Every year we get into the debate that is the BCS championship. Where we all sit around and debate why a playoff should be implemented instead of the bowl format we currently have today.
Let's face it, as I pointed out before in another post, there is no way that the university presidents will risk the money that is pulled in by college football today. So, as a result, we will continue to have a bowl format to decide the national champions. But that brings up the a reverse argument. That is the issue of way too many meaningless and unwatched bowl games that result in horribly lopsided losses.
The most obvious one this season was the GMAC bowl, where Tulsa set an almost 50 year old record for the highest winning margin in bowl games ever. Then on the very next night we once again were subjected to an awful BCS championship game played between two teams that maybe or maybe not should have been playing for a championship. Even with that, one of those teams, Ohio State, has for 3 straight years played in the BCS champ game and for the past two has been completely dominated by the opposing team, even though the Buckeyes were the favorite going into that game.
Add in the fact that another 7 games in the post season bowl games were decided by MORE than a double-digit margin and you have the very obvious evidence that MANY of the teams playing in post-season bowl games should never have been there in the first place. But that is NOT the fault of the teams playing in those games. The problem is that there are just WAY too many bowl games to begin with.
If the country is going to be stuck with a bowl game process that is to decide the national championship, then the NCAA needs to DE-sanction all but about 10 post season bowl games. Those 10 should include the current 5 BCS games, (BCS champ, Rose, Sugar, Orange and Fiesta), and about 5 others that have a long standing history, the Cotton, the Liberty, the Sun (which is the longest consecutive running bowl, the Gator, the Champ Sports, and maybe one or two others that have very long histories, like the Peach (which I REFUSE to call the Chick-Fil-A bowl).
So, how would selection go? Well, first, the conference champions of EVERY conference get to go. That means that 11 of the 20-22 or so teams would automatically go to those bowl games, and then selection would go to the ONLY those teams ranked in the top 20 that are not conference champions.
While it may not eliminate blow out bowl games, (like the Sugar this year where Georgia just DOMINATED Hawai'i), it would at least look to minimize that, and make the bowl game we do have that much more interesting to watch.
No, it still does not solve the national championship debate issue, but unless there ever is a playoff, that will never be solved. So, again, if we are stuck with a bowl system, we should at least make it the best bowl system we can.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
The money of college football....
As the BCS title game approaches, once again we hear everyone talking about how a "playoff" system would be better for college football, and even how it would "make more money" than the current bowl and BCS system does for the schools.
Well, since it is that time of year for the debate, one thing that VERY few people ever put together is the facts about the dollars of college football.
I will attempt to do that here, or more accurately, just put in perspective how much money is made in collegiate football programs.
Currently there are 123 Div I-A, (FBS), schools playing football. To truly understand the scope of money we are talking about, take the following statistics:
Div I-A (FBS) football revenue breakdown for all of 2007, (this does NOT include any revenue booked for bowl games played in 2008, only those from 2007, including the BCS title game last season.)
Total Revenue: $1.8 Billions
Total Profit : $721 Millions
Average Revenue per School : $14.6 Millions
Average Profit per School : $5.9 Millions
Let that sink in for a minute. The profit that schools make on college football, on average, is higher than MOST companies in America that are not in the Fortune 500. We are talking "profit" here. That is money that the school athletic departments can then use in whatever way they see fit. And note: almost NONE of that money goes to big coaching salaries, as the vast majority of coaching salaries is determined by a base salary set by the state and then added on to by boosters, sponsors, and other outside dollars.
But remember the dollars in college football are NOT evenly distributed, making that average both of revenues and profits completely artificial and very much misleading.
So who are the big winners in college football...err..dollar wise, I mean.
Top 5 biggest revenue producers
U. of Texas : $63.8 Millions
U. of Georgia : $59.5 Millions
Ohio State U. : $59.1 Millions
U. of Florida : $58.9 Millions
Auburn U. : $46.8 Millions
That is a huge amount of revenue streams. But even with that, how much did they keep?
Top 5 biggest profit winners
U. of Texas : $46.2 Millions
U. of Georgia : $43.1 Millions
U. of Florida : $38.2 Millions
U. of Michigan : $36.2 Millions
Auburn U. : $33.9 Millions
Note the change of OSU for UM in the revenue to profit margins. UMich does not generate as much revenue, but keeps a TON more in pure profit. Apparently OSU's cost structure is even higher than we might think...(although, they did come in at #6).
The point to this is that it is obvious, even for a 6th grader with rudimentary math skills, that the top 10% of revenue producers in college football, keep nearly 80% of the total profits made in this business. And make no mistake, this IS big business.
