LSU bowl championship a discourse on mythology

1/20/2008

Congratulations to LSU for winning the BCS mythological national championship. It took three tries, twice having lost while being No. 1. It would be interesting to see if LSU could have won in a playoff involving USC, West Virginia, Georgia, Missouri, and Kansas.

Congratulations to Ohio State for an outstanding season. They were 11-2, including a victory over Michigan. They weren't supposed to be in the championship and would not have been if in a playoff with the aforementioned teams.

Most importantly, you cannot lose your last game and expect to be in the championship. Just ask Missouri and West Virginia.

JOSEPH KRUZEL

Toledo

(LSU beat OSU for the BCS title. The game was played on a football field. No mythology required.)

Is the Southeastern Conference really that superior to the Big Ten in football?

It is not possible to accurately compare the conferences as long as the Big Ten always plays the SEC at warm-weather sites. A Big Ten team must be built to play some cold-weather games, and that might not only make size preferable to speed at times, but also determines style of play. When the conferences meet, it's always on the SEC's turf and terms.

Here's a way to make it a fair fight.

For a period of six to 10 seasons, play a plus-one game after the regular season matching the leagues' 1 vs. 1, 2 vs. 2, etc., with half the games played at SEC sites and half at Big Ten sites.

Of course, one SEC team in the bottom half must sit out.

But it would determine if an SEC speed team can compete against a Big Ten power team in late November or early December weather.

How about this to determine a national champion?

First of all every team will play 11 games in 11 weeks. No one will have a more extended layoff than another team before a playoff. Everyone will take the same lumps with 11 consecutive games. First games in 2008, Sept. 6. Last games, Nov. 15.

Then one week off before the playoff starts, and let the bowls go on in late December and early January without the eight teams in the playoff.

The eight teams? There are six BCS conferences, and the six league champs are in.

The other two teams will be selected by a panel of former coaches after the panelists have viewed the body of work for the season after it's completed. The panel will also seed the teams.

Quarterfinals Nov. 29 at home sites, semifinals Dec. 13 at neutral sites, and a final at a neutral site that will determine a true national champ Dec. 20.

RIKHARD LAIHO

Findlay

(What happens when there's a tie for the Big Ten title and the Big Ten has no playoff system in place? The conference doesn't even acknowledge an 11th team.)

I could hardly believe Tiki Barber's comments about Eli Manning. I used to think that Tiki and his twin brother Ronde were both class acts. Not any more.

Tiki said Giants quarterback Eli Manning's attempt to take control of the Giants was comical. Well, who's laughing now, Tiki?

Eli has now established himself as a top-ranked quarterback, and is one win away from the Super Bowl.

You, Tiki, are a poor excuse for a television journalist.

No Hall of Fame for you, Tiki.

Just the Hall of Shame.

WILLIAM H. GOLDMAN

Toledo

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