I guess I gave it away with the title, but since there's no open thread for tonight, I had to give you something to bide your time. Try to find the typo in this screencap from reader MP....

Okay everyone....I have been one upped by the cowbell girl. Someone needs to get this girl some media availability. She's going to be a star tomorrow!

FOX is out of the BCS game following next season's set of games, with the games moving to ESPN in 2010, and there are rumors circulating the Sports World that the network is interested in selling of its rights for 2009. Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution....

Remember that back in 2007 FOX jumped into the BCS sweepstakes and took it away from ABC by paying $80 million a year. When the contract came up for bid last year, ESPN outbid FOX by putting up $125 million a year for 2010-13. FOX has one more season, 2009, on its current deal to televise the BCS games. But there are some rumblings that FOX could sell those 2009 rights to ESPN if the Worldwide Leader made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. Because the BCS championship game is being hosted by the Rose Bowl this season, it will be on ABC, of which ESPN is a part. Stay tuned on this one.

Any other year, this move would probably cost ESPN too much, but with the "Leader" airing the Championship game in the Rose Bowl....it actually might be too good a situation to pass up. Again, this is all just speculation, but not all that far-fetched given the timing of everything in 2009.

Speaking of the BCS: Will FOX Sports televise the final year of its contract? (AJC)

It's been a few weeks since the news broke that ESPN would be taking over the BCS in a few years, and FOX has finally decided to comment on how everything went down. In an interview with Broadcasting & Cable, chairman of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Peter Liguori, had some strong words for leagues and tournaments that think moving to ESPN is a good move....

Q: What was your reaction to losing the BCS?

PL: I think it's something that the whole industry should be looking at. At some point, these leagues should be looking at what happens to their ratings when they go to ESPN. The fact that they're promoted on a sports channel that is dedicated to rabid sports fans is ultimately not the best thing, in my opinion, for the leagues. When you have a broadcaster promoting your sport, you're getting exposed to younger people, women. I think that's something that's good for your long-term health.

In a way, Liguori is right. Having a Championship game on broadcast television will always bring more ratings, but a cable network devoted to just Sports will certainly do the game more justice by having more knowledgeable analysts and announcers to do the game. It's a tough choice to make, but with the economy the way it is and money being the driving force, it's certainly an interesting angle to look at. I'm of the mindset that FOX had its chance and failed, but there's nothing wrong in debating the move, is there?

Peter Liguori's New Year Starts Now (Broadcasting & Cable)

Obviously, I'm a full-fledged playoff advocate for Division I-A football (I prefer the 16-team method; 11 conference champs and 5 at-larges), so with that said, SI's Andy Staples presented a rather interesting case for one, particularly regarding public universities. What's remarkable about it is this:

ACC commissioner John Swofford, the current BCS coordinator, readily admitted Thursday that there is more money in a playoff than in the current system. Then he spent almost 10 minutes enumerating the various excuses for why there isn't one.

"The community isn't there. In a nutshell, I think the reason is there are parameters that particularly the presidents want to see maintained," Swofford said. "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."

Amazing admission, but maybe not, if you consider that the idea isn't the total money that could be earned -- it's how much can be kept amongst the conferences and their teams. The reason the BCS still exists is because the conference commissioners do not want to give up control of a playoff to the NCAA, which would re-distribute the profits among it, the conferences, and to other programs in what would be a smaller piece for the conferences and teams than they currently get.

So, with that in mind, consider the country's economic crisis, which is affecting public universities in a very real manner (speaking as a California resident and media guy, I've run a bunch of stories about the UC and CSU systems in the past year dealing with some major budget cuts). Generally, I don't think anyone really enjoys the grandstanding that goes on when the federal government holds publicized hearings on such matters on TV, but considering the money that would go to universities, both public and private, if Staples' math and Swofford's assertions of more money in a playoff are to be believed, why isn't every state and federal legislator pushing the heads of their public university presidents to pressure the NCAA?

Game: The BCS National Championship Game
Teams: Florida Gators (12-1) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (12-1)
Location: Miami, Florida, Dolphin Stadium
Start Time: 8PM EST (FOX)
Network and Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Myers
Favorite: Florida (-6), O/U 70
AA's Pick: Flordia 27 - Oklahoma 20

Okay folks, this is it! It's for all the marbles and the fun gets underway around 8 o'clock. I used the term "running quotes" above because this isn't going to be a specific live-blog (you don't need me telling you what you can see with your own eyes), but I will be updating this spot throughout the night. Feel free to leave your predictions in the comments, and I'll see you for the Championship Game later tonight!