And what is even odder is that it can be literally MORE profitable to sit home and NOT play in a post-season bowl game, than it is to send your team to play in one.
All of this information is freely available, and I found mine on CNNMoney.
The bottom line, (pardon the pun), is this: no matter what people may want with regard to a Div I-A playoff system for college football, the massive amounts of dollars that football generates under the current system will be nearly impossible to overcome.
Well, since it is that time of year for the debate, one thing that VERY few people ever put together is the facts about the dollars of college football.
I will attempt to do that here, or more accurately, just put in perspective how much money is made in collegiate football programs.
Currently there are 123 Div I-A, (FBS), schools playing football. To truly understand the scope of money we are talking about, take the following statistics:
Div I-A (FBS) football revenue breakdown for all of 2007, (this does NOT include any revenue booked for bowl games played in 2008, only those from 2007, including the BCS title game last season.)
Total Revenue: $1.8 Billions
Total Profit : $721 Millions
Average Revenue per School : $14.6 Millions
Average Profit per School : $5.9 Millions
Let that sink in for a minute. The profit that schools make on college football, on average, is higher than MOST companies in America that are not in the Fortune 500. We are talking "profit" here. That is money that the school athletic departments can then use in whatever way they see fit. And note: almost NONE of that money goes to big coaching salaries, as the vast majority of coaching salaries is determined by a base salary set by the state and then added on to by boosters, sponsors, and other outside dollars.
But remember the dollars in college football are NOT evenly distributed, making that average both of revenues and profits completely artificial and very much misleading.
So who are the big winners in college football...err..dollar wise, I mean.
Top 5 biggest revenue producers
U. of Texas : $63.8 Millions
U. of Georgia : $59.5 Millions
Ohio State U. : $59.1 Millions
U. of Florida : $58.9 Millions
Auburn U. : $46.8 Millions
That is a huge amount of revenue streams. But even with that, how much did they keep?
Top 5 biggest profit winners
U. of Texas : $46.2 Millions
U. of Georgia : $43.1 Millions
U. of Florida : $38.2 Millions
U. of Michigan : $36.2 Millions
Auburn U. : $33.9 Millions
Note the change of OSU for UM in the revenue to profit margins. UMich does not generate as much revenue, but keeps a TON more in pure profit. Apparently OSU's cost structure is even higher than we might think...(although, they did come in at #6).
The point to this is that it is obvious, even for a 6th grader with rudimentary math skills, that the top 10% of revenue producers in college football, keep nearly 80% of the total profits made in this business. And make no mistake, this IS big business.
And what is even odder is that it can be literally MORE profitable to sit home and NOT play in a post-season bowl game, than it is to send your team to play in one.
All of this information is freely available, and I found mine on CNNMoney.
The bottom line, (pardon the pun), is this: no matter what people may want with regard to a Div I-A playoff system for college football, the massive amounts of dollars that football generates under the current system will be nearly impossible to overcome.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
English is right man for UL DC job....
Yesterday Ron English, after the U. of Michigan bowl game knocking off a potent Florida offensive attack, confirmed he was taking the same position of DC at the University of Louisville. But only as a 2-year deal.
It is 100% positive that English will not stay at UL any longer than that, and maybe not even that long, as he has made it 100% clear that he wants and is ready to be a head coach in college football.
However, that is NOT a bad thing for UL football. UL has also hedged its bets by additionally hiring Ted Roof, former HC at Duke, and another long time DC in NCAA Div I-A, (FBS), football, who will without question be waiting in the wings whenever English gets that HC job he so badly wants.
That aside, make no mistake, Ron English the right man, in the right place, at the right time for UL. UL's defense was abyssmal in the 2007 season, and English is not only a solid defensive game planner, but also an outstanding recruiter. Both areas that UL badly needs help in.
The biggest impact though that English will make to UL, will be in two areas, the ability of UL to get pressure on opposing QB's. And the level of talent he will be able to bring in to the football program. The latter part will be the one that UL will need the most.
It is 100% positive that English will not stay at UL any longer than that, and maybe not even that long, as he has made it 100% clear that he wants and is ready to be a head coach in college football.
However, that is NOT a bad thing for UL football. UL has also hedged its bets by additionally hiring Ted Roof, former HC at Duke, and another long time DC in NCAA Div I-A, (FBS), football, who will without question be waiting in the wings whenever English gets that HC job he so badly wants.
That aside, make no mistake, Ron English the right man, in the right place, at the right time for UL. UL's defense was abyssmal in the 2007 season, and English is not only a solid defensive game planner, but also an outstanding recruiter. Both areas that UL badly needs help in.
