BERNE |
BERNE (Reuters) – Swiss broadcaster SRF has apologized for adding fake crowd noise to try and liven up its coverage of Sunday’s Zurich derby, which kicked off in a near deserted stadium.
Viewers of the edited highlights were baffled to hear chanting at the start of the FC Zurich-Grasshoppers game even though pictures showed that almost nobody was present in the Letzigrund stadium for kickoff due to a protest by fans.
“In order to make the report as attractive as possible, the chants of the fans were subsequently edited into highlights of the game,” SRF said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The decision was taken under great time pressure. It was wrong, we apologize for it. Manipulation of sounds or images is not allowed.”
Fans of both teams agreed to enter the stadium 10 minutes after the start of the match in protest at tighter security measures aimed at combating hooliganism.
(Reporting by Brian Homewood in Berne; Editing by John O’Brien)
© 2011 REUTERS (www.reuters.com)
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops hasn’t made a lot of sound arguments this offseason. He chose the “if it was good enough for me when I played, it’s good enough for them” gambit when answering a question about paying players — which only makes sense if he’s now willing to reduce his $4.9 million salary to the inflation-adjusted version of what Hayden Fry made to coach him. Stoops also suggested last week that the SEC isn’t as dominant as its national titles, NFL draft choices, television viewership and other raw data suggest because SEC teams 11-14 aren’t as good as Big 12 teams seven through 10.
But if he played baseball, Stoops would be batting .333, because he made a great point on Saturday. Before a Sooner Caravan stop in Tulsa, Stoops was asked about the upcoming College Football Playoff, and he suggested a lack of faith in the ability of humans — whether they’re poll voters or selection committee members — to properly evaluate records given the enormous disparity in schedule strength throughout the sport. Someone intimated that the selection committee would take into account and hopefully elevate those teams willing to play tougher schedules. Stoops scoffed. “Yeah,” Stoops told John Hoover of the Tulsa World. “I’d like to see it.”
Stoops then explained why he thought two-loss Oklahoma deserved inclusion in a BCS bowl over one-loss Northern Illinois last season. That argument might have more gusto if the Sooners hadn’t gotten destroyed by two-loss Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, but that doesn’t make Stoops’ point any less valid. Oklahoma had more impressive best wins (Texas, Oklahoma State, Baylor vs. Kansas and Kent State) and lost to better opponents (Kansas State and Notre Dame vs. Iowa) than Northern Illinois did in 2012. His skepticism for the future is warranted. Throughout the history of the sport — and especially during the BCS era — the vast majority of college football observers have measured success using the method Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott calls “tracking one loss.” What is that? It’s the habit of grouping the teams with the fewest losses at the top of the poll, then making a second group containing the teams with the second-fewest losses, and so forth. I’ve been guilty of this as an AP Poll voter. So has everyone else who has voted in a poll.
Before the switch to a playoff, we all need to disabuse ourselves of the notion that the 12-0 team is obviously the best team. Or that the three 11-1 teams are clearly the next best. This sounds simple enough, but try putting a two-loss team above a one-loss team on a poll ballot and watch the hate mail flow. This isn’t the case in any other sport, but in college football, we’re hardwired to look solely at the loss column when we should be looking at both columns. This tendency has to change.
The humans who make up the playoff selection committee probably will find themselves falling victim to the same urge. Hopefully, someone in the room will have the guts to speak up and force committee members to parse schedules carefully before choosing four teams. I still believe the committee is the best solution for setting the postseason field for this very reason. Poll voters typically make their choices in a vacuum. Computers don’t consult anyone. Committee members get challenged and must defend their preferences. That often exposes flawed thinking and leads to more sound decision-making. So whether those committee members are current ADs and conference officials, retired coaches or a mix of the two, hopefully they’ll think about what Stoops recently said.
The computers rankings used in the BCS standings usually considered both columns better than the humans did, but after margin of victory was removed from the formula in 2002, it limited the computers’ accuracy. The humans tend to downgrade teams fairly universally after a loss. This was never more apparent than in 2007, when the final Saturday began with the possibility of a Missouri-West Virginia national title game because those were the two most acceptable one-loss teams. The eventual national champ (LSU) only became a possibility again after those two lost, making Ohio State the only remaining acceptable one-loss team and LSU the most acceptable two-loss team. LSU was always the best of that bunch, but it took one easy-to-see-from-a-mile-away result (Oklahoma over Missouri in the Big 12 title game) and one shocker (Pittsburgh over West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl) for the Tigers to even get a title shot.
