The 2007 regular season ends with top ranked Ohio State facing second rated LSU in the BCS Title game...to be played sometime next May--okay, they'll duel January 7th- which means the Buckeyes will have a 51day layoff between their match up with Michigan and their game with the Tigers...didn't they have this same problem last year?
In between now and then they will play 31"exhibitions" that will pit 6-6 behemoths against 5th place teams-- or better yet, two 10-2 teams that really wish they were playing for the national title. Previously I had written about the need for a tournament format; after all, Division I-A football is the only college sport that doesn't determine its champion on the field. So bear with me as I unveil a constructive way to determine the 2007 National Champ: Sixteen schools combining eleven conference champs plus five wildcards; you'd then seed the field,balancing the bracket while trying to keep teams in their natural region (Ohio State in the midwest, USC in the west).
Using that system these would be the regions: East--#4 Georgia vs Central Florida; #5 Virginia Tech vs #11 West Virginia...South--#2 LSU vs Troy; #7 Missouri vs #12 Arizona State...Midwest--#1 Ohio State vs Central Michigan; #8 Kansas vs #9 Florida...West--#3 Oklahoma vs Brigham Young; #6 USC vs #10Hawaii.
First round games would be played midway through December at home sites(15th this year), quarterfinal games would be held New Year's Day at Neutral Sites(keeping the bowls in the mix), semifinals a week and a half later with the title tilt coming in late January (this year the 26th). You'd reward eight schools with an extra home game, ask fans to travel maybe once or twice (who wouldn't go on a third trip if it wasn't for the championship?)...anyways it would be incredible--which is precisely why it would never happen.
VIRGINIA TECH wrapped up a BCS berth by beating Boston College 30-16. Special teams played a part in another Hokie win; Brandon Flowers' return of a blocked extra point began a rally from nine points down.
UPSIDE--the defense held the Eagles to under 100 yards rushing and intercepted Matt Ryan the last two times the Eagles had the football-- by Vince Hall deep in Hokie territory and by Xavier Adibi which resulted in a game-clinching return for a touchdown.Duane Foster not only blocked an extra point but also swatted a field goal in the winning effort.
DOWNSIDE--the offense ran into more than a few problems against BC, gaining just 98 yards on 36carries while committing two turnovers. Branden Ore reverted to his early season struggles, managing under three yards a carry.
Meanwhile, the Hokies prepare for the Orange Bowl and a game with Kansas, Virginia has a January first game with Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl and Maryland meets Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl. Happy bowling...
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