5 Things We've Learned--Week 3

A few more interesting games than expected this week. Nothing ground-breaking this week, but I'll do my best.

1) There is a MAJOR lack of parity this year
Let's face it, there are 2 (maybe 3) good teams this year. Ohio State and Alabama are WAY ahead of the pack and to be honest, it will be a surprise if these 2 don't meet up in Glendale. Boise is trying their best, but with the schedule, there's absolutely NO way they just into the top two without some help (and that might mean 2 losses from the top). TCU is fine as well, but schedule is a problem there as well. With the Hawkeyes and Gators showing major chinks, the Bucks and Tide should cruise. Oregon and Texas could very well go undefeated as well(doubtful), but it just won't matter unless the preseason favorites keep winning.
Also, speaking of Boise, did you really need to throw that flea-flicker in on the 2nd possession against Wyoming? It's Wyoming. That's like OSU running a fumble-rooskie against EMU next week. I get it Boise, you need the limelight and no one believes you're deserving. Let me let you in on a little secret, you could win the rest of your games by seventy bajillion points and you won't sniff Glendale (for the Championship anyway) if Bama and OSU are undefeated. If you want to be one of the big boys, win it in a big boy way. No need to resort to tricks to show you can fool a middle/lower level Mtn West team. Boise looked like they could complete with VT but then again, so could JMU. Unfortunate, yes, but it is what it is. Joining the Mtn West is a good step, but you'll never reach the big time in a midmajor conference...and you'll never get into a major conference without improving other sports and, more importantly, your academics. Good luck against a middle of the road Oregon State...it's your last college opponent this year.

2) ESPN is relentlessly pushing their agenda
The SEC contract with ESPN is an absolute goldmine in more than just TV money. So far, College Gameday has been to 3 SEC games in 3 weeks. Week 1 was a big game and probably the best site so no complaints. Week 2, the UM-OSU rematch of the 2002 championship was bigger and had higher ranked opponents (PSU=bad) but Bama was 1 so whatever. Week 3, Auburn/Clemson? Really? Yeah, it went to overtime and was hard-hitting but the Iowa/Arizona game was bigger AND the teams were better AND it provided a nice spread of the country with a Pac 10/Big Ten matchup AND it was just as good of a game. The SEC gets the nod again because of the money ESPN has invested.
The SEC doesn't just reap the TV spotlight, it also gets a major PR boost. Again, everyone looks to the Worldwise Leader for their sports info so when Sportscenter says the SEC is leaps and bounds better than the rest, everyone believes it, including the AP voters, Harris voters, and coaches. This significantly skews the polls and therefore the shots at the national championship. Not only does ESPN push for the SEC, it also pushes the agenda of a college football playoff (which just isn't coming). Boise is put forward as the shunned 'little engine that could' that doesn't get a shot. They get shots, but winning the WAC is NOT ENOUGH to play for a championship. A one game season does not a champion make. The system we have is not perfect, but it is better than many of the proposed systems in the works. Lay off ESPN and cover the news, don't make it.

3) Coaches and players need to be help accountable for playing people with injuries/concussions
Ok. Let me make this clear. I do NOT support the NFL players and their quest for more money for 'playing injured'. This is a stupid argument. When you signed up to play football (for MILLIONS OF DOLLARS), you knew this involved getting the crap kicked out fo you by 350 lb men. That's why you were well compensated for the risk. If you don't like it, DON'T PLAY!! The league should, of course, protect players, but they're still getting blown up by 350 lb men!!!
What I'm talking about is taking players out of games when they're injured/concussed. I know that sounds crazy, but that's the simple answer. Jason Witten was benched in the Cowboys loss by the doctors and was visibly angry on the sideline screaming to get back into the game. The doctor made the right call benching him protecting the Cowboys investment.
Look on the flip side in the Clemson/Auburn game. The Clemson QB was knocked silly by the Auburn defense and had no clue where he was. He was in serious pain and could have been even more injured by reentering the game. What did Dabo do? Put him back into the hardest hitting game of the year. He was in serious pain on every snap that was immediately obvious to anyone watching the game. The outcome surely resulted in the greatest fallen warrior comeback story ever, right? Nope, Auburn won in OT despite the play of the 'courageous' (translated: stupid)QB. (Note: For those who don't know me, I HATE when sports commentators use the word 'courageous' in regards to sports--military personnel fighting for our freedom are 'courageous', single mothers working 4 jobs to feed her family while spending time with their children are 'courageous', trying to get a piece of leather across a line is NOT 'courageous') If coaches truly care about their players, they would never put a players career/future on the line to win a game NO MATTER THE COST. A coach who cares more about a player than winning is who I want coaching my kids some day, especially in college.

4) Michigan...THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGH THEY WERE
Thank you Wolverines for proving my point. Mediocrity looks to be right around the corner. Yes, Denard Robinson is explosive and exciting, but there's no way he can carry them on his back the whole season. The defense is atrocious and once opposing defense realize that they're playing 11 on 1 (Robinson), it's just going to get easier and easier. UMass (yeah Div 1-AA--yeah I said it) just gave a blueprint on how to beat Michigan. It may not happen next week (Bowling Green), or the next (Indiana), but the writing is on the wall. Looks like we're getting more of the same from good ole Rich Rod.

5) The MAC is really, really bad (really)
I was at the massacre in the Shoe on Sat and it was just as ugly as it appeared on TV. Ohio was completely drubbed up and down the field. Their last minute touchdown (I think) was against our 9 (yeah we didn't put a full 1 out) best towel boys. It was just embarassing--I really started feeling (a little) bad for them at the end of the 1st half. Toledo (blown out by Arizona at home), Kent State (shut out by PSU), directional Michigans--tune in next week for those Eastern Michigan Eagles and their crapulence, NIU, Buffalo,... the list goes on and on and it's just horrible. It's looking like Temple (yeah, Bill Cosby's alma mater) could run away with the conference under RB Bernard Pierce (pun intended). This one could come down to the wire for the coveted Motor City Bowl berth. Maybe that's why they suck, no one in their right mind would consider a trip to Detroit something for which to strive.