So let’s take a look at the past 10 years and try to pick the playoff participants using the win column and the loss column. As you’ll see, it’s quite difficult. (Remember, we’re imagining it’s December when these decisions take place. So we’re determining 2008, for example, with no knowledge that Utah is going to lay an epic whipping on Alabama four weeks later.) I’ll give you my choices. You likely will disagree. In a committee situation, we’d have to explain ourselves and then come to a consensus.
This doesn’t mean the upcoming system is bad. It gives more deserving teams a shot at the title in most years. But in some years, it also leaves some teams out whose résumés aren’t all that different from the third and fourth teams in. Despite what the flat-earth bowl lovers say, this system was not designed to eliminate controversy. And why would anyone want to eliminate controversy? Controversy is great for ratings.
Notre Dame
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: Michigan (8-4), Stanford (11-2), at Oklahoma (10-2)
Losses: None
Alabama
Record: 12-1
Quality wins: Michigan (8-4)*, at LSU (10-2), Georgia (11-2)
Losses: Texas A&M (10-2)
Florida
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: at Texas A&M (10-2), LSU (10-2), South Carolina (10-2), at Florida State (11-2)*
Losses: Georgia (11-2)
Oregon
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: Fresno State (9-3)*, Oregon State (9-3)
Losses: Stanford (11-2)
Georgia
Record: 11-2
Quality wins: Florida (11-1)
Losses: South Carolina (10-2), Alabama (12-1)
Stanford
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: at Oregon (11-1), at UCLA (9-4), UCLA (9-4)
Losses: Washington (7-5), at Notre Dame (12-0)*
Texas A&M
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: at Louisiana Tech (9-3)*, at Alabama (12-1)
Losses: Florida (11-1), LSU (10-2)
NOTE: * signifies nonconference game
SI’s Stewart Mandel and Pete Thamel assembled a mock selection committee made up of actual athletic directors in December to determine who would’ve made a playoff if it had existed last season. They chose Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida and Oregon — just as the BCS standings would have. But they didn’t make their decision before giving Stanford and Texas A&M serious consideration. This would have been difficult for me. Stanford beat Oregon head-to-head in Eugene and played a more challenging schedule, but Stanford also lost to Washington. (This was before Stanford made the quarterback change that altered the trajectory of its season.) But should Stanford be punished for scheduling Notre Dame while Oregon played Arkansas State, Fresno State and Tennessee Tech out of conference? And if we’re considering two-loss teams, shouldn’t we consider Texas A&M, which beat one of our playoff teams on the road and narrowly lost to another? And what about Georgia, which beat Florida and nearly beat Alabama? That’s what makes this process so difficult. Heck, we’re not even considering Louisville, which, unbeknownst to us, is about to throttle one of our no-brainers (Florida) in the Sugar Bowl.
Playoff teams: Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida, Georgia
LSU
Record: 13-0
Quality wins: Oregon (11-2)*, at West Virginia (9-3)*, at Alabama (11-1), Arkansas (10-2), Georgia (10-3)
Losses: None
Alabama
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: at Penn State (9-3)*, Arkansas (10-2)
Losses: LSU (13-0)
Oklahoma State
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: at Texas (8-4), Kansas State (10-2), Oklahoma (9-3)
Losses: at Iowa State (6-6)
Stanford
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: at USC (10-2), Notre Dame (8-4)*
Losses: Oregon (10-2)
Oregon
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Stanford (11-1)
Losses: LSU (13-0)*, USC (10-2)
Arkansas
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: South Carolina (10-2)
Losses: at Alabama (11-1), at LSU (13-0)
Kansas State
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Baylor (10-3)
Losses: Oklahoma (9-3), at Oklahoma State (11-1)
Boise State
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: Georgia (10-3)*
Losses: TCU (10-2)
The BCS standings would have chosen LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma State and Stanford. It probably would be tough to find anyone to argue with the first three of those teams. I take issue with Stanford, though. If Oregon plays anyone other than LSU, Alabama or Oklahoma State in its season opener, it probably finishes the season with the same record as Stanford. Unfortunately, Oregon chose LSU. The Tigers, as you can see, assembled one of the best résumés in college football history in 2011. So, essentially, an Oregon team that beat Stanford by three touchdowns at Stanford Stadium is being punished for scheduling the best team in the country. Oregon’s other loss came to USC. Guess which team came within a bounce or two of also beating Stanford? USC, which lost in three overtimes. I would have to give the fourth spot to the Ducks.
