Looks like the Big 12 knows they screwed up

[CATCH17]

Commissioner: Big 12 to reassess divisional championship tiebreaker
By Joe Schad
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: December 2, 2008, 1:57 PM ET
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Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said Tuesday that the conference will reassess the divisional championship tiebreaker that left Texas out of the conference title game but that rushing to the conclusion that it needs to be changed would be a mistake.


If you win all of your games you don't have to worry about this scenario.
-- Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe

"Any tiebreaker system is difficult and will leave teams disappointed," Beebe said. "When the tiebreaker was written I was not in the league but they wanted to put in the team that had the best chance to play in the national championship game."


Despite identical records and a loss to Texas, Oklahoma advanced to the Big 12 championship game in Kansas City because the Sooners are ranked higher in the BCS standings.

"I'm not so sure that this isn't the best way to do it," Beebe said. "I understand the argument about head-to-head and it is a strong point, but as a lot of voters looked at it, and as the committees that select basketball tournament participants look at it, 'What team would you least want to play now?'"

Using the various tiebreakers of the ACC, Conference USA, MAC and SEC -- other conferences with two divisions -- Texas would have advanced to the Big 12 title game.

In the SEC, the team with the highest BCS ranking advances, unless the two teams are within five places of each other.

"This was a perfect storm," Beebe said. "You can't create a rule that accounts for every scenario. To have teams ranked second and third, that margin is so thin."

Beebe addressed the SEC tiebreaker rule.

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"Let's say that the eighth-ranked team in the BCS is in the same division as the third-ranked," Beebe said. "If the eighth-ranked team beat the third-ranked team on a last-second play at home, sending the eighth-ranked team, that would defeat the purpose of trying to send the team with the best chance of winning a national championship."


Beebe said he and Texas coach Mack Brown have exchanged e-mails.

"There is still a lot of football to be played," Beebe said. "I feel terribly for the teams that are disappointed. If you win all of your games you don't have to worry about this scenario."

Beebe said the Big 12 athletic directors will discuss the tiebreaker scenarios again in March.

Joe Schad is a college football reporter for ESPN.

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[Dallas]

Nothing in this article even hints at a screwup by the Big12.


Way to assess things there Catch.

 

[Route 66]

Nothing in this article even hints at a screwup by the Big12.


Way to assess things there Catch.

I agree. That article made no mention of any screwups. As a matter of fact, it mentioned that it was developed so that the "team you least wanted to play" was in.

 

[CATCH17]

Actually I didn't even read it lol.

 

[Route 66]

Actually I didn't even read it lol.

 

[CATCH17]

haha

I had just got off my lunch break when I posted it and was getting hurried back into work.

I heard Dan Davis on ESPN Radio say that the Big 12 is going to look over their tie break system and I posted the 1st article I found.

I would be shocked if they don't change their tie break system next year because of how it will make the RRS diminished if they don't.

 

[Chief]

Beebe said he and Texas coach Mack Brown have exchanged e-mails.

There's no doubt about that. :laugh2:

 

[Danny White]

haha

I had just got off my lunch break when I posted it and was getting hurried back into work.

I heard Dan Davis on ESPN Radio say that the Big 12 is going to look over their tie break system and I posted the 1st article I found.

I would be shocked if they don't change their tie break system next year because of how it will make the RRS diminished if they don't.

Those fries aren't going to cook themselves.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I agree. That article made no mention of any screwups. As a matter of fact, it mentioned that it was developed so that the "team you least wanted to play" was in.

It was designed to allow for that. It didn't say that this is what has taken place this year.

 

[CATCH17]

Those fries aren't going to cook themselves.

Pwned me.

 

[Hank Johnson]

I can't be mad at Stoops or OU. He was right in his press conference today when he said to just make the rules and they'll abide by them.

Just as they did this time.

 

[Route 66]

It was designed to allow for that. It didn't say that this is what has taken place this year.

Wow. I'll take this moment to clarify which sentence states the obvious for you.

""I understand the argument about head-to-head and it is a strong point, but as a lot of voters looked at it, and as the committees that select basketball tournament participants look at it, 'What team would you least want to play now?'"

So to explain it so that you understand, the quote contains a comment about the argument of head-to-head. This IS dealing with this year as that is what he is specifically addressing. Then he follows with BUT as a lot of voters looked at it.....

 

[Danny White]

I can't be mad at Stoops or OU. He was right in his press conference today when he said to just make the rules and they'll abide by them.

Just as they did this time.

That's the funny thing... the situation could just as easily be reversed next year. The rules weren't made to favor Oklahoma... it just turned out that way this year.

Just make a fair rule and make all team's abide by it.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Wow. I'll take this moment to clarify which sentence states the obvious for you.

""I understand the argument about head-to-head and it is a strong point, but as a lot of voters looked at it, and as the committees that select basketball tournament participants look at it, 'What team would you least want to play now?'"

So to explain it so that you understand, the quote contains a comment about the argument of head-to-head. This IS dealing with this year as that is what he is specifically addressing. Then he follows with BUT as a lot of voters looked at it.....

First of all, the reference made here is about basketball. Secondly, please refrain from trying to point anything out to me. Your method is at best, confrontational and lacks substance to support your point. This article, in no way, supports the decision to choose OU over Texas. It explains why the Big12 has the rules it has in place. The Big12 is seriously considering changing these rules and meeting are taking place now to discuss the ramafications of this change. Changes would not be discussed if the Big12 believed that something wasn't wrong.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I can't be mad at Stoops or OU. He was right in his press conference today when he said to just make the rules and they'll abide by them.

Just as they did this time.

I agree with this position. I think it's BS for fans to pretend that Texas is just complaining over Sour Grapes but that's just me. As all of us know, nobody cries louder or longer then OU when they think they are being treated unfairly. It is what it is but to me, the rule needs to be changed. People in other parts of the country, probably many who don't even follow Big12 football very closely don't need to be making decisions on who should represent the Big12. It should be decided on the field, as often as possible.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

I agree with this position. I think it's BS for fans to pretend that Texas is just complaining over Sour Grapes but that's just me. As all of us know, nobody cries louder or longer then OU when they thing they are being treated unfairly. It is what it is but to me, the rule needs to be changed. People in other parts of the country, probably many who don't even follow Big12 football very closely don't need to be making decisions on who should represent the Big12. It should be decided on the field, as often as possible.

It's already been decided. Texas and OU have the same record Texas beat OU heads up therefore Texas should in the championship game.

 

[Dallas]

It's already been decided. Texas and OU have the same record Texas beat OU heads up therefore Texas should in the championship game.

Haha! You guys keep saying this over and over.


Here's something hot off the presses.

EXTRA!! EXTRA !!

OKLAHOMA IS IN THE BIG12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME !!

Read all About It !!

 

[Route 66]

It's already been decided. Texas and OU have the same record Texas beat OU heads up therefore Texas should in the championship game.

Not if you lost to a team that we dismantled.

 

[Route 66]

As all of us know, nobody cries louder or longer then OU when they think they are being treated unfairly.

I guess renting planes to fly over games crying about this doesn't matter. I guess Mack spouting off during the OU-OSU game all the meanwhile Stoops has "no comment" doesn't matter either. Both sides would complain-period.

Whine about your team but attacking the other team that got in is ridiculous and its obvious you wont stop.

 

[Doomsday]

Anyway they did the tie breaker this year TWO teams were going to get hosed. OU gets to play for the Big 12 over Texas who beat them and Texas will most likely get a BCS game over Texas Tech a team who beat them. It is a lose, lose situation 2 teams and a great opportunity for the third.