Closing Arguments

Sporting News, The, Nov 27, 2000 by Tom Dienhart, Matt Hayes

Is Notre Dame BCS-worthy?

Yes -- the numbers add up

I already can hear the groans. How come Notre Dame gets to go to a Bowl Championship Series bowl? Because the Irish's numbers make the BCS computer hum, that's why.

Notre Dame isn't going to get into the BCS on name recognition, no matter what Irish bashers think. BCS rules state that if a team wins nine games and finishes ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS standings, it can be chosen for one of two at-large BCS bids. The Irish are on course to meet that criteria and figure to be picked because they are good TV -- and a legitimate BCS team.

The Irish have proved their mettle during one of the nation's toughest schedules. Remember that five-game season-opening gauntlet of Texas A&M, Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State and Stanford? Notre Dame survived and thrived at 3-2. One of the two losses was an overtime loss to Nebraska. And it took a last-second touchdown for Michigan State to topple the Irish.

Based on record alone, the Irish deserve to play in a BCS bowl. Looking at what Notre Dame had to overcome makes it even more BCS-worthy. The season-ending injury quarterback Arnaz Battle suffered in the Nebraska game could have been devastating, but coach Bob Davie and Co. were resourceful enough to alter the offense to a power ground attack with true freshman Matt LoVecchio at the controls. Notre Dame's best defensive player, end Grant Irons, also was lost for the year in the Nebraska game, but the defense has continued to play well and is the team's strength.

Other schools competing for a BCS at-large spot are Oregon State and Virginia Tech (9-1). Oregon State (10-1) deserves a spot, too, and likely will end up playing Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. That means Virginia Tech gets left out.

No -- N.D. isn't among 8 best

Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame, the BCS honchos should be ashamed.

We always thought there was a defining line between the NFL and college football. The NFL had money-grubbing owners and selfish players, college had the passion, pageantry, emotion and integrity.

Blah, blah, blah.

Here's integrity for you: Notre Dame, the icon that is college football, gets a free pass to a megabucks BCS game because it's blue and gold and shiny all over. Not because it's one of the eight best teams in the nation, but because everybody loves the Irish. Your dad and your mom. Your grandfather and anyone else who couldn't wait to hear Harry Kallas do those Sunday morning replays -- "We move further ahead in the action" -- and bring Notre Dame into your family room and your heart. Those innocent, feel-good days are gone. Old Notre Dame is big business, pure and simple. There's nothing amateur about the way it protects its sacred standing in college football.

Want to know why the Irish are still one of eight independents in Division I? Three letters: NBC. Joining a conference means sharing all that dough from the exclusive television contract it signed with football-starved NBC. If NBC execs need pigskin so badly, how about forking over a fat check for a national playoff? Instead of seeing one of the eight best teams, we'll be forced to watch a team whose resume includes a victory over the Big Ten's best team (Purdue), a loss to one of its worst teams (Michigan State) and a gift victory at home against -- ahem -- Air Force. Notre Dame needs only a victory Saturday at USC to all but assure itself a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. That means Virginia Tech, with one loss and a higher ranking, will be floundering in one of the Who Cares Bowls.