Playoff teams: LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Oregon
Auburn
Record: 13-0
Quality wins: South Carolina (9-4) twice, Arkansas (10-2), LSU (10-2), at Alabama (9-3)
Losses: None
Oregon
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: Stanford (11-1), at USC (8-5)
Losses: None
TCU
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: Utah (10-2), Air Force (8-4), San Diego State (8-4)
Losses: None
Stanford
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: USC (8-5)
Losses: Oregon (12-0)
Wisconsin
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: Ohio State (11-1)
Losses: Michigan State (11-1)
Ohio State
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: No regular-season wins against a team with eight or more regular-season wins
Losses: Wisconsin (11-1)
Michigan State
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: Wisconsin (11-1)
Losses: Iowa (7-5)
Oklahoma
Record: 11-2
Quality wins: Florida State (9-4)*, Oklahoma State (10-2), Nebraska (10-3)
Losses: at Missouri (10-2), at Texas A&M (9-3)
The top four in the BCS standings were Auburn, Oregon, TCU and Stanford, and like 2011, the fourth spot is up for grabs. You could make an argument that the third spot should be up for grabs, too, but TCU can thank Utah for being otherwise solid. This is one of those years where a selection committee that doesn’t do its real work until December — and therefore isn’t as biased by preseason polls — will help. TCU (Oregon State), Ohio State (Miami) and Stanford (Notre Dame) attempted to schedule quality out-of-conference games, but the opponents didn’t hold up their end of the bargain during the season. The Big Ten was incredibly top-heavy this season. Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin beat up on one another but didn’t really beat anyone else good. Meanwhile, Oklahoma wasn’t anywhere near the national title conversation, but the Sooners’ résumé stacks up pretty favorably with the other teams in the running for the fourth spot. In fact, I’m giving Oklahoma the nod for the final playoff berth based on its number of quality wins. If the Sooners play a directional school instead of Florida State, I’m not convinced.
Playoff teams: Auburn, Oregon, TCU, Oklahoma
Alabama
Record: 13-0
Quality wins: Virginia Tech (9-3)*, Ole Miss (8-4), LSU (9-3), Florida (12-1)
Losses: None
Texas
Record: 13-0
Quality wins: Texas Tech (8-4), Missouri (8-4), Oklahoma State (9-3), Nebraska (9-4)
Losses: None
Cincinnati
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: Rutgers (8-4), Oregon State (8-4)*, Fresno State (8-4)*, West Virginia (9-3), Pittsburgh (9-3)
Losses: None
TCU
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: Clemson (8-4)*, BYU (10-2), Utah (9-3)
Losses: None
Florida
Record: 12-1
Quality wins: at LSU (9-3)
Losses: Alabama (13-0)
Oregon
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Utah (9-3)*, Cal (8-4), USC (8-4), Arizona (8-4), Oregon State (8-4)
Losses: Boise State (13-0)*, Stanford (8-4)
Boise State
Record: 13-0
Quality wins: Oregon (10-2)*, Nevada (8-4)
Losses: None
Ohio State
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Wisconsin (9-3), at Penn State (10-2), Iowa (10-2)
Losses: USC (8-4)*, at Purdue (5-7)
What a mess. Alabama and Texas are easy choices, but the rest of the field is a nightmare to pick from. It’s easy now to look back at Florida’s demolition of Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl and place the Gators above the Bearcats, but we forget how down the SEC East was in 2009. Florida had exactly one quality win, while Cincinnati beat a host of above-average teams. TCU only beat one AQ-conference team that would win eight or more games, but it was a Clemson team that backed into the ACC Atlantic title. Meanwhile, what about Boise State? The Broncos played in a weak league, but they did open the season by beating the eventual Pac-10 champ. The biggest enigma is Ohio State, which beat Wisconsin, Penn State and the Iowa team that went on to win the Orange Bowl. But the Buckeyes lost at home to a USC team that proved fairly mediocre and a Purdue team that was decidedly mediocre. That latter stinker of a loss eliminates Ohio State. As for the rest, the committee is basically throwing darts at a board.
