Great article on the Rose Bowl

[KP]

Seems as if there are people even outside of the Pac10 that don't like what's going on....

By Bob Hunt, Michigan Daily
December 14, 2004
(U-WIRE) ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Tucked deep inside a valley at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Rose Bowl is the best place to be in America on New Year's Day. The gorgeous weather -- which is almost as big of a tradition as the parade -- and the ambiance make the Pasadena Tournament of Roses the best tradition in sports.

Growing up in Chicago and Los Angeles, I vividly remember watching the Rose Bowl on television each year with my family. People in the Midwest and West Coast view the event in a similar light, and many hope that someday they themselves will be able to watch their favorite team in Pasadena.

That is why I am so glad that the Cal Golden Bears have been invited to play in this year's game. The Golden Bears haven't played in the Rose Bowl since 1959. And while they're not champions of the Pac-10, they've had a tremendous year, outplaying No. 1 Southern Cal. in its one regular-season blemish. Cal is clearly deserving of a California dream.

OK, maybe I'm in denial. Maybe I have to accept that Cal's dream has died, and that Texas will be in the Rose Bowl instead. But I'm still not happy about it.

You people in Austin, Texas, may be thrilled that you are going to a BCS game. Good for you. The Longhorns did finish 10-1. Michigan can't say that. But I know that any of the other corporate-whore BCS games would have sufficed.

I'm here to tell you just being happy about making a BCS game is not good enough. This is the Rose Bowl, a country club that you don't belong to. You aren't welcome, either. It's a country club that doesn't discriminate against race, sex or anything like that. But it doesn't like outsiders crashing the party.

The Pac-10 and Big Ten conferences don't just have tie-ins to the Rose Bowl, they own the Rose Bowl. The game is actually owned in a consortium with the two leagues. The reason it even joined the BCS in the first place was to give the two leagues a fair chance at the national title.

But for college football's best game, it's been nothing short of a disaster. Thanks to some complaining (No. 3 Kansas State was snubbed from the BCS in 1998, creating the provision forcing the Rose Bowl to pick Texas), some begging and some abuse of the system (I wonder who voted the Longhorns second in the final coaches poll?), the Longhorns are heading to Pasadena.

The people of the San Gabriel Valley are probably dreading the thought of seeing thousands of people with burnt orange shirts and cowboy hats walking around Old Town Pasadena. Let's just say they won't be ready to "Hook 'em Horns" on New Year's Day.

Assuming next year's national championship game is not a Big 10-Pac-10 affair, we are in the middle of a five-year stretch where there will be just one traditional Rose Bowl matchup. Likewise, there's one conference that has been most represented in the "Granddaddy of Them All" in my four years in Ann Arbor -- The Big 12. Yuck! You can tell me all you want about how The Big 12 is superior with its vaunted North Division champion Colorado, but its teams do not belong in the Rose Bowl.

As someone who covers football in the Big Ten, I don't really know anything about Texas, nor do I care to learn. The closest I've ever been to the state of Texas was the afternoon I ended up in Norman, Okla. You heard of it?

Despite Texas' inability to beat Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout every year, there's something that boggles me even more about the Longhorns. How does Oklahoma mess with Texas every year in recruiting Lone Star State kids? Texas is supposed to be the better school, and Austin is supposed to be the better city. Adrian Peterson grew up a Texas fan, and finished second in this year's Heisman race ... as a Sooner freshman.

Well, I guess that's OK. You know, Charles Woodson is from Ohio.

Texas does have this year's Doak Walker Award winner, Cedric Benson. But this is the player who said publicly that he'd rather win the Heisman than beat Oklahoma. That worked out real well.

And Ricky Williams, he's a troubled boy. Have you seen him?

It's funny. If the Tournament of Roses Association didn't decide to spruce up its festivities in 1902 with a football game, the bowl system may have never been created and Mack Brown would have the playoff he clamors so hard for. Instead, he's poisoning the Rose Bowl.

[Rock]

somebody call the waambulance. If the Big10 and Pac10 want to keep their ties to the Rose then all they have to do is decline the 14.5 million dollar payout by the BCS and keep their bowl game to themselves. Blaming Texas because their conferences decided to do the smart thing and joing the BCS is just nonsense.

[KP]

somebody call the waambulance.

Now that's funny coming from a Texass fan.

You don't think the Rose Bowl could come up with $15 million to have their own game? Before the BCS they were the highest paying bowl game already. I don't think they'd have any problem coming up with sponsors.

But, all we can hope for now is a Michigan win...

[focal22]

Texas deserves a BCS game. Pittsburgh doesn't but hey the BCS is about as perfect as the UCF Golden Knights from the Mid-American East conference this year were. Perfect being 0-11 on the season. Hey when your perfect your perfect wether it be no losses or no wins..

blame the coaches. i don't know who has coaches votes from the Pac-10 but we all know that cocksucker from Texas put his team 2nd in the final poll. if it wasn't him, whoever it was should be strung up by his nuts and his family if he has any should piss all over his face.

[KP]

I read where a couple of changes, again (redundant?), were going to take place. One of them making votes public. I don't know why anyone would vote against making his vote public, unless he had something to hide.

I guess Mack didn't want the world to know he voted ou first and Texass second!!

