first though, this entry and the previous part one actually interrupts the catch-up that was delayed due to DLand server errors and will not be completed this weekend as planned and, in fact, may wait a while again because this weekend was the time I set aside to do the catching up and the weekend is gone now and the server just seems to be working right now but there's no time for the uploading the catching up entries...

what you should be seeing here is another welcome to the catch up type entry like this one but instead, you get this intro inserted into the part two of the special college football entry, which might be confusing (what?... my babbling and uploading patterns confusing?... how could that be?)...

anyway, these numbers just below these words are the current catch up entries if you want to know... the college football thoughts continue below the numbers below these words... hope to find time to catch up again before the new year... thanks for stopping by (you know I love you for it)...

this is an ongoing thought process (this entry, that is... I mean, this diary is an ongoing thought process too, but I was referring to the specific thought process that is going on in this ongoing thought process entry I am introducing, if you follow my meaning)... there are also layers to the thought process and tangents shooting off and through the thought process that may or may not be ongloing (for instance, the more personal thoughts that drew out part one of this entry, but then, what can we expect at 4am)... it (this entry) is also part two of the special college football edition... so let's get on with it then, aye?...

meanwhile, the debate is interesting for sports fans so if you are not one, skip this next bit in which I explore the justifications for a few of the top contenders to Ohio State's throne (in other words, who most deserves to play Ohio State in the championship game which is seven weeks from now)... the following are undefeated or one loss teams in contention:

Rutgers... esthetics: Cinderella, Big East Conference... otherwise known as the State University of New Jersey, Rutgers was, until a few moments ago, the only other unbeaten team in a BCS (Bowl Championship Series), otherwise known as BIG (as in big), conference... BCS conferences are so designated because, at least supposedly because the teams in the BCS conferences are the strongest sports teams in the country... Rutgers comes from the Big East conference and it has been said that the Big East conference does not deserve to be a BCS conference because the teams in the BCS conference are not as good as teams in the other BCS conferences... I say, if that's true, then take away their BCS conference status but as long as there is a BCS conference team finishing the season undefeated, they deserve to be in the championship game... this argument for Rutgers is moot though for just a few moments ago Rutgers became a one-loss team... Rank: 7

Louisville... esthetics: Big East conference... defeated by Rutgers... good team, but not good enough... Rank: 9

West Virginia... esthetics: Big East conference... defeated by Louisville, plays Rutgers next week... winner takes Big East Conference championship... challenge is comparing teams that have not played each other or the same opponents... Rank: 6

ultimately, I may be succumbing to the anti-Big East prejudice... or maybe the truth is that the teams in the Big East Conference really do play a weaker schedule and are not as good as the teams in the other BCS conferences... in any case, I don't think a Big East team with one loss is going to get voted into the championship game ahead of the other one loss teams from the more respected conferences... it will be interesting to see how the Big East Conference champion fares against it's opponent in the bowl it does get into...

Wake Forest... esthetics: ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference)... the conference is not getting much respect this year and traditionally is not as respected as the other four BCS conferences, but more respected than the Big East... traditional powers in the ACC already have 2 loses or more and this discussion became moot when Wake Forest was upset today earning it's second loss, so the ACC has no team with less than 2 loses... the same can be said for the Big Twelve Conference, home of last year's national championship game winner Texas (Rank: 12)... we'll keep this to the teams with one loss or less...


Florida... record: 10-1... games remaining: Florida State (6-5), Arkansas (10-1)... loss: Auburn (10-2)... key wins: LSU (9-2), Tennessee (8-3), Georgia (7-4), Kentucky (7-4)... esthetics: strong schedule, strong conference, traditional power... Florida lost one game, a close game to Auburn, another highly ranked team... statistically, Florida played the most difficult schedule of any team in the country and only have that one loss... on the other hand, they seldom look impressive and are not exciting to watch... but are they deserving to be in the championship game?... it will depend on the rest of their season... if they win the rest of their games, then maybe... Rank: 4

Arkansas... record: 10-1... games remaining: LSU (9-2), Florida (10-1)... loss: USC (10-1)... key wins: Auburn (10-2), Tennessee (8-3)... esthetics: none... well, the SEC, like Florida, except Arkansas is not traditional a power in the SEC... yet, they are playing impressively... yet, if they win out then they play Florida in the conference championship game and if they beat Florida, maybe... on the other hand, UCS soundly beat them earlier this year... if they get the nod over USC, that disregards the fact that USC beat them... so unless USC loses, no... Rank: 5

Boise State... record: 11-0... esthetics: potatoes, a blue field... ok, seriously, Boise is undefeated... on the other hand, Boise is not in a BCS conference and has a rather easy schedule... simply, no... Rank: 13

Wisconsin... record: 11-1... loss: Michigan (11-1)... key wins: Penn State (8-4)... esthetics: Big Ten Conference, mass popularity... only loss to Michigan, but weak schedule and must be passed over by Michigan in consideration for the championship game... Rank: 10

USC... record: (9-1)... games remaining: Notre Dame (11-1), UCLA (6-5)... loss: Oregon State (7-4)... key wins: Arkansas (10-1), California (8-3), Nebraska (8-3), Oregon (7-4), esthetics: perennial greatness, Hollywood glamour, mass popularity, California dreaming... the University of Southern California has been one of the best college football programs in recent years and deserves a look because they have only one loss... they may not deserve a championship nod because their one loss came to an unranked (not great) team... however, they have a strong schedule and esthetics noted may be enough to get them voted into the game... Rank: 3

Notre Dame... record: 11-1... games remaining: USC (11-1)... loss: Michigan (11-1)... key wins: GA Tech (9-2), Penn State (8-4)...esthetics: football tradition, mass popularity, touchdown Jesus... Notre Dame lost to Michigan in a big way... they played a very weak schedule with just two good teams on it and they were soundly beaten by the first (Michigan)... giving Notre Dame the nod over Michigan disregards the sound beating Michigan gave Notre Dame... however, the esthetics are strong and the voters may be swayed by the audience (as in dollars) Notre Dame can attract to a big game... ND plays USC next week, if they win, they may get the vote... Rank: 8

Michigan... record: 11-1... loss: Ohio State (12-0)... esthetics: football tradition, Big Ten Conference, mass popularity, traditional power... only loss is to undefeated Ohio State by three points at Ohio State... if Florida and USC lose, no contest, Michigan should be in the championship game in a rematch with Ohio State... trouble is, if Michigan wins that game, that means they can only be considered co-champions because their series for this year would be 1-1 and there is no best two out of three series in college football... would muck up the national title, so they probably will not be voted in even if they deserve it... the crime would be if Notre Dame, who they soundly defeated, is voted in... if USC beats Notre Dame and Florida beats Arkansas, they deserve a shot at Ohio State, but Michigan still might beat either team if they played.... so they deserve it most, but may not get the vote... Rank: 2

Ohio State... record: 12-0... key wins: Michigan (11-1), Texas (9-2), Penn State (8-4)... Ohio State is in...

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