04/18/24
November 09, 2006
Rutgers upsets Louisville: and the BCS standings.
posted by ursus_comiter to football at 10:59 PM - 46 comments
One of the best football games I have ever watched if for no other reason than the intensity of the Rutgers fans. It is a shame that even an undefeated Rutgers is unlikely to get to play in the big game.
posted by bargle at 11:06 PM on November 09, 2006
I wish my Rutger's graduate father was still alive to see this season.
posted by scully at 11:09 PM on November 09, 2006
that was fanfuckingtastic. i even got a little teary-eyed.
posted by goddam at 11:15 PM on November 09, 2006
HURRAY RUTGERS!!! Now the Gators are right back in the thick of things!!! HURRAY!!!
posted by kidrayter2005 at 11:40 PM on November 09, 2006
Wow!
posted by mjkredliner at 11:42 PM on November 09, 2006
Awesome. BLOW UP THE BCS!!!
posted by vito90 at 11:54 PM on November 09, 2006
What a game!!!! Wish I could have been in the stands for that one. It's time to get rid of the BCS
posted by Buckfever14 at 12:04 AM on November 10, 2006
This Rutgers (grad school) grad is sure happy, especially the excitement of the last second field goal for the W.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:25 AM on November 10, 2006
Spent alot of time watching the knights get whomped during the "whats a Rutgers?" years growing up. Glad to see them finally get some recognition. Maybe they can build on this and keep some of the better players in Jersey from going to Penn State and Florida...
posted by firecop at 12:53 AM on November 10, 2006
Congratulations to Rutgers!! What a great win. I'm not sure about the rest of the BCS top ten, but considering USC's schedule the rest of the way, if they somehow manage to win out, does that put them in the championship game, or does the loser of Michigan/Ohio St. get a rematch?
posted by eccsport78 at 01:12 AM on November 10, 2006
Rutgers still plays WVU. If they win that the computers will love them. They'll have two top ten wins and an unbeaten record. So don't write them out of the title game just yet. The human side will probably come around now that they have a big win. Remember, the BCS rankings are incomplete until the end of the season. People get so hung up on what they say right now. That said, this is a prime example of why there should be no polls until like week seven. Last week, West Virginia was getting 2 first place votes in the AP poll. Louisville beats them, logically, you'd think those two voters would give Louisville the first place votes, right? Well, they went to Ohio State instead.
posted by SummersEve at 03:25 AM on November 10, 2006
RUTGERS BAYBEE!!! I WAS THERE AND IT WAS BANANAS!!!!
posted by BornIcon at 06:24 AM on November 10, 2006
Great win for Rutgers but I think that even if they beat WVU (which they may or may not do) I don't think they have the strength of schedule to get to the title game. Sure they would have two top 10 wins but if you take out those two teams the rest of their opponents have a combined 42-49 record in conferences like the MAC (Ohio 7-3) and MEAC (Howard 3-6). They also have a couple of non-conference victories against vaunted UNC (1-8) and Illinois (2-8). I think its more likely that you would see a one loss team like the SEC champ or possibly Texas if they win out. Sorry to rain on everyone's parade but it is still a tremendous win for a school that is definately moving in the right direction.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:28 AM on November 10, 2006
It was really a tremendous game, and the excitement was what makes college sports so fun to watch. And I agree, the BCS will always be a farce. But I truly expect Rutgers to now lose to West Virginia, giving all the big three in the Big East a loss each. And there's nothing wrong with that. The last few weeks have proven the Big East plays good football and has some serious talent on display. It's a shame this mythical National Title crap in Division 1 has to take attention away from football excellence in a ridiculous, impossible effort to decide who's the "Best."
posted by dyams at 07:02 AM on November 10, 2006
More and more Jersey talent will be more apt to staying in Jersey to play. What a big win
posted by Tbonez at 08:31 AM on November 10, 2006
I just hope no 1 loss team gets picked over Rutgers, that would be a travesty but I can see the BCS doing it.
posted by jimtis at 09:48 AM on November 10, 2006
I don't think it would be a travesty. The best two teams should play for the title, not simply the teams without losses.
