Iowa’s Pass

Is it any surprise that, once again, the most overrated team in the college football polls and BCS standings is a member of the Big Ten Conference?

Iowa struggled against Michigan State two weeks ago and looked abysmal against lowly Indiana for three quarters this past Saturday before an impressive fourth-quarter comeback saved them. It’s one thing to struggle against a weaker team, but the Hawkeyes were completely outplayed by the Hoosiers for most of that game. If they were really as strong as people–and those mysterious, aka rigged, computers seem to think–the Hawkeyes should have been dominated in that manner.

More disturbing, however, was how when matters turned from bad to worse and Stanzi interceptions dropped to pennies on the dollar, the referees seemed to do everything in their power to keep Iowa in the game. It was a complete joke. Except for the most blatant and obvious, every call went the Hawkeyes’ way. As great as their comeback was, it would not have been save for the refs’ help earlier in the game. It honestly felt like the call came down from Big Ten Commissioner James Delaney to the officials on the field, “Find a way for Iowa to win to keep the Big Ten’s BCS Title dreams alive.”

As the most vociferous defender of the BCS system–and more importantly a proponent of that system coming from a conference that year-in and year-out is embarrassed on the national stage in any inter-conference game that matters–Delaney has too much to lose for Iowa to fail.

I wouldn’t put it past him for a second to dictate such insidious instructions to his officials. Delaney has publicly stated he does not care about the game of college football as a whole, only the Big Ten Conference. He may very well be the most despicable person involved with NCAA football today.

In other news… how good does Oregon look now after dismantling USC? In light of the joke of a suspension (a half game) laid down by Florida’s Urban Meyer on Brandon Spikes for the disgusting act of eye gouging, extra kudos to the Ducks for how their swift and decisive suspension of LaGarette Blount after Game 1. I’m okay with Oregon now reevaluating Blount’s standing with the team. One would hope the kid has learned from his mistake, and, if given the chance, can how redeem himself and put his life back on track.

The important point is, the Ducks’ punishment of Blount was appropriately severe, unlike the laughable token gesture laid down by Urban Meyer, who has obviously sold out any sense of respectability in the Gators’ quest for a title.

What I would love for someone to answer me is how Cincinnati leap-frogged TCU in the BCS rankings? The Horned Frogs were again dominating this past weekend (as were the Bearcats, but even more so); the Frogs have a stronger strength of schedule; and they are ranked three spots higher than the Bearcats (#4 vs. #7) in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Yet TCU stayed at #6 in the BCS standings and Cincinnati jumped from #8 to #5. The math simply does not add up.

Rigged computers?

• December 23, 2009 -- TCU’s Gary Patterson AP Coach of the Year – NCAA College Football (0)
• December 8, 2009 -- Bowl Challenges Set (0)
• November 17, 2009 -- As The Season Dwindles Down… (0)
• October 26, 2009 -- Statement Game (0)
• October 19, 2009 -- BCS Rankings Are Out (1)