04/20/24
November 24, 2010
Ohio St. President: TCU, Boise Don't Deserve Title Shot: Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee said that even if they run the table, TCU and Boise State don't deserve to be in the Bowl Championship Series title game. "Well, I don't know enough about the Xs and Os of college football," Gee said. "I do know, having been both a Southeastern Conference president and a Big Ten president, that it's like murderer's row every week for these schools. We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor. We play very fine schools on any given day. So I think until a university runs through that gantlet that there's some reason to believe that they not be the best teams to [be] in the big ballgame."
Ohio State doesn't deserve any more title shots.
posted by dyams at 02:13 PM on November 24, 2010
It's pretty simple to me: If Boise State or TCU end up ranked in the top two in a system that the "Big Six" created, thus putting them in the title game, then they've earned it. If E. Gordon Gee or Les Miles or anyone else who created the system to try to keep them out of it doesn't like it, then to hell with them.
posted by TheQatarian at 02:29 PM on November 24, 2010
This is why I'm boycotting bowl games until they can crown a legitimate national champion year in and year out.
posted by slackerman at 02:29 PM on November 24, 2010
there's some reason to believe that they not be the best teams to (be) in the big ballgame
He said with nose held high and relishing the Ohio State victories over Marshall (4-7), Eastern Michigan (2-9), Indiana (4-7), Purdue (4-7), and Minnesota (2-9).
posted by graymatters at 02:30 PM on November 24, 2010
This is a kettle/pot situation. OSU most likely does play a tougher schedule than Boise/TCU, but in many years recently the gap hasn't been very big.
He needs to stay in his lane on this topic & just be thankful that his team can exploit their lack of a conference title game to back into the Nat'l Championship, where they get consistently worked.
I could respect a SEC school president saying this, but not the Big 10. The system is almost tailor made for them to succeed.
Tell you what Gee: I bet if you're willing to drop your usual "brutal" noncon slate of Youngstown State, Toledo & Eastern Michigan I bet Boise & TCU would happily take your crew on. You've got nothing to worry about right?
posted by brainofdtrain at 02:33 PM on November 24, 2010
Ask Virginia Tech about the "Little Sisters of the Poor".
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:40 PM on November 24, 2010
just be thankful that his team can exploit their lack of a conference title game to back into the Nat'l Championship, where they get consistently worked.
+1 on this.
I don't necessarily disagree with his premise, he's just the wrong school to be making the argument.
posted by bdaddy at 03:02 PM on November 24, 2010
bdaddy,
I hear you. He might be right, but I think that only an SEC school prez can say what he did with a straight face.
posted by brainofdtrain at 03:15 PM on November 24, 2010
"I do know, having been both a Southeastern Conference president and a Big Ten president, that it's like murderer's row every week for these schools. We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor."
posted by grum@work at 04:00 PM on November 24, 2010
just be thankful that his team can exploit their lack of a conference title game to back into the Nat'l Championship
I think that only an SEC school prez can say what he did with a straight face.
Until next season, of course, when Nebraska joins the 12-team league, complete with title game, playing in the division with OSU. The SEC has been the class of college football of late, but they weren't always and won't be forever. And what of the Big 12?
posted by tahoemoj at 05:20 PM on November 24, 2010
The Big 12 is in serious trouble. Beebe pulled off a miracle-but only a short term fix. I think within 10 years or so it will disband.
Interesting point on NU joining, b/c the Huskers HATE the conference title game idea-they were the one school that voted against it in the Big 12. Should be fun to see how they react when within a few years the new Big 12 looks a lot like the old one. As a KU fan, I will enjoy it thoroughly.
posted by brainofdtrain at 06:07 PM on November 24, 2010
Should be fun to see how they react when within a few years the new Big 12 looks a lot like the old one.
