The TCU/Boise State Problem

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For the next month, football will dominate water cooler and cocktail chatter. A lot of that talk will center around the BCS games. This year’s slate of BCS bowl games features Ohio State and Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Georgia Tech and Iowa in the Orange Bowl, Florida and Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, Boise State and TCU in the Fiesta Bowl and Alabama and Texas squaring off in the BCS National Championship Game. While Alabama and Texas will play for title, the Fiesta Bowl match-up of TCU/Boise State seems to be generating the most discussion.

Both teams enter the game undefeated and ranked in the top 10. The two teams faced each other last season in the Poinsettia Bowl, which turned out to one of the most exciting games of the 2008-2009 season. By all indications, this will be one hell of a game. However, most Fiesta Bowl talk focuses on the controversy rather than the game itself.

Both teams play in non-automatic qualifying conferences and both had much bigger aspirations heading into the BCS selection. As members of the non-automatic qualifying conferences, the knock against both TCU and Boise State is that they lack the strength of schedule of the teams from the six BCS affiliated conferences. Never mind the fact the Boise State posted a dominating victory over Oregon, who plays in BCS bowl game this season, and TCU posted three wins over three top 25 teams.

TCU and Boise argue that they are willing to play any team, any time, any where, but many traditional powers refuse to play them for fear of losing. They felt that the in the BCS they would be afforded the opportunity to play one of the traditional powers, at a neutral site, in a prime-time, made for national television environment.   TCU even had faint hopes that they could be selected to play for the national title, but at worst given a shot to play Florida, Georgia Tech or Iowa. Instead, TCU and Boise State were paired together–two non-automatic qualifiers squaring off in a meaningless game.

It reminds me of jobs where they require you to have experience before applying, but there is no way to get the experience when all the related jobs require experience. For example, in order for an actor to make a living, he or she must be a member of Actors’ Equity Association. Almost all professional theaters in the United States are Equity affiliated and you must be a member of the union in order to perform. In order to join the union, you must have performances in Equity houses under your belt. Of course, there are exceptions to these rules, just like TCU and Boise State are the exceptions in the BCS, but in most cases the rule apply.

In order for schools like TCU and Boise to prove that they are worthy of BCS bids and legitimate national title contenders they need to prove themselves against BCS schools. The BCS denied this opportunity to these two schools out of fear of the BCS affiliated schools being embarrassed by the non-automatic qualifiers.

Some experts feel that TCU and Boise State deserve each other. Colin Cowherd, one of ESPN’s generic radio personalities, made the statement on his Monday program that TCU and Boise State should be happy to just be invited to the BCS, that TCU had “cankles” and didn’t deserve a big time BCS bowl game because they didn’t sell out all of their home games.

This is obviously flawed logic. A team’s fan support is not an indicator of the quality of their program. If we extended this logic to the NFL then the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings, the top two teams in the NFC, should not be allowed the right to play in the Super Bowl even if they win the NFC. Both the Saints and Vikings are small market teams and have had trouble selling out home games over the years. Indeed, the Vikings feared they would have to blackout home games this season until they signed Brett Favre.

The BCS fears schools like TCU and Boise State having success, because the more success these programs have, the more irrelevant the BCS becomes.

Thank you Cowboys fans!

You’ll recall that last week I urged all Dallas Cowboys fans to rush over to the website for the Fox affiliate in Shreveport to vote in a poll asking which NFL game they should show on Sunday. As mentioned, the Shreveport media market contains parts of Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas, which is solid Cowboys country. There was the thought the  Saints fans might be able to cast enough votes to get their game shown instead.

I’m happy to announce that the Cowboys game won and now our East Texas, Southwest Arkansas and Northwest Louisiana fan bases will get to the Cowboys/Redskins game on Sunday.

Just another reminder of the greatness of our fan base! Thanks to all the Cowboys fans who went to the website and voted.

Calling all Dallas Cowboys fans…

As a lifelong Cowboys fan, I like to think of our fan base as one big family. As such, we come together to help our family members out, especially when it involves watching and rooting on our beloved Cowboys. I’ve been given a message from a loyal Cowboys fan in East Texas that a part of our family may be denied that opportunity. Now East Texas is strong Cowboys country; however, this portion of East Texas is actually in the Shreveport media market.