Playoff teams: Alabama, Texas, Cincinnati, Florida
Oklahoma
Record: 12-1
Quality wins: TCU (10-2)*, Cincinnati (11-2)*, Nebraska (8-4), Texas Tech (11-1), Oklahoma State (9-3), Missouri (9-4)
Losses: Texas (11-1)
Florida
Record: 12-1
Quality wins: Georgia (9-3), Florida State (8-4)*, Alabama (12-1)
Losses: Ole Miss (8-4)
Texas
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: Oklahoma (12-1), Missouri (9-4), Oklahoma State (9-3)
Losses: Texas Tech (11-1)
Alabama
Record: 12-1
Quality wins: Georgia (9-3), Ole Miss (8-4)
Losses: Florida (12-1)
USC
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: Ohio State (10-2)*, Oregon (9-3), Cal (8-4)
Losses: Oregon State (8-4)
Utah
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: Air Force (8-4), Oregon State (8-4)*, TCU (10-2), BYU (10-2)
Losses: None
Texas Tech
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: Nebraska (8-4), Texas (11-1), Oklahoma State (9-3)
Losses: Oklahoma: (12-1)
Penn State
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: Oregon State (8-4)*, Ohio State (10-2), Michigan State (9-3)
Losses: at Iowa (8-4)
This year is another mess. Oklahoma certainly earned its spot with quality nonconference wins against TCU and Cincinnati — the Sooners also scheduled Washington, but that game landed in the nadir of the Ty Willingham era — and some tough Big 12 wins, but it’s possible to argue convincingly for and against any of the other seven candidates. If taking a loss from a four-loss team doesn’t disqualify a squad, then Florida, Penn State and USC each have a case. But USC lost to Oregon State, which was beaten in out-of-conference games by Utah and Penn State. Alabama beat the Ole Miss team that beat Florida, but Florida’s fresh-in-the-mind, head-to-head win against the Crimson Tide gives the Gators a boost. (Alabama tried to schedule a tough out-of-conference game this season, but Clemson Clemsoned early and got Tommy Bowden fired.) Remember, we have no idea that Utah spanks Alabama when they play, so how much credence do we give the Utes, who beat Oregon State and a bunch of Mountain West foes? And what of Texas and Texas Tech, who finished in a three-way tie with Oklahoma in the Big 12 South? We also aren’t looking at records in a vacuum, so the way teams won matters as well. Except Ole Miss and Alabama, the Gators buzzsawed their opponents. Utah had a few close calls, but the Utes did win every game. So who gets the nod? Oklahoma is a lock. Florida gets one spot. I originally thought Texas and Alabama would be locks, but with the numbers in front of me, neither is. USC, which also won most of its games in dominant fashion, gets one spot thanks primarily to the strength of its win against Ohio State. That leaves Utah, Alabama, Texas, Texas Tech and Penn State battling for one spot. I’d like to think I’d be enlightened and take the Utes, who had the better résumé, but I’d probably get swept up in the competitiveness of the SEC title game and select Alabama.
Playoff teams: Oklahoma, Florida, USC, Alabama
Ohio State
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: at Penn State (8-4), Wisconsin (9-3), Michigan (8-4)
Losses: Illinois (9-3)
LSU
Record: 11-2
Quality wins: Virginia Tech (11-2)*, Florida (9-3), Auburn (8-4), Tennessee (9-4)
Losses: at Kentucky (7-5), Arkansas (8-4)
Virginia Tech
Record: 11-2
Quality wins: Clemson (9-3), Virginia (9-3), Boston College (10-3)
Losses: at LSU (11-2)*, Boston College (10-3)
Oklahoma
Record: 11-2
Quality wins: at Tulsa (9-4)*, Texas (9-3), Missouri (11-2) twice
Losses: at Colorado (6-6), at Texas Tech (8-4)
Georgia
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Florida (9-3), Auburn (8-4)
Losses: South Carolina (6-6), Tennessee (9-4)
Missouri
Record: 11-2
Quality wins: Illinois (9-3)*, Texas Tech (8-4), Kansas (11-1)
Losses: Oklahoma (11-2) twice
USC
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Oregon State (8-4), Arizona State (10-2)
Losses: Stanford (4-8), Oregon (8-4)
Kansas
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: No regular-season wins against a team with eight or more regular-season wins
Losses: Missouri (11-2)
West Virginia
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Cincinnati (9-3), Connecticut (9-3)
Losses: South Florida (9-3), Pittsburgh (5-7)
This was the year no team wanted to distinguish itself. LSU brought Virginia Tech to Baton Rouge, and that win probably is what vaulted the Tigers over the other two-loss teams when voters chose who would play in the BCS title game. In the playoff, Ohio State and LSU would earn spots. But who else would? USC, Georgia and West Virginia took losses from teams that finished 6-6 or worse. Virginia Tech played LSU and got destroyed, but the Hokies did avenge their regular-season loss to Boston College in the ACC title game. Oklahoma beat Missouri twice, but the Sooners also lost to Colorado. There are no easy decisions for those final two spots.
