From Deseret News archives:
Tuberville's rant was a stunner
If this weren't so sad and pathetic, it would be laugh-out-loud funny. Let's not forget that the Southeastern Conference — of which Auburn is a member — was a driving force behind the current BCS cabal that locks 53 Division 1-A football teams out of the championship picture before the season begins. Heck, the then-SEC commissioner dreamed this whole mess up.
So pardon me if I start out with a big boo-hoo for Tommy Tuberville, Auburn and the SEC.
On Monday at his weekly press conference, Tuberville (whose team lost to LSU over the weekend) said that this year's BCS title game is already a "done" deal.
"The national media, led by ESPN, wants to see Vince Young versus Matt Leinart in the championship game," he said. "It's going to be those two teams unless Texas or USC get upset."
He went on to allege that last year's matchup of USC and Oklahoma was also the product of a conspiracy.
"If four teams are undefeated at the end of the season, there should be a playoff. There should've been one last year," Tuberville said. "But it's decided already. I don't like it."
I agree completely. I hate it. But, again, it was the SEC more than any other single entity that put this horrendous system together.
At that point, the Auburn coach started heading into wacko whining territory.
"ESPN has gotten so much power lately, it's kinda scary," he said. "And most of their analysts are coaches who haven't won any games. That's why they're there. I think you know who I'm talking about."
He attacked ESPN analyst Lou Holtz, who "gets on there and talks about what a team has to do to win that game, and the guy couldn't beat anybody in our conference."
I'm no fan of Holtz, but he had winning seasons and bowl victories at North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota and, yes, even SEC member South Carolina. He won a national championship at Notre Dame and retired with an overall record of 243-127-7. But that's beside the point.
I've expressed reservations before about the ethical implications of ESPN/ABC covering the BCS selection process when it telecasts the BCS bowls. I do think ESPN commentators wield too much influence at times. And they often say dumb things — like when since-fired Trev Alberts attacked Utah's football team last season.
But if they have too much influence, it's because other people aren't doing their jobs. Other people, including current Division I coaches, who vote in football polls without having much of a clue because they don't have time to watch a lot of games that don't involve their own teams. So they watch ESPN.
I'm no fan of Holtz or Lee Corso or Kirk Herbstreit, but they at least see a whole lot of games and, thus, have a better perspective than the Auburn coach.
But the sheer insanity of a member of the SEC complaining about how unfair the BCS is and blaming it on ESPN is nothing short of stunning.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com