The Shreveport Fox station, KMSS, is running a poll to see which NFL game they should show at noon on November 22, 2009. Of course, we play the Redskins, but the Saints play Tampa Bay during that same time slot. As part of the Cowboys fan base, we need to do everything possible to make sure our “family” in East Texas, Southwest Arkansas and Northwest Louisiana get to watch this game on their local television station. Please visit the station’s website and click on the icon on the right to get to the voting screen. You’ll have to register for a free account, but it’s worth it to help out fellow Cowboys fans.

As you might imagine, the Shreveport area has a strong Saints fan base as well and the Shreveport Fox station (and CBS back in the day) have been known to show Saints games over Cowboys games from time to time.Whenever this happens, there is an uproar from the Cowboys fan base. It seems like it would happen at least once a year when I was a kid and it was always a disappointing week. I live in Dallas now, so we’re not doing this for me. I’ll get to see the game.

Do it for the kids, the 4 or 5 year old kid who loves the Dallas Cowboys and wants to watch them with his daddy. Do it for the elderly grandmother in East Texas who only turns her TV on to watch the evening news and the Cowboys. Most of all, do it for our family.

Remember, this is Louisiana we’re dealing, a land famous for rigged elections. If we want the Cowboys to win this vote, we’re going to have to play by ACORN rules.

The professional athlete as a fan…

A local talk radio program conducted an interview with Quinton Ross this morning. Now that he is officially a Dallas Maverick, Ross has the opportunity to do something very few athletes get to do–play ball in the same city for high school, colleges and the pros. Udonis Haslem is the only current athlete whose name I can think of off the top of my head, but I’m sure Miami, L.A. and Houston have had a few in the past.

I began to think about what it means for an athlete to play professionally for his hometown. Does it mean anything at all? Is there any emotional attachment between a pro-athlete and their hometown team or does a professional athlete automatically shed all childhood allegiances?

For better or worse, I am emotionally invested in the Cowboys, Mavericks and Rangers. I’ve followed these teams my entire life. As a kid, I collected the trading cards, autographs, the Starting Lineup action figures, and any other type of memorabilia you can possibly imagine associated with the guys on my team.

Throughout the years, Ive devoted my time to watching their games in person and/or on TV. Consider the fact that since 1990, I have missed only two Cowboys’ games (1.) a December 28, 2003 game against the New Orleans Saints 2.) a September 30, 2001 game against the Philadelphia Eagles). Similarly, I saw all 82 Dallas Maverick regular season games, either in person or on TV, in 2006-2007 and I have missed only 24 Mavericks regular season games since the 2005-2006 season.

As I grow older, I find that my devotion to these teams grows only stronger.  I invest countless hours each year to reading about my teams, writing about my teams, talking about my teams and listening to others talk about my teams. For what? So I can impress friends at a cocktail party by naming every Cowboys’ kicker since 1985? No, I do it out of love, love of and for my teams.

I was about a .230 hitter in youth league baseball (although I knew how to work a walk and had a .800% OBP one summer) and at 6 feet, 160 pounds, I was a back-up center and defensive tackle on my high school’s JV football team before I decided to quit.  Needless to say, I knew from an early age that professional sports were not part of my future.

Not only do I lack the set of physical skills necessary to be a pro-athlete, I lack the mindset as well.  You see, even if I had Tom Brady’s skill set and contract, I could not bring myself to, either directly or indirectly, compete with the Dallas Cowboys.

How does a professional athlete deal with this emotional schism? Let’s say a kid grows up in New England, idolizing the Sox. He’s a five tool player and he gets drafted in first round right out of high school and singed to a million dollar contract. The only catch is that the team that drafted and signed him is the New York Yankees.

I’m sure situations like this must arise in the professional sports world and when they do, I’m interested to find out how the athletes deal with it.

I realize that many professional athletes may grow up as a fan of a particular player or sport and not necessarily loyal to their local team, but I know there are some athletes with passions like mine. Would a multi-million dollar contract and the promise of a championship give me the motivation necessary to temporarily set these this emotional investment aside? I tend to think not.

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Now playing: David Paich, Don Henley & Jeff Porcaro – New York Minute
via FoxyTunes

Bad day for Cowboys?

The Dallas Cowboys are rolling. Tony Romo is back and has led the ‘Boys to three straight wins, throwing for 300+ yards in the past two games. On top of that, T.O. has looked more like the T.O. we know and love the past couple of weeks and the defense, in spite of the obscenely soft coverage, has given up only two touchdowns, both in garbage time, over the past three games. Indeed, the Cowboys look more like the team that began the season with Super Bowl aspirations than the shit we saw against the Cardinals, Rams and Giants.

