DOJ Asks: Why No Playoffs in College Football? I'd Like An Answer Too!

Every so often the sports consciousness reverts back to the topic of a playoff system for college football. This time it was spurred by the United States Department of Justice, who has asked the NCAA to answer some questions about why it doesn't have a playoff system and to determine whether the BCS complies with Federal Antitrust Laws.

The old Bowl System was brutal. The BCS is better, but not great. A playoff system, pitting the top 16 teams in the country would be ideal in my mind. Don't give me that BS about the impact these games would have on the Student-Athlete. It comes down to money - and the BCS is making a lot of it. But since you and I don't have a financial stake in the BCS, we don't care how much they make or don't make - we care about who the National Champion is - and whether they won the title - or were given it by the BCS.


Read more on the US DOJ's questioning here ... 

PACERS KEEP HITTING HIM - ROSE DOESN'T WILT

HEIR APPARENT?

ATHLETICISM

Bulls: First off, it's been said a million times this season, but DAMN! Derrick Rose is a MAN among boys. The kid – and I say that with the most affection possible – has the killer instinct, the drive to come out on top and the fearlessness of a warrior. OK, I may be exaggerating on the warrior front – but c'mon! When asked after the game by Comcast SportsNet Chicago's sideline reporter if the hard fouls were getting to be too much, Rose responded matter-of-factly, "It's only gonna get worse!" He went on to say that he's prepared for this – and this kind of punishment in the paint is what drives him to keep his body strong and continue lifting weights.

Pacers head coach Frank Vogel, clearly frustrated after a Game 2 loss to the Bulls, had some lofty praise for #1, saying he has ...

"Allen Iverson's quickness, Jason Kidd's vision, Chauncey Billups' shooting touch and Micheal Jordan's athleticism." 

VISION

TOUCH

QUICKNESS

I don't know if Rose is up to any of those levels – but he's certainly climbing the latter pretty quickly. His humility, hard work, dedication, team-play and leadership are all great – but it's his killer instinct, the "eye of the tiger" if you will – or maybe it's tiger blood – that makes him so dangerous. He doesn't get frazzled. There's no worry on his face. Just that look of "I'm gonna get you, sucka!" And there's nothing anyone in the NBA has been able to do about it this year.

Blackhawks: How about that Corey Crawford! After getting shelled in the first 3 games versus Vancouver, the Hawks offense has provided 12 goals in 2 games, and Crawford has been stellar. Crawford stopped all 36 shots he faced in Game 5, and allowed only 2 lamp-lighters in Game 4, when he had 21 saves. The Hawks will try and even the series on Sunday at the United Center. Given up for dead just a couple of days ago, it's good to see the Hawks showing some life – and pride – as they attempt to defend their Stanley Cup Championship short-handed.

White Sox: Congratulations to fans of the White Sox, as the Southside Hitmen got off the schneid – snapping a 7-game losing streak with a 9-2 win over the Rays. As much as folks wanna talk about youth and how that's the ticket to winning. It wasn't last night for the Sox, as Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko had 2 RBI's apiece – an average age of 35 years old – with Omar on the high end at 43 and Quentin at 28. Doing it "old school."

Bears: The NFL draft is creeping upon us – maybe. What are your thoughts on the Bears draft? Should they go offensive line? Wide receiver? Defensive back? Take a peak at a recent post about the Bears 2011 Draft and what direction they might go - http://bit.ly/faXx6n

BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS – WE ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY! 

It's Like Arguing with Your Wife - You Just Can't Win

As a Notre Dame fan, you learn to live with the hypocrisy others heave upon the Football program in South Bend. Shaking your head at the "I like anyone who plays against Notre Dame" crowd is commonplace. Just as there are outlets that back the Irish with regularity, it seems as though there's been an addition lately to the crowd that convicts the Irish for every perceived slight.

Everyone who knows anything about Notre Dame Football knows that Residence Life (Res Life) has been strict in the past. They've doled out punishment to ND students and football players alike, that almost seemed Draconian. Suspending a kid (student or player) for a semester for underage drinking is akin to – is like throwing your 10-year old out of the house for saying something inappropriate. It's almost inevitable that it's going to happen, so why react in such an over-the-top manner.

WR Michael Floyd was standing in front of Res Life this week, waiting on a sentence that could have ended his Notre Dame playing career prematurely; prior to his Senior campaign. But what happened shocked most, if not all, Irish backers. Res Life handed down what amounts to "probation" under the ND penal code. Floyd will have to perform community service. That doesn't mean the hammer can't/won't fall from Head Coach Brian Kelly, who lists Floyd as "suspended."

Kelly was quoted in Brian Hamilton's piece in the Chicago Tribune (http://bit.ly/evjvi3), "I don't know if it's simply about a football relationship," Kelly said Saturday when asked what the Floyd decision said about Res Life and his program. "We're all educators here at Notre Dame. I can't look into decisions that were made in the past. I can only live in the present. And I'm pleased he's going to get a chance to finish his degree. The football stuff? If it works out, fine."

Hamilton's article – the latest in a series of Tribune pieces blasting Notre Dame – has little to no merit whatsoever. Damned if you do. Damned if you don't.

The most bothersome thing to me – and this isn't so much to do with Hamilton or the Tribune in particular – is the feeling that whatever happens in South Bend, just isn't good enough. If Notre Dame wins 8 games; they should have won 9. Floyd gets a "break" - but to hear the critics – he should have been sentenced to Death Row.

Where are the pundits when Florida players are being arrested for the umpteenth time? What about when Auburn players are being paid? Has Reggie Bush even been punished for his pay-to-play (other than having to give back his trophy)? What about Cam Newton?

And in this case, when punishment is handed down – and almost assuredly more strict than 99% of the schools in the country – it still won't be good enough for those who love to grab the headlines by bashing ND. 

I wonder, prior to the National Championship Game, if the same writers / broadcasters who regularly bash Notre Dame's handling of everything - were clamouring for the suspension of the 5 Ohio State football players who committed a slew of NCAA violations. 

I guess those of us who enjoy ND Football will have just have to ignore the "I like anyone who plays against Notre Dame" crowd one more time. And then probably again tomorrow. Oh well. I guess it goes with the territory.