Gary Patterson's reaction to the ESPN hate towards TCU during their BCS Countdown Show

by Ben Findley on Nov 28, 2010 11:16 PM PST in Mountain West Football

I was planning on writing up an epic diatribe on how ridiculously biased against TCU the BCS Countdown Show was tonight and how ESPN has a conflict of interest in trying to influence voters to keep them out of the title game when they are broadcasting the game but I ran out of time. Luckily Gil Lebreton of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram beat me to it, complete with quotes from coach Patterson bashing Rod Gilmore.

A few random thoughts from me about the show that I need to get off my chest:
-Out of 60 AP voters only 5 have TCU ranked 4th or worse
-2 of these voters were on the show tonight, Herbstreit (4) and Craig James (5)
-5 of the 6 analysts on ESPN tonight had TCU ranked 4th or worse.
-All of the 5 have conflicts of interest in ties to their alma mater which explains their bias towards big conferences and hatred for TCU. Rece Davis (Alabama), Chris Spielman (Ohio State), Rod Gilmore (Stanford), Kirk Herbstreit (Ohio State), Craig James (SMU, TCU's rival and James was at SMU during the SWC days so he feels loyalty to the Big 12).
-I love Chris Fowler and I am not ashamed to say it!!!!!
-Where were the other pro-TCU analysts Jesse Palmer and Robert Smith tonight? Did ESPN take a cue from Mike Leach and lock them in an electrical closet like Leach did to Craig James' son?
-All of this shameful last ditch effort from these clowns at the "evil four letter" was for naught because TCU has a substantial lead in all 3 polls and will be in the NC if Oregon or Auburn stumble, so suck it ESPN!!!

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I didn't really understand that

it was weird.

Personally, I don’t really like the idea of a non-AQ getting in over a one loss team from the SEC/Pac-10/Big 10/Big 12. That said, you can’t suck Boise’s jock all year, but then not do the same thing for TCU after Boise lost. They were basically equal entities. Rod Gilmore looked like a moron.

--Dave

Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog

by David Piper on Nov 28, 2010 11:24 PM PST reply actions

I know makes know sense.

Herbstreit was saying he moved TCU with Boise just because. Then I forget which one said it, but TCU has not been dominante? Please, outside of the five point win over a San Diego State team that would probably give any team in the country a game outside of a handful of teams. Only five games of the 12 games TCU allowed more then 10 points and they have a MOV of 31.9 and it drops only to 29.18 when you take out their Tenn Tech win. So, how is that not dominant.

I get that Oregon State is a different team from week one till now, but in week one they had their hole team, and I get that non-AQ’s need to win more impressively because their schedule is a little weaker, but when they face an AQ team and do win by more then a touchdown that should be ok.

Also, only Chris Fowler and Brad Edwards made any sense, because looking at the numbers the gap is so wide between TCU and Stanford so unless the coaches drastically drop TCU in favor of Stanford there is no way TCU needs both Oregon and Auburn to get back into the title game. I can see Auburn possibly staying ahead of TCU if they have a close lose to South Carolina (it would suck), but no way if Oregon loses to Oregon State who they said is a bad team and one who TCU beat would stay ahead of TCU.

The phrase of the night ‘reevaluate the way you vote’ is a joke. How can you vote one way all year and then crap your pants when you finally notice that TCU is in line to play for the title game. Stanford vs. Oregon is not going to happen as Fowler said we already saw that game and how good is the Pac-10 when they may have only three bowl eligible teams.

Gary Patterson’s quote from that article about Gilmore is great:

“Don’t pay any attention to Rod Gilmore,” the coach said.
“What I need to do is rate the announcers at ESPN. I would say that Rod Gilmore is not in my top 10.”

Just makes no sense that they all go for Boise and then say TCU is not there. There is a reason Boise State is going to the Mountain West, there are better teams.

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by Jeremy Mauss on Nov 29, 2010 7:06 AM PST up reply actions

It makes lots of sense. Boise is broadcast by ESPN, TCU is not.

by HawkeyedFrog on Nov 29, 2010 9:29 AM PST up reply actions

you know why the raised auburn to #1 don't you. it's so if the lose a close game to south carolina.....

they can make the "adjustments’ needed to keep auburn in second place.

Why do canadians stick together? The same reason why Chris Horodecki turned his body and face around in his first WEC fight.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 29, 2010 9:30 AM PST up reply actions

I'm partial to TCU in this

But stop with the conspiracy theories. ESPN has been using these same guys, namely James, all season long. It’s not as if they brought them on just for today’s show, specifically to bash TCU. Gilmore, Herbstreit and Speilman have been regulars, and I find the idea that they were used to try and promote anti-TCU sentiments a bit too far.

