I don't have enough time for a lengthy entry today, but after Oklahoma's loss to Texas Tech (and their subsequent drop from national title contention), I can't help but look at the next couple of weeks and remember what Tom Osborne warned when the Big 12 was formed: that while it would make money, it would ultimately cost the conference chances at national titles.
After this week's big game between KU and Mizzou, the winner will end up facing the Sooners for the conference crown. And what is going to happen? Sure enough, Oklahoma will probably prevail, meaning that after having three teams in the top 5, we will have no more contenders for the national title, allowing West Virginia to step in and fill the #2 slot to face (barring a loss beforehand) LSU.
This isn't the first time that having a conference title game has cost the Big XII. In 1996, the Huskers, despite having one loss, were in position to leap into the #2 spot and a shot at an unprecedented third consecutive national championship. And what happened? Texas, led by Priest Holmes and unheralded QB James Brown, came in and beat the Huskers, 37-27.
It may make a lot of money, but this thing has cost the conference several times. Also, it has robbed us of an annual OU-NU game, which is perhaps the biggest crime of all. Anyways, just thought it was worth mentioning that we might be shut out of the national title game again. Back tomorrow for some Husker stuff.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Oklahoma has played for 3 national titles and Texas has played for one national title. How can you intellectually write that the formation of the Big XII would cost the conference chances at national titles? I would like to see you retort that.
I'm not saying that it's cost us every year, and obviously the strength of the Big XII south has pretty much negated any potential spoiler scenarios, but I was simply saying that eventually, once in a while, it'd come back to kick the conference in the ass. Which it did this year. I'm not saying it's a yearly occurrence.
Post a Comment