Overview: Nebraska and North Texas State - why the bowls are irrelevant

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: BCS BOWL SELECTION

This week's column is dedicated to John Swofford, who is the Coordinator for the BCS poll in college football and the rest of the computer geeks who lent a helping hand. This system they set up in deciding who plays in the National Championship game is an absolute embarrassment.

You knew this day was eventually going to come. After implementing the BCS a few years back, in deciding who is going to the National Championship Game, it finally happened where the two teams that were deemed the best in the nation in every single poll did not come to the forefront. This was the first year in fact that an opponent for the #1 team in the country, the Miami Hurricanes, was up in the air. So what did this system decide??? In his infinite wisdom, Swofford used the system to pick Nebraska as the #2 team in the country, thereby giving them the right to head to Pasadena to take on the 'Canes and a chance at a National Championship. But wait one second. Nebraska?? This was the same Cornhusker team who were embarrassed by Colorado a few short weeks ago, allowing 62 points in their 26 point loss to the Buffaloes. Despite that, they finished ahead of Colorado in the poll thereby granting them a shot at glory.

It's hard to imagine a worse scenario from the BCS standpoint -- a team that did not win a division title, let alone a conference title, coming off its worst defensive performance in history, losing 62-36 to the team ranked just ahead of them in both polls, gets the formula's verdict by five-hundredths of a point. Five-hundredths of a BCS point outweighs 26 points on the field.

It's a perfect statement about what's wrong.

Do you want to know what decided this five hundredths of a point separation between the Huskers and the Buffaloes?? It was actually the last-minute interception of Southern Mississippi's Jeff Kelley when the Eagles were in field goal range, down two points against TCU on Friday night! You see, the Horned Frogs played Nebraska earlier this season, losing 21-7 in Lincoln. That tiny boost to Nebraska's schedule strength was just enough to put them ahead of the Buffaloes.

So you BCS brainwaves, is this what you envisioned?? A Friday night game between two mediocre teams at best in the Conference USA being the actual factor that propelled this Nebraska team into Pasadena?

All the Horned Frogs were was an "extra game" for the Cornhuskers. A game that brought some money into the school and a chance to get in a tune up game before the more important clash with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Let's remember now. TCU was truly overmatched in this one. They had just lost LaDainian Tomlinson and half of their defense. They were favored by close to three touchdowns. And yet, this was the game that ended up propelling Nebraska into the Rose Bowl.

This particular poll is called the BCS. I truly believe however, you should take the Letter "C" out of that equation to more accurately describe this method of picking the two representatives for the National Championship. Mr. Swofford who might be the BCS Coordinator but in my eyes, you are a FEW TOMATO'S SHORT OF A THICK SAUCE.

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