[NU Sports] Can this day get any better???

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> Not to burst your bubble, but Miami (FL) is
> looking strong after a big win over Virginia and looks

The only problem is that the only bowl who would want the Canes is the Orange Bowl, and they are no longer able to choose ACC or Big Least -- they're locked into ACC, so I doubt they'd want an ACC game for their bowl.

Miami would bring a "name" program to some of those other bowls, but not a large contingent of fans. Boise would easily outdraw Miami for the Fiesta Bowl and TCU could probably rival them for a short trip to New Orleans for the Sugar (though with Bama, they should fill seats).

> likely to move up into BCS contention.  Also, Pitt and
> Cincy will both be in eligibility range (although they still

But neither of them bring big crowds or ratings either -- plus Pitt will likely lose two more to Cincy and ND (they lost at NC State!).

If the B(C)S would ignore one or -- gasp -- both Boise State and TCU, with perfect records and top 5 rankings, then there would be a serious outcry.

Ticking off Orrin Hatch is one thing -- you start messing with Texas and get the entire WAC and Mountain West mad at you and the B(C)S could finally get some big-time pressure.

> Unless the BCS rankings are so wacky that there are no
> at-large options in the top 14 besides the "mid
> majors" there is NO way any bowl would pick such a
> team, no matter what their ranking.  That is a very
> unlikely scenario to begin with since a lot of BCS
> conference teams will have a few more weeks to move into the

Hey, I'm all for the B(C)S to collapse, so I dare them to go ahead and pick a 10-2 Penn State or 10-2 Miami ranked in the 10-14 range over a 12-0 TCU or 12-0 Boise State ranked in the top five. It would be their funeral.

I think the bigger reason than public shame, though, would be the money factor. A #12 Big Ten or SEC team (or even a Big XII team) will fill seats and bring ratings. The Big East and ACC just don't. They had a big article in the Arizona Republic this morning about the economic downturn hurting not just pro teams and ASU, but the Fiesta Bowl (despite how a ticket this year would mean automatic renewal for next year's title game) -- Boise brings fans and a good story of Cinderalla's return. TCU could be in the top four by year's end and have to be picked.

There just aren't too many options out there -- the Sugar will grab the Florida/Bama loser to compensate for losing the winner to the title game, and the Fiesta would love to bring over SC to replace Texas. Then you get the dropoff. The Orange picks next but they can't take Miami, so they can go with Cincinnati ... TCU ... Boise ... or ???? I'd love to see PSU get the bid so we move up (and so John Saunders' head would explode with disbelief), but they can't take them ahead of three unbeatens. Same with Pitt ... or Okie State.

So I guess yes, the day can get even better. We beat Iowa. ND loses. AND the B(C)S is losing!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT