National Champions

Congrats to the University of Texas on their BCS title win (I will not call that garbage a national championship. Penn State would have played better defense.) over the University of Southern California. The game is notable not only for the victory but for the fact that the game, for once, wasn’t a complete dog. Yes, Miami- Ohio State and Willis McGahee’s leg disagreeing with his body’s direction was a pretty good game—but college football’s best games should be like athletic crack rock. I should go to bed thinking “what if I miss something? What if there’s one more ‘oh, no way, that didn’t happen’ that I don’t see with my own eyes, that I should be able to tell my children about?”

I listened from my bed, as Vince Young, given a short field, burst up the middle for ten yards to fame, glory, and lots of interviews. It was a classic, ending Texas 41, Southern Cal 38. Brown Boy is probably still wiping away the tears.

The University of Second Choice was not unbeatable, especially once Matt Leinart started sailing passes left and right. If the Texas defensive backs could catch…maybe the game would not have been as close, as dramatic.

And when the USC defense kept waving bye-bye to the running Vince Young (200 yds rushing, 267 passing, and even with that ¾ arm flick of his looking like a viable QB)? He may have a reason to consider the professional game.

And when Reggie Bush tried a lateral at the end of a 30 yard run?

The arrogance of USC with their 4th down plays – Leinart on the sneak after emptying the backfield, moving Bush out to the right. Another 4th and 1 try with 2:00 left? Even if you can’t stop Texas, why give them the ball at their 45? Maybe Pete Carroll was using Mike Holmgren’s logic from the Packers/ Broncos Super Bowl—let Texas score so there’s enough time for one final flurry of plays. Didn’t work then… and it didn’t work last night.

And Vince Young was a one man team, like Michael Vick aka Ron Mexico was for Virginia Tech; he made good decisions, and, while I still question his accuracy, his arm is powerful, and makes Leinart’s gun look like a playground player’s.

The Newsday Photos.