Muller: Game of the Century II? Not Even Close
By Shawn Muller-
(CBS) Snooze fest.
That is the only way to describe what was supposed to be "The Game of the Century Part II" last night in the BCS National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Louisiana State Tigers.
I suppose I should congratulate the Crimson Tide for beating the Tigers 21-0 to win their second "national championship" in the last three seasons, but I am having a really hard time doing so.
Of course, all of the SEC backers are going to say it was an epic battle between the two best teams from the best conference in the universe, but I have news for anyone trying to defend that abomination:
What took place on that football field last night was-- without a doubt-- the most boring championship game in the history of championship games and it was almost as boring as the 9-6 sleeper between both sides earlier in the year.
Don't get me wrong. I am all for great defense. But I also enjoy a little bit of offense sprinkled in there as well.
I guarantee you that, if those were two Big Ten teams playing instead of two SEC teams, people all across the country would be saying how boring , slow, and agonizingly painful it was to watch. Instead, we are going to be told just how great of a defensive display it was.
In two games, it took almost eight full quarters and one overtime for either team to score a touchdown. Two games in one year with just one lousy touchdown? Come on! I know the defenses of both teams are good, but if you are the number one or number two ranked team in the country, you should be able to score at least two touchdowns combined in two games.
LSU managed just 92 yards of total offense (53 passing 39 rushing) and a ridiculous five first downs. How in the world does a team that goes undefeated during the entire season, playing in a vitual home game at the Super Dome in New Orleans, only muster 92 yards of total offense and five first downs? Heck, LSU didn't even cross the 50 yard line until there was only eight minutes remaining in the game.
I know Alabama is loaded with NFL talent all across the defensive side of the ball, but give me a break. It's not like they are the 1985 Chicago Bears.
I won't blame Alabama fans for thinking this game was absolutely beautiful, but the rest of the college football world has to be thinking:
"How does this game prove a team like Oklahoma State or Stanford wasn't worthy of a shot at the title?"
Alabama winning Monday night doesn't prove they were the correct choice to play in the title game. All it proved to me is that they beat LSU once and LSU beat Alabama once. This was the first loss of the year for the Tigers, so shouldn't they get another chance since Alabama did? If not, then couldn't one say that Oklahoma State deserves a chance to play Alabama now since neither team has played one another yet, and both won their BCS bowl games?
I'm not suggesting that the Cowboys would have beaten either Alabama or LSU if they had been given the opportunity to play in the title game, but the thing that makes college football fans upset is the fact that we will never know because they won't get to prove their worth on the field of play….which is where titles are meant to be earned.
I guess I just feel a little robbed now that the season is over.
After all the regular season games, all of the conference championship games, and all of the jockeying for position in the BCS standings, we are right back to where we were when the season began:
There is not one clear-cut, iron-clad, absolute "number one" team in the nation.
I can't wait to see what the 2012 season has in store for us next fall.
Shawn Muller has lived in the great city of Chicago for 7 years. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in October of 2010, Shawn received his certificate in radio broadcasting. In his free time, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and 3 year old daughter Ava, catching any live sporting event, and traveling. Check out his radio show, Grab Some Bench with Muller and Bangser" every Thursday night at 8:30 P.M., at www.blogtalkradio.com/spmuller24. Read more of his blogs here.
