I don't want to overstate things. Obviously there is a shit-ton amount of drivel on the Internet. And granted a small amount of it comes from The AJC's sports writers,
I know I'm going to turn on ESPN and hear Rod Gilmore whine about Alabama getting a "bye" while LSU has to play "another game" 36 days before the BCS championship.
But do I have to hear it out of Atlanta, too?
I get that people don't like the BCS. I get that they're using this SEC Championship Game won't factor into who plays in the BCS championship situation as an argument against the BCS.
I get that these people don't, I guess, like that the BCS and the SEC are separate, if partnering, systems. But that doesn't change the fact that they are different things.
That it's already obvious LSU and Alabama are the best two teams in the country does not render the SEC Title Game "moot." That they will meet in the BCS Championship Game means the BCS actually worked this year, despite needing to be replaced.
None of this makes the SEC Championship "just an exhibition game." They give a big ass trophy. The game generates tens of millions of dollars. They will keep a record of who wins it, probably for just about as long as there are people living in southeastern United States.
You don't have to exaggerate to make your argument. The BCS sucks. We get it.
That makes the SEC Championship more important, not less.
Update: Groo makes a point that derails the "meaningless championship meme" even more effectively:
Can we expect a similar column the next time the ACC and SEC basketball tournaments come to Atlanta? ... There is no greater set of moot exhibition games than during conference championship week in March.
8 comments:
Right on. For most Southern football fans, the SEC Championship rivals the BCS Championship in prestige. It's not something to take for granted and I know that LSU fans don't think of it as a throw away. They want both titles. For once, the BCS gets it right this year.
I'm an SEC guy but I'm not about to say it is clear that Alabama is better than Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State has played a tougher schedule. The BCS didn't get anything right.
Oklahoma State played a tougher schedule? What planet do you live on? Last time I checked, Alabama didn't lose to a 6-5 team.
I say horsesh*t...
How can you decide who is a better team until they've played each other (recently), or AT LEAST all their games?
Bama and LSU have not lost any major playmakers that materially affect their ability to compete since they played in early Nov. They are still the same two teams as they were 4 weeks ago.
Bama played LSU and lost... @ Bama.Ergo, LSU is better than Bama...
Now, one could say that Boise and S.Car, having beaten us, are better teams than the Dawgs. That logic, though flawed, is AT LEAST defensible.
However, I doubt anyone would deny that S.Car is a worse team without Lattimore and that if they played UGA now, they would probably lose.
And Boise St., with Kellen Moore and the rest of the seniors they have, is the LAST opponent anyone would want to play the first game of the season. I mean, you gotta be READY for those guys. BUT, if you ARE ready, you can beat em. Now, they may still beat us... but an entire season is an ocean of time for a team to improve or regress. So while Boise may be the same team as they were, UGA is a very different team, 14 weeks later.
LSU still has to face the Dawgs. If we beat LSU, at this point in the season, with no other mitigating factors, then we are better than LSU.
So, the way I see it, if UGA beats LSU, then UGA will have beaten the #1 team in the country, who has beaten the #2 team in the country. Ergo, UGA should go play Bama for the MNC.
BCS gets nothing right. They failed in 2007 and they are failing RIGHT NOW.
I do not think the BCS got it right either. OK St. Resume wise is just as good as Alabama. AL lost to LSU and Beat Arkansas... thats all they have done. Give OK St or VT a chance. Oh and I am an SEC homer as well, but if Nick Saban agrees that you need to win your conference to play for a national title then I do to!
After this year, I don't want to hear another talking head say that you have to win your conference championship. Ever.
Alex,
Excellent logic Trebek. You evaluate Oklahoma State's schedule based on one game and Alabama's schedule based on nothing. Good work.
Anon 12:13, +100
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