BCS: How much longer?

Imagine for a second the movie Rudy, if Rudy never got to see a down on the football field. Or try to picture The Natural, but Robert Redford doesn't ever get the chance to use his lightnight struck bat because he didn't come from the right part of the country. We as Americans have a soft spot in our hearts for the feel-good story. We love the underdog; Rudy and Rocky are household names. But arguably America's favorite sport, has taken Rudy off the field, and told Rocky he was too small and never let him fight. The BCS has killed the underdog in college football.

Until now.

For the first time in BCS history, a preseason poll has a non-AQ (non automatic qualifier) ranked in the top 10 of rankings. And not only does Boise State sit as the highest ranked non-AQ ever, but TCU is nipping at their heels just a few spots behind them. Finally, there is a realistic shot for "Smalls" to come in a make something happen. Finally, the BCS will be busted this year.

The question that is looming over all of college football is whether or not an undefeated Boise State or TCU deserves a shot at the national championship. My question is, what more do they have to do to prove that they are worthy of that game? Let's take a look at history a little bit, since the 2006 season, Boise State has simply gone 50-4, including 2 BCS bowl victories and 7-2 against teams ranked in the top 25. Many will argue that last stat is the reason that the Broncos shouldn't be allowed a shot at the coveted National Championship. This notion is ridiculous. Boise, to no fault of their own, is forced to play lowly teams like Idaho, Utah State, and San Jose State every year; there is nothing they can do about that. Never have they lost a game to those teams, year in and year out, they go out and pummel those school, proving that they are in a different league than the rest of those teams. Find in that argument the reason that this team doesn't deserve a shot at the title?

"An undefeated Boise State team is not as worthy as an Alabama team or an Ohio State team with one loss," Lee Corso said while he was ranting and pounding his fists on the desk, "Good teams deserve that game, not Boise State"

What did Boise State do just two weeks later? Travelled 2419 miles across the country and beat Virginia Tech, a team many are picking to win the ACC. What more does Boise State have to do to prove that they deserve more hype than they get?

Minutes later, Lee Corso tried to claim that people are giving too much hype to Boise State over one game against Oklahoma and a "lucky victory". Well Coach Corso, the luck has run out. A team can't get lucky time after time after time, eventually this has to be recognized as talent.

Last year, two non-AQ schools, Boise State and TCU, ran the table and were selected to make it to a BCS game. What did the BCS do? It paired those teams together, putting two non-AQ teams against each other in one of the few cases that two at-large bids played each other in a BCS game. Boise State beat Oklahoma, Utah beat Pitt, and then Utah beat Alabama; to prevent another testimony of the talent and skill level of these mid-major schools, the BCS paired these two teams together. The explanation: Fear. Traditional, old time analysts, old time coaches and those on the East Coast, are afraid to admit that the days of power house schools dominating the college football scene are over. They are afraid to schedule Boise State in the National Championship because they are good enough to win.

This is year is the year. The BCS is going to be busted forever. It is my hope that Boise State and TCU both go undefeated again this year, and bust this BCS garbage once and for all.

-Jeff Hansen

Where this is my first article or post, let me explain what the purpose of this blog is. As an aspiring sports journalist, I hope to get my name out and let people see my writing. Reader feedback is key in my reaching of my goal of becoming a sports writer. Please, comment on this article, let me know if you think Boise deserves a shot or not. Also, if you enjoyed reading this and would like to read more, let me know, tell your friends and family about this blog. Thanks!