The Rose Bowl... The Rose bowl!!!!!

NCAAF

If you watched the Rose Bowl kicking off 2011, you were witness to another excellent defensive performance.  I had planned not to watch the bowl season, an act of mourning for a Bruins' fan.  However, I was enticed to catch the match-up at the Rose Bowl between TCU and Wisconsin.  One of my best buddies attended the university in Madison and was in fact going to the game.  For his sake, I was a Badgers' fan but I was also intrigued with the classic duel between speed and power.  The New Year's day game was advertised as such: TCU's speed and "little guys" title against the Wisconsin power and "big school" label.  A Horned Frog's quick defensive instincts vs. a Badger's ginormous wall. 

Much to my chagrin, defense was non-existent in the 1st quarter.  In fact, I think it was the highest scoring 1st quarter in Rose Bowl history.  As the game continued and settled-down, it was clear it was coming down to the wire.  Late into the 4th, the Badgers made an impressive drive, scoring a touchdown that put them within a 2-point conversion of tying the game.  It was during this 2-point conversion attempt in which the defensive instincts kicked in for a Horned Frog named Tank Carder.  He made a beautiful play on the ball that swatted Tolzien's pass and dashed Wisconsin's hopes for another Rose Bowl victory (Sorry AA, shout out to my homie).

Speed > Power.  That's what was taught.  Power, although powerful, has only one gear: Full Power.  Speed is more carefully graded.  While you can always "put the pedal to the metal" and hit your full speed, the beauty about speed is that it allows you to adjust.  You have ability to make up for lost positioning through superior speed, but you don't have to use full speed in order to be in the best position (coaching helps that one).  It's why I love Defense--its adaptability.  In football, the offense comes at you, often with power, but the defense makes the right read and adjusts the speed dial appropriately.  Well done, TCU.

I was also impressed with how TCU finished the game.  The Horned Frogs finished on offense, gaining a first down to seal the game.  As they were kneeling to run out the clock (officially ending the game), Gary Patterson, predicting a Gatorade splashdown turned and faced his players who were sneaking up on him with the oh-so-common orange bucket.  He told them to knock it off.  Not because he didn't want to celebrate or get wet (don't worry he got doused), but because they were going to splash him before the clock hit zero.  He told them to keep their cool and wait for "the fat lady to sing."  Sang she did and the players got their sweet revenge for all those wind-sprints in the form of an ice-cold sticky bath.

The Rose Bowl game was one that ought to be remembered.  It was the only bowl in which TCU had never played before.  Although TCU went undefeated and won the "Granddaddy of Them All," they will not win a national championship.  A team did all it could in every game they played.  The players came together as a team and won each battle.  I guarantee you, they loved this season despite their final ranking.  A favorite scene of mine from Remember the Titans illustrates what true teamwork achieves.

Coach Boone: "It's all right. We're in a fight. You boys are doing all that you can do. Anybody can see that. Win or lose... We gonna walk out of this stadium tonight with our heads held high. Do your best. That's all anybody can ask for"
Big Ju: "No, it ain't Coach. With all due respect, uh, you demanded more of us. You demanded perfection. Now, I ain't saying that I'm perfect, 'cause I'm not. And I ain't gonna never be. None of us are. But we have won every single game we have played till now. So this team is perfect. We stepped out on that field that way tonight. And, uh, if it's all the same to you, Coach Boone, that's how we want to leave it."
Coach Yoast: "Yeah. I hope you boys have learned as much from me this year as I've learned from you. You've taught this city how to trust the soul of a man rather than the look of him. And I guess it's about time I joined the club."

TCU's season record = perfect.  Yet the winner of Auburn vs. Oregon will take home the national championship trophy instead.  That winner may be better than the Horned Frogs, but how can TCU not even be considered? Because of the BS structure of the BCS.  If you want to keep your bowls as they traditionally were, that's fine. Pac-10 vs. Big Ten was classic.  But don't you dare crown a national championship based on the judgment of "experts."  Probably the same "brilliant minds" that "knew" Wisconsin would win the Rose Bowl.  In fair sporting competitions, championships are decided by teams of players, playing the game they love.  Let their play decide who deserves it and stop ending their dreams because they didn't go to a powerhouse school.