posted by Venicemenace at 09:55 AM on November 10, 2006
I think this is another step in the right direction for the Rutgers football program. Not only does this win help them now, but one would think it helps them in the long run. A team cannot win without gaining some talented recruits; and often times skilled recruits prefer to attend a school with a proven track record of winning. I'm really happy for Rutgers, after years of being known as mediocre at the very best, they're finally putting something together.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:39 AM on November 10, 2006
I don't think it would be a travesty. The best two teams should play for the title, not simply the teams without losse I couldn't agree more. The BCS, for all its problems, is intended to pit the best 2 teams against each other. Rutger fans would disagree (as would those just looking for a reason to pick on the BCS), but Rutgers is NOT one of those 2 teams and neither was Louisville, nor Boise. The BCS is intended to NOT let teams like that squeak in just because they're undefeated, and the BCS has done a relatively good job in doing that....critics be damned. Would the playoffs be better as a fan to watch? Sure. But that just ain't going to happen. btw - My guess is an Ohio State/Texas rematch for the title.
posted by bdaddy at 12:35 PM on November 10, 2006
The BCS system stinks! I want a Playoff system. It needs to happen, it would draw in fans from all over almost like College Basketball.
posted by yachts360 at 01:38 PM on November 10, 2006
You gotta love this team but I'd bet $ and I'm currently unemployed so I'm out that they get blown out in their BCS Bowl game don't wanna ruin fans chances on them especially NJ fans but this is just a vibe and I'm usually right but I love underdogs so go rutgers maybe you'll get OSU
posted by luther70 at 02:27 PM on November 10, 2006
btw - My guess is an Ohio State/Texas rematch for the title. Tell you what "bdaddy" -- you may very well be precisely right. If Texas runs the table on their remaining games, and wins impressively, Florida and Auburn probably don't have a chance no matter what they do. If Texas wins this weekend v. K-State, the Harris Poll will move them into third. They'll be positioned to smooth into second after Ohio State v. Michigan. Heck, the networks and advertisers would surely want an Ohio State - Texas rematch. Florida or Auburn would be OK, but in the build-up to the national title game, neither of them would arouse as much interest in the nation as a whole. Additionally, that Colt Mc Coy kid has got a great name, but even better, he's got the game to back it up. Granted, he had a lackluster start against The Ohio State University way back on Sept. 9th -- but that was a long time ago. He's the real deal -- and he seems to get better each week. He's tough, smart, athletic and has that incredible intangible -- he's a born leader. By the way, the game played by Rutgers was one of the most inspirational efforts by a group of young men that were undersized underdogs I have ever seen. My God they fought one helluva fight on a night they were not going to be denied victory. There's no question anymore, they have the unquestioned respect of the nation -- with a bigtime capital R.
posted by naturalpro at 02:32 PM on November 10, 2006
What about a Michigan/Texas matchup in the BCS Championship? You can't count them out.
posted by yachts360 at 02:38 PM on November 10, 2006
I find it interesting that many people are looking at Texas for the national championship game rather than a one loss SEC team. I would think that it is common knowlage that the SEC is the toughest conference in college football, and I believe that there are quite a few of those teams who would be undefeated if they played in a different conference. I agree with naturalpro that networks would enjoy a Ohio State- Texas rematch. Hopefully that doesn't happen. I think that if there is a SEC team that ends up with only one loss, not picking them to be in the national championship game would be a travesty. I personally think that team will be Auburn, but Arkansas and Florida both have a shot as well.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:37 PM on November 10, 2006
Everyone is forgetting about USC. They still have to play ND, CAL, and ORE. If they win out it will be tough not to have them at or near the top of the BCS. (obviously below OSU if they are still undefeated)
posted by yay-yo at 04:39 PM on November 10, 2006
The benefit that both Texas and Florida have that many other teams don't have is that they play in conferences with a title game(read USC and the loser of the Michigan / Ohio State game). I still give Florida the edge with a possible conference title game against #11 Arkansas over Texas who would would play a somewhat soft Nebraska. And before anyone suspects me of having some sort of bias, my "home team" is UNH and my college, U of Hartford, doesn't have a team.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 04:47 PM on November 10, 2006
The benefit that both Texas and Florida have that many other teams don't have is that they play in conferences with a title game(read USC and the loser of the Michigan / Ohio State game). That can also be a disadvantage, as it gives them one more game to lose. And as we've seen in the SEC, one more game against a quality team like Arkansas or Auburn can smash national title hopes real fast.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:10 PM on November 10, 2006
Hilarious praise to Rutgers football
posted by Tbonez at 10:45 PM on November 10, 2006
Let me begin by saying that i am pumped to hear that the Scarlet Knights pulled it off! Also, i would agree that it would be hard to argue that they are as good as say OSU or Texas. However, i am a bit skeptical regarding people's immediate dismissal of Rutgers based on their soft schedule. Assuming they beat WV (& that is a big assumption) then they will have beaten two 10 teams in the twilight of the season. Doesn't that say something? I know that there is no way for the BCS to consider the timing of wins and losses, or when a team is peaking, but i believe that those are important issues to consider. this is a prime example of why there should be no polls until like week seven Exactly. Maybe if we didn't decide who was the best before the season started we would allow for teams like Rutgers to make a more legitimate claim. Rankings are so biased at times, owing more to a school's tradition (or the lack there of) than to any real reasons. Rutgers had virtually no chance to reach the champoinship game because of the hole they were in at the beginning of the season. That being the case, after nearly an entire season i can't deny that Rutgers is more than likely going to get stomped by OSU or Michigan, but maybe we should let the field decide. You can't compare two teams on paper who haven't played each other, because the STATS DON"T INCLUDE WHEN THEY PLAYED EACH OTHER. How can any of us say with certainty that OSU would dominate Rutgers? You can't until they actually line up across from each other. Otherwise it is conjecture, no matter how statistically based. Although a playoff system has its drawbacks for sure, at least the players can "work out" who is better for themselves.
