re: The ESPN Motive of an LSU-Alabama BCSNCG Rematch

quote:

---

This is if you're a cynic and believe ESPN's producers get their "experts" and "analysts" to pick certain sides to argue, which I do.

---

I don't know if there are inter-departmental memos or e-mails tha tgo around. But there are definitely attitudes that get pushed by the ESPN commentators. I really noticed this after LSU's 2007 BCSNCG. Except for Jim Rome, literally every commentator was saying the same thing- that we needed a playoff. They weren't even talking about the game. Instead they ALL talked about Roger Clemons. The UCLA-Memphis basketball championship was discussed for literally 2 weeks afterwards. There was no question that the ESPN heads wanted to discount the BCSNCG that year.

The real reason they want a rematch is if Alabama wins, they can deny that Alabama ever lost the first game. Really.

That's another way to look at it I guess but I still say the main reason every one in the media is talking about a rematch is the simple fact that LSU is the consensus #1 team and Bama took us to OT and came a play or two from winning the game.

Tell me another team that you think would hold us to 9 pts and be able to score enough on our defense to take the game to overtime and have a chance to win?

One of the posters got it right earlier in the thread when he mentioned thinking about if LSU lost on Nov 5.Hypothetically flip the outcome to Bama won and we lost,would you argue that we deserve a rematch based on the resume and that we are the clear #2 team?Would the fact we didn't win the conference or division in that scenario matter?If your answer is yes,no then you can't argue against Bama.They call that hypocrisy.Have to look at the argument from the full spectrum and not just the part that makes you feel better.

I contend that ESPN at times and in the case of college football poll voters have an adverse effect on how people vote.Many,many people that vote dislike ESPN and will if in the right situation do things to spite ESPN.Do you really think the voters that voted Va Tech at #4 liked the way Hebstreit criticized them to a national audience last night and today?He called them out blatantly and questioned their voting rights.I guarantee some voters will log that in the memory bank and use it whenever they feel it's the right time.The final vote in Dec will come down to one thing,do the voters vote Bama in because they're the best team after LSU(they are) or do they vote against a rematch.Whichever side of that argument gets the most votes in the final vote will decide who plays us in Jan.I think Bama is who they'll vote.

quote:

---

I have also been thinking a lot about how I would feel had we been on the losing end of the Nov 5th match up (even if it had been at LSU instead of on the road) and I along with most on this board would be sceaming that we DESERVED a rematch and were obviously the best team to face Bama in the MNCG

---

that is a different argument. We would have lost on the road to a home favorite. Also, who has Bama played, outside of Arky and LSU? Penn State will lose to Wisky and drop out. They would be no better than West Virginia. Then we went on the road to beat Oregon, bama beat arky at home. advantage lsu. I just think we have a tougher schedule and more impressive wins and that should have come into play on a rematch, not that LSU didn't win their division or conference.

quote:

---

at is a different argument. We would have lost on the road to a home favorite

---

I did sat that I would feel the same way even if the game had been played at LSU.

quote:

---

I just think we have a tougher schedule and more impressive wins and that should have come into play on a rematch

---

I agree that LSU has played a much tougher schedule than Bama (or any of the other teams in the discussion) but if you believe that LSU is the best team than its hard to argue that Bama is at least one of 2-3 teams that would be considered #2 - and if that's the case then should bama be awarded another shot at the best (LSU) you can't really say definitively that its the wrong decision.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that if LSU wins out there is no doubt about #1 but there is also not a clear cut number two team so whoever ends up being the other team we play deserves their shot at us (bama included) and will find out just how good LSU is - bama will just have the destinct honor of feeling the pain twice in one year!!!!!

I agree with your analysis of ESPN's motives, but they are in somewhat of a dilema in that they need to fill 45 minutes of air time on the BCS show.

If they go with the logical conclusion...
"LSU should win out and if they do they will be National Champs." "What do we do for the next 44-3/4 minutes"

They need to fill time and promoting other schools and possibilities is one way. I do feel that they are a little too exuberant with their favoritism of BAMA, but it makes for good news and certainly keeps people tuning in and and discussing it and mentioning their name over and over again.

Their sponsors are probably loving it.

But, I still disagree with almost everything they are saying.

I find your analysis logical. The fact is that too much power of all sorts is held in too few hands.