Tide rolls Texas for BCS Championship

Congrats to the Alabama Crimson Tide and coach Nick Saban in claiming the BCS Championship with a 37-21 victory over the Texas Longhorns last night. The win marks Saban's second BCS title and he becomes the first to win titles with different programs (LSU).

One fact that cannot escape is that Texas QB Coly McCoy was knocked out of the game early in the first quarter. It was speculated that a shoulder injury had occurred when McCoy was tackled by Alabama's Marcell Dareus. It was only the game's fifth play. Mack Brown would now have to rely on  highly touted true freshman Garrett Gilbert to run the Longhorn offense. It took the kid a while, but he showed some fight in the second half. Some are saying losing McCoy cost the Longhorns another title, but I repectfully disagree.

I say that because didn't Texas come into this affair with the nation's best rushing defense? Both Mark Ingram (116) and Trent Richardson (109) had over 100 yards rushing. That helped lead Alabama to winning the time of possession battle, too (33:39 to 26:21). Which offers another question. Was Texas ranked as the nation's top rush defense because people can't run on them or is it a product of playing in the Big 12 with a fair amount of teams that run a variable of the spread offense? In all honesty, the world will never know on that. All it shows is that stats are just that, stats.

Because Texas could not hold the Bama running game in check, QB Greg McElroy only threw 11 passes. McElroy was seen by many as the one weak link in Alabama's offense. The running game was so successful that McElroy was merely an afterthought. Let the record show that McElroy only completed six passes for 58 yards. The thing is, this guy wins no matter how you look at it. He hasn't lost a start in over half a decade.

I only have one thing that Texas should have done differently and we can all agree on it. What in the world was your staff thinking by calling for a shovel pass? Seriously, why? Wouldn't have taking a knee or calling a running play been better? Sure, hindsight is always 20-20, but I said that before the play. You have a true frosh in at QB. Bama is showing the willingness to take an 11 point lead into the locker room. But, alas, a pick six and the lead goes from 17-6 to 24-6.

Nick Saban. I actually see that you can smile. Just like the Cheshire cat.

Texas had fought all the way back from a 24-6 deficit to only trailing 24-21 with 3:14 left and the Longhorns had to ball at their own 7. A great Bama defensive call for blitzing on the edge, sacking Gilbert, creating a fumble, and taking the ball in the endzone three plays later for a 31-21 lead with 2:01 left. Game over. Right?

It wasn't. Texas got the ensuing kickoff and on the second play of the drive, Gilbert threw his third of four interceptions, giving Bama the ball on the Texas 27. The game clock showed 1:48 remaining. I ask,. You're the head coach, what do you do? I instruct my team to take a knee. Sure, Mack Brown had time outs in his pocket. If Brown uses one, then proceed to run real plays. If not, continue to take a knee and show a bit of class.

Not Saban. He showed that there were to be no classy win this evening by running the ball for yet another Tide score with 0:47 remaining. Are you kidding me? 47 seconds left. You have the game in hand and you call yet another running play. It was obvious that Texas was not going to call any of their remaining timeouts. Okay, the drive did take another 1:01 off the clock, Scoring that touchdown meant a lock. No, how about the previous TD meant that.

I can hear it now. The Texas defense should have stopped them from scoring that last touchdown. Stop it. Just simply stop it. That argument simply doesn't wash here. The game was clearly over at that point. There's no need to pour salt in the wound. Simply a lack of class.

As I said above, no classy win. I say congrats to the Bama players that won that game. Not the head coach.

It was once in a song one that I wanted to forget until now: "I see your true colors shining through."

Yep, we see them.

Oklahoma State WR Bryant ruled ineligible

Update: On November5, the NCAA upheld their suspension of Bryant despite Oklahoma State's appeal. Bryant is currently being projected as a first round pick in the next NFL draft.

This has to go into the file of "Huh?". The NCAA has ruled that Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant (below) is ineligible until October, 2010. The investigation was initiated due to interaction that Bryant had with Deion Sanders.


The university is appealing the decision in the hopes that Bryant could rejoin the Cowboys later this season. The outlook, however, is grim.

Head coach Mike Gundy provided this statement on the appeals process:

"There is nothing new. We've had no response. I think everybody has given up."

Unfortunately, we may have seen the last of Bryant in a Cowboys uniform. And that is sad. It is rumored that Bryant will now go pro due to this decision. All because the NCAA has totally fumbled this situation. It's a turnover that should have never been committed.

In a story from Fanhouse, the investigation into possible NCAA infractions arose when it was thought that Bryant went to a Dallas residence owned by Sanders. It is then suggested that Sanders submitted Bryant to a workout, bought Bryant a meal, and then attempted to build a working relationship between Bryant and agent Eugene Parker (the same agant representing Michael Crabtree).

Amid questioning from the NCAA, Bryant denied all claims, but it was later established that Bryant did visit Sanders (left) in May. The workout and Parker's "involvement" were claims that were unfounded. Bryant was still given his suspension based on NCAA bylaw 10.1 in that Bryant was "...knowingly furnishing the NCAA or the individual's institution false or misleading information."

