Hawaii's dream season culminated with an invitation, per BCS rules, to the Sugar Bowl this year. Much rejoice, much celebration in the islands; even some calls for Hawaii, the nation's lone unbeaten FBS team, to play in the national championship. Let's dive a little deeper into the Fighting Rainbows' year. They competed, and won, the WAC. The WAC, according to Jeff Sagarin's ratings, came in as the 8th best conference in college football. Hawaii's non-conference slate consisted of:
UNLV: 2-10, ranked 117th by Sagarin
Washington: 4-9, ranked 53rd by Sagarin (played Hawaii without their starting QB)
Northern Colorado: D-1AA
Charleston Southern: D1-AA
Now, granted, schedules are done at least a few years in the future, but it doesn't take an Ivy League degree to foresee this a being an easy schedule. Essentially, Hawaii reduced their schedule to 2 games: Boise St. and Washington --both at home.
So what does this all mean?
Hawaii has made the decision that a gaudy record, say 10-2/11-1/12-0 will not only vault them in the national rankings (which it will), but it will also earn them the publicity, payout, and spoils that come with a high ranking and possible date in a BCS game. So far, the plan has worked to perfection.
So if you are Miami University, or any mid-major for that matter, what do you do? Do you play the Michigans, Floridas, Ohio States, etc. (as Miami will over the next 5 years) or do you play a bottom tier BCS school, one or two mid to bottom level non-BCS schools and a D-1AA school and shoot for perfection?
Let's keep in mind there is a Pandora's box of financial issues associated with mid-major scheduling that while very relevant in the real world, hopefully can be set aside in this hypothetical.
Anyway, it's a tough question, and one that is hotly debated in mid-major fan groups.
What say ye? Does Hawaii deserve to be ranked where they are? Have they loopholed their way into the BCS? As a fan, would you rather see your team play and compete against a tough schedule and risk a mediocre record or play and beat an easy (and boring) schedule for a national ranking and shot at the BCS?
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3 comments:
Or is Hawaii a fluke?
Due to its geographical situation:
- home games are not likely to be televised live, thus much less national exposure (as opposed to, say Florida who seems to be on TV every Saturday -even in Wisconsin.
- teams are more hesitant to travel out to play them (the abundance of home-and-home deals that many schools make)
- major conferences are unlikely to admit a school so far away (maybe the PAC 10)
So...maybe this is a weird one time thing, at least with Hawaii. To be honest, I can't complain about seeing a couple different schools in the mix other than the usual suspects. Variety is the spice of life.
I think the other mid major problem is coaching. It is well known that some of the best coaches in NCAA are in the MAC and other mid major conferences, but as soon as they show themselves as good they leave. Hell, UC pulled a coach away from the MAC.
So unless you are in Hawaii and therefore have a reason to keepp a coach there, your coach is going to schedule big opponents, work his butt off for a few years until he gets recognition and then leave.
I just don't think the sunny skies of Oxford, OH can keep a guy around after his team makes the jump to contender, and without the blanket of a BCS conference there is nothing keeping him there.
I agree with one of your points completely.
The AP, Harris, USAToday need to DISBAND the idea of preseason top 25 polls. Polls should NEVER be released until mid season, as there is way too much inertia in rankings. It hinders the game.
The problem is that to the average fan, you want to know the first weekend's games you have a big #4 vs. #8 matchup. Would it mean the same if it were just Cal playing Tennessee?
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