Tuesday, November 6, 2007

WINNING CURES ALL


If Hawaii is to play in a BCS game like Utah did in 2004 or Boise State last season, they need to finish in the top 12 of the final standings to earn an automatic berth in one of the five BCS bowls.

If they finish in the top 16, they could still get in if they finish higher than a champion from one of the six BCS conference.

In short: They need to EARN it by winning the rest of their games; whether or not everyone else in college football has to.

In the bayou, the number two LSU Tigers continues to execute Les Miles' master plan for backing arguably the most talented team in the nation into the National Championship Game, one heart-stopping, jaw-dropping game at a time.

In Columbus, Ohio State has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that sowing up the Ohio State Championship with wins over noted powers Akron, Ohio, Youngstown and Kent State while (barely) finishing off soft Big Ten opponents who couldn't stop the opposing teams with badges and guns, is enough to position yourself for the big dance. (Hint, hint, Herm Frazier).

And FIVE teams with two losses occupy spots ahead of the Warriors; all reside in "Power" Conferences.

On paper, UH, a team that has been much closer to becoming Division II National Champions than BCS National Champions, doesn't belong in the same sentence with some of the proud traditional programs in the Top 25.

But as Oklahoma, a proud program with a distinguished history, found out last year, the games aren't played on paper, they're played on a field.

A not-quite-level playing field, but a field none the less.

And that's why the Warriors have a puncher's chance.

At the end of the day, talent alone doesn't win games, execution does.

Boise State and Utah have proven that.

Hawaii could be next.

But They need to EARN it by winning out; whether or not everyone else in college football has to.

- Theo Jones
(Theo is a friend of Leahey & Leahey Live...Louisiana Native is a Producer for the KITV Morning News which can be seen Mondays-Fridays on KITV from 5:00am-7:00am)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's going to be tough but I think UH is going to do it. Hey Theo are you going to go back to Louisiana if Hawaii plays in the Sugar Bwl?

Anonymous said...

go bows!

Anonymous said...

Being from Louisiana what do you think of this years LSU team?

Anonymous said...

If Hawaii meets LSU in the Sugarbowl, I have to go back... but I have to admit I'm hoping that's not the case. Having the two teams in seperate games give me the freedom to cheer for both. Imagine how torn I'd be if they played one another... that must be what Archie goes through when Peyton and Eli play.

I really feel this year's LSU team is the most talented team in the nation. Even though Les(s) Miles is trying way too hard to keep every game close, you can see the talent gap in nearly every game (except Florida, who might be the second most talented team in the country.) It's always penalties and questionable play-calling that prevent a lot of games from being blow outs. If LSU manages to back into the title game (Don't sleep on La Tech, Ole Miss or Arkansas) they have a chance to do more damage than Florida did to OSU.

Thanks for the hits guys.

Go Bows!

Anonymous said...

Do you think UH would have a chance against LSU?

Ithiunk Hawaiis chance would come that LSU doesn't see the spread very often in the SEC.

Anonymous said...

Football is all about matchups and LSU is a difficult matchup for most teams in the nation. I don't think it would be close, but then again, I didn't think the Alabama game would be close either.

I think, though, the fact that it's in essence a "home game" for LSU would seal the deal. Just like it did against Oklahoma in 2003.