College Football Playoffs/Greg Gumbel/”Tanking”
No one’s complaining now.
After considerable angst over who made it and who didn’t and who got to avoid a first round game and who didn’t, the College Football Playoff is looking pretty good right now. Two huge semifinal battles being played as we speak will determine the National Championship matchup.
After enlarging the tournament from 4 to 12 teams this year, the expected howls from those on the outside looking in were still making themselves heard loud and clear.
The decision to place Boise State and Arizona State among the four automatically advancing to the quarterfinals was one many observers frowned on, including this reporter.
But what the Sun Devils did was give us a game for the ages before going down to Texas in a contest they firmly held in their grasp.
That game to date has been the best by far and it featured a controversial non-call by the officials that could have made a difference. We always say could have, because, despite protests to the contrary, unless it’s the deciding play of a game, no one knows what would have really occurred following any call.
In this case it was what was known as a targeting foul against Texas which would have set up ASU for a potential game winning field goal with the score tied at 24 in the 4th quarter.
It was a wild game. Heavily-favored Texas led 24-8, only to see the Sun Devils miraculously claw back thanks to a touchdown pass by the amazing bulldozer running back Cam Skattebo followed by a short power run by Skattebo a minute and a half later in the final quarter.
Targeting is a helmet-to-helmet hit by a defensive player on what usually is a defenseless opponent. It looked like it was indeed exactly that, but the officials ruled otherwise. Those who agreed with the officials claim it’s a hard, physical play that is part of the game. The pros and cons roll on.
Ultimately all Arizona State had to do was stop the Longhorns on a 4th down from the 25-yard line in the 2d overtime to score an incredible comeback-from-behind upset. But Texas completed the pass into the end zone and survived 39-31 in a classic.
This week Texas faces Ohio State and Notre Dame plays Penn State. Four outstanding teams looking advance to the title game.
Having Notre Dame in the picture always makes college football look better.
Growing up, the Fighting Irish were the symbol of the sport’s excellence.
It’s been a long while since ND has been this close to a championship, and it raises its level. Penn State has had a great season and this one should be a nail-biter. I believe most observers feel Ohio State, marred by its brutal loss to arch-rival Michigan, has regrouped, especially after its payback of Oregon in the last round.
That was the real surprise.
The previously unbeaten Ducks #1 in the nation were considered the favorites to take it all.
But Texas may be a lot tougher that people think.
When a team plays below its level and still wins, which the Longhorns did against ASU, they often come back with a vengeance.
By now many of you know the two teams left standing.
Greg Gumbel
When sportscaster Greg Gumbel passed away at 78, days before the New Year, tributes poured in. They were from those who worked with him at CBS, former colleagues at other outlets, or those who just plain knew him.
They all echoed the same theme. That he was a broadcaster who as consistently good as anyone who ever spoke into a microphone, that he helped countless co-workers, that he was a gentleman filled to the brim with class, that he made those he worked with better. I knew Greg well for decades from my years at CBS.
Every word said about Greg Gumbel was totally accurate.
One time, the president of CBS Sports, Neal Pilson, called me into his office to inform me he was removing me from the number two national baseball assignment and replacing me with Greg. He said my work on the broadcast had been terrific for the three years I had partnered with former pitching great Jim Kaat. But Gumbel was going to be given the role of host for the 1994 Winter Olympics, and he wanted to give Greg a high profile post prior to the Games.
I was obviously disappointed but these are the events that occur in our business. It’s not always a bed of roses.
The next day, Greg called me and commiserated me on the change.
He didn’t have to make that call. It’s rare that it happens.
But Greg Gumbel had the respect and class to reach out.
I obviously never forgot it.
Finally, a word about “tanking”.
That’s when fans and the media hope and urge the teams they root for or cover, to purposely lose so they can get a better draft pick.
They are surprised when teams with “nothing to play for”, win and hurt their chances for a higher choice they need to improve.
Here’s the reality.
The players on these teams care nothing about draft picks.
Professional teams, and think of the term “professional”, work all week to win the upcoming game. That includes the coaches.
They all try to put their best effort into a contest because they are being judged how they perform on tape and by their record.
How does a coaching staff tell players to go out and lose?
Well, they don’t.
Only those who have never been there, those who have no clue what a TEAM goes through to prepare for battle, can talk about purposely losing to aid their future.
Those who bring the subject up, don’t get it, never will.
Even when coaches decide to rest starters, including the quarterback, they know that those players, who are not inferior by the way, are getting the chance to compete, look their best, and win.
It’s the way they’ve played the sport their entire lives.
End of story.
