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Readers pipe up to defend the BCS against Bruce Feldman's attack, and our writer finds out that his audience really mirrors him.
From: Larry Doll Why do you insist in calling Michael Vick the most talented Heisman candidate? He plays in a no-name conference with no-name teams. They have maybe two difficult games a year. The Big 12, Big Ten and SEC conferences at least have to be prepared for every game. Drew Brees leads Vick in all passing catagories, and is nearly equal in running yards. In a conference that has to play hard every time they get on the field. And he has done this for three years, against quality teams.
Larry,
I think Drew Brees is a terrific QB, but Michael Vick is a talent like no other that has played QB. I talked to NFL scouts before the season about him and several said his release is as quick as Marino's. It's as strong as any they'd seen and he is the fastest and quickest QB that has ever played the position.
-Bruce
From: Steven_Timmons/Nationwide/NWIE@Nationwide.com
Hopefully Ohio State will be inspired to play well this weekend. If they aren't, maybe I should go into the locker room to remind them they had 73 totals yards last year at Mich State in an embarrassing loss, and the year prior everyone knows what happened. Should be plenty of motivation. Hey Steve, MSU's pretty sorry right now on offense so I think the Bucks should romp. -Bruce
From: Todd Michel McComb I don't want to see a playoff system. I like the uniqueness of college football, and don't want to see it more like the pro game. At that point, why watch? The pros are better players. The way things are, there's a lot of drama. You never know when something significant might unfold. Knowing the result might not be "fair" only adds to the drama. That last statement is simply a fact, and believe me, I've had plenty of times where the team I liked got shafted in the polls. But I still think the BCS is stupid. You talked about "all hell" when they choose between one loss teams. Try this for "all hell": when there's a consensus No. 1 & No. 2 in the polls, and they aren't playing in the BCS championship. That's a scenario which the formula should never make possible. They should be worried about a tie-breaker system in case there isn't a consensus 1/2. The polls might not be perfect (ha!), but talk about not "pleasing your constituency" if they ever go against them....
Todd McComb Hey Todd, Do you like the NCAA basketball tournament? My problem with this system is there are just too many holes and it simply isn't the "playoff system" some are referring to it as. There is too much emphasis placed on a structure created in a pre-season poll. If people thought TCU had a LT on defense too, they would've been pre-season #6 or 7 and would be in the mix if they had played exactly how they have this season. -Bruce
From:Jim Having just read your article online about Heisman hopefuls, I got to the point of writing my first online response to you. I know everyone's got an opinion on who should/might/will win the Heisman trophy, but enough is enough. At first everyone was saying Mr. Vick. Even though he has impressive highlight plays at times, his numbers and consistency aren't top notch one would think. Now with your quote on Oklahoma's Mr. Heupel today: "Heupel deserves the Heisman talk, and if OU wins the Big 12, he should get the Trophy, making him the first junior college product to win the Heisman since O.J. Simpson." I truly don't understand. Yes I know he had a good day against No.1 Nebraska, and they're undefeated, but where are the great numbers, the consistency I thought one should have to be mentioned at the top? Purdue's Mr. Brees seems to have both, with a possible Rose Bowl, yet no mention of him being on top waiting to be bumped off the top of the heap. I know Purdue has 2 loses (many factors to be considered, I know), but his numbers were good. I'm not complaining as much as wondering where the logic is. Thanks for your time Jim Malloy Hey Jim, I think Drew is right in the mix (as he has been for the last 2 years)... Heupel has burst onto the scene and done it in huge games in October (Texas, K-State and Neb.) -Bruce
From:Michael Hughey Bruce, I had a few comments about your Nov. 1 column. First of all, I am a little tired of people asking "how can FSU be ranked behind Miami after they lost to them" and asking the same things about Washington-Miami, etc. You can't base the rankings solely on one game. Let me just give an example to explain what I mean: according to the "we beat them so we're ranked higher" logic, Miami is ahead of FSU, Washington is ahead of Oregon, Wisconsin is ahead of Oregon, and Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Purdue are all ahead of Wisconsin. Obviously, this doesn't make sense. I understand the sentiment, but a pollster has to look at a game like FSU-Miami and say that the teams were pretty evenly matched and, based on all the other games played, FSU would (or would not, depending on who was asked) win in a neutral field rematch. I know that's tough to accept, but the "we won so we're better" logic just doesn't hold up. Also, I'm getting a little tired of people trashing the BCS saying we need a playoff more than ever. I wholeheartedly agree that we should have a playoff to create an unequivocal champion, but I can't be led to believe that the BCS does a worse job than the old system. Even if the two teams in the championship game are controversial, at there is a championship game, unlike the old system. By the way, Texas is still overrated and Texas Tech will take them down. That's it for me, Michael
Hey Michael,
I folllow your logic on the "who beat who" theory up till the teams (like Wisc.) with worse records... My point wasn't to suggest Miami is that much better than FSU or Washington is better than Miami (I'm not sure of either), but we can only go by what has happened on the field. Those are the realities.
