If UCF played TCU 10 times, there is no chance in hell the UCF would win the majority of those 10 games, according to Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby. Why is he so certain? Thirty-five years of experience.
[divider]
COMPARE: CFB Teams | CFB Players
[divider]
Bowlsby has done a lot of great things for the Big 12 since he arrived in 2012. He has, among other things, brought financial stability to an unconventionally small league and prevented additional departures of members. The former Iowa and Stanford athletics director, however, has also vomited obtuse, unaware and arrogant opinions throughout his tenure.
For example, in June 2016 — as Baylor continued picking up the pieces after a shocking disregard for sexual assault awareness rocked the football program — Bowlsby said the Big 12 was committed to "eradicating sexual assault on campus." Then he kept babbling and delivered this mind-boggling quote.
MORE: UCF Has Talent, Schedule to Contend for CFP in 2018
"It almost goes without saying that when you combine alcohol and drugs and raging hormones and the experiences of 18-22 years old, it's probably unrealistic to think that these kinds of things are never going to happen."
As noted by Deadspin, 42 percent of all female rape victims are raped for the first time before the age of 18, a younger age than the heavy majority of college students. And if alcohol and drugs are the problem, why doesn't the NCAA, Big 12 and its member institutions employ stiffer, zero-tolerance penalties against student-athletes who receive alcohol or drug citations instead of allowing them to continue competing?
Bowlsby's latest comments are not nearly as bad — or about as serious of a matter — but they follow a pattern of remarkable arrogance and obliviousness. ESPN's Heather Dinich asked him about an expanded College Football Playoff and if the current system is fair to a team like UCF, who went 12-0 in the regular-season (including a conference championship) and beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
"Bob Bowlsby told me he’s not ready for any serious talks about expanding the playoff," Dinich wrote, "and that the current 4-team CFP is fair to undefeated UCF because the Knights likely wouldn’t be undefeated if they played a Power 5 conference schedule."
This is what we've come to? Saying a team isn't deserving of a spot and the system is clearly fair because they "likely wouldn't be undefeated" in a better conference?
For the record, I do not believe UCF is one of the four best teams in the country. They should not have received a playoff spot on Dec. 3 and the win over Auburn does not change that. The Knights are a tremendous team who can play with anyone but their résumé was not a playoff résumé.
But to suggest that UCF "likely wouldn't be undefeated" in a Power Five conference is a real reason why they should be excluded is asinine. The system wasn't created to guess who'd be undefeated in what conference. It was created to weigh résumés and select the four best and most deserving teams.
"It’s fair because playing in the American Athletic is not the same as playing in the Big Ten or the SEC or the Big 12, it’s just not," he added. "They have some big games, but they don’t have an Iowa State who can beat a second-ranked Oklahoma.
"The depth of those leagues and the quality at the top, getting ready for one game against Auburn, that’s a lot different than playing Auburn every week. … TCU, if TCU and UCF played 10 times, I defy anybody to convince me that UCF would win the majority of the games. Of course I’ve only been looking at it for 35 years.”
TCU may win all 10. They may win nine, five, three or none. Bob Bowlsby doesn't know, nor does anyone else. That's the beauty of college football. He touts Iowa State as an example of the Big 12's depth but, Bob, cut the crap. You thought the Cyclones would get blasted by Oklahoma in Norman in October. Your 35 years of experience couldn't have predicted a Cyclone win.
Bowlsby has every right to believe UCF is not one of the four best teams and that the AAC is not as good or deep of a conference as the Big 12, Big Ten or SEC. He does not, however, have the right to tout his 35 years of experience as reason to know who'd win the majority of 10 matchups between TCU and UCF.
Check your arrogance at the door next time Bob and offer an informed and fair assessment.
