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Thursday, September 7
One final time with the sunblock and down parkas

By Gene Wojciechowski
ESPN The Magazine

With the regular season all but completed, time to take a final check of the Hots and Nots.

College Station
Fans at the Texas-Texas A&M game spell out the words "Remember 99" in honor of those killed and injured in the bonfire collapse.

Who's hot

Texas A&M and Texas: For one mournful, electric, emotion-filled week in November, this was the classiest rivalry in all of sports. Brought together by a tragedy more than a football game, a state record 86,128 fans assembled at A&M's Kyle Field to remember, to cheer, to heal.

In memory of the 12 A&M students killed in the Nov. 18 collapse of bonfire logs, flags flew at half staff. Maroon ribbons were worn by Aggie and Longhorn followers. A blood drive to help the 27 injured students replaced Texas's traditional "A&M Hex Rally." Rather than play its own fight song, the Longhorn band played "Amazing Grace" during halftime.

And this from A&M alumnus Charles Brunken, who spoke with Chicago Tribune reporter Andrew Bagnato about a special day when 106 years of football pettiness was put in its proper perspective: "Usually when I go over to Austin, I get beat up. Today, they were signing the Aggie War Hymn and swaying right along side us."

By the way, A&M won, 20-16. As if it really mattered.

Who's not

BCS godfather Roy Kramer: Now you tell us that James Madison's Division I-AA playoff game won't count in Virginia Tech's BCS rankings formula? Interesting, since there's no mention of it in the BCS's 20-page handbook.

Two questions: James Madison's postseason game doesn't count in the formula, but the postseason Big 12 Championship involving No. 3 Nebraska does? And why again are the computer formulas secret, as well as the weekly voting and identity of the coaches in the ESPN/USA Today poll? The AP media poll makes its voters and votes public.

Who's hot

Marshall: The Thundering Herd, led by quarterback Chad Pennington, has won a Division I-A-best 15 consecutive games, and 30 straight home games. They just beat Ohio to finish the regular season 11-0, prompting Ohio coach Jim Grobe to say Marshall was better than the two Big Ten teams -- Minnesota and Ohio State -- the Bobcats had played this season.

Who's not

Marshall: The only Top 25 team that hasn't played a ranked opponent.

Who's hot

LSU coaching intrigue: After the Tigers defeat Arkansas, Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster says LSU ought to offer interim head coach Hal Hunter at least a one-year deal. Chancellor Mark Emmert politely declines the suggestion, saying the school is looking outside the program.

Kansas State defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, a former LSU assistant, is deep in the mix. Former Alabama head coach Gene Stallings certainly sounds interested.

Memo to Emmert: Try calling Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer. Sure, Beamer has a sweetheart deal at Blacksburg, but he's losing lots of seniors, has been at Va. Tech for 13 years, and might be willing to rotate if the offer is right. And nothing against the Hokies, but does anyone really think Michael Vick is going to stay there four years? Or that Virginia Tech is going to be in another BCS Championship any time soon?

Call.

Now.

Who's not

The SEC officiating crew at the Georgia-Georgia Tech game: Don't expect any warm holiday greetings from Bulldogs coach Jim Donnan.

Why?

BECAUSE JASPER SANKS WAS DOWN!

HE DIDN"T FUMBLE AT THE END ZONE!

And just asking, but are eye exams mandatory for SEC officials?

Who's hot

Beamer: The Virginia Tech coach was a living, breathing Hokies infomercial this weekend, appearing on any show with a satellite uplink and enough time for him to make his BCS Championship case. We don't blame him a bit.

Who's not

The Orange Bowl: Michigan State beat Michigan.
Michigan State beat four bowl teams, Michigan beat four bowl teams.
Michigan State won nine games, Michigan won nine games.
Michigan State beat Michigan.

So why is Michigan going to the Orange Bowl, and Michigan State to the Citrus?

Who's hot

Division I-AA playoff system: Football as it ought to be. And isn't it strange, but nobody seems to be too worried about the effects of a lengthened season on the Illinois States of the world. Hmmm.

Who's not

Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish finish with their first losing season since 1986, and their first seven-loss season since 1963. They also finish 0-for-November, only the second time in the 111-year history of the program that's happened. With no bowl (and the 15 extra practices that come with it), Notre Dame had no choice against Stanford but to sit senior quarterback Jarious Jackson at times so sophomore Arnaz Battle could play.

Who's hot

The SEC and Big Ten: Eight of the SEC's 12 teams, and seven of the Big Ten's 11 members, are bowl-bound. Cha-ching!

Who's not

Poll voters: The coaches preseason Top 25 included No. 3 Arizona (with two first-place votes), No. 9 Ohio State, No. 15 UCLA, No. 17 Colorado, No. 18 Notre Dame, No. 21 USC, No. 24 Virginia, and No. 25 Arizona State. The media preseason Top 25 included No. 4 Arizona, No. 9 Ohio State, No. 15 Colorado, No. 16 UCLA, No. 18 Notre Dame, No. 19 USC, No. 24 Virginia and No. 25.

Meanwhile, Marshall, Michigan State and Mississippi State were excluded from both preseason polls. And Rose Bowl-bound Stanford didn't receive a single vote.

The computers weren't much better. Jeff Sagarin's preseason computer rankings had Ohio State at No. 4, UCLA at No. 9, Syracuse at No. 12, Virginia at No. 13, Notre Dame at No. 14, USC at No. 15, Arizona at No. 16, North Carolina at No. 21, LSU at No. 25.

And Virginia Tech at No. 20.

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