If you're a fan of Michigan State University and your Spartans lose to Wisconsin this Saturday and it results in "that school in Ann Arbor" going to a BCS game and you do not. How would you feel about your team "earning" the opportunity to play in the inaugural Big Ten/Twelve Championship game?
Let's say you're a fan of the Tigers of Louisiana State University and your Tigers beat Georgia this Saturday -- yet, in the process you lose a couple of starters to knee injuries. How would you feel about your team "earning" the opportunity to play in the SEC Championship game, knowing right now that they don't have to play in this game (let alone win this game) to play in the National Championship game -- and, they're now going to have to play Alabama without two of their starters?
Let's say you're the Commissioner of the Pac 12 Conference and you're looking at a football stadium this Saturday that's HALF FULL with emotion and Oregon is leading UCLA 42 - 0 in the 2nd quarter. How would you feel about your decision to create a Pac 12 Championship game -- especially when the media chatter will be about how lousy your conference must be if UCLA is in the championship game?
Folks, there is very little value this season to play in a conference championship game. Here are the facts.
- LSU doesn't have to win their Conference Championship game to play in the National Championship game -- think about that.
- Alabama doesn't even have to play in their Conference Championship game to play in the National Championship game -- think about that.
- That school in Ann Arbor -- doesn't have to play in their Conference Championship game and they may end up in a better position for a BCS bowl than the team that loses Saturday's game -- think about that.
- UCLA goes 6 - 6 and they earn the opportunity to play in their Conference Championship game -- think about that.
Why would Notre Dame ever want to join a conference -- when "earning the opportunity to play a 13th game truly means nothing!