Otherwise, yea, they all sounded a little pathetic, particularly James.

Conquest Chronicles | SB Nation Los Angeles | @Joey_Kaufman

by Joey Kaufman on Nov 28, 2010 11:32 PM PST reply actions

Not true

It’s always been James and Herbie, but everyone else has rotated. Robert Smith was in there for a few weeks as was Jesse palmer and they both had TCU in the top 2 (I think Smith might have had TCU #1)

"Football is a violent game played by violent people, so put a smile on your face, murder in your heart and lets go kick these f***kers in the mouth" -Dick Bumpas, TCU Defensive Coordinator

by Ben Findley on Nov 28, 2010 11:48 PM PST up reply actions

Also unless I am mistaken

this was Speilman’s first week on the show, though I might have missed one week (when they bumped it up two hours for MLS and I didn’t know)

"Football is a violent game played by violent people, so put a smile on your face, murder in your heart and lets go kick these f***kers in the mouth" -Dick Bumpas, TCU Defensive Coordinator

by Ben Findley on Nov 28, 2010 11:49 PM PST up reply actions

If that's the case, I stand corrected

But I mean, Rece, James and Herbstreit, at least, have been there for every week.

I’m just hesitant to say that because Gilmore was on the show as opposed to Palmer that ESPN is conspiring against TCU. A bit of a jump in my estimation. However, I’m sure they’re overly thrilled about the possibility of an Oregon-TCU title game.

Regardless, would they coordinate their show in an attempt to keep the Horned Frogs out?

Conquest Chronicles | SB Nation Los Angeles | @Joey_Kaufman

by Joey Kaufman on Nov 28, 2010 11:53 PM PST up reply actions

look at the numbers though

5 out of 60 AP voters had TCU 4th or worse
5 of 6 ESPN hacks had TCU 4th or worse

You can’t tell me that doesn’t smell just a little bit fishy….

"Football is a violent game played by violent people, so put a smile on your face, murder in your heart and lets go kick these f***kers in the mouth" -Dick Bumpas, TCU Defensive Coordinator

by Ben Findley on Nov 28, 2010 11:58 PM PST up reply actions

I don't know if 'conspiracy' is the word I would use

But I would definitely say that the producer of the show is certainly out of touch.

by VA Libertarian on Nov 29, 2010 1:33 AM PST up reply actions

Why wouldn't they?

ESPN has made it clear they are a business interested in self promotion and making money

TCU is not a big draw fan-wise and is also part of the only conference that doesn’t have a television contract with ESPN, unlike Boise.

"Football is a violent game played by violent people, so put a smile on your face, murder in your heart and lets go kick these f***kers in the mouth" -Dick Bumpas, TCU Defensive Coordinator

by Ben Findley on Nov 29, 2010 12:00 AM PST up reply actions

Also I feel it's been blatantly obvious over the years

that ESPN sometimes manufactures arguments on studio by having one analyst pick one side and another argue the other. It is it that far fetched to assume that this happens before this show? I don’t think so. Heck even Craig James once had TCU at 3 and now has dropped them to 5….

"Football is a violent game played by violent people, so put a smile on your face, murder in your heart and lets go kick these f***kers in the mouth" -Dick Bumpas, TCU Defensive Coordinator

by Ben Findley on Nov 29, 2010 12:03 AM PST up reply actions

happens a lot

Not just with ESPN but radio and other shows choose opposite sides just to argue, but last night seemed real that they all realized that TCU has a legit shot. I think they were partial to Boise because they were on ESPN all year while TCU is not.

I just try to not take these guys too seriously, but their arguments are weak. Craig James saying certain schedules are better because a league recruits better players. They may recruit better players, but at what point do those players need to live up to their potential and show it on the field. Who cares if a bunch of four or five star guys go to Cal, Texas Tech, Illinois, Miami … if the team sucks the team sucks.

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by Jeremy Mauss on Nov 29, 2010 7:09 AM PST up reply actions

Amen!

by HornedFrog1992 on Nov 29, 2010 9:42 AM PST up reply actions

speilman has not been a regular. so "speils" is speilmans nickname around espn. never heard that before.

Why do canadians stick together? The same reason why Chris Horodecki turned his body and face around in his first WEC fight.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 29, 2010 9:32 AM PST up reply actions

Ben and Jerry (oops, no pun intended)

Guess which ESPN college blogger/analyst/writer is now bashing the Frogs with this newest Big East announcement. Check out Ivan Maisel, Alabama native and Stanford grad! What’s up with Stanford grads hating on the Frogs? Again with the Gary Patterson will soon be leaving comments…

by HornedFrog1992 on Nov 29, 2010 10:08 AM PST reply actions