The biggest impact though that English will make to UL, will be in two areas, the ability of UL to get pressure on opposing QB's. And the level of talent he will be able to bring in to the football program. The latter part will be the one that UL will need the most.
NHL should do it more often....
The NHL on New Year's day did something that I believe they should do EVERY year, and maybe more than just one game.
That is, play the game outdoors.
If you did not see the game, you missed a GREAT spectacle, of a sport born from that roots. The NHL is all but dead as a professional sport in the minds and hearts of America, save for a very small portion of the nation, located almost exclusively in the NE sector of the U.S.
And with the idiocy of the NHL exec offices over the summer of 2007 with regard to their TV deal, they have all but killed any chance of it ever being anything other than an afterthought for most sports fans.
However, the NHL did make a very bold move and scheduled a regular season game between the Pittsburg Penguins and the Buffalo Sabers to be played outdoors at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY. Home stadium of the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
This was a GREAT idea to try and capture some viewing audiences, and casual sports fans, that would not otherwise even care about hockey. And the weather and the game did not disappoint.
To play hockey outdoors is to return to the true "roots" of where this sport began, AND, to add a new dimension to it that many fans love about other sports like the NFL and even MLB. That weather can and will play a part of the outcome.
I know that the "NHL purists" absolutely HATED this idea. The players hated the ice conditions, the NHL ref's and the players hated the delays for surface prep. But that is EXACTLY why it made the game interesting for those of us who are NOT "hockey purists". Talent is one thing, but the ability to deal with adverse conditions is another. And that SHOULD be part of the game that was originally CREATED by playing outdoors on frozen ponds.
This is an idea which should have been done long ago. And not only should the NHL play one game a year outdoors, but maybe more than one.
That is, play the game outdoors.
If you did not see the game, you missed a GREAT spectacle, of a sport born from that roots. The NHL is all but dead as a professional sport in the minds and hearts of America, save for a very small portion of the nation, located almost exclusively in the NE sector of the U.S.
And with the idiocy of the NHL exec offices over the summer of 2007 with regard to their TV deal, they have all but killed any chance of it ever being anything other than an afterthought for most sports fans.
However, the NHL did make a very bold move and scheduled a regular season game between the Pittsburg Penguins and the Buffalo Sabers to be played outdoors at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY. Home stadium of the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
This was a GREAT idea to try and capture some viewing audiences, and casual sports fans, that would not otherwise even care about hockey. And the weather and the game did not disappoint.
To play hockey outdoors is to return to the true "roots" of where this sport began, AND, to add a new dimension to it that many fans love about other sports like the NFL and even MLB. That weather can and will play a part of the outcome.
I know that the "NHL purists" absolutely HATED this idea. The players hated the ice conditions, the NHL ref's and the players hated the delays for surface prep. But that is EXACTLY why it made the game interesting for those of us who are NOT "hockey purists". Talent is one thing, but the ability to deal with adverse conditions is another. And that SHOULD be part of the game that was originally CREATED by playing outdoors on frozen ponds.
This is an idea which should have been done long ago. And not only should the NHL play one game a year outdoors, but maybe more than one.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Speaking of FAU and Asst coaches
Can someone please explain to me WHY Jurich keeps always going "out west" hiring coaching staffs that have NO vested interest in UL, when there are very good coaches who lived and played in Louisville?
Why did TJ IMMEDIATELY without any hesitation go after a coach with huge question marks about his capability, (at least I had question marks about him), instead of at least looking at the coaching staffs like at FAU where you have guys like Howard Schnellenberger, Gary Nord and Johnny Frost who would have been a GREAT fit for UL, and guys who have galvanized the fan base instead of fracturing it?
I know that UL is looking for a DC and Frost is not anywhere close to being capable of taking over a position like that, but what about getting one of the best LB's the University of Louisville has ever had, back here to coach a DL or a LB corps that was pretty weak under the current position coaching staff?
In retrospect, TJ has made some great "temporary" hires for UL football, but has he really made the RIGHT hires? I love John L Smith, he is a great guy, and a good HC, Petrino is, and was, a phenominal offensive mind, but during their tenures not ONCE did UL look to "promote from within" or look to "groom" future asst coach's by bringing in guys who have close ties to not only the university but also the community.
I am just getting more and more confused why the ONLY coach'es UL EVER wants to talk to about positions at UL are always coach'es that have never lived, worked or coached east of the Mississippi river prior to coming to UL.
It just seems disingenuous to all of those who have given so much to the UL football program in the past to not even be considered for positions at the school and community where they gave so much.