Oh one more thing....your official "Band Shot" count will be at the top of the quotes starting at kickoff. Be sure to let me know if you see either and then....DRINK!
___________________________________

YOUR OFFICIAL BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BAND COUNT: 34

And herrrre we......GO!

"Super Sam beat out Superman for the Heisman"- Charles Davis (Via Grant)

And yes....FOX did miss the flyover. Bastards. Band....Band! Double drink at the kickoff.

"Our camera hovering above the field like a humming bird."- Thom Brennaman

"They had 4 games that hit the 500 yd rushing mark, Tebow was one of them." - Thom Brennaman (Via JG)

"Oklahoma won the turnover."- Thom Brennaman

"Brown on first and twenty picks up three."- Thom Brennaman on a first down after a personal foul penalty.

Still first and ten, big guy.

I'm at the 3D telecast. I don't know who the color guy is but he just said about Tebow...

"...he just took it up the A-Hole." (GuJo For God)

Wow.

"If you're fortunate to spend 5 or 20 minutes around Tim Tebow, you're better for it."- Thom Brennaman

"Maybe only South Florida traffic can slow down these two teams."- Chris Myers

"He comes right across the face of number ten."- Charles Davis

"These thoroughbreds, these Secretariats, it could tighten up at halftime" - Charles Davis (Via Anon)

7-0 Florida

"These teams have run everybody out of the gym." - Thom Brennaman (Via SS)

"Tebow steps out of major trouble to gain a yard..erm add 5 on top of that for a gain of 6."- Thom Brennaman (Via Anon)

7-7

"That was Louis Murphy, the son of a Baptist Miner...Minerster....stirring it up."- Thom Brennaman

Wow that was terrible. Both Brennaman and Davis spent five minutes debating a fourth down call, and it was still third down. Thank god ESPN has taken this s**t show over.

"Big decision time here...do you go for it on 4th down?"- Brennaman
"Go, go, go ,go go"- Charles Davis on third and goal

Terrible....just terrible.

"I got so excited, I thought they were going on 4th down twice!"- Thom Brennaman
"I should have been there to help you partner."- Charles Davis

7-7 at the half. How about that 70 point over/under

"When Major Wright hits you, you feel it in a major wrong way."- Thom Brennaman

"Architectural like precision from Bradford."- Thom Brennaman

As one commenter mentioned....it's usually said as "surgical precision".

"If this is a tennis match, those are two unforced errors."- Charles Davis (Via RJBO)

14-7 Gators

"He lost his shoe after losing a defender!"- Thom Brennaman on OU's TD

14-14

"The field goal is almost conceded where they are on the field of play."- Charles Davis

Really? The opponent's fifteen yard line? Doesn't matter anyway as Florida scores a TD to go up 10 with 3 minutes left.

"Has traveled to Croatia, Thailand, three times to the Philippines with his family on Mission trips."- Thom Brennaman

Or just Missions.

"You can't punt the ball away."- Charles Davis on a 4th and 4 with 2:30 on the clock and Oklahoma down 10.

"They're getting ready to unload on Urban Meyer."- Thom Brennaman on the Gatorade being prepped

FINAL: Florida 24 - Oklahoma 14

Annnnnnnnd finish whatever you're drinking for a band girl crying!

Game: The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Teams: Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2) vs. Texas Longhorns (11-1)
Location: Glendale, Arizona, University of Phoenix Stadium
Start Time: 8PM EST (FOX)
Network and Announcers: Matt Vasgersian, Tim Ryan, Laura Okmin, Chris Myers
Favorite: Texas (-9)
AA's Pick: Texas 31 - OSU 16

If you're Alabama or one of the legion of Tide fans, you don't have any room to look for excuses in getting handled by Utah last night. Using Andre Smith's improper conduct with an agent doesn't fly, nor does the offensive line weakness that resulted with players shifting positions due to injury throughout the game. There's nothing to say about this game save the fact that Utah is just a better team, pounding through a schedule in which it played and beat five ranked opponents during the season.

Alabama not only got outplayed, the team looked like it wasn't happy to be in New Orleans instead of Miami, never mind the fact that the Tide was in a BCS bowl way ahead of schedule under Nick Saban. Ute QB Brian Johnson had his way in the passing game to the tune of 336 yards and 3 TDs, spreading the passes around to several different receivers. Utah's front seven harassed John Parker Wilson all day -- the only lapse they had was when Javier Arenas returned a punt for a touchdown, and the refs let a block in the back go on that return. I'd never seen Saban that pissed; he not only got outcoached, but his team didn't do the little things at all when it came to tackling, blocking, and such.

