Who among us?????

can honestly say that they believed we would have had a slim chance at the MNC by seasons end? If memory serves, the vast majority projected 8-4, 9-3 type seasons. I thought that 9-3 was within our grasp but noted that there were too many \"unknowns\" be be completely certain.

The spanking we received from UT, while it certainly sealed our post season ascent, actually shook this team and staff up enough to kick start the winning streak. We are a much better, vastly improved team now, than when we first took the field in September. I would have loved to see these young men gel before USC, or even UT, but I'm equally if not more thankful that they did gel for UF, AU and the NATS.

The anger and resentment is understandable. Year in and year out we often see some similar controversy hoisted upon a given University, which equates into tweaking a system of broken principles and ideas. On paper, the BCS was a plausible solution for ending the human factor of polling. We all know that what often appears sound and prudent on paper translates poorly in real world practicality. Since it's inception, the BSC has required more tweaking than a Volvo. More math less human input, more human less math, good Lord the mind fogs with the reality of it's flaws! Facts are that until the system is wrenched from the big money tie ins, where big corporations dance hand in hand with the NCAA control freaks, no amount of tweaking will avoid the all out spin doctoring we all just witnessed.

OK, so we got hosed! True, but the cruel reality is NOT whether we won our conference. No, in the course of 12 hours we were audience to a full court press of campaigning the likes of which even Carl Rove would envy! In the space of mere minutes, the ESPN Bobble Heads rose from the corpses of Mizzou and WVU, anointed OSU and LSU and began to spin and parse. Last year's rematch avoidance pales by comparison at the lengths many, including Les Miles, were willing to take, speak, advocate and profess to get their media darlings together.

The Dawgs are not alone, USC, VT, and OU can make similar arguments for and against the very snake oil peddled by Herbstreit, Mays, Holtz et. al. This entire commentary isn't about whose \"body of work\" \"best represents\" the most \"suitable\" opponents. This was a beauty pageant, a popularity contest where mathematics, computer models and commonsense all became back seat witnesses to the power of the big money, big corporations and big paybacks to individual conferences.

Not once during the last week have I said UGA deserved the right to play for the MNC. Quite frankly, like CMR, I believe you should win your conference and we didn't. But that's not a rule and when the regular season ended with no \"clear\" choice for #1 and #2, our chances were as good as anyones. Until the campaigning began. The system is beyond broken and when the powers that be anointed OSU and LSU, the remainder of the BSC Bowls goosestepped like little lap dogs for yet another boring post season experience. The potential post season match ups could have been memorable, yet we get Kroger Vanilla!!!

I hold no particular anger toward LSU. I know that if the tables were turned I'd be as excited as I'm certain they are. Nonetheless, this years choice for the BCS is built on the corpses of many teams of equal and potentially greater value. It's shameful, woefully flawed and beyond time for the AD's to stand up and demand change.

However, change does not mean boycott! The Dawgs will be representing the SEC in the Sugar Bowl. Not UT, not USC!!! This is a BCS Bowl and while it may not be the one we wanted, or even perhaps deserved, it's a damn far cry from where we thought we'd be in September! CMR has called for a BLACK OUT and this team deserves our continued support. I say we extend our hand and show our main land guests some good old southern hospitality and LAY a good old fashioned whippin' on the island hoppers!

GO DAWGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very well spoken, NC_Dawg. I enjoyed your post and completely agree with you!

Here's a question for Dawg fans.
What is the highest end of season ranking that UGA has received since the 1980 Championship season?
I honestly don't know.
I do know they were 4th at the end of 2002.
?? Or maybe it was '03 even though they lost to UF and to LSU twice.
Is that the best?

Great post NC_Dawg. Again, I'm personally not mad about not playing in the NC game, I'm mad because they voted us number 4 last week. DON\"T put us at 4 if you have no intentions to move us up. If we had been 5 or 6, I believe we ALL would be VERY happy right now because we wouldn't have been put in a situation of great anticipation last Sat night.

A great post, couldn't agree more. College football is now only driven by money and spin. The sad thing is nobody will really know who the true champion is.

GatorinGA: AP poll results here from the CMR era (I couldn't find past BCS poll results):
2001 - (8-4) #22
2002 - (13-1) #3 (yes, our ONLY loss was to your team; yet ANOTHER reason we can't stand the Gators)
2003 - (11-3) #7
2004 - (10-2) #7
2005 - (10-3) #10
2006 - (9-4) #23
2007 - Well, the AP currently has us sitting at #4, either #1 or #2 will have to lose, OK is #3, if we beat Hawaii, we should remain in the top 4 between #2 & #4 but who knows, we could drop to #6 the way this season's polls have been going?