Commentary: Top schools getting BCS protection?

The Bowl Championship Series can probably survive controversy and silliness and talk-radio arguments and, more than likely, political bullying from windbag representatives interested mainly in their re-elections.

What the BCS can’t survive is the overhanging cloud of scandal or conspirac

y.

We’re starting to hear whispers: I can verify the source of one of these rumors because I started it.

Pssssst: The top schools appear to be getting BCS protection from officials because it’s in the best interest of the conferences for the best teams to win.

A second team in the BCS means an additional $4.5 million to conference coffers.

A conference advancing a team to the national-title game brings huge exposure and revenue to the school and the league.

Superstars always get preferential treatment, if you believe your eyes and the shady accounts of an ex-NBA referee, who traded his old stripes for prison stripes.

Didn’t Magic Johnson get every call at the end of the important playoff game?

Yeah, but that’s different. In a seven-game series, things tend to even out … or at least sometimes.

In college football, one bad call can cost you everything.

Do officials want the best teams to win?

No way — that’s impossible to believe.

But there have been enough strange calls lately to warrant a serious crackdown on getting it right for the sake of not having columns like this written.

Two weeks ago, Florida got the benefit of several calls in a close win against Arkansas, so many in fact that the SEC suspended the crew.

A week ago, Tennessee lost to Alabama by two points after a last-second field goal was blocked. Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin said he didn’t run another play to get his kicker closer because he feared getting called for another penalty. Tennessee had eight flags in the game to Alabama’s one.

Saturday, Indiana caught the short end of several calls that benefited Iowa, an undefeated team with national title aspirations.

Indianapolis Star columnist Bob Kravitz wrote the game felt “like a Brinks robbery” and made note of “an inept group of officials who took 14 IU points off the board with bogus calls on obvious touchdown passes.”

The most egregious error occurred when the replay booth overruled an Indiana touchdown that would have given the Hoosiers a 28-14 lead.

A scoring pass to Terrance Turner was ruled complete on the field. The referee was in perfect position to make the call and did not hesitate in his decision.

Yet, upon further review, it was overruled in the booth.

Wait a minute — what happened to irrefutable proof?

A few weeks earlier, Washington shocked Arizona on a pass that deflected off an Arizona receiver’s foot, with the Washington player returning the “interception” for the game-winning score.

It seemed impossible the ball didn’t hit the ground.

Given Arizona’s only other loss this year was to Iowa, and that Arizona is the only Pac-10 or Big Ten team never to play in a Jan. 1 Rose Bowl, that call may turn out to mean something.

I called Verle Sorgen, director of instant replay for the league, and he gave me an emphatic explanation.

He said there must be irrefutable proof that the original call was wrong.

What does that mean?

Sogren said if you gathered 100 college football experts in a room to look at the play, 99 of them would have to come to consensus.

Wow, that’s some burden of irrefutable proof, but if that’s the rule …

OK, then, how do you explain the Big Ten overturning Saturday’s call in Iowa City?

No one with two eyes could say it was irrefutable that Turner was not inbounds when he caught the pass.

Instead of a touchdown, Indiana settled for a field goal attempt that went awry, and Iowa soon tied the score and won in a runaway.

It is not enough, in hindsight, for the conferences to keep issuing apologies.

There has to be a better answer than conference commissioners reprimanding coaches for criticizing officiating crews that end up getting suspended because the coaches were right about the refs being wrong.

The SEC admitted its officials blew it in Florida-Arkansas and the Big Ten should admit the Indiana touchdown should have been upheld.

How about some consistency?

Because the Pac-10 and Big Ten champions play each other in the Rose Bowl, it makes sense that irrefutable proof in one league should be irrefutable in the other.

Instead of apologizing all the time, how about getting the call right? Or else, junk instant replay.

If we, the non-experts, can see it, why can’t the experts?

The future of the BCS ultimately hinges on its transparency and the integrity of its games.

It was outrageous, but hilariously OK to me, when USC in 2003 finished No. 1 in both polls but couldn’t play in the BCS title game because it finished No. 3 in the standings.

Hey, they came up with these stupid rules, and that’s just the way it shook out.

It was less OK in 2004, however, when Texas edged California for a Rose Bowl spot because deciding votes suspiciously tipped toward Texas even after California beat Southern Mississippi on the road.

The aftermath of this was so ugly AP pulled out of the BCS formula, and several news organizations, mine included, issued a ban forbidding its writers from participation in polls.

In the news business, credibility is imperative.

It must also be for the BCS.

If you’re going to continue with this unbelievable creation to ferret out championships, it has to be believable.

Talk to us

More in Sports

Montana State guard RaeQuan Battle celebrates after scoring against Kansas State during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 17, 2023, in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Community roundup: MP grad Battle ‘devastated’ by NCAA ruling

Plus, Jadyn Edwards joins New Mexico’s Hall of Honor, and Daniel Arias is back with the NFL’s Cardinals

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, Nov. 28

Prep roundup for Tuesday, Nov. 28: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) makes a one-handed catch during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023 in Seattle. The 49ers won 31-13. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)
Seahawks’ Smith-Njigba’s confidence ‘sky high’ ahead of Dallas homecoming

The rookie made a spectacular one-handed catch against San Francisco last week.

Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward (1) throws during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Washington, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
State Supreme Court puts Pac-12 ruling on hold

The University of Washington and the Pac-12 made the request after a lower court’s ruling gave Oregon State and Washington State control of the league.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) celebrates throwing a touchdown to wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) against Washington State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
No. 3 UW needs offense to start clicking again

The Huskies’ high-flying unit will be key in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon.

Lake Stevens’ Keagan Howard (80) scores during a Class 4A state semifinal game between Lake Stevens and Kamiakan at Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens, Washington on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Lake Stevens won, 48-7. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Lake Stevens advances to 4A state title game with rout of Kamiakin

The Vikings cruise past another playoff opponent en route to Husky Stadium.

X
Fall 2023 All-Wesco teams

All-league honors for boys tennis, cross country, football, volleyball, girls soccer and girls swim and dive.

X
Silvertips surge during eventful week

Everett sees its top defenseman return, trades for a forward and beats all three of its opponents, including Portland.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, Nov. 27

Prep roundup for Monday, Nov. 27: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) catches a pass for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023 in Seattle. The 49ers won 31-13. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)
Seahawks face odd week with critical trip to Dallas on Thursday

Seattle is set to play a second straight Thursday night game for the first time in team history.

Lake Stevens’ Kolton Matson (12) moves with the ball during a game between Lake Stevens and Kennedy Catholic at Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Lake Stevens won, 44-21. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Lake Stevens not looking past Kamiakin in state semifinals

The path through the playoffs has been quite different for the Vikings and their challenger.

Lake Stevens’ Talha Rai (18) moves with the ball during a football game between Lake Stevens and Woodinville at Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. Lake Stevens won, 41-0. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
4A state semifinal capsule: Lake Stevens vs. Kamiakin

A by-the-numbers look at Saturday’s matchup.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.