And just because the BCS doesn't stink as much as the old system doesn't mean it works well. In keeping with the theme of bashing my own company, I will use an anology: For years, I couldn't stand Regis & Kathie Lee. Just hated it. And while I'm happy she has left that show, I still think it's painful to watch, even if it's only half as annoying.
-Bruce
From: Ty O'Bryan First off, don't you think it's a bit early to be saying the BCS is getting worse? You probably know far more about this thing than I will ever care to, but even I can see that FSU must play Florida and Clemson. Any way you split these matchups, only one team walks away with one loss. Furthermore, Nebraska still has to play K-State, and if KSU wins, then they both have two losses. Oregon must play Oregon State, so someone in that matchup is getting a second loss. And let's say for a moment that UCLA rebounds and beats Washington. And what if VT does beat Miami? Sure, this leaves two whole teams with one loss, but it's not nearly as hopeless as you make it sound. However, I do wonder how an undefeated team can be ranked as low as 9 in a computer model... And about the Heisman watch... "Check me if I'm wrong, Sandy," but isn't the Heisman supposed to go to the best athelete in College Football (you might say, "the most exciting player and the most talented")? If so, then it goes to Michael Vick, and someone needs to stop Lee Corso from always quoting stats when he talks about the Heisman. If I'm wrong about this, then it will go to whomever has a coach willing to pad their player's numbers. As I often said while I was a student at Virginia Tech (Maurice DeShazo was our big "Heisman Hero" then...ha), "There is no way that a VT player will ever win the Heisman." Anyhow, I am glad that Heupel (and not Crouch or Weinke) is leading the way. Now, aren't you glad you put your e-mail address at the bottom of your column? Ty, Those are a lot of ifs...and the computer is wrong. (They usually are) I think Vick--if he plays well Sat. is still the leader and he's bigger than Tech or any other school for that matter. -Bruce
From:UFGators00@aol.com I agree that a playoff system would decide a national title fairly. However, in your article you some how failed to include the mighty Gators in your article. They lost to Mississippi State (15th in the BCS), but have recovered and are dominating the top conference in the nation. They could wind up beating FSU and MSU (SEC championship) and still Nebraska (who have they beat?) would be ahead of them. You're right. I did miss 'em (I wasn't going to name all the teams who could get the shaft) but they were one of three or four teams that also are in there. But I think if they win at FSU and then in ATL for the SEC title game, I imagine they'd jump Miami to play in Miami for the title game. -Bruce
From: Bruce.H.Feldman/US/DNY@rrd.com Bruce, I agree, College Football needs a playoff!! Enjoyed reading your article, keep up the good work By the way -- that's a cool name you have! Take it easy, Bruce Bruce Feldman's Blitz package is posted each Tuesday.E-mail him at bruce.feldman@espnmag.com. |
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