Playoff teams: Ohio State, LSU, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma
Ohio State
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: at Texas (9-3)*, Penn State (8-4), Michigan (11-1)
Losses: None
Florida
Record: 12-1
Quality wins: at Tennessee (9-4), LSU (10-2), Georgia (8-4), Arkansas (10-3)
Losses: at Auburn (10-2)
Michigan
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: at Notre Dame (10-2)*, Wisconsin (11-1), at Penn State (8-4)
Losses: at Ohio State (12-0)
LSU
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: at Tennessee (8-4), at Arkansas (10-2)
Losses: at Auburn (10-2), at Florida (11-1)
USC
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: at Arkansas (10-2), Nebraska (9-4)*, Cal (9-3), Notre Dame (10-2)*
Losses: at Oregon State (9-4), at UCLA (7-5)
Louisville
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: West Virginia (10-2), South Florida (8-4)
Losses: at Rutgers (10-2)
Wisconsin
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: at Purdue (8-5), Penn State (8-4)
Losses: at Michigan (11-1)
Auburn
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: LSU (10-2), Florida (12-1)
Losses: Arkansas (10-3), Georgia (8-4)
Boise State
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: Oregon State (9-4)*, Hawaii (10-3), Nevada (8-4)
Losses: None
Arkansas
Record: 10-3
Quality wins: at Auburn (10-2), Tennessee (9-3)
Losses: USC (10-2)*, at LSU (10-2), Florida (13-1)
This is the opposite of 2007. A ton of teams distinguished themselves. Though all but Ohio State and Boise State took losses, most of those losses came to other very good teams. That’s where USC runs into problems. While the Trojans have great nonconference wins against Arkansas, Nebraska and Notre Dame, their losses are the worst of the bunch. Meanwhile, the SEC — which began its run of BCS titles this season — had a top-heavy year in which the top teams beat up on one another. This is where no committee can help. We know now that Florida pounds Ohio State when they meet, but looking at the résumés — Ohio State had a sterling one and Florida hung by the skin of its teeth for most of the season — it’s impossible to make that prediction. Boise State also presents a quandary. The Broncos beat Oregon State and a pretty good Hawaii team, but we don’t know then that Boise State is BOISE STATE because that magical Fiesta Bowl hasn’t happened yet.
Playoff teams: Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, USC
USC
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: at Oregon (10-1), at Notre Dame (9-2)*, Fresno State (8-4)*, UCLA (9-2)
Losses: None
Texas
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: at Ohio State (9-2)*, Texas Tech (9-2)
Losses: None
Penn State
Record: 10-1
Quality wins: Ohio State (9-2), Wisconsin (9-3)
Losses: at Michigan (7-4)
Ohio State
Record: 9-2
Quality wins: No regular-season wins against teams with eight or more regular-season wins
Losses: Texas (12-0)*, Penn State (10-1)
Oregon
Record: 10-1
Quality wins: Fresno State (8-4)*
Losses: USC (12-0)
Notre Dame
Record: 9-2
Quality wins: No regular-season wins against teams with eight or more regular-season wins
Losses: Michigan State (5-6), USC (12-0)
Georgia
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Boise State (9-3)*, LSU (10-2)
Losses: Florida (8-3), Auburn (9-2)
This year is more difficult to judge because it was the last one before the NCAA approved the 12th regular-season game on a permanent basis. I could have lowered the quality-win threshold to seven wins, but it’s easier to stay consistent. Not many teams racked up quality wins, making it tough to judge who should get into the playoff beneath Texas and USC.
Playoff teams: USC, Texas, Penn State, Georgia
USC
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: Virginia Tech (10-2)*, Cal (10-1), Arizona State (8-3)
Losses: None
Oklahoma
Record: 11-0
Quality wins: Texas (10-1), Kansas State (11-3)
Losses: None
Auburn
Record: 12-0
Quality wins: LSU (9-2), Tennessee (9-3), Georgia (9-2) twice
Losses: None
Texas
Record: 10-1
Quality wins: No regular-season wins against teams with eight or more regular-season wins
Losses: Oklahoma (11-1)
Cal
Record: 10-1
Quality wins: Arizona State (8-3)
Losses: USC (12-0)
Utah
Record: 11-0
Quality wins: No regular-season wins against teams with eight or more regular-season wins
Losses: None
Georgia
Record: 9-2
Quality wins: LSU (9-2)
Losses: Auburn (12-0), Tennessee (9-3)
Tennessee
Record: 9-3
Quality wins: Georgia (9-2)
Losses: Auburn (12-0) twice, Notre Dame (6-5)*
The first three spots are easy to select from this group. USC was a juggernaut. Oklahoma and Auburn were undefeated. So who gets the fourth invite? Is it Cal, which narrowly lost to USC? Is it Texas, which politicked its way into the Rose Bowl ahead of Cal that year? Or is it Utah, which would have entered the playoffs with Urban Meyer already employed by Florida?
