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| Monday, November 23 The Fans Speak |
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Rivalry week always brings out the best -- and sometimes the worst -- in teams and their fans. And predictably, this past Saturday provided plenty of examples of each. Whether it was agony or victory, people had a lot on their minds. Here's a look at some of the responses from ESPN.com users:
What a great season this has been. Teams like UCLA, Kansas St. and Tennessee haven't been battling for No. 1 in late November for years. With two more weeks of great games, I think the BCS will reward the two most-deserving teams.
Chip Belka
Thank God for the BCS. The computers don't lie. Even with a No. 1 and No. 2 major poll ranking, K-State still ranks No. 3 in the BCS. And after this week, I'm sure that will continue. Until there is a playoff, the BCS gives us the least-biased method of choosing who plays for the big salami.
Payton Bird
Let me ask you this: if this whole BCS thing is so good, how come the two best teams (Ohio State and Florida State) aren't playing for all the marbles? Tennessee, and UCLA are flops who have pulled many games out of their tail. And Kansas State will choke in the Big 12 championship.
Scott Smith
Way to go OSU!! And I would like to especially like to congratulate John Cooper. Maybe now people will let him alone. He is a fine coach and a great recruiter. Granted he hasn't had the best record against Michigan and in the bowl games, but how many coaches get the chance to play in so many big games? His biggest crime against the state of Ohio is that he isn't Woody Hayes. Please just let him coach.
Craig Miller
Congratulations Buckeyes and Coach Coop on beating Michigan. Kudos to David Boston for redeeming himself this year.
Joe Pinkerton
As a huge Wolverine fan, I was surprisingly happy to see John Cooper get the monkey off his back and finally take care of my Michigan team when he was supposed to. However, the actions of his wideout David Boston are just ridiculous. For the same guy who got completely shut down last year to be talking trash all day long this year is laughable. Why not take the high road like your co-flanker Dee Miller and just play the game, rather than pointing, talking, and strutting all over the field ? If we don't watch it, the greatest rivalry in college football will degrade to the joke of a football game we had down here in Tallahassee on Saturday where everybody's throwing punches, talking all game long, and not focusing on football.
Aaron White
Congratulations to the Wisconsin Badgers as they dominated Penn State in their final regular season game to earn a trip to the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. I hope this will settle down all of the critics for a while as they proved (finally) that they do belong with the big boys.
Daryl Kleist
After a disappointing loss to the Wolverines, the Badgers responded with a convincing victory over Penn State. They have given the best fans in the country reason to be proud. See you in Pasadena!
Sam Elsner
All I can say is that it's great to be an FSU fan right now. The Seminoles proved that they have the most talented team in college football by dominating the Florida Gators on Saturday. If it wasn't for the loss that occurred at N.C. State, FSU would be No. 1 in all three of the polls. Saturday's game was all about teamwork and quality coaching.
Stephen Long
As a UF alumnus, I'm always saddened by losing to FSU. But the pre-game brawl (much like the one the year before) makes me sick. I know that the 'Noles started the stupid tradition of defiling opponent's logos on the field, but there was no reason at all to stoop down to that same level. Scenes like this, even in a heated rivalry game, have to make you wonder if this is what college athletics (and society) has come to.
Dr. Ronald Villamaria
Bill Snyder did not let his team falter against Missouri after the big win over Nebraska. Certainly this is another credential in his list of great all-time college football coaches.
Alan Geist
One word to describe Kanasas State: unimpressive. K-State deserves no respect from any college football fan. Fiesta Bowl: UCLA vs Tennessee. Two best teams in the nation this year.
Tom Smith
I've heard a lot of comments about UT only being undefeated because of luck, but let's face it, no one wins a national championship without some degree of luck. Colorado gets 5 downs against Missouri, Michigan wins it because Stanley Jackson is an idiot, Nebraska wins by illegally kicking a ball in the end zone. Florida State wins because Bowden has never won it, Florida wins because Texas beats Nebraska, and so on. Everybody seems to forget that Tennessee took the "gift" and drove it down the field for the winning touchdown. Part of being a national champion is being able to capitalize on the mistakes of the other team and that is exactly what Tennessee has done this year.
Bill Thomas
Tennessee is the best team in America. For its defense and its offense, Tennessee deserves the No. 1 ranking.
