Random Thoughts

I. ESPN signing a six year deal to broadcast the BCS appeared to me to be a terrible, perpetuating act on the college football landscape. However, this might not be all bad. Barnhart was saying this morning that the effort was made to align the BCS contract with that of ABC's (same company) Rose Bowl arrangement. And when the two agreements expire, ESPN would pony up huge dollars to make the playoff thing happen. This brings new meaning to the notion that at Disney, dreams really can come true.

But what does ESPN do in the meantime? The spin machine is pretty powerful and they will have to do some measure of selling the legitimacy of the system. Ought to be really interesting.

II. In reading some of Richt's recent comments, a little perspective is in order. Call this the better or worse game as in, was it better than you thought or worse?

Our team ... worse
Penalties ... worse
Offense ... even
Special Teams ... worse
Defense ... worse
ASU ... worse
LSU ... worse
Florida ... better
Alabama ... better
Auburn ... worse
Tech ... better
Injuries ... awful
Intangibles ... worse
Record ... about right where we should be, particularly given what Florida and Bama have turned out to be
This changes dramatically should we lose to Tech. And becomes a tragic story of monumental collapse had we lost to Kentucky and/or Auburn.

III. On another note, I think it is interesting that the Alabama game really turned out to not matter at all. Had we won the game, we'd be in the exact same position we're in, relative to the conference. Might have a better shot at BCS but whoop de doo. Likewise, had Alabama lost, they'd still be playing Florida in Atlanta for a shot at a national championship. Isn't that something in that for us and Bama, the season all boils down to what you do against the Gators?