Playoff teams: USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Cal
Oklahoma
Record: 12-1
Quality wins: Fresno State (8-5)*, Texas (10-2), Missouri (8-4), Oklahoma State (9-3)
Losses: Kansas State (11-3)
LSU
Record: 12-1
Quality wins: Georgia (10-3) twice, at Ole Miss (9-3), Arkansas (8-4)
Losses: Florida (8-4)
USC
Record: 11-1
Quality wins: Hawaii (8-5)*, Washington State (9-3)
Losses: at Cal (7-6)
Michigan
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: at Minnesota (9-3), Purdue (9-3), Michigan State (8-4), Ohio State (10-2)
Losses: at Oregon (8-4)*, at Iowa (9-3)
Ohio State
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Bowling Green (10-3)*, at Minnesota (9-3), Purdue (9-3), Michigan State (8-4)
Losses: at Wisconsin (7-5), at Michigan (10-2)
Texas
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Kansas State (11-3), Nebraska (9-3), at Oklahoma State (9-3)
Losses: Arkansas (8-4)*, Oklahoma (12-1)
Florida State
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Maryland (9-3), at Florida (8-4)*
Losses: Miami (10-2), at Clemson (8-4)
Tennessee
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: at Florida (8-4), at Miami (10-2)
Losses: Auburn (7-5), Georgia (10-3)
Miami
Record: 10-2
Quality wins: Florida (8-4)*, Florida State (10-2)*, Pittsburgh (8-4)
Losses: at Virginia Tech (8-4), Tennessee (10-2)*
Oklahoma’s Big 12 title game loss to Kansas State isn’t as big of a deal as it was in the BCS era, but if LSU, Oklahoma and USC all make the playoff, it leaves a glut of 10-2 teams fighting for the final berth. The differences between Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Florida State, Tennessee and Miami are not glaring, so the choice is really just an educated guess.
Playoff teams: Oklahoma, LSU, USC, Michigan
Back To Business
May 15, 2013
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Martin and Chris Kunitz scored power-play goals and Pascal Dupuis added his sixth goal of the playoffs
and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday.
Evgeni Malkin extended his points streak to seven games with a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh.
Game 2 is Friday night.
Tomas Vokoun stopped 35 shots to win his third straight start and top-seeded Pittsburgh never trailed.
Colin Greening scored for the Senators. Craig Anderson made 26 saves but Ottawa had no answer for Pittsburgh’s power play.
The Penguins are 9 of 24 with the man advantage through seven playoff games, best of the eight teams remaining in the postseason.
The Senators had the NHL’s best penalty kill during the regular season and turned aside 16 of 19 penalties against Montreal
in the first round.
Pittsburgh was pushed to six games by the New York Islanders during a spirited first-round series in which the youthful Islanders
had the Penguins on their heels at times.
Still, Pittsburgh advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time in three years behind the power play and a gutsy
move by coach Dan Bylsma to bench top goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and replace him with Vokoun.
The 36-year-old Vokoun made his 713th NHL start on Tuesday, but his first with the stakes this big. Despite admitting to some
butterflies when told he would get the starting assignment for Game 1, Vokoun overcame some shaky moments early to settle
down.
Having the lead most of the night certainly helped.
Pittsburgh didn’t need to wait long to get a chance to put the power play to work. Ottawa’s Kyle Turris drew a high-sticking
penalty before the game was 90 seconds old, and barely a minute later, Pittsburgh jumped in front.
Malkin worked his way into the corner then threaded a pass between two Ottawa defenders to Martin at the point. Martin’s slap
shot from the point deflected off Ottawa defenseman Jared Cowen and scooted past Anderson just 2:41 into the game to give
the Penguins an early lead.
The Senators didn’t take long to tie it, evening things at 1 on the kind of soft goal Vokoun had avoided during his two stellar
starts against the Islanders.
Ottawa’s Erik Condra won a battle in the corner for the puck then threw it from behind the goal to the side of the net.
Vokoun, anticipating a crossing pass instead of a shot, found himself out of position. The puck squirted behind him and was
inches from the goal line before Greening reached over the goaltender and poked it in.
Malkin responded with his third goal of the playoffs, though his linemates did all the hard work. James Neal poke-checked
the puck away from Cowen behind the Ottawa net then fed it to Chris Kunitz.
Kunitz then zipped a pass to Malkin’s awaiting stick just outside the goal crease and all the reigning NHL MVP had to do was
tap it in to put the Penguins back in front.
Ottawa, facing the Penguins for the fourth time in the postseason since 2007, had little trouble getting to Vokoun.
They even managed to get the puck by him a few times. Just not into the net. On several occasions Vokoun would find himself
on the ground as the puck skittered through the crease or toward the goal. Each time it was steered out of danger.