Why did TJ IMMEDIATELY without any hesitation go after a coach with huge question marks about his capability, (at least I had question marks about him), instead of at least looking at the coaching staffs like at FAU where you have guys like Howard Schnellenberger, Gary Nord and Johnny Frost who would have been a GREAT fit for UL, and guys who have galvanized the fan base instead of fracturing it?
I know that UL is looking for a DC and Frost is not anywhere close to being capable of taking over a position like that, but what about getting one of the best LB's the University of Louisville has ever had, back here to coach a DL or a LB corps that was pretty weak under the current position coaching staff?
In retrospect, TJ has made some great "temporary" hires for UL football, but has he really made the RIGHT hires? I love John L Smith, he is a great guy, and a good HC, Petrino is, and was, a phenominal offensive mind, but during their tenures not ONCE did UL look to "promote from within" or look to "groom" future asst coach's by bringing in guys who have close ties to not only the university but also the community.
I am just getting more and more confused why the ONLY coach'es UL EVER wants to talk to about positions at UL are always coach'es that have never lived, worked or coached east of the Mississippi river prior to coming to UL.
It just seems disingenuous to all of those who have given so much to the UL football program in the past to not even be considered for positions at the school and community where they gave so much.
FAU's "Old Warrior" still undefeated
Howard Schnellenberger, the Phoenix of college football, once again resurrected in a bowl game last night orchestrating a bowl victory with fledgling Florida Atlantic University football team, and stayed undefeated in post-season bowl games by completely dominating Memphis in the R+L Carriers New Orleans bowl.
In Boca Raton, they very affectionately refer to Schnellenberger as the "Old Warrior". And it aptly applies.
FAU, with a coaching staff HEAVY of assistants from the University of Louisville, plays a very tough, physical brand of football, which for 10 years we UL fans saw and loved. An NFL pro-style offense, using 2-back sets and an attacking passing attack, with a very physical running style; and a base 4-3 defense with huge fundamental emphasis on TACKLING as opposed to hard-hits. And if FAU's practices are anything like they were at UL, you can bet that game performance is the "EASY" part of a players week.
Schnellenberger has proven that pro-style offense with a physical defense can win at EVERY level of collegiate competition. From winning national championships at Miami University and playing on the biggest stages in college football, to selling just the CONCEPT of football with zero players to recruits at FAU. Not too mention what all UL fans know he accomplished at UL.
But Schnellenberger is more than just a throwback style brand of football. The man himself is a complete anathema to EVERY college coach in the nation. Schnellenberger THRIVES on challenge. It is literally the lifeblood of his heart. This is a man that LEFT Miami University AFTER winning a national championship there to come to UL to try and build a program that was all but dropped from competitive play back in 1994. And then, decided, (after a disastrous stint at Oklahoma where the fans and alumni there NEVER understood him), to build from literally NOTHING a football program in the heart and on the figurative doorsteps of the university where he won a national championship many years ago.
In an era of college football where we see coach's changing jobs every other year for ever increasing exhorbitant amounts of cash, where "loyalty" and "support of the coach" is DEMANDED of the fan base to support a head coach, REGARDLESS of the product they put on the field or their ever-wandering eye, here you have a coach that has a longer tenure at the schools he has been affiliated with than 90% of all the coaching staffs out there, but at the same time has taken positions that most former HC's would consider an INSULT, or a joke, if even mentioned as a job opportunity!
We praise HC's like Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno for staying with their respective universities so long; but would either of even THOSE guys have walked away from Miami after winning a national championship, NOT to take higher paying job, or a more prestigious job, but to breath life into a program at UL that had barely seen any success playing at the top level of college football? And NOT for money! Let's face it, had it been about money, Schnellenberger might even have been MICHIGAN'S number 1 pick at this point in his career, and even at his age. Because Schnellenberger could have stayed at Miami and won at least several MORE national championships there. And would be making a ton more dollars than he is right now at FAU.
As UL fans we owe a lot to Schnellenberger, and through that I was cheering as loud as I could last night for the FAU Owls to bring home their first bowl victory in their first bowl game ever, for a HC that I think deserves to at least be considered for nomination into the college football HOF.
In Boca Raton, they very affectionately refer to Schnellenberger as the "Old Warrior". And it aptly applies.
FAU, with a coaching staff HEAVY of assistants from the University of Louisville, plays a very tough, physical brand of football, which for 10 years we UL fans saw and loved. An NFL pro-style offense, using 2-back sets and an attacking passing attack, with a very physical running style; and a base 4-3 defense with huge fundamental emphasis on TACKLING as opposed to hard-hits. And if FAU's practices are anything like they were at UL, you can bet that game performance is the "EASY" part of a players week.
