# How many of you are Notre Dame fans now? BCS Championship question **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 5, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108 "2012-12-05T19:02:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/41 "2012-12-08T04:50:52Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Playing in the Orange bowl is a LOT better than playing in the Capital One bowl. Whether you would have preferred to play in the SECCG is irrelevant, what matters is that the team that didn’t make the SECCG was rewarded relative to the team that did make it. The same goes for Florida/Georgia versus Bama had Bama lost the SECCG. > > If you play the same number of conference games as every other team in the conference and you’re one of the top 2, you shouldn’t be penalized for losing that bonus game; it should be treated as a bonus. Conferences should set up their bowl tie-ins such that teams aren’t penalized for making/losing their conference championship game. > > Of course, this is all IMHO. Meh. I’m not really disappointed that Florida has to play Louisville, while the Dawgs get a team in Nebraska that carries much more tradition and cache. Plus, Florida played a damn though schedule. I’m good with them in the Sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/42 "2012-12-08T09:45:24Z")
> [@DrumBum](#): > > (snip) I am not sure Alabama is even a university. 😃 I can assure you that it is, and a very good one. (University of Alabama, Class of '91.) Roll Tide! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/43 "2012-12-08T12:55:48Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > If you play the same number of conference games as every other team in the conference and you’re one of the top 2, you shouldn’t be penalized for losing that bonus game; it should be treated as a bonus. Conferences should set up their bowl tie-ins such that teams aren’t penalized for making/losing their conference championship game. > > Of course, this is all IMHO. It’s my opinion as well. This is just like Michigan State got penalized for playing in the Big 10 title game and Michigan got a BCS bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/44 "2012-12-09T20:41:19Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > It’s my opinion as well. This is just like Michigan State got penalized for playing in the Big 10 title game and Michigan got a BCS bowl. And mine. It doesn’t make sense to say that a team that didn’t make the playoffs (and lost to the team that did) is better than the team that made but lost the first round of the playoffs. Of course, you have to take my opinion with a grain of salt, since I’m the one (non-USC fan) that thinks that USC should have won the SEC East last year, since they beat all of the other 5 SEC East teams. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/45 "2012-12-09T21:33:40Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Yet another reason why there should be an 8 team playoff. And why there should be no polls 'til Week 8 or so, and no more scheduling non FBS opponents. Though Oregon’s just as guilty of that as everyone else. Not really. Oregon played LSU in its first game of 2011, and would have played Kansas State in its first game of 2012, but Kansas State backed out, so Oregon had to scramble for whatever opponent it could get. I hope ND gets blown out 80-0, after all their squeaker wins this year. IMO they only played one game all season where they looked like they should be in the BCS picture. On the other hand, I’m not so much of a hypocrite that I think Oregon should be in the championship game without winning its conference. Nor should any other team. ---
**Author:** ![getitrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@getitrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/getitrite)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/46 "2012-12-10T03:16:18Z")
I don’t care. Texas A&M is in the Cotton Bowl, and the Heismen winner is QB. ---
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/47 "2012-12-10T07:05:30Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Not really. Oregon played LSU in its first game of 2011, and would have played Kansas State in its first game of 2012, but Kansas State backed out, so Oregon had to scramble for whatever opponent it could get. Please don’t perpetuate this lie. I’ll let it slide on any other board, but not the SD. Oregon asked K-State to reschedule the 2011 game because it wanted to play LSU (understandable). When in negotiation about rescheduling, Oregon refused to guarantee a home/home rotation with K-State (i.e. Oregon asked out of the game in Manhattan, K-State agreed, and then Oregon wouldn’t commit to a return trip in 2013). K-State said “how 'bout we cancel the game instead?”. Oregon said “sure!” The fact that it was mutual is clearly indicated in that neither school paid a cancellation fee. All this was in 2010, mind you. So 86 the “scramble” and the “back out”. Oregon wanted to treat K-State like a little sister of the poor, and K-State said ‘no’. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/48 "2012-12-10T12:35:25Z")