And now we have one undefeated team left in all of Division I-A football, yet they stand absolutely no chance at any part of the national championship, just like Boise State two years ago. A "plus-1" or Top 4 format wouldn't even help this at all: teams like Utah would be left out because they play in the MWC. Now, we have to consider last year's Sugar Bowl between Hawaii and Georgia an aberration: out of the four BCS bowls featuring non-BCS conference schools, the outsiders are 3-1 (Utah winning twice.) The more this happens, the more obvious the need for an 8-team playoff, at a minimum, becomes, so much so that any fair-minded and smart commentator can't avoid pushing for it, no matter whether their network airs the games or not. Considering how some ESPN analysts and on-air people keep talking about a playoff, I can't imagine them stopping once the Four-Letter gets the BCS contract in a couple of years.

Thank you, Utah, for pouring even more gasoline on the fire.

Game: The Allstate Sugar Bowl
Teams: Utah Utes (6-6) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-4)
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, Superdome
Start Time: 8PM EST (FOX)
Network and Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Charissa Thompson, Chris Myers
Favorite: Alabama (-10)
AA's Pick: Alabama 20 - Utah 12

My predetermined guesses of what's likely going to be revealed by the Fox crew at 8 Eastern:

BCS Championship Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Utah
Rose Bowl: Southern Cal vs. Penn State
Fiesta Bowl: Texas vs. Ohio State
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati

If this comes to pass, I understand why the selections work out this way, but let's face it: I want Boise State in this sucker instead of Ohio State and I'm willing to bet I'm not alone. Granted, three of the five games listed would have some slobber-worthy match-ups for viewers, and since the Fiesta is one of those three, that scenario would draw eyeballs.

The problem is we're obviously using a "what draws eyes" model to determine the best teams in college football rather than a "who made it through unscathed" model with regard to I-A (suck it, Football Bowl Subdivision). We know Boise State can play; the 2007 Fiesta Bowl should have given them some benefit of the doubt. So be it, though.

Debate the actual match-ups here, and any other bowl assignments to come.

The ultimate lesson this week is that the BCS is always going to screw some team, but we weren't aware that it would really do it before a conference championship game. Here are your BCS rankings per the WWL, and officially, Texas just got hooked, as the Sooners will be going up against Mizzou in Kansas City next week for the Big 12 title.

1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. USC
6. Utah
7. Texas Tech
8. Penn State
9. Boise State
10. Ohio State

Oklahoma's 61-41 victory over Oklahoma State last night was enough to do it for the human voters, whom decided that the recent running of 60+ points in games plus a tougher non-con schedule was enough to outweigh the fact that the Sooners lost to Texas at a neutral site. (Expect Sam Bradford to, accordingly, be the leader in the clubhouse for the worthless trophy in the stiff-arm pose.) Texas' destruction of Texas A&M on Friday wasn't enough to keep them ahead. Question is, whether you agree with the choice here. I don't like the BCS standings being a tie-breaker with the three-way, but such as it is, the post Matt Hinton wrote anticipating exactly this result over at Dr. Saturday seems to jibe with the way it went down.

Now, the rest of the notable things:

• Would you like to place bets on whether Charlie Weis is done at Notre Dame? Losing 38-3 at the Coliseum to a defensively stout USC team is still an embarrassment, particularly when the most fight the Irish showed was, well, the fight before the game started. It took until the third quarter, I believe, for the Irish to get a first down in the game.
• The BCS would like to thank Oregon State for remembering that they are Oregon State, and thus, collapsing when they least could afford it in the Civil War, losing 65-38. The Beavers allowed both Oregon running backs to stomp all over them and ceded the Pac-10 to USC, who should thrash an offensively deficient UCLA squad next Saturday. (Of course, we've written this before, and then UCLA won 13-9.)
  
• Compared to the Big 12 South, the SEC's picture is clear: Alabama blanked Auburn 36-0 in a display of nasty, brutish, defensive football that Nick Saban made his name on; Florida owned FSU by 30 in a rainy mess at Tallahassee. It's going to be very simple next Saturday with the winner of the SEC championship going to the BCS title game.
• Paul Johnson just sealed his ACC Coach of the Year award and probably should get a national nod, too. Georgia Tech took it to Georgia in Athens by ripping off 410 yards on the ground and taking advantage of Matthew Stafford's two picks. The funny or bizarre thing is that what looks like the best team in the ACC won't play in its championship game, because Virginia Tech beat them earlier this year, and its anemic offense was helped by its defense in beating Virginia -- which means we get another VT-Boston College ACC championship this year.
  