Anderson wasn’t quite so fortunate. Pittsburgh went back to the power play late in the second period and Kunitz stuffed home
a rebound off an Iginla shot to give the Penguins a 3-1 cushion.
Dupuis, whose five goals against the Islanders led the team, beat Anderson at the end of a short-handed 2-on-1 breakaway with
8:36 remaining to put it away.
NOTES: The Senators went 0 for 5 on the power play and are just 1 for 17 with the man advantage against Pittsburgh this season.
… Vokoun is 13-1 in his past 14 starts. … Iginla’s seven-game point streak in the playoffs is the longest of his career.
… Injured Ottawa C Jason Spezza (back) did not travel with the team for Game 1 but has not been ruled out for Game 2.
Sports: Comebacks In Basketball Playoffs
May 13, 2013
Story By: Weekend Edition Sunday
Host Rachel Martin speaks with NPR’s Mike Pesca about his take on the latest sports news.
Fewer things are worse for a fantasy owner than hearing a starter is experiencing any sort of pain. And this week, several guys have reported “pain.” It’s a maddeningly vague diagnosis, which is tough for fantasy owners, because all we want to know is if a player will start. Often, the decision to play or not (and where) is often made in the eleventh hour for a player in pain. So here’s the latest on injuries to help you make informed lineup decisions this week:
WEEK 5: Weekly Planner | Waiver Wire | Pitching Report | Injury Report | Roundtable
⢠SP Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals — Strasburg, who’s still winless outside of his Opening Day victory, dropped his fourth straight game Monday. However, that’s the least of his worries right now. The Nationals’ prized pitcher reported some forearm pain, which likely caused owners to panic. Luckily, after closer examination, the Nationals GM reported his arm is “structurally perfect.” The Nationals will likely take some precautionary measures to ensure Strasburg’s arm remains in good condition, but he’ll likely be making his next start Saturday. Strasburg owners, please take a breath now.
⢠SS Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies — An awkward slide into home plate roughed up Tulowitzki’s left rotator cuff Sunday. He didn’t leave the game immediately, but after two innings of stretching his arm and shoulder constantly, he was replaced by Jonathan Herrera. He was held out of the lineup Monday, but the Rockies don’t think it’s serious. He’ll likely be back Wednesday.
⢠OF Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins — The absolute last thing the Marlins need right now is for their stud to be injured. Giancarlo Stanton left Monday night’s game with a right hamstring injury and an MRI Tuesday revealed a Grade 2 strain — a fairly severe injury that will put him on the DL for at least three weeks. At this point, the jokes are real: The Marlins are fielding a minor league team.
⢠3B Kevin Youkilis, New York Yankees — Kevin Youkilis may be joining the ranks of Yankees on the DL right now. An MRI Monday revealed no structural damage to his ailing lower back, but he’s receiving epidural injections, likely to help with the inflammation. The third baseman’s lower back has experienced issues with his back before, which worries Joe Girardi. “Backs can be tricky,” he said ahead of Sunday’s game.
⢠OF Shane Victorino, Boston Red Sox — A seemingly minor back tweak has turned into a much longer saga, as Shane Victorino hasn’t played since last Wednesday. but he should return to the lineup any day now. An MRI revealed only inflammation in his aggravated back, but the Boston Globe has reported only “slight” improvement recently, so he may be out through the series against Toronto. Does this injury just mean Victorino is — dare I say it — getting old?
⢠2B Mark Ellis, Los Angeles Dodgers — Mark Ellis pulled up with a hamstring injury Friday night and hasn’t been in the lineup since. Don Mattingly said Ellis can hopefully avoid the DL, but he’s day-to-day at this point. He played catch and took batting practice Sunday morning, and if all continues to go well, he could be back by the end of this week.
⢠SP R.A. Dickey, Toronto Blue Jays — R.A. Dickey’s been dealing with some pain and stiffness in his lower back. It’s not quite enough to put him on the DL, but he’s admitted he’s not 100 percent. The Cy Young winner will get an MRI this week, but this injury is definitely doing nothing to convince owners his age is not an issue. At 37 years old, the chances of a quick (and complete) recovery are slim, so get rid of him now.
⢠SP Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles — Dylan Bundy paid a visit to well-known orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on his right flexor mass tightness (or simply, a hurting elbow). Both Dr. Andrews and the Orioles’ team orthopedic recommended rest and rehab (no surgery!) for Baltimore’s top pitching prospect, meaning Bundy will be sidelined for six weeks. He also received a platelet rich plasma injection from Dr. Andrews, with hopes to speed up the healing process. We’ll check in with him around Memorial Day.