Leave it to the Dallas media to piss on our “blue star” blankets.

The Cowboys are the only NFL team to post a 25 point  victory and still get charged with a loss in the eyes of the local media. The theory is that since the Cowboys got little help today from the Packers, Saints and Chargers, they are doomed to miss the playoffs.

I choose to look at the situation from a different perspective. My mother always taught me, “if you want something done right, do it yourself.” The Cowboys would be wise to take these words under advisement. If they go out and take care of their own business, winning the remaining games on their schedule, they will finish 12-4–one game off their 13-3 record last season–and be assured of a Wild Card slot in the playoffs.

Sure, the road will not be easy. The Steelers rolled over a good Patriots teams in B.F.E., Massachusetts today and next week we must travel to their home. The Steelers have always been envious of the Cowboys (sorry Brian) and the “Terrible Towels” will be out in full effect. In addition, we must play on a grass surface in a city that the NFL should not allow a grass surface. We’ve all seen how Heinz Field plays in Decemeber, like a swamp. The temperature will be low; water in some form will probably soak the field and the Cowboys will start with a definite disadvantage, but we have a (healthy)Romo–the Great Equalizer.

Next, we have the Giants. Yes, they possess the best record in the NFL, but whose to say they can stay away from gun related accidents in the next two weeks? Plus, it’s the second to last game at Texas Stadium. There’s no way Brandon Jacobs leaves this game happy.

The Ravens? Yeah, they’re hot, but this is the last game at Texas Stadium.

Philly is Philly. They’re fans are far more dangerous than their football team. Before playing in Philly, you need to be up to date on all your shots and just tune out the obnoxious drunks. McNabb will eventually beat himself.

The Cowboys are more talented than any team left on their schedule and far more talented than the Falcons, Panters or Buccs.  Now, it’s a matter of mental toughness and how much they want the playoffs. If the Cowboys, don’t win out, it will be because of a lack of effort, in which case they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs.

2008-2009 NFL Predictions

OK kids, here you go, Geoausch’s predictions for the upcoming NFL Season.

Let’s start with the division champions.

AFC East -    New England Patriots (11-5) The Patriot take a giant step back, after a giant let down to finish last season. Brady is gimpy and the Patriots in-game scouting has taken a big hit. They’ll still have enough to win the AFC East, but don’t be surprised if the Patriots do not get a first round bye this season.

AFC North - Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) The Steelers play in a favorable division and should have no problem with division opponents. Where the Steelers will run into trouble is the NFC East portion of their schedule.

AFC South - Indianapolis Colts (12-4) Once Manning returns and is healthy, the Colts should be able to return to dominance. Another division title, another first round bye and another home playoff loss to end the season.

AFC West -  San Diego Chargers (13-3)  Though Oakland will be improved, Denver is the only team in the division anywhere near the level of the Chargers. Chargers should have home field throughout the playoffs and they will take full advantage of it.

Wild Card -  New Jersey Jets  (10-6)  Favre has an immediate impact on already improving team.

                   Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6) The best 2^nd place team in the NFL.

 

NFC East -  Dallas Cowboys (14-2)  You’re damn right I’m biased.

NFC North – Minnesota Vikings (10-6) Packers slip after losing Favre. Vikings defense should be one of the best in the NFL. If you run the ball and stop the run, you will win a lot  of games. At some point, you do have to throw  and that will be the downfall of the Vikings.

NFC South -  New Orleans Saints (8-8) Weak conference produces the weakest of conference champions.

NFC West -  San Francisco 49ers (9-7)  49ers will finish tied with the Seahawks for the West title. However, the 49ers will win the division on tie breakers.

Wild Card -  Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Philly will be improved with McNabb healthy.  Phans will be as sorry as ever. Phuck Philly!

                     New York Giants (9-7)    Giants get in as a wild-car again, but cannot repeat the magic of last year’s post-season.

 

AFC Championship -  Chargers over Jets – Favre performs a miracle and leads Jets to AFC Championship game. However, the Jets are no match for the Chargers.

NFC Championship -   Cowboys over Eagles – Phuck Philly!

 

Super Bowl XLIII -   Cowboys over Chargers – Sure, it’s a fashionable pick, but I did pick the 49ers to win their division.