Thursday December 03, 2009

Thursday Thoughts; Nightmare; #28; Bowls; Rain

Thursday Thoughts
I had a few brief thoughts this Thursday and apologize about being a little late with the blog today. I just got out of a meeting this morning and am leaving this afternoon to pick up Ryan so we can head to Tampa early in the morning. If we can get back early enough tonight then I will have an e-mail bag blog tomorrow but if it is too late we may not have a blog tomorrow. Christopher White will be my guest host for the radio show in the morning as Ryan and I plan on leaving before daylight in the morning. I hope everyone has a safe trip down and back.

Nightmare
I was hoping to wake up this morning to find last night’s game was only a dream but that was not the case. No one hates losing more than I do and last night was a disaster but I was also a little encouraged by the effort in the first half.

That was a strange game because the Tigers played the best half of basketball I have seen in a long time in the first stanza. I was amazed at the energy and effort in the first half. They did not shoot the ball well but had only two turnovers and the defense was incredible.

The second half was a completely different story. Everything that could go wrong went wrong in the second half but you have to give Illinois credit. They came storming back and deserved the huge win.

#28
Yesterday we received the fantastic news that C.J. Spiller was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. Dabo also mentioned that Spiller’s number will be retired next year.

I cannot think of anyone who deserved these honors anymore than this special young man. He deserves every honor bestowed upon him and there is nothing Clemson could ever do to give him as much as he has given to Clemson.

An ACC championship ring would be nice. A trip to New York City for the Heisman ceremony would be great and an Orange Bowl victory would be even more special but in the end we still would have gotten more than we could ever give back.

Bowl Scenario
I have spent the better part of the last two days on this bowl issue and am still no more convinced of what could happen than when I started. On my radio show this morning we had a representative from the Champs Sports Bowl on with us for about 20 minutes. He said fans may be very surprised by what happens with bowl selections on Sunday. He also mentioned the contracts the bowls have with each conference and how complicated each has become. Part of our conversation was spent on how each bowl has different criteria in what they are looking for. Some bowls have better sponsorship deals so they can look more at the TV aspect while others have to concern themselves with ticket sales first. Some bowls have obligations to hotels and others do not. Also each bowl has a different contract with their conference affiliation and that determines who each can select.

After talking to sources over the past 36 hours I am convinced more now than ever that the bowl system is broken beyond repair. The bowl system is about money and is no longer a reward for the regular season. Consider this scenario:
*West Virginia loses Saturday and finished its season at 8-4.
*Cincinnati loses to Pittsburgh and finishes 11-1 but is not selected to the BCS and Pitt gets the automatic BCS bid.
*The Gator Bowl takes FSU at 6-6 and West Virginia at 8-4.
There is a scenario that the bowl game in Charlotte could have an 11-1 Cincinnati team playing a 9-3 Miami team while the Gator Bowl would have teams that combined to go 14-10.

A playoff system is needed. The bowl system needs to be restructured. Bowl tie-ins need to be eliminated.

Under the current scenario fans are stuck going to the same games and same cities too often and other destinations are out of their reach. Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M and the other Big 12 teams cannot play in either of the Orlando bowl games. ACC schools cannot play in the games played in the Tampa area.

The bowl system was better when there were no tie-ins and bowls could select who they wanted. Conference affiliations and picking order puts so many limits on the combinations of teams that could visit each bowl. Drop the tie-ins.

Also a playoff would help improve the regular season schedules. This year Florida played Florida International, Troy and Charleston Southern. Come on. The power schools usually don’t play each other in fear that an out of conference loss could take them out of the national title picture. Playoffs would mean better games and an absence of fear.

Rain
I see where there is a chance of rain Saturday in Tampa. This season we have had more than our fair share of rain. In fact, if it did not rain at a football for the next ten years then we may still be ahead of the game. However, I have waited so long for this one that I don’t care if Noah is outside of the stadium rounding up two of everything. I am going to enjoy this one no matter what the weather has in store.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Ann Fallaw, Bob Pollock, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe.