From Deseret News archives:
'GameDay' right about Hall being the game-changer
On this past Saturday's show, two of the three — Chris Fowler and Lee Corso — told viewers to be ready for BYU to upset Utah in that afternoon's matchup between the two teams.
BYU over Utah was Fowler's "upset alert." Which, of course, was about as wrong as it could be, given that the Utes beat the Cougars 48-24.
And Corso followed that pick by being right when he was as flat-out wrong.
"And my Pontiac game-changer. Huh? Your guy. Nice pick, Fowler," Corso said. "Thirty four touchdowns. Max Hall. Pontiac upset special guy."
It's not hard to argue that Hall, BYU's quarterback, was indeed the game-changing player on Saturday. His six turnovers — five interceptions and a fumble — turned a close game into a rout. For the other team.
But you have to pat Corso on the back for the unusual ability to be spectacularly wrong and yet turn out to be right. That's not easy.
EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE Mountain West Conference basher, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, proved he knows as much about soccer as he does about college football. His "upset special" pick on Saturday morning was that New York would beat Columbus in Sunday's MLS Cup final.
At least I think that's what it was. The on-screen graphic read, "Kirk's Upset Alert: New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew."
What Herbstreit actually said was that his pick was that "the Crew knock off — who are they playing? — New York Red Bulls." Which makes absolutely no sense as the Crew were prohibitive favorites. And, indeed, they beat the Red Bulls 3-1.
That Herbstreit is a genius, isn't he?
THERE'S A CERTAIN IRONY in the recent announcement that, after next season, the Bowl Championship Series is moving to ESPN.
As anyone who's read the paper over the last few years can testify, there's been no small amount of complaining about the Mountain West Conference's agreement with The mtn., CBS C and Versus. And, while there have certainly been more than a few reasons to be unhappy with the deal — the top three being distribution, distribution and distribution — there's a large contingent out there that's still complaining because they can't get Utah and BYU games on broadcast channels.
Guess what? After next season, you won't be able to get the Orange Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl or the (and I use this term loosely) national championship game on broadcast channels. If you don't have cable or satellite, you won't see the games.
THE BIGGER PROBLEM is that ESPN has already demonstrated it has far too much influence over the college football polls — and, arguably, has favored conferences with which it has contracts.
Now ESPN has gotten into bed with the BCS. And it has a vested interested in both promoting the BCS conferences and keeping the unfair system in place.
That's scary.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com
