THE BIG EAST ROCKS … “I’ve told the kids: ‘You’re going to be part of history playing in this league. You’ll talk about this the rest of your life.’ “ ... Jay Wright, Villanova men’s basketball coach. The conference currently has 9 teams in the Top 25. … Philadelphia Inquirer, 1-11-09
SWOFFORD SPEAKS … "The community isn't there. In a nutshell, I think the reason is there are parameters that particularly the presidents want to see maintained. You're looking at things like the number of games played. You're looking at things like the sport basically remaining a one-semester sport. You're talking about concerns over having playoff games during most schools' exam periods. All of those things come into play, as well as -- and I know you're getting tired of hearing this -- the quality and uniqueness of the regular season." … ACC commissioner John Swofford, the current BCS coordinator, enumerating the various excuses why there isn't a D1-A football playoff. …. SI.com, 1-9-09
December 2008
PRESIDENTIAL WEATHERMAN … "There are economic clouds above us but today the sun is shining on the University of South Carolina.” … Harris Pastides, University of South Carolina president, commenting on the school’s commitment to invest $15 million over 15 years for university academics -- primarily need-based student scholarships. The funds will come from the 15-year ESPN/CBS all-sports broadcasting contract with the SEC. gamecocksonline.cstv.com, 12-22-08
A COLLEGE FOOTBALL PHILOSOPHER … “To its existential core, college football is a sport defined by time, place and perspective. On one hand, it is the great American spectacle that galvanizes a campus and broadens a university’s appeal. On the other, it is a money-draining, values-compromising orgy of indulgence. On any given Saturday …. football is a cultural benefit or the classic betrayal, depending on the eye of the beholder." … NY Times columnist Harvey Araton (a Clips Truth Squad favorite), waxing philosophic about the polemic bifurcation of attitude regarding big-time college football. …NY Times, 12-7-08
A COACH’S FRUSTRATION… “When you’ve got that many critical turnovers, you’ve got your wagon in a ditch, and it’s pretty hard to get it out of there.” … Appalachian State Coach Jerry Moore, after his team, the D1-AA defending champion, gave the ball away seven times in a quarterfinal playoff loss to Richmond. … Washington Times, 12-7-08
November 2008
PRECEDENT FOR OBAMA’S PLAYOFF TALK? … “I demand that football change its rules or be abolished. Change the game or forsake it!” … Pres. Teddy Roosevelt, at a 1905 White House conference among leading college football powers, with regard to rough tactics that had made the game increasingly brutal. …American History, Nov. 1955
PC COMMISH … "I am glad [Obama] has a passion for college football …. For now, our constituencies -- and I know he understands constituencies -- have settled on the current BCS system. …. We certainly respect the opinions of president-elect Obama and welcome dialogue on what's best for college football." … BCS Coordinator (and ACC Commissioner) John Swofford, responding to President-elect Obama’s call for a playoff system. … Washington Post, 11-19-08
PREZ FOR PLAYOFF … "If you've got a bunch of teams who play throughout the season and …. there's no clear, decisive winner, we should be creating a playoff system. Eight teams, that would be three rounds to determine a national champion. It would add three extra weeks to the season. You could trim back on the regular season. I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this. So I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do." … President-elect Barack Obama, when asked in a “60 Minutes” interview about the college football national championship. … Washington Post, 11-19-08
BUCKEYES: HEAVY-DUTY VESSEL … "No doubt about it, football dominates. But there are a lot of institutions where it dominates and they're selling an empty vessel behind it. We have a very heavy-duty vessel with a lot of steam and our football team is part of it." … Ohio State President Gordon Gee, underscoring OSU’s prowess both on the field and in its educational mission.… LimaOhio.com, 11-18-08
THE WICKED WITCH OF THE BCS … "Who is making these decisions? It's kind of like the Wizard of Oz — somebody behind that screen there, but we don't know who it is.” … Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll, cranky about the BCS rankings. Despite killing Washington 56-0 (their third shutout in four games), the 7-1 Trojans dropped from 5th to 7th in the standings. USC trails three one-loss teams in the rankings — Florida, Texas and Oklahoma — despite averaging over 40 ppg and allowing only 7 points. … USA Today, 11-4-08
June 2008
DO PRESIDENTS REALLY FAVOR TOUGHER PENALTIES?"I keep hearing that university presidents want tougher penalties. They may talk big when they’re in gatherings like this," [looking around the room at the current and former college CEOs at the Knight Commission meeting on June 17]. "But I guarantee you that when university presidents come before us, they don't. It's 'Lord have mercy.' They ask for exceptions; 'that was then, this is now.'" ... Gene Marsh, a member of the D1 commitee on Infractions and a law professor at U-Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Inside Higher Ed, 6-18-08
BIG SIS IS BEAMING … "My heart is smiling. I'm so proud of her. She truly has paid her dues. I feel the Atlantic 10 came up with the best candidate." … Agnus Berenato, coach of Pitt women’s basketball, commenting on the appointment of her sister, Bernadette McGlade, as the A-10’s new commissioner. … Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6-3-08
May 2008
THE DREADED ‘P’ WORD … "I never said playoff. I never used the 'p' word." … SEC Commish Mike Slive, dismissing Florida State president TK Wetherell’s assertion that a playoff system was forthcoming. Slive, whose remarks came during the final day of SEC spring meetings in Florida, supports a Plus-1 but not a playoff. … Pensacola News Journal, 5-31-08
WE LIKE MIKE … "If we went tomorrow to a full-blown playoff, what makes anybody think the bowls are going to be preserved? If the Big East or the Big Ten are going to engage in a full-blown playoff, then why the heck am I going to play everybody in their home area? If I'm a No. 1 or No. 2 seed, then come to New York and play in 20-degree weather. You and I know none of that's going to fly." … Mike Tranghese, Big East commish, commenting on the impracticality of retaining BCS bowl games in a playoff system. … ESPNU.com, 5-21-08