Nebraska was always upset that they were not the big fish in the current Big 12 pond. How will they react when they have to deal with Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, etc. in the future Big 12? But then enough money cures a lot of upset!
posted by graymatters at 06:28 PM on November 24, 2010
So true graymatters. I think NU, as great as they are, overstate their importance nationally. Most people don't care about them honestly.
posted by brainofdtrain at 06:33 PM on November 24, 2010
Surprising that a university president with his distinguished resume would show such poor judgment and make such a tactless and inflammatory statement.
And unnecessary as well. I don't quite understand why he felt the need to flesh it out with the Little Sisters of the Poor comment. He didn't need to go farther. What he said when he first opened his mouth was damage enough.
Maybe he decided he needed to have his own North Korea moment.
Peyton Manning will be flying into Columbus to award this week's Vanderjagt Commemorative Idiot Kicker Award to Mr. Gee.
Hopefully as a result of this gaffe, OSU will be pressured into scheduling both the Broncs and Frogs ASAP.
posted by beaverboard at 07:07 PM on November 24, 2010
Until OSU type schools are willing to consistently schedule Boise/TCU teams, then I don't give a rip what they say. It's disingenuous.
posted by brainofdtrain at 07:49 PM on November 24, 2010
I understand that sentiment, but the economics of the game just aren't conducive to those matchups. From what I understand from previous threads, all Boise really wants is to schedule a home-and-home with some major conference powers. While many people call schools like OSU chicken to do it or afraid of losing, I really don't think that's the case.
The simple fact is that, by traveling to Boise to play on the smurf turf or to BFE Texas to play TCU, Ohio State forfeits the opportunity to play a game in front of 110,000+ in the horseshoe. How much money are they giving up to travel to Idaho rather than schedule a home-and-home with Texas, USC, or Miami (all you OSU bashers might want to note that they have done this for the past 6 seasons)?
posted by tahoemoj at 01:11 PM on November 26, 2010
his team can exploit their lack of a conference title game to back into the Nat'l Championship, where they get consistently worked
Also, OSU is 1-2 in national title games and 5-3 in BCS bowl games. Don't let the two high profile beatings completely obscure the facts. OSU has been competitive since the inception of the BCS system. They got whupped fair and square twice, but they aren't the only team to get spanked in the title game.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:30 PM on November 26, 2010
No doubt tahoemoj, fair point. Rooting for a team in the Big 12, rest assured I have seen teams from my conference get shellacked in the title game (OU anyone?).
That said, other BCS games aren't always comparable to the Nat'l Title game. Beating a team from a weaker Big 6 conference that year (a year for example, where the acc rep has 3 losses) is a much different story than beating one of the top 5 teams in the country. So, although i admit that i haven't looked at those match ups, that 5-3 record could be deceptive i think.
Regardless, i am not saying OSU isn't a top tier program, they are. My point is that given their recent record in the title game, it is a bit self-serving to argue against someone else's merits. In my mind, until they get back to .500 or better, that is reality of the situation, & Gee needs to pipe down.
posted by brainofdtrain at 02:03 PM on November 26, 2010
Regarding the economics involved:
That's fine, but then say that-don't trot out some condescending line about how other teams aren't worthy while you're unwilling to play them. Say "look, TCU looks like a great team, & I wish we could play them in noncon, but the economics just don't work, and it would be financially irresponsible for me to schedule them."
I have no issue with that. While I still don't think that should count against TCU/Boise like it does, that seems like a fair position. But when you start saying phrases like "little sisters of the poor," you aren't talking economics.
posted by brainofdtrain at 02:07 PM on November 26, 2010
say that-don't trot out some condescending line about how other teams aren't worthy while you're unwilling to play them
100% in agreement. I was responding to some very nuanced anti-OSU sounding statements. That doesn't mean that Gee wasn't being disingenuous or talking out of his ass when he said certain things.
posted by tahoemoj at 06:46 PM on November 26, 2010
We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor
That should be restated:
"We refuse to play smaller schools because it wouldn't look good when we get our asses kicked. When we lose to another school protected by the BCS safety net it doesn't reflect nearly as badly on us."