Marty Casada
The UCLA Bruins once again showed who is the top dog in the City of Angels with the 34-17 thrashing of USC. The defense has been criticized all year, especially by a certain ESPN analyst. However, they showed that they can step up to play a big game.
Jung Park
The Bruins are going to the Fiesta, and USC took a siesta. Welcome to UCLA football, Carson Palmer. As you sleep restlessly with nightmares of Brendan Ayanbadejo slamming you to the ground, I'll be sleeping contently, knowing that I can graduate this spring without having to face the humiliation of losing to our cross-town rivals. Thanks for a great four years!
Mark Meer
Right now, the most underrated team in the nation is Texas A&M. If they beat the University of Texas and Kansas State, they should be rewarded with a game they deserve to play in. They should be able to go to the Fiesta Bowl and have a shot at the national championship.
Cary Erskine
Shaun King of Tulane should get some Heisman consideration. Playing with a broken wrist he has done more for his team than any other college player. Roll Wave!
Steve Manuel
If Tulane is undefeated at the end of the year, it would be an atrocity if they weren't invited to a major bowl.
Aaron Musfeldt
Though it's true that the Irish could very easily be 5-5 right now, doesn't that say a lot about this team? Nearly every opponent has played its best game against them, yet Notre Dame is 9-1. Not even luck can explain the success of Notre Dame this year. It's that long sought-after attribute called heart that makes the Irish one of the best teams in the country.
Michael Shepherd
I will be the first one to say that Notre Dame is the worst 9-1 team in the country.
Jayson Bethurem
Notre Dame barely squeaked by an unranked team -- again. I suppose we should move them up in the rankings?
Brendan Less
The Civil War once again lived up to its reputation, providing fans in the state of Oregon with the most exciting game in college football this weekend. As always, no matter how good Oregon is, this game came down to the wire. Two overtimes worth of excitement and a torn down goalpost is enough to fuel this quacker-backer's need for revenge for a whole year.
Josh Peters
The most notable event on Saturday, Nov. 21, aside from the No. 1 Volunteers thumping Kentucky, was the finish to "The Civil War" in Oregon.
Keith Lawrence
What I saw was yet another example of why the Alabama-Auburn game is the greatest, most heated rivalry in college football today. With both programs going through sub-par seasons by each of their standards, Legion Field was still an unbelievably energetic place. Fed by the extremes of emotion (Auburn going up 17-0, then Bama coming rolling back to win 31-17) the game atmosphere was just as it always is -- extremely bitter.
Dave Hoag
The game may not have held any national importance, but once again the Iron Bowl has proved to be the home of the greatest rivalry in football. Alabama's 31-point comeback was incredible. Only one thing can be said: Roll Tide!
Stephen Boyd
I think the loss of Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech would be a major blow to the program. I am hoping that he will not talk with Clemson,about their opening. The last six years have been their most sucessful in Virginia Tech history, and despite the lack of respect this team receives, Beamer is one of the top coaches in college football.
Terry Barnett
I saw Miami of Ohio win its 10th game of the season. I saw Travis Prentice gain 127 yards in the first half cementing his hold on the No. 2 spot in the rushing leaders. These two things made me cheer.
Chris Mahaffey
What an exciting football game in Clemson Saturday night. Only in Clemson could 83,500 fans show up and tear down the goalposts when their team has a 2-8 record!
Brad Moore
There have been some great turnarounds in college football this year, but I doubt there has been one bigger than the six-game swing Louisville has made -- from 1-10 a year ago to 7-4 with an invitation to the Motor City Bowl. While first year coach John L. Smith isn't a candidate for the major coach of the year honors, he, along with his staff, have certainly done one of the country's top coaching jobs.
Jason Holbrook
I am a long-time and loyal Oklahoma Sooners fan. This alone should give you a hint as to the frustration I have felt the last few years. The firing of John Blake as head coach of the Sooners comes as no surprise. While Blake was a good man and was well-liked by his players, it is time to move on. Oklahoma fans cannot tolerate six and eight-game loss seasons. We are spoiled. After winning six national championships this is to be expected.
Jim Burnett
I'm disappointed, folks. You've apparently left out a pretty good Cinderella story. Many people predicted the University of Idaho to finish last in the division. Well, with the one-point win over Boise State University, UI finished at 8-3 and won the division, securing a spot in the Humanitarian Bowl.
Bob Phillips, Jr.
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