The many deceptions of Chris Petersen

Despite what the ESPN and Fox analysts want us to believe, we didn't find out last night that Boise State is an elite team. We learned they could outlast another mid-level team. But we also learned the Broncos coach Chris Petersen is one gutsy coach. He has more trick plays and is never afraid to use them. For that ... I love Boise State. Go Broncos!

Penn State proves BCS worthiness through video

Apparently Penn State wants to play in a BCS Bowl ... badly. Since the Nittany Lions aren't guaranteed a spot, but are eligible the university has created this nifty video to tout its great fans to the men (and women) who decide at the Orange, Sugar and Fiesta bowls.

Iowa may deserve the spot, but Penn State is right on this one. Money and fans are what drive the system. Sorry Hawkeyes, but Penn State is probably headed to the Orange or Sugar.

Stoops gets raise, doesn't earn it

Let me see if I have this right.

Lose five consecutive BCS bowl games, including two title games and an embarrassing loss to West Virginia in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. Manipulate the BCS system by running up the score in your final six games to impress voters so you can get the BCS bid over a much better Texas team that you lost to earlier in the season.

It appears that's enough for the University of Oklahoma execs to give the overrated one (Bob Stoops) a hefty raise. According to a number of stories circulating on the web today, OU may pay Stoops about $5 million a year starting in 2011.

I can't argue that Stoops isn't a great coach. His record is 109-24 since joining the Sooners in 1999 and has won a national title (actually Miami was the best team that season). But in these tough economic times and with academics on many campuses being slashed does someone who can't coach in the big game deserve this?

ESPN buys Rose Bowl

If it didn't already, ESPN officially owns the sporting world now. The Worldwide Leader added the Rose Bowl to its stable of bowl games starting in 2011. Remember ESPN had already pried away the other BCS games by outbidding FOX.

Look, I won't miss the horrible announcing on FOX. But this means there are almost no bowl games remaining on network TV. This isn't a positive. I get ESPN and so do most of my friends. But not all of the approximately 300 million people in the U.S. have cable or satellite TV.

Personally, this doesn't impact me much at all. I enjoy watching college football on ESPN. It will also mean better announcers and better coverage, since these guys and gals actually do games during the season (unlike FOX).

However, this will probably mean lower ratings for all of the big bowl games in 2011, but the BCS doesn't care as long ESPN is willing to dish over hundreds of millions of dollars. Audience be damned.