Less than a week ago, there was talk of a 1-2-3 Big Ten sweep.
Ohio State would hammer Florida to win the national championship. Michigan would bully USC to earn the second spot in the rankings. And Wisconsin would pound gimmicky Arkansas to take the bronze.
Well, as the colored confetti rained down on the victorious Florida Gators on Monday night, the Big Ten was left trying to pick up the pieces.
What in the world happened to those two juggernauts that met in Columbus on Nov. 18 for the game of the millennium? Did Vladimir Putin cook the postgame meal?
You would hate to use the word “fraud,” but how do you describe an Ohio State offense that rolled through the conference only to produce 82 yards against Florida–an all-time low for a BCS bowl game?
And how do you explain Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith completing four–yes, four–passes while counterpart Chris Leak connected on 25?
Smith apologized to Ohio State’s seniors after the game–he’s one of them–for his performance. But John Elway in his prime couldn’t have saved the Buckeyes.
Cue up those stereotypes about the superiority of southern football: Every one turned out to be true, at least for one night.
“Florida’s speed, intensity and game plan were just superb,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said on the field after the game. “Couldn’t be any better than it was.”
Michigan got drilled in a similar fashion in the Rose Bowl. USC outcoached and outran Lloyd Carr’s team, which stuck to its “caveman” offense while the Trojans mocked the Wolverines’ secondary with a parade of passes.
At least Wisconsin did its part, grinding out a victory in the Capital One Bowl.
But getting shut out in the second half of a 17-14 victory didn’t exactly fire up the pollsters.
The Badgers finished seventh in the AP poll and fifth in the coaches rankings. And what about Notre Dame?
The Irish had a veteran offensive line, top-2 NFL pick in Brady Quinn and a fellow first-rounder in Jeff Samardzija–and they still looked hopeless against LSU in the Sugar Bowl.
See, Notre Dame would have been a perfect fit for the Big Ten.
OK, enough bashing. Let’s take an early look at 2007:
The national picture
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TEAM COMMENT
1. USC Only question at receiver, assuming Jarrett goes pro.
2. Texas QB McCoy exceeded every expectation as a freshman.
3. LSU ’05 Peach Bowl MVP Flynn ready to replace Russell.
4. W. Virginia Slaton-White combo a `D’ coordinator’s nightmare.
5. Michigan Like ’06 OSU, loses key defenders, keeps offensive stars. 6. Florida Will any of the draft-eligible studs on `D’ stick around? 7. Ohio St. Will QB Boeckman have Ginn or Gonzalez to throw to?
8. S. Carolina As many as 18 starters return to Steve Spurrier’s crew.
9. Wisconsin Even after losing OT Thomas, Badgers’ O-line mighty.
10. Rutgers Heart ‘n’ soul FB Leonard departs, but TB Rice returns. And the Big Ten
TEAM COMMENT
1. Michigan Will Carr go out with seniors Henne, Hart and Long?
2. Ohio State All eyes on junior-to-be QB Boeckman.
3. Wisconsin Ohio State, Michigan State climb back on the schedule.
4. Penn State May win with offense thanks to playmakers, QB Morelli.
5. Iowa New QB Christensen avoids Ohio State, Michigan.
6. N’western Full season from QB C.J. Bacher would be major plus.
7. Indiana Hoosiers also get dream schedule–no OSU, Mich.
8. Illinois Will QB Juice Williams excel after taking his lumps?
9. Michigan St. New coach Mark Dantonio should fire up the defense.
10. Purdue Rumblings that `07 could be Joe Tiller’s last season.
11. Minnesota Interested in coaching the Gophers? Send resume.
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Final thought: You might hate the BCS, but you can’t contend that it has hurt college football’s popularity.
According to a Harris Poll released Tuesday, 13 percent of American adults who follow more than one sport say college football is their favorite.
That 13 percent mark is up from previous years–7 percent in 1994, 9 percent in 1998, 11 percent in 2004.
(The NFL ranks first at 29 percent, followed by baseball at 14 percent.)
College football also attracts the brainiest crowd, ranking as the most popular sport (23 percent) among those who hold post-graduate degrees.
Everyone loves the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but only 5 percent picked men’s hoops as their favorite sport.
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tgreenstein@tribune.com
