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.

'Tis The Season

Texas A&M's Mike Sherman received word that he had
been terminated while in the driveway of a recruit's
home. Understandably, Sherman was perplexed by this
move by the Aggie athletic department.

As college football's regular season winds down,  the game of Musical Chairs: Coaches Edition begins. Some, like Washington State's Mike Leach or Ohio State's Urban Meyer, use this time to return to coaching, while others are just hoping to have a job next season.

Like every other upper management job across the country, athletic directors are stressed beyond belief right now. Nobody likes to fire a coach, but sometimes changes need to be made.

There is a right and wrong time to do it, however.

Kansas coach Turner Gill said he knew before he played Missouri his time was up. He was still heartbroken, but when athletic director Sheahon Zenger called Gill into his office, he knew what was coming. The same can be said for Memphis coach Larry Porter, after going an abysmal 3-21 in two seasons.

Then there's the case of Texas A&M's Mike Sherman and UCLA's Rick Neuheisel.

Sherman was actually on a recruiting trip in the driveway of a prospective athlete's home when athletic director Bill Byrne called and told him he was relieved of his duties. Ironically, the student-athlete had already heard rumors about Sherman's firing.

In reality, Sherman deserved to get fired. The Aggies were arguably the worst second-half team in college football, resulting in a 6-6 record. But to be notified over the phone without so much as a warning? That's just classless, Texas A&M.

But while Sherman's dismissal came as a slight shock, Neuheisel's firing was even more of a shocker. Of course, Neuheisel is no stranger to being canned — just ask people at Washington and Colorado — and when you coach in Los Angeles, people expect immediate results.

The news that Neuheisel had been fired came less than a week before his Bruins were to play in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship game. True, UCLA only got into the game because USC is on probation,  but had UCLA upset Oregon Neuheisel still would have been terminated.

As with any job, results are expected. If you don't produce, your boss will find someone who can do the job better. At the same time, there are right and wrong ways to let a coach go — and UCLA and Texas A&M could use a couple of classes on how and when to fire a coach.