By
Pete Fiutak
Fire over your questions to me at
pete@collegefootballnews.com. I might not be able to answer them
all, but I promise they're all read. Any e-mails sent to this
address may be published or edited unless requested otherwise.
(Please put ASK CFN in the subject line, and PLEASE keep the
questions short ... it makes my life easier.)
In the upcoming report of the presidents of various
universities to Congress concerning why the NCAA should maintain its tax
exempt status, I read that there were two proposals that were put forth
(but not endorsed). One of those proposals would end the requirement
that a transfer between schools for athletes requires a one year period
of sitting out. I was wondering how you feel about that. To me it
seems that it will cause huge issues and in theory would create a more
professional-like atmosphere in college athletics (especially
football). Recruiting could conceivably last throughout a player’s
college career and cause dramatic shifts in teams from year to year. – PM
A: Absolutely, 100% all for it. The NCAA is always preaching that its
students and its athletes are one in the same. If a regular student can
transfer without penalty, then so should student-athletes. Coaches and
recruiters are usually ethical, but they’re all about getting the
talent. What if it doesn’t work out and another player emerges as a
starter? What if a player signs a letter of intent and then the
assistant coach he wanted to play for decides to leave? What if a player
just flat-out doesn’t like what school he’s at? Basically, because the
coaches are getting paid fortunes and the players don’t get a dime, I
say make the coaches work and let the players have as much freedom as
humanly possible.
Why is USC out of the national title race? They only fell to #8 in
the BCS after the Oregon State loss, and they've got games against #9
Notre Dame and # 10 Cal -- both at home -- to improve their numbers.
Shouldn't they be in the Texas/OSU-Michigan loser/one-loss SEC team
discussion? – GS
A: You just can’t lose to Oregon State. Losing at Auburn, like Florida
did, is one thing, but losing in Corvallis just doesn’t carry the same
weight in the minds of the voters considering how average the Trojans
played in close wins over Washington and Washington State. However, if
the team starts to turn things around and blows out Cal and Notre Dame
in impressive fashion, voters might quickly change their minds. It’s not
about how you start, it’s about how you finish. Remember, if Arkansas
wins the SEC, the computers are going to be in love with the early
season Trojan win in Fayetteville.
My question is simple, what happened to storming the field and
tearing down the goalposts after a huge win or upset? I understand that
it was getting out of control, but how does Oregon State not march those
yellow pole out of the stadium after snapping all those streaks USC had
going? Why and how did this tradition become extinct in such a short
time? –EL
A: Injuries started to become a problem with some kids getting hit with
the falling goal posts, and there was even a death. With the emergence
of collapsible goal posts, schools don’t want to mess with the dangers
anymore and don’t want to pay the expense of coming up with
replacements. I do miss the tradition. There was always something cool
about it, but I do understand the dangers. I’m all for letting the fans
rush the field and letting them jump around; that shouldn’t change.
I don’t believe Ohio State should get a rematch if they lose to
Michigan, or vice versa, but please tell me the there is no way that
Notre Dame gets in above either of these teams that are clearly
superior. – RS
A: Never discount the desire of the human polls to want to see the Irish
in big games. Remembering that the top two teams in the Coaches and
Harris polls will likely be in the national title no matter what the
computers say, here’s how it could happen: USC turns into a juggernaut
again and rips apart everyone else on the slate up until the Notre Dame
game. The Irish beat USC in L.A. by two touchdowns. Ohio State
obliterates Michigan, knocking the Wolverines down to
around fifth or sixth. The SEC champion wins
less than impressively, or has fewer than two losses. No Big East team
is unbeaten. All that would get the Irish close, but at the end of the
day, I really believe the voters will still be soured by the blowout
loss to the Wolverines.
With the addition of the extra BCS game does the Championship game
move around? There are two games in Phoenix this year. Will there be two
games at the Orange Bowl, then two at the Sugar Bowl and so on? – SD
A: Yup. Next year the Sugar Bowl will be on January 1st with
the national title game played in New Orleans on the 7th. In
2009, Miami gets the Orange and the BCS Championship game, and then
Pasadena gets its turn.
Is the
Big 12 North that bad, or is the Big
12 South that good? And
why? -DH
A: It’s a combination of both, but don’t be surprised if things start to
turn in the near future. Texas and Oklahoma are established national
powerhouses, Texas Tech is solid, Texas A&M has a veteran team, and
Oklahoma State and Baylor are emerging thanks to high-octane offenses.
