Post by cviller on Oct 1, 2007 7:41:20 GMT -5
By DAVE POE, SPORTS EDITOR, Parkersburg News
PARKERSBURG —When West Virginia University’s football team lost to South Florida on Friday night, we all were greatly disappointed.
After the results of Saturday's games, we began to realize the loss was even more devastating than we ever could have imagined.
West Virginia was one of five members of the top 10 to lose this weekend.
Had WVU won, it would have been a solid No. 3. It would have been waiting on either LSU to lose (the Tigers play Florida this Saturday) or Southern Cal to get upset, which nearly happened on Saturday against Washington.
Saturday's scores served as a reminder West Virginia may have blown the best opportunity it ever will get to play for the national championship.
In five weeks, the standings have become so jumbled, Ohio State, which started out the year outside the top 10, is up to No. 4 in both major polls. The Buckeyes have put themselves in a strong position to play for the national title, especially when you consider that unlike LSU, Ohio State won't have to jeopardize itself by playing a conference championship game.
OSU simply has to win at Penn State and Michigan, beat Wisconsin in Columbus and make sure it doesn't get upset by one of the lesser members of the vastly weak Big 10.
If OSU does that — and there's a good possibility it will — the Buckeyes, who were a 25-to-1 longshot to win the BCS championship, may find themselves in New Orleans.
Then again, if what transpired on Friday and Saturday continues to happen throughout the season, it's not beyond the realm of possibilities that 200-to-1 South Florida could find itself in the BCS title game. After all, it is the undefeated, top-ranked team in the Big East, a role we expected West Virginia to play.
Speaking of the Big East, there never may have been an easier year to win the league. Louisville's defense is so bad, it has become a fixture in the Bottom 10. Rutgers lost to the same Maryland team West Virginia made look average and likely is just that.
Those who love to bash the Big East as the Big Least will have plenty of fodder, especially when you consider Syracuse lost to Miami of Ohio and Pittsburgh was embarrassed by Virginia. (Can Dave Wannstedt survive? I don't see how.)
Losses such as what took place on Friday night naturally lead to some self examination. I wonder if WVU ever can get to the BCS title game running the high-risk spread offense, which can cause a team to beat itself without a lot of help from the opponent.
Watch Ohio State play. The Buckeyes have such a great defense it seems like the offense's only job is not to lose the game. In a watered-down Big 10 (or a watered down Big East), that may be enough this year.
I've seen that formula win championships at other levels. For decades, Marietta College baseball coach Don Schaly stressed pitching and defense. He figured as long the Pioneers didn't beat themselves, it would take a talented team to beat them. That philosophy resulted in three national titles.
Don't get me wrong — I'm still a huge Rich Rodriguez fan. But as long as Rodriguez is the coach, WVU is going to be married to an offensive system that is as high risk (losing to South Florida) as it is high reward (winning the Sugar Bowl).
Saturday’s scores made Friday’s loss more devastating.
Contact Dave Poe at dpoe@newsandsentinel.com
There is no point to this right now. I HATE sportswriters. Like we all didn't KNOW the opportunity that was lost. Criminey!!!