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Fri May 29, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

Move to ESPN puts barbarians at the gates of the Rose Bowl

By Matt Hinton

One thing about the Rose Bowl: It's never been for the little guy. Even since the Granddaddy relinquished its death grip on the Big Ten and Pac-10 champions to join the BCS, only five teams have won their way into Pasadena without a conference championship, and only one of those (No. 13 Illinois in 2007) came into the game ranked lower than No. 6. The Fiesta or Sugar bowls might be willing to descend to some mid-major upstart, but never the Rose. It's just not done, you see.

More accurately, it wasn't done, says Tony Barnhart today on his Atlanta Journal-Constitution blog, until ESPN got its hands on the contract (emphasis added):

Utah, Boise State to the Rose Bowl? It could happen soon: Over the course of the week I found out that there is an interesting little nugget in the new BCS contract with ESPN, which will begin after the 2010 regular season.

In past contracts if the Rose Bowl lost one of its traditional partners, the Big Ten or Pac-10 champ, to the BCS championship game, it could simply fill with another Big Ten or Pac-10 team that qualified. That’s how a 9-3 Illinois team got to Pasadena two years ago.

But in the new contract, I’m told, there is an interesting clause: The first time in the deal that the Rose loses one of its champions to the BCS title game, that opening will be automatically filled by a Coalition (non-BCS conference) team if one has qualified.

Of course, the Worldwide Leader isn't throwing its weight around for the sake of the little guy: Barnhart suggests opening another avenue to a Mountain West or WAC upstart would be an effective counter to the "monopoly" charge if the Series gets hauled back in front of Congress. Personally, I think it's just as likely a barrier against another Illinois: The ratings for Illini's slaughter in 2007 were the lowest for a Rose Bowl in the BCS era. If the "BCS Buster" card makes people think of Utah and Boise State's triumphs over traditional behemoths -- and not, say, Hawaii's utter collapse against Georgia -- the underdog's pilgrimage to holy ground should be worth a few million more eyeballs than just another "Big Six" also-ran.

- - -
Hat tip: Blutarsky.

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30 Comments

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  1. CuseFanInSoCal
    1. Posted by CuseFanInSoCal Fri May 29, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    I know 2007 Illinois in the Rose Bowl sucked, but this is a really, really bad idea. I mean, right now it seems to sort-of make sense because the only non-BCS teams that have qualified for BCS bowls have been MWC and WAC teams, so the Rose is convenient. But it wasn't that long ago that the MAC had a mini-run of teams that would have qualified for the BCS under the current rules... and they make a lot more sense in the Sugar or the Orange.
  2. gtne91
    2. Posted by gtne91 Fri May 29, 2009 5:33 pm EDT

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    The MAC in the Rose makes literally the exact same sense as the BigTeleven in the Rose.
  3. AERose
    3. Posted by AERose Fri May 29, 2009 9:23 pm EDT

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    One of these days I'm going to figure out how the Rose Bowl could pick the #2 Big Ten team in 2007, but not the #2 Pac-10 team in 2004.
  4. James P
    4. Posted by James P Fri May 29, 2009 10:26 pm EDT

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    Wouldn't that be great to see Utah or TCU clobbered by Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl? Finally it is someone else's turn to take a USC whipping in Pasadena.
  5. jeremy
    5. Posted by jeremy Sat May 30, 2009 12:19 am EDT

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    Interesting idea?? How did the Rose Bowl get strong armed into this agreement.
    '"Wouldn't that be great to see Utah or TCU clobbered by Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl? Finally it is someone else's turn to take a USC whipping in Pasadena."
    Yes just like how Oklahoma and Alabama were suppose to.
  6. JonnieRebel
    6. Posted by JonnieRebel Sat May 30, 2009 4:38 am EDT

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    They should only do it in the exact case of record, schedule, etc. I would agree that a 2008 Utah team should go before a 2007 Illinois team, for example...but they should try to keep it Pac10 and Big10 when they are able.
  7. CuseFanInSoCal
    7. Posted by CuseFanInSoCal Sat May 30, 2009 11:53 am EDT

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    AERose - Texas was guaranteed a BCS bid due to finishing #4 in the final BCS rankings. Utah was guaranteed a BCS bid due to finishing #6 in the final BCS rankings. Since this was before the BCS championship game became its own game, there were only two at-large spots. Mack Brown did a lot of public campaigning for Texas to be ranked ahead of Cal, and Cal's margin in the human polls over Texas dropped enough between the final two weeks of the season for Texas to move in front of Cal in the final BCS rankings, but Cal's season-ending win was kind of unimpressive, too.
  8. Redmetal52
    8. Posted by Redmetal52 Sat May 30, 2009 1:13 pm EDT