⢠SS Hanley Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers — Hanley Ramirez shattered the timetable of a mid-May return from straining a thumb ligament during the World Baseball Classic, as the Dodgers reactivated him Monday night. It’s impeccable timing, as the shortstop will likely be back in the lineup just in time for Hanley Ramirez bobblehead day at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. Give him a day or two to reacclimate, then put him back in your lineups.
⢠SP Matt Garza, Chicago Cubs — Slowly but surely, Matt Garza is making his way back to the rubber. The Cubs’ starter, who suffered a left lat strain before the start of the season, was supposed to make his first rehab start last week, but was delayed by forearm soreness. He threw a bullpen session Sunday and is back on track to be activated from the DL in late May. Rejoice, Garza owners.
© 2013 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
Rosol, Garcia-Lopez to face off in Bucharest final
April 29, 2013
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) – Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic ousted three-time champion Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday to reach his first career final at the BRD Tiriac Nastase.
Rosol will face fellow unseeded player Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, who beat 2011 winner Florian Mayer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Rosol stunned Rafael Nadal in the second round of Wimbledon last year but has struggled to live up to expectations since then.
The Czech saved all eight break points he faced to end Simon’s 16-match winning streak at the clay-court event.
Blue Jackets tip Sharks, tied for seventh in West
April 22, 2013
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Johansen scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:37 remaining to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a
big boost in their push for the playoffs with a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.
Mark Letestu scored twice and Vinny Prospal also scored for the Blue Jackets, who moved into a tie for seventh place with
Minnesota in the Western Conference with 51 points. Columbus has played one more game than the Wild and two more than the
ninth-place Detroit Red Wings, who are three points back in the race for the final playoff spot. Sergei Bobrovsky made 32
saves.
Marty Havlat, Andrew Desjardins and Joe Pavelski scored for the Sharks, who needed only to take the game to overtime to clinch
a ninth-straight playoff berth. Antti Niemi made 18 saves in his 23rd straight start as the Sharks lost at home in regulation
for just the second time all year.
The Blue Jackets looked like they would squander a big opportunity when they blew a two-goal lead in the third period. Pavelski
tied the game with a power-play goal with 5:03 remaining.
But Pavelski was on the other side of the key play on the game-winning goal when he turned the puck over to R.J. Umberger
in his own zone, setting up Johansen’s go-ahead score.
While San Jose still has three more games to clinch the playoffs, this loss dealt a blow to the team’s hopes to get home-ice
advantage in the first round. The Sharks began the day tied for fourth in the West with Los Angeles, one point ahead of St.
Louis. San Jose would lose the tiebreaker to both teams based on fewer regulation and overtime wins.
The Blue Jackets took a 2-0 lead in the second period when Brad Stuart made a bad breakout pass that went right to Letestu
in the neutral zone. Letestu quickly fed Prospal for a breakaway and he beat Niemi with a forehand for his 12th goal of the
season.
The Sharks tried to get back into the game when Logan Couture fed Havlat in front of the net for a goal midway through the
second but they allowed a rare power-play goal at home to fall back behind by two.
Desjardins and Pavelski helped tie the game but the Blue Jackets still ended up on top, improving to 13-0 when leading after
two periods.
With Matt Irwin in the box for interference, Letestu beat Niemi with a blast from the left point for his 12th goal of the
season and first multigoal game since March 8, 2012, against Los Angeles. Columbus had been 0-for-17 on the power play over
the last eight games before scoring just the seventh against San Jose all season at the Shark Tank.
Letestu opened the scoring in the first period when he tipped in a centering pass from Jack Johnson.
NOTES: San Jose had been 16-1-5 at home, with the only regulation loss coming to Chicago on Feb. 5. … Columbus C Artem Anisimov
(concussion), F Matt Calvert (broken finger) and D Nikita Nikitin (lower body) sat out with injuries. … San Jose D Jason
Demers, who was hurt in the third period on Thursday, missed the game and was replaced by Scott Hannan.
Down To The Putt: Golf Analytics Gain Traction
April 21, 2013
Story By: by Tom Goldman
Numbers crunching has become a big deal in sports. Analytics have been slower to take hold in the tradition-bound game of golf, but it is happening. NPR’s Tom Goldman reports on the phenomenon from the tournament most steeped in tradition, the Masters.
The Rise Of The Boston Marathon, A Runner’s ‘Holy Grail’
April 17, 2013
Story By: Weekend Edition Saturday
Ahead of next week’s Boston Marathon, Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with running coach and author Tom Derderian about the heightened expectations for this year’s race and how the Boston Marathon earned its distinction as the “Holy Grail” for serious runners. Derderian is a member of the committee that set new qualifying standards for this year’s marathon.