Are You Not Entertained?!

Oklahoma State players Jamie Blatnick (50) and Justin
Gilbert (4) celebrate after Stanford's Jordan Williamson (36)
misses a field goal during the Fiesta Bowl. The Stanford-
Oklahoma State game proved the need for at least a plus-1
game, if not an eight-team playoff.

It's been said for years, but the time has come for the NCAA to own up to its biggest mistake — the B(C)S.

While named the Bowl Championship Series, the only series of events that takes place is the Big East team taking on an at-large team in the Nobody Cares Bowl. Sadly, the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Rose Bowl used to be games that everybody watched – until the NCAA decided to step in.

But now the NCAA has the chance to rectify the situation — or at least add some excitement.

This bowl season has been incredible. From Ohio edging Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to Michigan State's win in triple overtime over Georgia, it has been fun to watch. Even the Stanford-Oklahoma State Fiesta Bowl had me on the edge of my seat the entire game.

And as a fan I want more.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating a complete playoff system. I like the bowls. I know the athletes like going to Arizona, Texas, Florida and California for a week of fun in the sun. But wouldn't it be great if we could have a real Bowl Championship Series (or Bowl Championship Playoffs)?

Take the top eight teams — no matter what conference — and have them square off. If you're in a lousy conference like the Big East or Mountain West, get rid of the cupcakes and schedule some real teams if you want to a spot in the BCP. If you can survive the SEC or Big 12 and remain in the top eight, then you deserve your shot at the nation's best teams.

We saw what happened when Oregon's speed met Wisconsin's strength. We'll see some more of that in the next few days. Why not try to produce even more of that with a mini playoff?

True, the playoff would add three more games and possibly two more weeks to the schedule, but in his last press conference in Stillwater, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said there was already too much of a lag between the regular season and those late postseason bowls. Why not take a couple weeks out and give the fans what they want, a playoff?

The NCAA is a business, no matter how they try to spin it. And like most good businesses, the goal is to make money. Hosting three extra games would cost a little more, but with television rights and fans packing the stadiums, it seems like a money tree that's ripe for the picking.

If nothing else, even adding a plus-1 playoff game would be enough to quench the thirst of those fans who crave more football before delving into their brackets for March Madness. Plus it would also force Nike co-founder Phil Knight to come up with something even more ridiculous than the "Darth Vader" helmets used in this year's Rose Bowl.

I Shift You Not

One of the stipulations to keeping the Big 12 together was
that Dan Beebe resigned as commissioner. After nearly
losing four teams to the Pac-12 earlier in the week, it seems
like the Big 12 is here to stay — for next year, anyway.

Well that was much ado about nothing.

All week, no matter where you turned you couldn't help but hear the rumors surrounding the Big 12 Conference. First, Oklahoma and the boys in the south tried to jump ship to the Pac-12, then Missouri started to look toward the SEC.

And while we all sat on the edge of our seats waiting to see who would go where, we forgot one simple thing — you might want to check with the conferences themselves before you decide to join their conference.

Like Spirit, the Auburn eagle, the Big 12's hopes of dismantling crashed and burned when Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott told the world that he was happy with 12 members in a midnight press conference. Oklahoma and Texas already had the green light to join the Pac-12 and Oklahoma State was in the process of getting the go-ahead when Scott made his decision.

Much to the dismay of one Columbia sports editor — a man who enjoyed the comparison of conference shifts to plate tectonics — the conference somehow survived the weekend. The only major shifts came in the form of Syracuse and Pittsburgh heading to the ACC.

Now the nine remaining members must go back to the league they once tried to demolish with their tails between their legs. And I, along Mike Gundy, could not be happier. Those die-hard football fans saw Oklahoma State's 3 a.m. finish in Tulsa last week. Could you imagine if that happened every weekend? It's a strong possibility with trips to the West Coast each weekend — no thank you!

Some fans are upset that there wasn't the massive tectonic shift that shook the college sports scene, but there were hundreds of sports reporters that breathed a sigh of relief with Scott's announcement. So, now that all this is over, can we put it behind us and just play football — at least until next season?

And remember kids, if you want an invite into someone's house — or in this case a conference — it's best to ask permission before you barge in with guns blazing.

What I Learned At College

Texas Tech's Tommy Tuberville may be smiling during
the Big 12 media days, but my guess is he'll quickly lose
that smile after Dan Beebe reprimands him for his sarcastic
remarks about the league's staying power.

While the NFL players are signing contracts and trying to get ready for the season in half the time they normally take, not all eyes are on the big boys. Some are carefully watching the college game and ignoring all the legal mumbo-jumbo that's going on at the professional ranks.

From Ohio quarterback Gunner Kiel's shocking verbal commitment to Indiana to the zoo that is media days, college football is certainly on the forefront of most fans' minds. For those that went to college, this final week in July signifies hope that our alma mater will once again make us proud on the field in the fall.

It is also a time most journalists – like myself – salivate for the quotes bound to come out of players' and coaches' mouths. I'm not sure whether its the heat, the two-a-days or just the fact that everybody's so enthralled about getting ready for the season, but every year there seems to be at least one coach or player who spouts off at the mouth and says something he immediately regrets.

Last year, Texas Tech's Tommy Tuberville criticized the Big 12 and said the league wouldn't last without Nebraska or Colorado. Dan Beebe, the Big 12 commissioner, didn't enjoy Tuberville's lack of enthusiasm and reprimanded the coach.

This year, Tuberville didn't spout off at the Big 12 media day, per se. Instead he showed his support for the league by saying it will last. But before his time at the podium ended, Tuberville followed that answer up by asking the media if that was what he was supposed to say – taking one final dig at Beebe. One can only imagine the punishment that is bound to occur this time.

However, Tuberville is not the only one who will be in hot water before the start of the season. Southern Cal running back Marc Tyler may also end up in coach Lane Kiffin's doghouse after a night out in Hollywood.

Tyler – knowing full well that USC is currently under the close watch of the NCAA – told TMZ that the reason the Trojans are able to land such prized recruits is because at "USC, they breaking bread." Now I'm a little behind on my hip-hop lingo, but I can't help but wonder if USC players are making more than the NFL players. After all, what kind of college kid has enough dough to hit up a Hollywood club? Who knows, maybe Kim Kardashian has gone back to her old roots of chasing down USC running backs.

Either way, these are just two examples of what is sure to be a colorful week of college football. The games are always fun to watch, but if this is just a taste of what's to come this year – well, you better fasten your seatbelt and get ready for a wild ride.