Announcing Mayhem

We have had three BCS games so far, and every single one of them has allowed me to sleep soundly. Real snoozers.

We were spoon fed the Hawai'i is this year's media darling stories for weeks and all it got us was sheer and utter humiliation that that was a BCS game. We were fed that Illinois was a huge underdog but had all this team speed and Big-10 power that they might pull off an upset. Pass the applesauce, please. We were told WVU had no chance, not noting that they had a pretty good defense and Rich Rodriguez didn't coach that side of the ball. Not noting that there was this guy named Pat White on offense, who can also be known as the Flash from now on.

This BCS season went downhill early. Imagine going into championship Saturday a month ago that Notre Dame was #4 instead of UGA, and that the Irish were 10-2. The #1 and #2 teams in the country lose. Who do you think Kirk Herbstreit is promoting to be in the MNC then?

My point is not that UGA deserved to be in the MNC, because who the hell knows if they did. We sure as hell will never get the chance to find out. My point is that announcers have too much control over the BCS process. College Gameday blatently pandered for an LSU-Ohio State game over a month ago, all the while dismissing teams like UGA and Kansas.

Do I have a problem with the LSU-Ohio State game? No. In fact, I actually think it might be a pretty good game and lord knows of all the teams clamoring for a spot in the MNC those two probably had the strongest arguments. My problem is that the pandering would not have occurred if UGA was Notre Dame or USC or Nebraska. UGA does not hold the same light in the national media as these other schools and I would be the first to admit it.

Announcers talking too much took a new turn in the Sugar Bowl. All pregame we had to deal with this Hawai'i is the team of destiny everyone is supposed to like shtick. Colt Brennan had a personal interest story on him about how he redeemed himself from a "mistake." I am proud that he has been able to redeem himself as are many other people throughout the nation. I am not proud of the Fox network or Brennan not saying what that mistake was. Colt, you broke into a woman's room and exposed your genitals to her. Do not make a personal interest story about yourself to make yourself out like a victim if you can't state that. That story made it seem like he did nothing wrong and he was run out of the University of Colorado by mean and evil people.

Later in the game Thom Brennaman, who should never call a college game again after calling UGA the "Gators," started praising Hawai'i for not giving up, while, at the same time calling UGA classless for still playing hard. Thom, the team had its backups in. These are kids that never see playing time. You want them to start taking knees with ten minutes to go against the highest scoring offense in college football? You want them to come into the Sugar Bowl, a game they may never get the chance to play in again and not try? Go back to the NFL Thom.

I am really hoping for something better in the Orange Bowl tonight. But, to be honest, I kind of smell a Kansas victory in impressive fashion. That team still wants to prove themselves.