• Things you never really expected to happen in college football: an interim coach at Clemson, Dabo Swinney, curb stomps the Ol' Ball Coach 31-14, as South Carolina's Chris Smelley lived up to his last name with four picks.
• With the scuttlebutt on the interwebs leaning everything towards Lane Kiffin being the next coach at Tennessee, the now-former coach Phil Fulmer, departed with an 18-point win over Kentucky -- despite a 7-3 halftime score that would have sent anyone who enjoys offense screaming from the TV set.
• Baylor almost made this BCS/Big 12 South confusion moot -- too bad they choked on a lead over Texas Tech in Lubbock. Tech comes back despite losing Michael Crabtree, winning 35-28.
• Todd Reesing is ten feet tall in the hearts of KU fans. Some manic scoring sequences in the last six and a half minutes in this year's edition of the Border War with Mizzou, and Reesing threw a touchdown pass to Kerry Meier with 27 seconds left to give KU a 40-37 win after the Tigers' kicker left a tying FG try short.
  

We already touched on this yesterday but the move of the BCS to ESPN is officially official. Every BCS Bowl Game will now be on the network from 2011-2013, which will total fifteen total contests over the three year period. Here are both ESPN and The BCS' statements regarding the deal....

The announcement was made by George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports, and John Swofford, BCS Coordinator and ACC Commissioner.

“The BCS will thrive on ESPN,” Bodenheimer said. “Our slogan is ‘College Football Lives Here’ and the BCS will now top college football’s best regular-season and studio coverage, the sport’s top awards shows, Bowl Week and other national championships all carried on our family of networks. This is a proud day for ESPN and an exceptional day for this great sport and its passionate fans.”

Swofford added, “We are tremendously pleased to reach an agreement with ESPN and feel that the BCS games from 2011-14 will be in good hands. With the continued growth of technology and the depth of coverage that ESPN gives to the college football fan on all its platforms during the regular-season, this post-season partnership is a natural fit.”

And I actually agree with both of them. Even though we get FOX for another few years, it was just never a good fit. Everything from the camera angles to announcers seemed forced, and while they've certainly improved in some areas, the overall product was just never there. Congratulations ESPN, now don't go ruining this one for us.

It was honestly just a matter of time, but this evening FOX finally decided to decline their opportunity to keep the BCS under its umbrella, and in turn sending the BCS back to Disney. Via Wall Street Journal....

Fox Sports declined to match an offer from ESPN to televise Bowl Championship Series college football games from 2011 to 2014, the network announced Monday.

"Even with today's vast economic uncertainties, Fox Sports made a very competitive bid to keep broadcasting BCS games free to every home in America, one that included a substantial rights fee increase, and certainly as much as any over-the-air network could responsibly risk. Unfortunately, the university presidents and BCS commissioners were not satisfied and they've decided to take their jewel events to pay television," Lou D'Ermilio, a spokesman for Fox, said in a statement.

With Fox bowing out, ESPN in all likelihood becomes the broadcaster of the national championship game, as well as the Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowls. It also opens the door for the Rose Bowl to move from ABC to ESPN.

Obviously the BCS still has to accept ESPN's deal, but it's really a forgone conclusion at this point. Thank goodness too. It's going to be sad to not be able to play the band drinking game well into the 21st century with all of you, but this deal doesn't kick into 2011, so we've got at least three more years of poking fun at FOX!

FYI, According to John Ourand of Sports Business Daily, FOX's highest offer was $100 Million per year which was about $25 Million less than ESPN's number.

Fox Sports Abandons BCS Bid (Wall Street Journal)

Barack Obama was on 60 Minutes last night to talk about among other things being named President, the Economy and the War, but it was the last question from Steve Kroft that seemed to perk his attention the most. That of course was how the newest President plans on getting College Football to switch to a Playoff system....

I only have one thing to say to that video and that is....YES WE CAN!

On the heels of yesterday's story that ESPN is looking into getting back the BCS, the network wrote a story of their own. Now I'm not one to try and completely understand the inner workings of a TV deal of this magnitude, but can someone explain to me why a company that is writing a story about itself wouldn't be able to be reached for a comment....