I underatand that lying to the NCAA is a bad thing, but outside of tha 10.1 bylaw, no rules were violated by Bryant. Did you get that, NCAA? There are reports that Bryant gave the false info to NCAA investigators because he feared that he did, in fact, break a rule. So you take away a kid's year of eligibility because he lied? The only thing Bryant should be accused of is being a kid.

What happens to coaches and programs when they knowingly and repeatedly break NCAA bylaws and rules? If they are found guilty of improprieties, do they receive a suspension? We don't have to wander to far back in the past to see the answer. John Calipari (right) and the Memphis basketball program (and now, the whole John Wall eligiblity issue) and the Alabama textbook scandal are the two of the more prominant issues recently in the news regarding violations. What happened to these institutions?

Both Memphis and Alabama were stripped of wins. There are no reports of any "student-athletes" being given any type of suspension for their participation in the breaking of NCAA rules. Memphis also had to forfeit monies they received from their last Final Four appearance. One of Calipari's players at Memphis, Derrick Rose, is now making a bit of change in the NBA. Did that stigma of the Memphis (and don't forget UMass) program prohibit Calipari from putting a bit of coin in his own pocket?

You might think I'm comparing apples to oranges here. While Calipari's name never surfaced in the Memphis findings, he was still the man in charge. Same for all the Bama coaches. Nothing happened to any of them either. Were these institutions totally forthcoming in their allegations? Doubt it. I once head the expression "if you ain't cheatin', you're not tryin'."

Yet Bryant didn't cheat and is handed a year suspension for giving false information. It's a simple case of the "little guy" get stomped while "the big boys" can rule. Almost like getting bullied. The NCAA is the bully and OK State is the little guy.

Talk about a hypocrisy.

First BCS Standings Show Gators on Top

The first "issue" of the BCS standings were released yesterday, and while we know these will change from week to week, there's always a couple of interesting points to debate. It's no different this time around. A quick peek of the top 5.

1. Florida (6-0) - The Gators used a field goal with 0:09 left to escape an upset bid from Arkansas in its last game (at The Swamp). They also survived one of the toughest atmospheres in all of college sports by beating LSU at night in Baton Rouge, 13-3. QB Tim Tebow (right) has been slowly coming along since his concussion against Kentucky, but the Gators do need more offense. Next up for the Gators: they travel to Mississippi State to face former offensive coordinator and the Bulldogs' new head coach Dan Mullen. Think Mullen knows a thing or two about Florida's offense? Also down the road is the party in Jacksonville against the Georgia Bulldogs.

2. Alabama (7-0) - The Tide jumped over Florida in the AP poll, but that poll is not a factor in the BCS' crazy formula, b ut it still commands attention. Pardon the pun, but maybe the tide is turning in Bama's favor. If things hold up, and at this time of year you just never know if it will or not, the Crimson Tide is on a direct collision course with Florida in the SEC Championship Game with the winner most likely holding down the BCS #1 slot along with a shot at the National Title. Nick Saban and crew have a interestng games ahead: #9 LSU, at Mississippi State, and at Auburn to close out the regular season. I do have this question: Why is hardly anyone mentioning RB Mark Ingram (left) as a legit Heisman candidate? Just thinking out loud, I guess.

3. Texas (6-0) - The Longhorns went to the Cotton Bowl and defeated Oklahoma, 16-13, in the Red River Rivalry. Although it wasn't prtty, QB Colt McCoy (right) and the Longhorns found a way to get the victory. The road to a potential National Championship game doesn't come without possible bumps in Texas' road. This week, it's a night game in Columbia against Missouri. The following week is another road tilt in Stillwater to face the #15 Oklahoma State Cowboys. They have #25 Kansas in Austin and the final regular season game at Texas A&M. If they get by those  lurks the Big 12 Championship Game. Lots a work ahead for Mack Brown and the boys..

4. Boise State (6-0) - The Broncos have the toughest task of any of the top 5 teams. QB Kellen Moore (left) and his Broncos teammates must run the table and have at least a handful of teams ahead and behind them stumble down the road. The hardest part of Boise State's schedule is somewhat behind them. Going to Louisiana Tech will not be a walk in the park despite the fact that Tech is only a 3-3 team. Two big home dates with Nevada and Idaho are games where quite possibly the Broncos can stabilize their ranking, but being at home may also hurt them as far as the BCS is concerned. Exactly how far can an opening week win at home against #16 Oregon carry these guys? It's got the Broncos this far and if the Ducks continue to play well, it can carry Boise State pretty far.

5. Cincinnati (6-0) - The Bearcats hopes could hinge on the health of QB Tony Pike (right) and his wrist. A plate was inserted in Pike's non-throwing wrist last year and during the Bearcats last game at South Florida, Pike took a ht and fell on that wrist. He was forced to leave the game and his chances of playing in UC's next game against Louisville was doubtful at best. That may change as UC head coach Brian Kelly tells The Cincinnati Enquirer that Pike may play. He states that fact at the end of the linked article. The Bearcats cn enhance their chances with games remaining against #23 West Virginia at home and at #20 Pitt. If yu read the article that I linked, you also read where some are saying that Cincy isn't legit. Win the rest of the games and there will be no question even if UC plays in the Big East.

Rounding out the top 10 are #6 Iowa (7-0), #7 USC (5-1), #8 TCU (6-0), #9 LSU (5-1), and #10 Miami (FL) (5-1).