NCAA bowl games show it’s all about the money

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 12/14/2006

 January 8, 2007, in Glendale , Arizona , number-one unbeaten (12-0) Big Ten Champion Ohio State and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith will play Florida in the BCS National Championship game. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) Champion rightfully earned the opportunity to play Ohio State . No fewer than five teams from the SEC — Arkansas , LSU, Tennessee , Auburn and Florida — were rated in the top 17 in the country.

 

No fewer than 44 coaches, including two former Florida coaches, Steve Spurrier and Ron Zook, voted for Florida over Michigan to play Ohio State . What’s intriguing in this subplot and adds to it is that Ohio State ’s coach, Jim Tressel, did not vote, citing a conflict of interest. It’s clear that had Tressel voted for Michigan , the Wolverines would have gotten the nod over Florida .

 

Last week I wrote about Congress asking the NCAA to justify their tax-exempt status! Here’s why we won’t see a playoff in college football:

 

Six conferences have guaranteed spots in the Bowl Championship Series. Each school gets $17 million while the other five I-A leagues, because of Boise State’s spot in the Fiesta Bowl, will receive an approximate total of $18 million to split, which is double what they would normally make.

 

The Big Ten will divide $34 million, and after all the expenses are taken out, each of the 11 Big-Ten schools will receive about $2 million. Remember, number-three Michigan (11-1) will play USC, the Pac Ten Champion, in the Rose Bowl January 1.

 

The Notre Dame lobbyists are as strong as ever; somehow the 10-2 Irish, who are independent, get away year in and year out by playing Navy, Air Force and Army. The three schools are a combined 1-35 vs. Notre Dame since 1986. Talk about patsies!

 

Notre Dame gets the huge payday of $17 million for themselves by playing in the Sugar Bowl January 1 vs. LSU. Michigan is still getting over the fact that they won’t get a rematch with Ohio State . Wisconsin (11-1) somehow never received consideration and will play in the Citrus Bowl.

 

 

 

Fitz Notes & Quotes

 

The Vikings at 6-7 are still very much alive in the NFC for a Wild Card with three weeks left, trailing New York (7-6), Atlanta (7-6), and Philadelphia (7-6) for one of the two Wild Card spots. The AFC has dominated the NFC head-to-head so far this year with three weeks left.

  After six weeks of the NFL season, the NFC was ahead 13-8; since then, things have taken a turn for the worst. The AFC holds a commanding 35-21 lead vs. NFC teams. The Vikings have not helped — they are 0-3 vs. AFC teams with the New York Jets up next Sunday at the Dome.

 Remember, the AFC has won seven of the last nine Super Bowls, including three in a row.

 The Minnesota Wild finally have their first Black player, big defenseman Shawn Belle. Belle is 21 years old and is six-foot-two, 238 pounds. So far, the Wild are 4-0 since he was brought up from the American Hockey League. 

 

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio, 89.9 FM, at 8:20 am, and Monday evenings 6-7 pm. He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.