"We've had good meetings and discussion to this point," BCS coordinator and Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford said Tuesday, according to USA Today. "The BCS is obviously an attractive television property, but we simply have not completed our process."

Conference commissioners and BCS TV negotiator Barry Frank have been meeting in Chicago with the networks since Sunday, USA Today reported.

SportsBusiness Daily reported that in bidding, Disney is offering about $125 million annually to air the games, while Fox is offering about $100 million annually. According to USA Today, several people with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed those figures.

ESPN did not immediately comment on the reports.

That is so meta that my head is going to explode. You are ESPN! Wouldn't you have gone with something like, "ESPN can't divulge anymore at this time", or "We choose not to comment at this point in the discussions"? Just an odd way to put things.

Oh and a brief update of sorts, but after some researching and snooping, the numbers are going to be very very hard for FOX to compete with.

Reports: BCS games might air on cable starting in 2010 (ESPN)
The BCS Might Be Moving From FOX Back To ESPN/ABC (Awful Announcing)

(Thanks to TB for the link)

The scuttlebutt in and around the Sports Media World this afternoon is the very interesting development that the BCS is seriously considering accepting ESPN/ABC's bid, and a move away from FOX Sports. From John Ourand at SBJ via the Sporting News....

The BCS is considering a proposal from ESPN that would see all BCS bowl games, including the championship game, wind up on ESPN, sources familiar with the negotiations are saying. If the BCS ultimately accepts the bid, it would mark the first time all games in a major championship were not available on an over-the-air broadcast network. If the BCS opts to move to ESPN, it would continue a trend that has seen other leagues migrate playoff series exclusively from broadcast to cable. MLB, the NBA and the NHL all have placed playoff games on cable over the past few years. If ABC/ESPN ultimately wins the bid and moves even one BCS game to ESPN, it would trigger a clause in its Rose Bowl contract that would allow it to immediately take the annual game in Pasadena from its home of 21 years on ABC to the cable channel.

Now here's where it gets tricky. While ESPN probably offered a number that's way higher than FOX would or did, under the current contract the BCS still has to present FOX with a number first. The network can either accept or refuse, and if they don't accept, the rights go out on the open market. The number that's being thrown around is a $500 million, 4-year deal, which would constitute a 50% hike over last year's price to FOX.

Even though FOX's broadcast and presentation of the BCS is terrible, the network still gets great ratings and advertising dollars from the four games. With this year's regular season shaping up like a virtual playoff system, those numbers and dollars are only going to go up. It would seem tough for them to give a cash cow like that up, but ESPN has been kicking themselves for losing the rights before (rightfully so), and might make an offer FOX just can't compete with. Plus if you add in the fact that FOX hasn't been letting ESPN rebroadcast BCS game highlights for the past few years, it might be safe to say the "Leader" could be holding a grudge.

I've personally been hoping for this move for the past two years, but didn't think it was likely leading up to this year's negotiations. I think my feeling today has changed from doubtful to....."So you're telling me there's a chance?!" Everyone keep your fingers crossed.

BCS considering moving games from Fox to ESPN (Sporting News)

Texas Tech people have a legit gripe right now with Nick Saban and Alabama staying on top after pulling out a win in Death Valley in overtime, but I will defend the decision -- for now.

1. Alabama
   
2. Texas Tech
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. Oklahoma
6. USC
7. Utah
8. Penn State
9. Boise State
10. Georgia

I would have knocked Tech up to #1 personally, but the human polls and the computers won't do that unless a team loses, and besides, the human bias is against Tech, too, as it's not a "name" program (like that really ought to matter; Tech will be a name program by the end of the year, when every AD of a major school with a coaching vacancy is going to try to money-whip Mike Leach out of Lubbock.)

Meanwhile, for those of you really all agita about the Tide staying at #1, consider this: while Alabama has not looked fantastic and/or world beaters, they've done it on the road in solid fashion: beating a Clemson team at a neutral site in Atlanta (and Clemson was expected to be something then), destroying Georgia in Athens, and getting out of Baton Rouge alive. That's impressive no matter what the margin of victory. The Red Raiders' bigger games have been at Jones AT&T Stadium so far, save the bloody beating of Kansas.

If Tech goes to Norman in two weeks, beats Oklahoma, and doesn't get elevated, THEN we've got a reason to go after the coaches, journos, and the computers with pitchforks.