In the North, there isn’t the Texas or Nebraska type of team with
Missouri and Nebraska each trying to break through and get their
programs on track. Colorado has taken a huge dip, Kansas State is
rebuilding, Kansas is trying to build some consistency, and Iowa State
is always going to struggle with getting the top talent in Ames. Once
Dan Hawkins gets things rolling in Boulder, and now that Nebraska is
close to getting back to a national title level, the divisions should be
more even over the next few years. However, Oklahoma and Texas aren’t
going anywhere any time soon meaning the balance of power will always be
in the South.
You've said numerous times that you consider UCLA to be somewhat of a
sleeping giant in college football. It is now clear to the majority of
UCLA fans that Karl Dorrell cannot tap the vast potential that UCLA
possesses. Overall his winning percentage is lower than his predecessor
Bob Toledo, he has beat no team w/ a winning record on the road and has
never competed for the PAC 10 championship or a BCS Bowl game. My
question is if you see any way that the Bruins can finally rid
themselves of Karl Dorrell, and if so who you do see to be as viable
replacements? – MM
A: Didn’t the Bruins win ten games last year? Would you be griping if
Brady Quinn didn’t come up with one of the most amazing comeback drives
in Notre Dame history to beat UCLA a few weeks ago? You could bring in
just about anyone and he’d have a rough time recruiting against the USC
juggernaut. This is a transition year for UCLA (yeah, you’ve heard
that before) and this isn’t going to be the team’s best year, but
almost everyone is back next year. With the improvements on defense, and
with Ben Olson having a year of experience, the Bruins have a shot to be
a major player. Give Dorrell one more season before you’re looking to
get rid of him.
If Ohio State beats #2 Texas, #2 Michigan and #2 BCS in Glendale in
January, are we looking at one the top 3 or 4 teams of all time or is it
a down year for overall competition? – JK
A: It’s a down year. We’ll crank out the CFN All-Time Rankings Formula
in a few weeks once we get closer to the Wolverine-Buckeye showdown, but
on first glance, this season (not the team’s talent, but who OSU beat)
will probably end up in the middle of the pack. Talent-wise, as good as
this team is, there are at least five recent Buckeye teams (2002, 1998,
1996, 1995, and, arguably, 2005) that were as good as the 2006 version.
Even so, this is a special bunch with Troy Smith playing at another
level and the offensive line playing better than any front five in the
Jim Tressel era. Despite the stats, the only question is the defense.
How would it consistently hold up against several good teams and not the
dregs the Big Ten keeps trotting out? If the Buckeyes win the title, I’m
not dogging them at all; it’ll just be hard for it to be considered an
all-time great.
Hello I’m a badger fan and I think there is a scenario where they can
go to a bcs bowl but I want to double check. If the Badgers win out
making them 11-1, Ohio State is 11-1, and Michigan would be 12-0, I‘d
assume that Michigan would be number 1 and in the national championship
game which means that the second place team in the big ten would
represent the big ten in the rose bowl as the champion. If I’m right in
the big ten since there isn’t a championship game the team that has the
most years winning the big ten becomes the champion, in that case the
badgers would be ahead of the buckeyes and would represent the big ten
in the rose bowl and OSU would probably be an at large team putting 3
big ten teams in the bcs. Now is my scenario correct assuming the
records end up they way I indicated? – JB
A: First, it can’t happen since only two teams from the same conference
can be in the BCS. Second, the tie breaker you’re thinking of it if two
teams tie for the championship, and didn’t play during the regular
season, then the recency rule goes into effect with the team that’s gone
the longest since going to the Rose Bowl getting in. Finally, the Rose
Bowl doesn’t have to take a Big Ten team if the champion is in the
national title. With the Ohio State/Michigan winner likely to play in
the title game, the Rose Bowl gets its shot at any at-large team it
wants. Now, it’ll likely jump all over the Michigan/Ohio State loser,
but Notre Dame might be inviting.
Is the Big Ten the Big Two and Little Nine most years or is it a
balanced conference with two lopsidedly good teams this year? – CR
A: It just so happens to be a down year in the Big Ten, and everywhere
else but the SEC and Big East. Ohio State and Michigan are always going
to be strong, but don’t forget that Penn State won it last year, and
others have been in the mix over the last few years. It used to be a
whole bunch worse when the Buckeyes and Wolverines dominated each and
every year. This year, it’s Big Two, Average Three (Wisconsin, Penn
State and Iowa), Little Six.
Would a one loss, SEC Champion Arkansas team have a legitimate shot
at playing for the National Championship? – AW
A: Here’s the scenario: No one gets out of the Big East unbeaten. USC
loses to Cal, but destroys everyone else, including Notre Dame. Texas
loses once more. Florida blows up and becomes the “hot” team going into
the SEC title game, but Arkansas comes up with an impressive win over
the Gators and finishes 12-1. It would be close, but it might be just
enough to get the Hogs plenty of consideration.