> [@azraiel](#): > > Please don’t perpetuate this lie. I’ll let it slide on any other board, but not the SD. > > Oregon asked K-State to reschedule the 2011 game because it wanted to play LSU (understandable). When in negotiation about rescheduling, Oregon refused to guarantee a home/home rotation with K-State (i.e. Oregon asked out of the game in Manhattan, K-State agreed, and then Oregon wouldn’t commit to a return trip in 2013). > > K-State said “how 'bout we cancel the game instead?”. Oregon said “sure!” The fact that it was mutual is clearly indicated in that neither school paid a cancellation fee. > > All this was in 2010, mind you. So 86 the “scramble” and the “back out”. Oregon wanted to treat K-State like a little sister of the poor, and K-State said ‘no’. I’m going by credible sources, e.g. [this one](http://www.registerguard.com/web/sports/28746206-41/state-games-oregon-ducks-game.html.csp). Credible doesn’t mean infallible, so I’m willing to look at your _more_ credible sources. But your anonymous word won’t do it, nor will this [homer blogger,](http://curtiskitchen.com/on-oregon-k-state-canceling/) who seems to rely more on cynicism (nobody would be nice enough to not insist on a cancellation fee) than facts. And you hurt your own credibility by implying that it’s a snap to schedule games with a BCS-quality opponent less than two years in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/49 "2012-12-10T15:31:10Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > I was telling guys that in big ten country Ohio State could be in the Nat champ game and Michigan fans will root for a bus accident getting to the stadium.. but not here in the confederacy.. where these dunces just root for each other like madmen.. You kicked my butt in the title game.. okay..now I’m fan of yours..NOT!!! I think that’s an admirable trait of SEC fans. There’s a lot of pride in the conference, and fellowship and mutual respect that flows from it. I’m a UK fan, we get crushed by Florida every year (and for 25 years in a row), but I’d be rooting for Florida in the Sugar Bowl even if they weren’t playing Louisville. > [@Doctor Who](#): > > Beat the SEC. Don’t ARGUE that other conferences are better. Don’t ARGUE that the SEC is not that great. Just beat 'em. That’s all you have to do. Just like when Michigan and Ohio State were God’s own teams and they should’ve played every weekend because they were the greatest ever… all it took was a UF victory to put that to rest. Just. Beat. Them. Bingo. If you want to complain about last year’s All-SEC rematch, that’s fine. But in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007, the SEC team beat a non-SEC contender for the championship, by an average margin of 14 points. So it’s hard to believe that the conference is overrated. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/50 "2012-12-10T18:45:42Z")
Since it’s not possible for both of them to lose, I hope Alabama beats ND 2-0. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/51 "2012-12-10T22:16:20Z")
Doctor Who is far and away the most rational SEC fan I’ve encountered online. I hate living under the thumb of SEC tyranny, but the best way to end it is on the field. So I’ll be rooting like mad for Notre Dame (for whom I have no strong feelings one way or another). It’s actually a good thing that Alabama lucked into this game, because if there was no SEC team in the BCS NCG we would be hearing for another year how they are still really, deep down, you know it to be true…the bestest. I just checked, and Notre Dame beat 9 bowl-bound teams this year – it would have been 10, but Miami declared themselves bowl-ineligible. I don’t think any other team comes close (Alabama beat 7, and that’s with the benefit of a 13th game). No question that ND deserves to be here. ---
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/52 "2012-12-11T00:22:55Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > I’m going by credible sources, e.g. [this one](http://www.registerguard.com/web/sports/28746206-41/state-games-oregon-ducks-game.html.csp). > > Credible doesn’t mean infallible, so I’m willing to look at your _more_ credible sources. I disagree that the source you provided is credible. Looking at his article history, he’s at least as much a screaming homer as the author of the link you dismissed. This thing only became an issue when K-State and Oregon were locked firmly in the title hunt and K-State jumped Oregon in the BCS standings. Oregon blogs started beating the drum loudly that K-State had “backed out,” as if that gave Oregon a moral standing that should place it above K-State in the standings. But go back and look at what was published on Aug 2, 2010, when the cancellation was announced. The K-State athletic director released a [letter](http://www.kstatesports.com/ot/tell-john-talk-with-ad.html) that addresses the “mutual agreement with Oregon to cancel that series without any financial penalty to either school.” The Topeka paper reports on the [cancellation](http://cjonline.com/sports/football/2010-08-02/cats_cancel_oregon_series). The Register-Guard had an article by the reporter you cited above [wherein](http://www2.registerguard.com/cms/index.php/duck-football/comments/three-future-games-including-the-ksu-series-are-off/) he sneers that _of course_ K-State would cancel under Snyder, but with no source, quote, or cite that it played out that way. Tellingly enough, he also mentions that there are ongoing talks with LSU–talks that obviously began before the cancellation was agreed upon. The Oregon AD released no statement. Then this year comes along and Oregon bloggers and Rob Moseley start screaming. National outlets passed on as received truth that “K-State backed out.” Chip Kelly was perpetuating the myth, probably because he thought it would sway voters and bump Oregon (and no complaints from me about that–it’s part of a coach’s job in the BCS system). So when Ivan Maisel goes to [fact check](http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/69316/3-point-stance-parsing-k-state-oregon) what he had reported he’s told by the Oregon assistant AD that “when the 2011 Cowboys Classic offered a slot against LSU, Oregon