverage of college football. He writes a column every week for ABC Sports Online.
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