posted by brainofdtrain at 11:11 PM on November 10, 2006
Well. Auburn is officially out of the picture. Georgia? Seriously, War Eagle?
posted by bargle at 02:39 PM on November 11, 2006
All of you thinking OSU and UT in the championship game are assuming an undefeated OSU, right? What would you do in the case Michigan beats them in a classic Big Ten slobber-knocker by, say, a score of 14-13? Would you put a one-loss SEC team or USC or UT ahead of a one-loss OSU? Or would Michigan not rate the #1 spot going undefeated? I, personally, am hoping for just this scenario and an all-Big10 BSC finale.
posted by elovrich at 06:53 PM on November 11, 2006
Nail biter in the Swamp. Don't count out those mean, green Florida Gators!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:03 PM on November 11, 2006
It would be hard to argue that they are as good as say OSU or Texas. What about a Michigan/Texas matchup in the BCS Championship? Or not. 
posted by SummersEve at 10:21 AM on November 12, 2006
Also, for everyone knocking Rutgers schedule and praising the SEC for being some super conference... Slow down. It's really no better than the other BCS conferences this year, Big East included. Let's look at Florida's schedule game-by-game. They have wins over Southern Miss and Central Florida (which speak for themselves). A win over Tennessee (who showed their true colors last night). Wins over Kentucky (who got spanked by Louisville earlier this year but did pick up a win over Texas State San Marcos) and Alabama ( who has wins over Duke, Louisiana-Monroe, Florida Int'l). Florida has good wins over LSU and Auburn (though Auburn lost ugly yesterday to a down Georgia team). A win over Vanderbilt (speaks for itself) and a serious struggle against a below-average South Carolina last night. They'll play Western Carolina and Florida State. So let's stop with the preconceived notion that the SEC is so much better than other conferences. They have winning records but look at the non-con teams they play. I'm not saying Rutgers has played the most amazing schedule, but who does? If Rutgers knocks off WVU, (assuming WVU is still a one-loss team) and Louisville stays a one-loss team) they'll have two big wins, which is just as many as Florida. The SEC may typically be a stronger conference, but this year it's right there with the rest of them.
posted by SummersEve at 10:56 AM on November 12, 2006
Don't forget that this season will be the first in which the BCS title game will be one week after the other four BCS bowls, so there are two additional at large teams and Boise State will likely get one--maybe Arkansas for the other after yesterday's convincing win. Personally, I'd love to see Rutgers win out and then, if the Trojans don't squeeze into the title game, match up against USC in the Rose Bowl.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:44 PM on November 12, 2006
maybe Arkansas for the other after yesterday's convincing win. At the moment Arkansas is in the middle of the national title hunt. They control their own destiny in their division, and a victory over Florida in the SEC championship game should put them into the national championship.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:46 PM on November 12, 2006
Let me get this straight, YYM... A team that lost to another team by 36 points should get to play in the title game over that team (USC), a possible unbeaten team (Rutgers), and another one loss team that lost to the #1 or #2 team (UM or OSU). I'm going to disagree. I don't care if it was the first week of the season, it was an ass kickin'.