I hadn't heard about this until now, but apparently three weeks ago IMG signed on as FOX's International Content Distributor. On the surface it seems like just another deal but when you take into consideration that IMG is working on a commission basis, the BCS contract is up in 2010 and the negotiations are actually this Fall....it's actually much bigger than just a deal.

What's the problem you ask? Well with IMG at the helm, and FOX having a 30-day window to negotiate, it's not likely that the BCS is going anywhere. That means ABC is S.O.L. when the contract is up and we'll be getting more band shots for years to come. Fanhouse's C. Rich has broken it down the best....

Fox has the TV rights to the BCS bowl games excepting the Rose Bowl. They have the Fiesta, Sugar and Orange through January 2010. Fox also has the National Championship game through January 2009. The contract is coming up for renegotiation this fall.

Disney/ABC/ESPN is expected to push very hard to get the rights for the BCS and Championship games. This means one way or another the 4-year, $330 million dollar deal Fox gave last time will be going significantly higher....

....The big loser regardless, will be the fans. No matter which media group gets the BCS and National Championship game, it means trying to make back that money. That means advertising revenue. We have seen how Fox has jammed tons of ads in the last couple years. That isn't likely to change.

It also means any hope of a playoff is still years away.

With this amount of money on the table I'm pretty sure we're never going to get to see a Playoffs in our collective lifetime. If anyone remembers how bad last year's BCS games were, just think how bad it will be next year and the year after. More random crowd shots, a ton more ads slowing down games to a crawl, and dying livers from our "Band Drinking Game". I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm actually rooting for an ABC/ESPN win this Fall. Go Team!

IMG, BCS, Fox in an Interesting Money Triangle (Fanhouse)

The BCS took a hammering this year and they have no one to blame but themselves after the matchups they choose this Bowl Season (choosing Illinois to play in the Rose Bowl when they didn't have to). Only one BCS game out of five turned out to have more viewers than last year, and for the second straight year the Championship game has lost millions of viewers. Via Sports Business Daily....

Last night’s BCS National Championship game, which saw LSU defeat Ohio State 38-24, earned a 14.4/22 final Nielsen rating, down 17.2% from a 17.4/27 for last year’s game, which featured Florida-Ohio State. The game was also down 33.6% from a 21.7/35 in ’06 for ABC’s telecast of the Texas-USC National Championship Game in the Rose Bowl.

We're talking drops of about 7 million from 2006 to 2007 and approximately about another million from 2007 to 2008. Here's the rest of the breakdown for the entire set BCS games sans Rose Bowl (+/- based on games played on same date last year, actual Bowl Games may differ)....

National Championship:

2008- LSU-OSU, 14.4/22
2007- Florida-OSU, 17.4/27 -17.2%

Rose:

2008- USC-Illinois, 12.0
2007- USC-Michigan, 13.9/23 -13.7%

Sugar/Fiesta:

2008- UGA-Hawaii, 7.0/12
2007 (Fiesta)- Boise St.-Oklahoma, 8.4/15 -16.7%

Fiesta/Orange:

2008- WVU-Oklahoma, 7.7/13
2007- Louisville-Wake Forest (Orange), 7.0/11 +10.0%
Orange/Sugar:

2008- Kansas-VT, 7.4/12
2007- LSU-Notre Dame (Sugar), 9.3/16 -20.4%

I still to this day can't figure out how Basketball can pull of a Tournament and make a ton of money but Football can't/couldn't. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like they're leaving money on the table under the current format.

Like it or not folks the National Championship is upon us. I hope you're on-board for a great night of Football, and I welcome any and all to the comment section. I'm going to make this a little bit of both an open thread and live-blog because I think it's more fun that way. You already know who has the ball and where.

Ohio State fans....good luck. Contrary to popular belief I don't hate you....I think you are some of the best and passionate fans in the Country. I hope we can all get along tonight, laugh at FOX, and drink to some band shots.....Cheers! See you at around 7:30pm or so.