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    A non- PAC 10/Big Ten team in the Rosebowl is a logical extension of the BCS formulation. Let the current traditionalists remember that part of the basis for contracting the BIG 10 to the Rosebowl in the days before mass media was to attract tourist income from mid-western snowbirds. That was before the SEC was the powerhouse it is now. Interesting how some things become in-grained, then a tradition, then untouchable. If you can sell out the Rosebowl with 9-3 Illinois, you sure can sell it out with an undefeated mid-major.
  9. jeremy
    9. Posted by jeremy Sat May 30, 2009 1:56 pm EDT

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    Rose Bowl is most logical because the WAC and MWC are most likely to crash the BCS, possibly someone from C-USA but that has yet to happen.
    The proximity of the WAC and MWC make a good fit, for more fans from those schools to attend and help the Rose Bowl and the schools to sell tickets
  10. Demetrius
    10. Posted by Demetrius Sun May 31, 2009 12:55 pm EDT

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    Ifhey want ratings i'd love to see the Rose bowl opento SEC and ACC schools! I'm an SEC guy Go Vols but just think of the excitement and money a USC vs Florida or USC vs Alabama or a Oregon vs Virginia Tech would bring in! And it wouldn't be an utter stomp like it's been over the past few years with Big 10 schools getting 40+ put on them either facing faster Pac 10 teams!
    I say we mix up the Rose Bowl a bit. Money would flow into California like the one in the Bible! Alabama brings in over 90,000 just for Spring games! imagine the revenue from that type of traveling crowd!
    We don't have long till College Gameday my College Football Fam!!
  11. Justin B
    11. Posted by Justin B Sun May 31, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    Exactly why the BCS should goto the wayside. "Tradition" is the thing that the BCS (especially the Big Ten(11) commish) say is the cornerstone for the bowl games. However, nuggets like this showcase the BCS wanting to turn their focus away from it, while maintaining a facade of "tradition"... they were embarrassed by the low TV ratings for the Illini game- you don't embarrass the "Grandaddy Of Them All". Get rid of them all and start a playoff already- leave out the privatized corporations, let the NCAA take control (which, to let you know, they don't have it- but would make more money for the schools and their communities if they did) and have a definite champ for God's sake.
  12. JEFF P
    12. Posted by JEFF P Sun May 31, 2009 6:10 pm EDT

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    Screw the Rose Bowl. It is not any bigger, or better than any other bowl. All the other bowls have to take non-traditional match ups and non big six members. The Rose bowl should, too. The Rose bowl and the Little 10 (really 11) are holding up a play off system. Any true fan of college football should HATE them for it.
  13. Rick l
    13. Posted by Rick l Sun May 31, 2009 7:03 pm EDT

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    I hope this puts the rose bowl to death. Because it is one of the BIGGEST things stopping a playoff system.
  14. MiguelW
    14. Posted by MiguelW Sun May 31, 2009 7:55 pm EDT

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    "Ifhey want ratings i'd love to see the Rose bowl opento SEC and ACC schools! I'm an SEC guy Go Vols but just think of the excitement and money a USC vs Florida or USC vs Alabama or a Oregon vs Virginia Tech would bring in! And it wouldn't be an utter stomp like it's been over the past few years with Big 10 schools getting 40+ put on them either facing faster Pac 10 teams!"
    Demetris ure a tard. There only one faster pac 10 team and thats USC and Florida Alabama Georgia or any other SEC team would get 40 put up on them against the last 5 USC teams that played in the Rose bowl.
  15. pam
    15. Posted by pam Sun May 31, 2009 10:57 pm EDT

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    The '07 Rose Bowl may have been the lowest rated of the series, it still was the second most watched after the NCG.
  16. Gary
    16. Posted by Gary Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:05 pm EDT

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    great pigskin review tells you who was the best conference even back then.Bama34 USC 14
  17. Bret W
    17. Posted by Bret W Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:25 pm EDT

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    would it have been better if the '07 Rose Bowl had the Hawaii team smacked around by Georgia. Illinois did put up a bunch of yards with a great ypp against USC. It was either the best or second best offensive output against the Trojans all year. Illinois also did it while the game was competitive. Illinois was inside the USC 10 in the 3rd quarter down 21-10 and had more yards gained at that point. That game was much closer than the score. A lot of bounces went one team's way. The team that truly did not belong in the BCS that year was Hawai'i, which makes this idea suck alot.
  18. FictionEer
    18. Posted by FictionEer Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:46 am EDT