asked Kansas State to reschedule. Kansas State, needing to go to a nine-game Big 12 schedule, said, let’s just call off the home-and-home, and Oregon agreed.” The 2011 game was the Manhattan game. The 2012 game was the Autzen game. In short: Bill Snyder was back as coach at K-State, and while he willingly plays AQ opponents (USC, Miami, etc) his scheduling philosophy absolutely precludes two AQ opponents in the same year. The Big12 was down to ten teams, resulting in nine conference games instead of eight. Every team in the Big12 _had_ to drop a game from its schedule. Oregon had a brand new AD from the SEC (Kentucky) who moved quickly to arrange a game against an SEC opponent (LSU) at a neutral site, a very lucrative proposal. It was in the process of negotiating this new game that Oregon made the first move by asking K-State to reschedule. It was a win-win. Oregon got to replace a tough road game with a tough (and more lucrative) neutral site game. K-State was able to get its schedule in line with its conference’s new requirements, with the added bonus of getting the schedule in line with the coach’s philosophy. It wasn’t until the spectre of K-State and Oregon going head-to-head in standings for a shot at the MNC that it became an issue to anyone. Now it’s become a lie that almost everyone accepts as true. But now, it doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/53 "2012-12-11T01:09:56Z")
> [@azraiel](#): > > So when Ivan Maisel goes to fact check what he had reported he’s told by the Oregon assistant AD that “when the 2011 Cowboys Classic offered a slot against LSU, Oregon asked Kansas State to reschedule. Kansas State, needing to go to a nine-game Big 12 schedule, said, let’s just call off the home-and-home, and Oregon agreed.” I consider that a credible source, and I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/54 "2012-12-11T01:17:46Z")
The thing that sports pundits and SEC partisans don’t seem to understand is that winning the national championship game for 6 years straight _ **DOESN’T MEAN A THING ABOUT THE CURRENT YEAR.** _ Statistically speaking, (A) 6 is too small a sample size and (B) how good a team or a conference was in 2011, 2010, …, 2006 is wholly irrelevant to how good a team or a conference is in 2012. If the SEC was as good as academic conference as it is a football conference, then they’d understand that. 😃 GO IRISH. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/55 "2012-12-11T01:27:47Z")
Since my father grew up Irish catholic during the depression he was always a bit of a Notre Dame fan. I can’t say I’m a big fan but I do have a soft spot in my heart for them. So that’s who I’ll be rooting for. Also because they weren’t even ranked preseason and here they are. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/56 "2012-12-11T03:59:28Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > The thing that sports pundits and SEC partisans don’t seem to understand is that winning the national championship game for 6 years straight _ **DOESN’T MEAN A THING ABOUT THE CURRENT YEAR.** _ Statistically speaking, (A) 6 is too small a sample size and (B) how good a team or a conference was in 2011, 2010, …, 2006 is wholly irrelevant to how good a team or a conference is in 2012. > > If the SEC was as good as academic conference as it is a football conference, then they’d understand that. 😃 > > GO IRISH. There is no such thing as an academic conference. They’re all athletic. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/57 "2012-12-11T05:40:35Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > The thing that sports pundits and SEC partisans don’t seem to understand is that winning the national championship game for 6 years straight _ **DOESN’T MEAN A THING ABOUT THE CURRENT YEAR.** _ Statistically speaking, (A) 6 is too small a sample size and (B) how good a team or a conference was in 2011, 2010, …, 2006 is wholly irrelevant to how good a team or a conference is in 2012. In and of itself, sure. But if you have an 11-1 Oregon team and a 12-1 Alabama team, the SEC team should get the nod, in part because of the SEC’s recent dominance of the national championship game. They’ve earned the right. Call it a tiebreaker. ---
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/58 "2012-12-11T06:21:59Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > In and of itself, sure. But if you have an 11-1 Oregon team and a 12-1 Alabama team, the SEC team should get the nod, in part because of the SEC’s recent dominance of the national championship game. They’ve earned the right. Call it a tiebreaker. No. Just no. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/59 "2012-12-11T12:35:52Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > In and of itself, sure. But if you have an 11-1 Oregon team and a 12-1 Alabama team, the SEC team should get the nod, in part because of the SEC’s recent dominance of the national championship game. They’ve earned the right. Call it a tiebreaker. No, that’s just prejudice, not math. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108/60 "2012-12-11T12:40:30Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > There is no such thing as an academic conference. They’re all athletic. Wrong. [Link](http://articles.philly.com/2012-12-10/news/35728728_1_big-ten-collaborative-research-rutgers) As per the linked article > [@](#): > > Before Rutgers University plays a single game in the Big Ten conference, it will reap the benefits of the athletic conference’s less-visible academic counterpart, the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-you-are-notre-dame-fans-now-bcs-championship-question/643108.md?page=4)