posted by SummersEve at 05:10 PM on November 12, 2006
USC had the pleasure of playing an Arkansas team with Johnson as quarterback rather than Mustain or Dick and with an injured McFadden. Barring injuries, whatever team ends up playing them in a bowl game will not be so lucky. Unless they completely fall apart and lose to a horrible FSU, Florida will be number two when they go to Atlanta for the SEC championship game. And if the Razorbacks are in the national title discussion at the end of the regular season it will be because they beat Florida there (and LSU along the way). Cal and/or ND will beat USC and West Virginia is going to beat the tar out of Rutgers. And WV simply will not jump over a 1-loss SEC champ. Be it Florida or Arkansas. The UM/OSU loser definitely does not deserve a rematch unless they are the only notable 1-loss team left. An unbeaten Boise State would deserve to go before they would.
posted by bargle at 07:35 PM on November 12, 2006
SummersEve, I shouldn't have used "should" in my sentance. That was my mistake. I believe Arkansas has a good shot at playing in the national championship game, but they aren't a lock. However, what if OSU loses by 38 points to Michigan? Do they still deserve a spot over Arkansas? The UM/OSU loser definitely does not deserve a rematch unless they are the only notable 1-loss team left. An unbeaten Boise State would deserve to go before they would. As said in many comments above, a team with an undefeated record in a non BCS conference many (but not all) times are not as good as teams with losses in the BCS conferences. If a team from the Sun Belt goes undefeated, do they deserve a spot over a team that loses to a ranked team? I think not.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:51 PM on November 12, 2006
Who said anything about the Sun Belt? Nobody. I said notable one-loss team and specifically mentioned Boise State. They have had a good program off and on for years now and certainly shouldn't be compared to the Sun Belt. They will not make it to the big game no matter what happens, but they would deserve it more than a team that lost to #1 at the very end of the season. They have tried and failed, let someone else have a go. I wouldn't put it past Boise State to knock off someone in one of the BCS bowls if they make it.
posted by bargle at 09:15 PM on November 12, 2006
However, what if OSU loses by 38 points to Michigan? Do they still deserve a spot over Arkansas? They absolutely would not belong in the title game, but neither would Arkansas, both for the exact same reason. If a team from the Sun Belt goes undefeated, do they deserve a spot over a team that loses to a ranked team? I think not. I think, under normal circumstances, we all agree with that. But Rutgers has the potential to be unbeaten while knocking off two top ten teams. I don't see how they can be denied a spot in the title game. Now, for Rutgers to have a strong argument they (obviously) need to beat Syracuse and West Virginia. But they also need West Virginia to beat Pitt this week. If West Virginia loses, that really hurts Rutgers' chances. (On edit: I should note I don't like the idea of Rutgers being in, I'm kind of pulling for an OSU-UM rematch, but I just think fair is fair.)
posted by SummersEve at 06:44 AM on November 13, 2006
I think, under normal circumstances, we all agree with that. But Rutgers has the potential to be unbeaten while knocking off two top ten teams. I don't see how they can be denied a spot in the title game. I would have to agree with that. I think Rutgers needs Louisville not to lose again as well. I'm not big on Rutgers either, but that may just be because they have a history of being dismal. but they would deserve it more than a team that lost to #1 at the very end of the season. So a close game, possibly wrong decided on a blown call by an official, still would not warrant a one loss team making the championship over a weak undefeated team? They absolutely would not belong in the title game, but neither would Arkansas, both for the exact same reason. The one advantage Arkansas has is that votes tend to punish losses later in the season more than early on in the season. I'll admit that I'd all but forgoten USC soundly thrashing Arkansas in the first game of the season.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:41 AM on November 13, 2006
Agree YYM. Sad thing is, the NCAA (well, actually the conferences that run I-A football) see these discussions, think it's good for the game, and cite them as one more reason they don't need a playoff system.
posted by SummersEve at 11:22 AM on November 13, 2006
Sad thing is, the NCAA (well, actually the conferences that run I-A football) see these discussions, think it's good for the game, and cite them as one more reason they don't need a playoff system. Get a playoff system bitches! Maybe that will help
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:46 PM on November 13, 2006
USC is ahead of Florida in the BCS rankings so if they win out one would expect them to be no worse than #2 when the bids come out. Two and a half tough games in the way of winning out but if they get it done they surely deserve a title shot.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:34 AM on November 16, 2006
I'm sure he's happy.