Tressel Continues To Demonstrate Genious
Ok, so we all know that Jim Tressel is smarter than the rest of us. At least I did, and after news came out of Tressel’s abstention in voting last weekend in the College Football Coach’s Poll you should too. Sure, Tressel is taking a lot of heat for his actions from coaches at schools such as Texas Tech and Texas A&M, guys that coach teams that could only wish that they get the chance to do what Tressel has done and will do. Oh yea, and Lloyd Carr, who called the move “slick”. Even being sarcastic, Carr was right. The move was slick. Slick as slick can be.
Think about it. By voting, you are essentially teeling the world who you want to play, and more importantly who you don’t. No matter what you do you are giving two teams bulletin board fodder. If you vote Florida, Urban Meyer would wait about 1 second before saying Tressel is putting the Gators at #2 becuase he thinks they would be an easier opponent than the Wolverines. If you vote Michigan, you get the saem reaction from Carr, not to mention the backlash in Columbus for giving your hated rival that much respect. You’s also have the entire southern half of the country crying collusion, saying Tressel was only looking out for his conference.
Ya see, a no win situation. By abstaining, Tressel ensured this story would go away in about 15 minutes, leaving the focus of his team on the game at hand. No bulletin board material, no extra motivation for a team that just doesn’t matchup well agaisnt the over-powering Buckeyes.
In a deeper sense, how screwed up is this current bowl system when a coach has to vote, or essentially “choose” the opponent it will play for the championship. Could you imagine any other sport doing that? I won’t argue with the excitement that surrounds college football from early September to early January, but this system simply doesn’t work. The BCS has been in business for nearly 10 years, and it has worked only once, in 2003 when the Buckeyes and Hurricanes were both undefeated and played for the Championship.
As far as Tressel goes, he will continue to be criticized by coaches that couldn’t hold his sweater vest in the locker room. Guys that will never be in the unenviable position Tressel found himself in. But to me, and to all of you, Tressel should be seen as what he is, smarter than all of us for finding a way around this horrible system. Kudos to you Coach Tressel, kudos in deed!