Schnellenberger has proven that pro-style offense with a physical defense can win at EVERY level of collegiate competition. From winning national championships at Miami University and playing on the biggest stages in college football, to selling just the CONCEPT of football with zero players to recruits at FAU. Not too mention what all UL fans know he accomplished at UL.
But Schnellenberger is more than just a throwback style brand of football. The man himself is a complete anathema to EVERY college coach in the nation. Schnellenberger THRIVES on challenge. It is literally the lifeblood of his heart. This is a man that LEFT Miami University AFTER winning a national championship there to come to UL to try and build a program that was all but dropped from competitive play back in 1994. And then, decided, (after a disastrous stint at Oklahoma where the fans and alumni there NEVER understood him), to build from literally NOTHING a football program in the heart and on the figurative doorsteps of the university where he won a national championship many years ago.
In an era of college football where we see coach's changing jobs every other year for ever increasing exhorbitant amounts of cash, where "loyalty" and "support of the coach" is DEMANDED of the fan base to support a head coach, REGARDLESS of the product they put on the field or their ever-wandering eye, here you have a coach that has a longer tenure at the schools he has been affiliated with than 90% of all the coaching staffs out there, but at the same time has taken positions that most former HC's would consider an INSULT, or a joke, if even mentioned as a job opportunity!
We praise HC's like Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno for staying with their respective universities so long; but would either of even THOSE guys have walked away from Miami after winning a national championship, NOT to take higher paying job, or a more prestigious job, but to breath life into a program at UL that had barely seen any success playing at the top level of college football? And NOT for money! Let's face it, had it been about money, Schnellenberger might even have been MICHIGAN'S number 1 pick at this point in his career, and even at his age. Because Schnellenberger could have stayed at Miami and won at least several MORE national championships there. And would be making a ton more dollars than he is right now at FAU.
As UL fans we owe a lot to Schnellenberger, and through that I was cheering as loud as I could last night for the FAU Owls to bring home their first bowl victory in their first bowl game ever, for a HC that I think deserves to at least be considered for nomination into the college football HOF.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Louisville signs 8 JUCO football recruits...
'Tis the season...the season of scrambling to fix holes and find quick fixes for all of those teams sitting at home this holiday season and not running through practices and drills getting ready for their post-season bowl games.
For the first time in 10 years, UL is sitting at home this season, even though the did reach .500 with a 6-6 record to become bowl eligible. But based on the team play this season, it would have been a perverse sense of justice if UL had gone to a bowl game.
Instead, Kragthorpe and remaining coaches have been scrambling to sign as many JUCO players as they can to fill some holes, to hopefully get UL back to a bowl game next season.
To be sure, UL has found numbers in the JUCO ranks, which they believe will help next season. But the truth is, JUCO transfers are at best a 50-50 shot at being impact players, and even less of a chance of being impact players their first eligible season.
Oh, I have no problem with UL getting JUCO's. UL has a very good history with them. No, I just prefer to err on the side of caution, rather than put the moniker of "UL IS BACK" on the team just yet.
But since it is the holiday season, let me put my wishes to song, in the spirit of the holiday season:
Oh come all UL faithful, hopeful but regretful, oh come ye, oh come ye to JUCO relief!
Come and be thankful, thankful for signing some talent.
Talent that will help us, talent that will help us, talent that will help us...
or so we think!
For the first time in 10 years, UL is sitting at home this season, even though the did reach .500 with a 6-6 record to become bowl eligible. But based on the team play this season, it would have been a perverse sense of justice if UL had gone to a bowl game.
Instead, Kragthorpe and remaining coaches have been scrambling to sign as many JUCO players as they can to fill some holes, to hopefully get UL back to a bowl game next season.
To be sure, UL has found numbers in the JUCO ranks, which they believe will help next season. But the truth is, JUCO transfers are at best a 50-50 shot at being impact players, and even less of a chance of being impact players their first eligible season.
Oh, I have no problem with UL getting JUCO's. UL has a very good history with them. No, I just prefer to err on the side of caution, rather than put the moniker of "UL IS BACK" on the team just yet.
But since it is the holiday season, let me put my wishes to song, in the spirit of the holiday season:
Oh come all UL faithful, hopeful but regretful, oh come ye, oh come ye to JUCO relief!
Come and be thankful, thankful for signing some talent.
Talent that will help us, talent that will help us, talent that will help us...
or so we think!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)