#2 LSU vs. #1 OSU
The BCS National Championship
8:00 PM ET, January 7, 2008
Superdome , New Orleans , LA

Weather: Dome
Spread: LSU -4, O/U 47
AA's Pick: A tough one to end the Season here. I'm praying this thing drops to -3.5 so you can buy the half, but if not I'd tease it. If you don't know what a tease is then just take LSU -4 (Record 17-10-2).
Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis (FOX)

Team Leaders

LSU Passing: Flynn- 55.1%, 2233 Yards, 17 TDs, 10 INTs
Ohio State Passing: Boeckman- 64.5%, 2171 Yards, 23 TDs, 12 INTs

LSU Rushing: Hester- 204 Carries, 1017 Yards, 5.0 avg, 11 TDs
Ohio State Rushing: Wells- 254 Carries, 1463 Yards, 5.8 avg, 14 TDs

LSU Receiving: LaFell- 48 Catches, 641 Yards, 13.4 avg, 3 TDs
Ohio State Receiving: Robiskie- 50 Catches, 885 Yards, 17.7 avg, 10 TDs
_____________________________________

ESPN seems to be pretty high on Todd Blackledge (and rightfully so) after this Season. He's been on all the preview shows leading up to the big game and he's now on set with Chris, Lee, and Kirk for Gameday.

I'm liking the little swoop that Corso has his going on with his hair. Cute.

Corso just said he wouldnt be shocked to see dorsey "pull a hamstring" (dramatic air quotes are hard to express here) early in the game so that he doesnt get hurt and impact his draft status. (Via Mike)

Yeah I heard that. Makes zero sense. Eddie George is on the coverage again. Didn't know that.

Oh and BTW, I completely hope to lose another YouTube account tonight so prepare thyself for many videos.

Desmond says he looks at 3 phases when he looks at special teams: "The guys who kick the ball, the guys who return the kick, and then the coverage unit." Isn't that ALL the phases? (Via joepadon)

Ha...I listened to that and didn't even catch that, and those aren't really even "phases". Wouldn't phases be kicking, blocking, and running? Hey the LSU Band! Drink!!!

Picks:

ESPN
Desmond Howard- LSU
Todd Blackledge- Ohio State
Chris Fowler- LSU
Kirk Herbstreit- LSU.........psych, OSU
Lee Corso- OSU

Where did all this love for OSU come from all of a sudden? When the game was announced didn't everyone love LSU? (Via Smitty Lite)

I have no idea. I got $5 that says everyone on FOX is on LSU. How I've heard of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band before, but they are no Bonerama. Annnnnd the FOX team makes no picks whatsoever.

When did John Waters start singing national anthems? (Via Anon)

Winner! That's too funny.

"Trindon Holliday, a smurf and he can fly!"- Jimmy Johnson

VIDEO #1- Chris Rose is a dick and Jimmy Johnson probably just earned Urban Meyer an NCAA violation....

"If need be, we may have to extend ourselves" - Les Miles (Via Mal)

Les Miles: "Between these white lines it is about 11 players. They have 11 and we have 11." Uh, Les, that's 22 but the good news is with observations like that you have a possible career in broadcasting. (Via Tar Heel Fan)

Wow....that was quick. Beanie Wells right guard for 65 yards! Amazing. Reminds me of Ted Ginn (I kid!).....

7-0 OSU

"Don't let Jim Tressel's sweater vest fool you. He'll show a lot of sets."- Charles Davis

Huh?

10-0 OSU

Hmmm...Bo Pellini doesn't work for LSU anymore AND he is an OSU alum. (Via tndefender)

That was the first thing I thought of when they brought him up earlier today. I didn't even realize he was coaching tonight.

"It's amazing....It's....the mirrors."- Thom Brennaman doing sponsor spots with no inflection since 1992!

10-3 OSU.....and no band shot after the score. Not only does FOX love bands, but they show "band bias".

YES!!! LSU girls in skank-gear!!! (Via Anon)

Give the fans what they want FOX....for christsakes!

OSU band - break out the 12-sided dice. (Via Mal)

No comment. End of the 1st.

10-10 LSU.....Penalties helped them out big time on that drive. We've got a game.

Was that girl playing or eating her clarinet? (Via Anon)

Again.....no comment.

New Drinking Game.....Every time Charles Davis says Aggressiveness take a shot....

Current count Via Anon.....8

"When it comes to blood, blood is going to win over school.....when blood's involved in the contest."- Charles Davis

Drink for that nonsense too.

I sure do like pumpkins, Cotton. (Via Anon)

Another winner. Dodgeball quotes will get you everywhere. And a Blocked Kick....if you can block a kick you can dodge a ball.

Q: What are you drinking?
A: Captain and Coke with a Percocet (Via Anon)

That's a recipe for disaster AWESOME!

Beautiful pass from Flynn to LaFell......

17-10 Le Tigres

First, no OSU TD, now no penalty flag. Thom, you suck. (Via Ed)

Yeah, I was looking for that Penalty as well. Nowhere to be found.

