The Short List: Week 14

As the 2009 regular season comes to a close, the Shortlist to the San Fernando Valley numbers six teams, all of them undefeated and in Shortlist invite consideration as such:

Florida, Alabama, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, and Boise State.

No teams survived games I called for them to lose last week on the Shortlist to the San Fernando Valley and once again this week, I call for no teams to be excluded, although only Boise State has any real worry on that front this week.

The demarcation line between the traditional powers and the second-class citizens has never stood as in stark a contrast as it does at the present moment in my opinion as the SEC is assured of having one of the Shortlist's coveted two invitations while the outsiders hope for yet another Texas Big 12 Title Game letdown to help them strike a blow for equality amongst the 120 schools. 

 

Unlike last week where I foresaw not one, but two top 10 losses to underdog teams, I don't see it happening this week as I expect multiple undefeated teams to remain at the end of the bowls after New Year's 2010.

Some would decry this kind of treatment to the latter half of the Shortlist as discriminatory and wrong.  I couldn't disagree more, because in any objective evaluation of the teams involved, the SEC duo has traveled a more difficult path to their championship game than the others and deserve the preferential treatment shown as a result.  Texas has by a slimmer margin navigated a slightly more treacherous course than the others and as well deserves reward for that feat.

All the teams left on the Shortlist are assured a slot on the final Shortlist roster except for Boise State, which only needs to eradicate New Mexico State on the blue turf to finish their season undefeated as well, but even if BCS chaos peaks in the final weekend, would TCU and Boise State be worthy of facing the SEC champion with a chance to win the national title on the surface of the Grandaddy of them All in a game over a week after the actual Rose Bowl? 

 

The difference between the best team in the SEC and the rest of the field is almost as pronounced as it's ever been this year I believe from all that I've seen.  Both the non-BCS schools have used upsets of Oklahoma this decade to make their reputations recently but the Sooners are not the modern power their specious 2000 championship would suggest them to be upon first blush.

To me, this season, more than any in the history of the BCS era of the game is begging for a legitimate split national championship to be awarded, but with the characters involved in the drama at this point, that notion is even more a pipe dream than Joe Paterno passing the all-time coaching victories record back to Bobby Bowden is. 

 

TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State have no history to draw on, no contemporary legends to point to as icons of their football prowess to use to appeal to on the college stage in their battle against the entrenched programs they compete with.  They would have even less chance to be successful in a tournament setting I think, but at least the discussion they are included in now gives them a foundation to establish equal footing with the others in the future. 

 

If anything, their trouble lies not in the programs themselves, but in the members of the conferences they associate themselves with.  Damned by their temporal locations and alliances, not by their performance.  Guilty by association of not being equal in the court of football opinion.  An unjust end to outstanding campaigns to this point, but campaigns whose gains this year will, I believe, cause a sea-change in the sport sooner rather than later.

Copyright 2009 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

Comments

[miamimike01]

86,

happy wife, happy life!

Never truer words have ever been uttered!

[miamimike01]

alright gang,

out til the Civil War. Should be a helluva game.

Go Beavers!

(how could U not root for a team named the Beavers?)

I guess you'll be working overtime tonight huh, SOUP? LOL!

[solarcane]

Like the pro combat unis?
Like to own a complete Cane game worn uni including the sick cleats?( shoes autographed by Randy Shannon)

http://solecollector.com/live/all/nike-pro-combat-uniform-locker-charity-auctions/

well my friend you can fight cancer and have a once in a lifetime collectible in its own locker

peace

[miamimike01]

God help us if South Carolina ever played Oregon St.

[CaneWarrior]

U!

[Gin & Tonic]

Posted by: miamimike01 | December 03, 2009 at 06:50 PM

To this day one of the funniest things I have ever heard from football is when the Miami Dolphins had Audrey Beavers and Bryan Cox on its starting line backing core. Jim Mandinch on the call that went along the lines of the following:

Cox and Beavers met the back in the hole and they busted the play right into the backfield.

[CaneSawMassacre]

Hey 86 - you going to the bowl game no matter where it is at?

[CaneSawMassacre]

Hurriphin I think everybody was on the same page about the "I an't blind" theory..

You can't ignore attraction, and it is fun to go to a game and check out some eye candy in a respectful manner.

My wife checks out guys LOL mostly actors on the boob tube but the difference is acting on those thoughts.

[CaneRock]

new blog...and i'm FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Loco]

But it's the same shyt, slightly difference size and speed.

Like I said, THANK GOD WE AMERICANIZED THIS JUST LIKE WE AMERICANIZED THAT CORNIEST OF ALL SPORTS....CRICKET.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | December 03, 2009 at 01:45 PM

Actually, you're the one that avoids the points and attacks me personally, so I'm pretty sure I'm not the one that's "cornball"

Also, its nothing like hockey. Soccer is like hockey, but without the hits and with a lot more actors.

And saying its the same but with different size and speed is like saying high school football is the same as the pros. Its not. At all.

When you decide you want to have a proper discussion, let me know. But you don't get to dictate right and wrong and make up the rules as you go or use slanted arguments with twisted logic. That may work in grade school, but not here

[86Cane]

NEW BLOG IS UP!

[Calvin]

soup, seems like tiger has upset alot of people, i'm not sure why though, but since tiger is being blamed for alot of other things, it his fault that CANEpsce has been hi-jacked with relationship talk.

The only relationship that matters on here is the relationship we'll have real soon with who's etching UM's name on that national chmpionship trophy, just want to know if they have a steady hand, and afterwards, orson charles can not show up at the facilities.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

????

[DZ8]

As income tax time approaches, did you ever notice: When you put the two words 'The'and 'IRS' together, it spells 'THEIRS'?

[Pre83]

Jimmy Johnson