have you heard the joke about the Ohio State fan and it's football teams lousy chances of winning this year's College Football National Championship? If you live in Buckeye country, chances are you haven't. In fact, if you are a Buckeye fan.. you're probably too busy defending Ohio States "right" to play in the title game come January 3rd.  Which seems absurd when you consider that the Buckeyes finished with a wonderful season, 13-0 with a convincing 14-9 beating of arch rival Michigan in the shoe. Along the way, the Bucks beat a decent Penn State team and a Washington State team that would end up being nationally ranked #3 in the country.

So why should Buckeye fan defend it's team from such outrageous claims of un-worthiness to battle the 36-0, reigning National Champion Miami Hurricanes..? Well, consider that most college footballs "so-called" experts believe that OSU isn't the 2nd best team in the Nation, although being # 2 in the BCS college rankings. No, most think Ohio State, although un-defended and ranked #2 should not be playing in the Fiesta Bowl come the January 3rd. Reason??? Well, most say that the Buckeyes schedule wasn't as tough as other Top 5 teams... and that Ohio State had too many "close call" victories... that they Barely .. and I mean Barely beat a weak Cininnatti team AND had to beat Purdue with a 4th and long, deep pass to save the game in the final seconds...

Sure, if you step back and look at the Buckeye's season from that perspective... it's easy to see why the experts would have a problem with the bucks being invited to play for the national title. Heck, if the BCS had not taken the "run'em up rating" out of the BCS mix ... i.e., the Florida rule... the Buckeyes may NOT have been ranked higher than #3... but not was the case this season... and the close calls didn't effect OSU's ranking in the BCS... hence the #2 ranking regardless of the scores.

My problem with the "experts" take is this. What ever happened to "taking care of your business"?.. I mean, the notion that just because you're "HOT" during the last part of the season... yet have 1 or 2 loses in NO way makes a case for that team to jump over a steady and un-defeated team such as the Buckeyes are. To say the USC is the hottest team in the country and would give Miami a better game is absurd. [which is what people are saying] Hey USC... had you taken care of your business and you could've proved to us that you would have been a better game come January 3rd. Instead, your playing in the Orange Bowl where pretty much NOTHING will be decided AND you'll be sitting at home watching the bucks battle for the title.

But what about Hawkeye fan... Iowa Hawkeye fan thinks that the Buckeye's aren't even the best team in the Big 10, let alone good enough to be playing for the national title. Well Hawkeye fan.. maybe if you had WON all of your games... you could have actually had a leg to stand on. Instead, you too will be playing in a game that doesn't decide much.

Then there was Texas.. the best 1 lose team in the nation.. they should/could play for the national title before the Un-defeated Ohio State Buckeye's.... right????  .... thought so... as for your "best 1 lose team" thing... I think you ended up being the best 2 lose team.. didnt you???

coulda, woulda and shoulda is what I say. Had all of the above "Hot" teams had taken care of it's business... then they would have something to say about who plays Miami for the National crown this year.

So to the experts I say... go home and work on your little BCS rankings crap and watch the only 2 truly deserving teams battle it out on Jan 3rd in Tempe Arizona... heck, if anything... OSU may not beat the Canes... but they truly, 100%, with-out a doubt, earned  the right for the ASSSSSsss Kickin they're about to receive...

JohnL's take on the 2003 National Championship game.