Earlier than I say something, I simply need to say that the Utah Utes are my faculty soccer nationwide champions for the 2008 season. Why? As a result of faculty soccer is caught in an archaic custom through which the nationwide champion is determined by a ballot yearly. If the AP voters get to choose their nationwide champion, why cannot I decide mine?

What everyone knows, although, is that the postseason of school soccer is lengthy overdue for a change. Sure, some years, like in 2002, the BCS was useful. However in different years, like 2008, the BCS was a whole mess. Why? As a result of it’s inherently flawed. The BCS is designed to match the 2 finest groups from the common season in a championship recreation. That is effective and dandy when in 2002 Ohio State and Miami(FL) had been the one undefeated groups.

However what about this yr? Utah and Boise state completed the common season undefeated. Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, USC, Florida, Alabama and Penn State all completed with one loss. How on the earth can the BCS declare to “know” which of these groups are the 2 finest? Each one in all them made a very good case to be given consideration.

So with the thought of a faculty soccer playoff not within the agenda of the BCS, what might be accomplished to repair this mess? The reply is a plus-one format.

Presently, the BCS matches the 2 finest groups on the finish of the common season. A plus-one format takes the bowl season into consideration earlier than deciding who the 2 finest groups within the nation are. Think about this yr if the bowls had been Florida beating Texas, Oklahoma squeaking previous Ohio State and Utah dismantling Alabama? Would not the bowl season have made the case for Utah to play Florida within the title recreation? Think about a nationwide championship the place each groups did extra than simply win the perceived “finest” conferences in faculty soccer?

So here’s a postseason proposal for school soccer that may truly work. First, add a fifth bowl to the BCS bowls. The Cotton Bowl looks like an apparent alternative. Then, create a conventional rivalry between convention champions. The next might work:

Rose Bowl: Pac 10 vs Massive 10

Fiesta Bowl: Massive 12 vs WAC

Sugar Bowl: SEC vs MWC

Orange Bowl: ACC vs Massive East

Cotton Bowl: C-USA, Solar Belt, MAC

The 2 greater ranked groups between C-USA, Solar Belt and MAC can play within the Cotton Bowl. Notre Dame will get within the Cotton Bowl if they’re ranked #8 or greater and are additionally ranked greater than no less than two of these convention champions.

Now these bowls will all be performed in two days to deliver again some New Yr’s custom. Two bowls are performed on December 31 and the opposite three on January 1. Regulate accordingly if a kind of falls on a Sunday. Make these BCS bowls the final bowls performed of the season. As soon as all bowls have been performed, together with these BCS bowls, then the BCS reranks the groups.

The plus-one format would name for the brand new primary and quantity two to play one another within the nationwide championship recreation. Is it excellent? No, as a result of there’ll at all times be controversy. However does anybody ever tune in to a bowl recreation their crew is just not enjoying in? This is able to deliver the significance of the school soccer common season into the bowl season. Shedding a bowl recreation can be greater than only a disappointment like it’s now; it might derail your nationwide championship aspirations.

A playoff is the one true option to remove controversy on this sport, however everyone knows the BCS and the powers that be won’t permit that to occur anytime quickly. That’s, in fact, except Obama and the federal government intervene and stop the unfair practices of the BCS. I would not maintain your breath although. Till a playoff can turn out to be a actuality, this plus-one proposal can be the perfect we might get.

The College of Miami (UM) Hurricanes faculty soccer program has received a complete of 5 nationwide championships. The 5 championships occurred in three completely different a long time within the following years:

• 1983
• 1987
• 1989
• 1991
• 2001

The primary championship was for the 1983 soccer season and was sealed with an Orange Bowl victory over the College of Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Hurricanes had a 10-1 report coming into the competition in opposition to then primary ranked College of Nebraska that introduced an undefeated 12-0 report into the de facto nationwide championship recreation. The Hurricanes had the advantage of taking part in of their dwelling stadium of the Miami Orange Bowl and had been in a position to squeeze out a 31-30 victory. Defeating the highest ranked Cornhuskers vaulted the Miami workforce led by head coach Howard Schnellenberger to the primary place in each the Related Press (AP) and Coaches finish of the 12 months soccer polls.

In 1987 Jimmy Johnson, who would later turn out to be a family title as the 2 time Tremendous Bowl successful coach (1992 and 1993) of the Dallas Cowboys, introduced a second championship to town of Miami with an Orange Bowl win over the Oklahoma Sooners. The 20-14 victory over the College of Oklahoma on January 1, 1988 sealed an undefeated 12-0 season for the Hurricanes.

Dennis Erickson was the pinnacle coach at Miami for nationwide championships three and 4 that occurred following the 1989 and 1991 seasons. A Sugar Bowl win in New Orleans over the College of Alabama gave the 11-1 Miami Hurricanes a nationwide championship after the College of Colorado Buffaloes misplaced their January 1 bowl recreation to the College of Notre Dame. Previous to the Colorado bowl recreation loss the Buffaloes had been ranked primary within the nation and the College of Miami was ranked quantity two.

In 1991 UM shared the nationwide championship with the College of Washington. Though the Hurricanes completed the 12 months with an ideal 12-0 report and an Orange Bowl win the College of Washington additionally completed the 12 months with 12 wins and no losses. Consequently the 2 packages cut up nationwide title awards with Washington garnering the Coaches Ballot award whereas Miami accepted the AP nationwide championship.

The newest College of Miami soccer nationwide championship occurred after the 2001 season. Former head coach Larry Coker completed off an unbeaten 12-0 season with a Rose Bowl victory in Pasadena, California on January 3, 2002. The Hurricanes left little doubt about their soccer dominance that season as they completed off the 12 months with a sound 37-14 win over the College of Nebraska.