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    Without USC, the Pac 10 is worse than the MWC, The Big 10 has proven incompetent in BCS and NC games. Oklahoma hasn't beaten anyone in a BCS game since FSU, and we know how low FSU has fallen. It's ludicrous to say that any "Big Six" conference to claim superiority to Utah or BSU simply because of conference affiliation. Rose Bowl: turn the page. Put deserving teams in Pasadena. Let Big 10 and Pac 10 clunkers go to whatever 2nd tier bowls they deserve.
  19. ilovemywife18th
    19. Posted by ilovemywife18th Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:48 am EDT

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    how about they move the game to somewhere else beside where its at because it not hard for a team like usc to win at home lets see them play somewhere beside at home because they last time they played a bowl anywhere else they got beat by texas so USC is so over rated
  20. divinvestor
    20. Posted by divinvestor Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:00 am EDT

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    What we need to do is drop the BCS and go back to the way it was with the PAC 10 playing the Big Ten. Or move to a playoff system.
    The Bowl's only make sense when tradition is on the line as it is for the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl or the SEC and the Sugar Bowl, getting away from that has hurt the Bowls.
    I am not sure if I prefer the Bowls or the playoff system, but lets get rid of the BCS!!!!!!!
  21. Mighty Gator
    21. Posted by Mighty Gator Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:16 am EDT

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    I can't wait until a Boise State or Utah trounces a Trojan team in the Rose. That will dissipate the arrogance associated with "The Grandaddy" (please) of them all.
  22. Mark
    22. Posted by Mark Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:36 am EDT

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    Stupid Rose Bowl, Big 10 or 11, Pac 10. I hate that there is not playoff. badboy187_1 your an idiot your comment about the last five usc teams, blah, blah, blah. A playoff would solve all the stupid problems of the bcs & teams not making the playoffs could go to the bowls just like teams not making the ncaa basketball tourn go to the NIT or whatever other tourn they have now. All of the bowls now are like the NIT anyway b/c of the Championship game.
  23. dakota r
    23. Posted by dakota r Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:18 pm EDT

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    This is a good and a bad thing, im an SC fan all the way but im from Utah and i respect the Utes underdog teams need a chance to prove themselve and everything cant be ran off the rankings. This will boost up smaller team and give them some rep just like utah and boise state has now. But they shouldnt put teams in the game that dont derserve to be there either. Problem solved, get rid of the whole thing and half playoffs just like basketball.
  24. pac-10 defendant
    24. Posted by pac-10 defendant Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:01 pm EDT

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    "Without USC, the Pac 10 is worse than the MWC, The Big 10 has proven incompetent in BCS and NC games"
    Well, they did go 5-0 in their bowl games. Including a thorough beat down that Arizona dished over MWC BYU.
    "I can't wait until a Boise State or Utah trounces a Trojan team in the Rose"
    I suggest you find a way.
    "how about they move the game to somewhere else beside where its at because it not hard for a team like usc to win at home lets see them play somewhere beside at home because they last time they played a bowl anywhere else they got beat by texas so USC is so over rated"
    Firstly, the epic Texas v. USC championship game of 2005 did take place at the Rose Bowl. But yeah, I can see how a USC team with a Heisman trophy winner that year that beat four ranked teams, stomped on Hawaii in Honolulu and dropped 70 points on Arkansas would be seen as overrated just because they lost the national championship in the final minute to one of the greatest individual performances in college football history
    It's easy to knock on the Rose Bowl right now. The Big Ten is going through a tough era and everyone is sick of seeing USC go there every year. I'm with you guys there. But to hear phrases like "USC is overrated" or "BSU and Utah would destroy USC" is just plain silly. Lets all just hope that USC gets to the NC because that way we can see a new team in Pasadena and Pac-10 fans can finally get a shot at the SEC.
  25. Robert A
    25. Posted by Robert A Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:23 pm EDT

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    One question: Who cares? Besides the old school fans and the elitests from the Pac 10 and Big Ten, who really cares about the Rose Bowl. It is not, nor has it been the "Granddaddy of them all" for quite some time. It is a bowl played in an old stadium between a Big Ten team that was not good enough for the championship and a shiny Pac 10 team who beat up on the pathetic competition in its own conference. The only importance the Rose plays now is when it hosts the national title, otherwise it is just another bowl for most college football fans, somewhere on the level of the Cotton.
    Furthermore, the Rose exemplifies the old order of things; The old handlers that believe its the 50s and fight tooth and nail against a playoff system. Hopefully the so called barbarians will tear down the gates and help produce the unintended consequence of dragging college football into the modern world every other sport thrives in.

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