Anyone know where I can find a Sven? (Via Anon)

Sven will be guest posting tomorrow in his pretty sweater.

24-10 LSU after Hester dives in.

"You're hading Bo Pelini a blank slate to dial up those blitzes."- Charles Davis

Okay?

24-10 at the half and almost 300 comments. Now we're having fun! See you right here for the Second Half....I'm going to replenish the fluids.

Bands shown at halftime... Waterfall!! (Via Chase)

Hilarious.

After an Alumni kicking contest and Thom Brennaman turing Trinity's "Game Changing Performance" into the most boring play ever.....we're ready for the 2nd Half!

Sorry for the delay folks....I'm working on getting some videos up. The awkward kicking challenge and Jamarcus' sweater are upcoming.

31-10 LSU.

Finally.....Straight Pimpin'.....



Whatever happened to The Butthole Surfers anyway? (Via Anon)

Shit....what did I miss?

Snow White ate too many apples (Via Anon)

Okay....now I'm caught up.

After a Jenkins pick OSU cuts it to 14....We've got a whole new ballgame.....

31-17.

VIDEO #2.....The Most Awkward Kicking Contest Ever......



Okay I'm back on board after that video nonsense. That was so worth it!

"We talked about how important it was for Ohio State to establish a routine on offense well it's equally important for LSU to do so on defense."- Charles Davis

This was with 13 minutes left in the 4th.

The forecast says cold today, so bundle up. (Via Sven)

Thanks Sven!

"Whoever the Baseball Coach is at Ohio State needs to spend some time on Boeckman.........on sliding."- Charles Davis

"He had a stick in his pocket" - Thom Brennaman, Huh? (Via Mal)

Hahahahah....I thought he said "put it in his pocket", but you're right Mal.

VIDEO #3.....Jamarcus' Sweater......



Ah yes, the aerial coverage of a dome game...a classic (Via Matthew)

I also agree with the lights outside....entirely necessary.

"See in College as soon as the player breaks the plane of the endzone that's it."- Charles Davis

Umm right? Because that's different in the Pros how???

"I'm surprised Ohio State isn't going with a more huddle up offense here."- Thom Brennaman

About 3 minutes after everyone mentioned it in the comments.

"That's the the theme music from the old TV show Terry and The Pirates. Paul Ditzel pulled his defense....the defense name he had were the Chinese bandits."- Charles Davis

What the f**k is he talking about?!?!?!?!

"It's going to be close it depends where the foot went down on the spot."- Charles Davis
"It's going to depend on the spot."- Thom Brennaman

Thanks for that guys. Great job tonight.

Final 38-24 and Thom Brennaman tries to bring up Katrina at the end. Good shit Thom....good shit. Wait the whole game.

Thanks to everyone for breaking the commenting record set the other night for the Orange Bowl. Amazing! More videos and nonsense to come.....Congrats to the first "2 Loss" BCS Champions LSU! (I had to be the first to say it...come on)

Wow....where do you even start with this traveshamockery? How about I give you the Math and then we'll go to the videos. I noted that the Fiesta Bowl featured 58 individual shots of the respective team's bands yesterday, and most people (including myself) were amazed. There's so many more shots you could go to right? Well that was nothing. With the help of some of AA's favorite readers we tracked the total for the Orange Bowl and the numbers are staggering.....

Pregame 5 (Both Teams)

1st Half

Kansas 34
VT 16
First Half Total = 55

2nd Half

Kansas 37
VT 18
Second Half Total= 55

Grand Total of Only Band Shots = 110

One Hundred and Ten people. 110?!?!?! One hundred and ten specific shots devoted to each team's individual bands. Not the mascots, the players, the announcers or coaches.....the bands. Every single positive yardage play by the offense they went to a shot. Every single great defensive play the went to the shot. Every single.....end of the quarter they went to, um nothing???

What is she doing? I have no idea, but you had shots like that for about 50% of your entire broadcast. I think this quote from Fox Sports Head David Hill back in 2006 (Via reader Will) might have something to do with all of this......

Fox Sports head David Hill, at a meeting Monday with Fox affiliates, said Fox won't try "to reinvent the wheel" when it inherits each BCS game except the Rose Bowl, which will remain on ABC. Then he brought out the UNLV band to play what will be Fox's college football theme music and announced, "I love the bands."

Yeah you do. Yeah you f'ing do David. More on the announcing team and other nonsense tomorrow.

Fox pegs Thom Brennaman as BCS voice (USA Today)