[Rock]

Now, now I submit that Mike Leach, Dennis Franchione, and Les Miles had just as much to gain by moving Texas up to 2 as Mack did, not to mention Coach Stoops could have been helping his cause just in case...........

In light of this though, I think there is just as much argument to rank Texas 2 as there is for Cal's coach to rank Cal 4th, utah 5th and Texas 6th, how does he justify Utah slipping in between Cal and Texas???
At least the case for TExas being number 2(which is malarky) is that if OU is the best team in the nation, then maybe no other team is within 12 points of them at a neutral site.........I'm not buying it, but its just as fair as oh we are better than an undefeated Utah team, but Texas isn't.........

[KP]

OOOOOOOkkkkkkkkkkkkaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy, Rock.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and discern that you feel it was just as fair for Texass as it would have been for Cal. Cool.

Now, where do you stand on why coach's would vote against having their opinions public?

[satex]

I guess he still hasn't heard of the BCS. Oh well. Where was he when Miami and Nebraska were in the Rose Bowl in 2002 ? OU in 2003 ?

And I believe this article is part of dueling writers thing betweenthe UT and UM student papers. You can go to UT's website to see their response.

And I don't go for that 1902 crap. The Rose Bowl was built in 1924, then the Sun Bowl and the Cotton Bowl around 1930.

I was a little apprehensive about playing Michigan but the more I look at Michigan the less concerned I am. I watched 4 UM games this year. I think Texas could very well provide them with a solid beat down. Aaaand I think Tech may very well walk away with an upset against Cal.

[KP]

Texass may very well beat Michigan. They probably have a better offense and certainly a better defense.

The BCS or Coalition or whatever its been called has been a mess the entire time. Like you said, having Nebraska in the Rose Bowl was totally ridiculous. ou last year was as well. Hopefully a playoff of some sort will start shortly.

I don't think TT has a prayer against Cal. TT's offense is pretty good, at least their passing offense, but I don't see them matching up well at all with Cal offensively or defensively. It would have to be a total meltdown by Cal to get upset.

[satex]

Originally Posted by KP

Texass may very well beat Michigan. They probably have a better offense and certainly a better defense.

The BCS or Coalition or whatever its been called has been a mess the entire time. Like you said, having Nebraska in the Rose Bowl was totally ridiculous. ou last year was as well. Hopefully a playoff of some sort will start shortly.

I don't think TT has a prayer against Cal. TT's offense is pretty good, at least their passing offense, but I don't see them matching up well at all with Cal offensively or defensively. It would have to be a total meltdown by Cal to get upset.

Yeah..hmmmm...so how does a playoff keep the Rose Bowl as being just PAC/Big X schools ? I guess it does if no Pac-Big X teams are in the playoffs.

About Cal. I admit, I only watched them twice this year so I don't have a LOT to go on but from what I saw of them, I can't see them blowing Tech out. I think it will be a decent game and Tech, with a good day, can beat them without a Cal 'meltdown'. I'm biased, but I think the big XII south was the toughest place to play this year.

Cal, Georgia, Tennesee, Tech, aTm, Michigan.....all teams that have proven they can 'melt down' at any given time. Texas has a history of it but has yet to truely melt down this year. Texas has staying power and can bounce back and not let it get away from 'em.

[KP]

Cal is ranked in the top ten in total offense and total defense. Unless another team has entered that I wasn't aware of, they are the only team in the country to be so ranked. They have a strong running game (Arrington and Lynch) and a strong passing game (although I think their top WR is injured). They also have a strong defense, but it will be tested against Tech's passing game.

IMO, Tech cannot run the ball and is not very good defensively. I say Cal wins 42-21.

To retort to your toughest conference, I would say, as a whole, the SEC: Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, LSU.

But, the Big XII south is tough: ou, OSU, Tech, aTm

[Rock]

Don't sleep on Tech, you got a pissed off Cal team that will either feel like they don't belong in the Holiday bowl(see Texas last year) or that will feel they need to prove they don't belong in the Holiday bowl. If it's the former and they are trying to prepare for that ridiculous offense of Leach's that they have never seen while they are in a who cares, easy game attitude, then it becomes an upset special.

I know if I had to choose bowl opponents, I would not want to prepare for Mike Leach's offense, in the situation where it's only a one time exposure to his creativity, it can't be fun.....

[satex]

Originally Posted by KP

To retort to your toughest conference, I would say, as a whole, the SEC: Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, LSU.

But, the Big XII south is tough: ou, OSU, Tech, aTm

Tennesse....Alabama...Arkansas...Florida...? Hmmmm....I'm talking about THIS year. I notice you leave Texas out of the big XII south list. :4-diss3:
aTm will wear Tennesse OUT in the cotton bowl. McNeil is the real deal.

And I don't know WHAT to think about Georgia. Talented players that never gelled as a team is all I can say. Strange team.

[Rusty27]

Originally Posted by satex

Tennesse....Alabama...Arkansas...Florida...? Hmmmm....I'm talking about THIS year. I notice you leave Texas out of the big XII south list. :4-diss3:
aTm will wear Tennesse OUT in the cotton bowl. McNeil is the real deal.

And I don't know WHAT to think about Georgia. Talented players that never gelled as a team is all I can say. Strange team.

I wouldn't be suprised.The Vols have no defense and with 3rd string QB Clausen
they won't be able to keep up in a shootout.Not to mention,they haven't even shown up to their last two bowl games.