Did TCU really win one for the little guy?

[jojo]

First what an awesome game. If the Badgers had a decent QB we might have been treated to one of the greatest Rose bowl finishes in history.

Anyway with a minute left, TCU with the ball and four downs and the Badgers out of time outs Mussberger and company broke out the canned narrative that TCU was about to win one for the little guy. Really? TCU spent about 10 billion dollars on their football program this year, just gave a big middle finger to their little guy brethren by signing an agreement to join the big east to become the only good team in a marriage that makes absolutely zero geographical sense and they entered the rose bowl as the higher seed.

Did TCU really win one for "the little guy"? Does Miami University feel like TCU has shown them the way?

[KronoRed]

No, they are not the little guy.

[Caveat Emperor]

No, they are not the little guy.

A private school with an enrollment of roughly 8,500 beat a land-grant institution from one of ESPN's favorite conferences (B11, SEC, B12) with 5 times the number of students.

College football is funny business -- you almost have to use a Potter Stewart "I know it when I see it" test to separate the chosen from the outsiders. Wisconsin definitely falls into the former of those two classifications.

[jojo]

A private school with an enrollment of roughly 8,500 beat a land-grant institution from one of ESPN's favorite conferences (B11, SEC, B12) with 5 times the number of students.

College football is funny business -- you almost have to use a Potter Stewart "I know it when I see it" test to separate the chosen from the outsiders. Wisconsin definitely falls into the former of those two classifications.

But TCU didn't get to this point by behaving like a little guy...... Student enrollment may not be in the class of land grant univeristies but most land grant universities would love to have TCU's market...

Here's a blurb from TCU's website:

TCU is the largest of 17 colleges and universities associated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a denomination committed to demonstrating true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice. With the full support of the Disciples, TCU is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, affording students the rigorous challenges that make higher education worthwhile. Reflection on questions of meaning and value is crucial to genuine learning. TCU’s covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) supports this kind of education.

How does spending 18 double gazillion dollars on their football program support that kind of education?

This isn't meant to slam TCU because they make college football more interesting and I don't think they are doing anything wrong. But they aren't anymore the little guy than Wisconsin considering how they are going about their business IMHO.

[Caveat Emperor]

. But they aren't anymore the little guy than Wisconsin considering how they are going about their business IMHO.

You're missing the point entirely. "Little Guy" / "Big Guy" in college football has absolutely nothing to do with size, budget, rankings, etc. It's a strange combination of perception, success, conference affiliation, media coverage and history/tradition.

TCU may spend like a "Big Guy," but they clearly aren't a "Big Guy" in the college football world. There's no clear cut definition to any of this, though.

[will5979]

TCU is going to own the Big East, unless Holgerson is the next Rich Rod.

[jojo]

You're missing the point entirely. "Little Guy" / "Big Guy" in college football has absolutely nothing to do with size, budget, rankings, etc. It's a strange combination of perception, success, conference affiliation, media coverage and history/tradition.

TCU may spend like a "Big Guy," but they clearly aren't a "Big Guy" in the college football world. There's no clear cut definition to any of this, though.

To me when I think of little guy, I think underdog. TCU really didn't fit that bill IMHO.

[traderumor]

But TCU didn't get to this point by behaving like a little guy...... Student enrollment may not be in the class of land grant univeristies but most land grant universities would love to have TCU's market...

Here's a blurb from TCU's website:



How does spending 18 double gazillion dollars on their football program support that kind of education?

This isn't meant to slam TCU because they make college football more interesting and I don't think they are doing anything wrong. But they aren't anymore the little guy than Wisconsin considering how they are going about their business IMHO.

I agree, those are just words when the reality is "we worship and feed at the trough of big time college football."

[Slyder]

It makes for good TV just like WVU beating Oklahoma in the Fiesta, Utah beating Pitt, and Boise beating Oklahoma. Just because of perceptions of it is what will stick.

When does UConn get a chance to save some credibility for the Big East?

[Mutaman]

If the Badgers had a decent QB we might have been treated to one of the greatest Rose bowl finishes in history.

Tolzien was 2nd team all Big Ten and team MVP. He is more than decent. He just didn't execute the big play and TCU did.

[Sea Ray]

I don't think they won one for the little guy but it did shut up the folks who said they didn't deserve a BCS bid and it strengthens the argument that we need a playoff. TCU deserves a crack at the NC

[MWM]

Maybe had we not already had plenty of other examples already. The idea of winning one for the little guy has lost its novelty. It happens enough these days that they really can't be called the little guy any more.

[*BaseClogger*]

If the Badgers had a decent QB

[LoganBuck]

To defend Jojo a little, Wisconsin got away from what made them a good team. Run first, pass second. Especially with John Clay. They fell in love with the three running back rotation and the passing game. I listened to the game on the radio, and the ESPN radio guys kept ripping Wisconsin's play calling. They didn't dedicate themselves to the power running game until the final drive. I don't think the better team won.

[MWM]

To defend Jojo a little, Wisconsin got away from what made them a good team. Run first, pass second. Especially with John Clay. They fell in love with the three running back rotation and the passing game. I listened to the game on the radio, and the ESPN radio guys kept ripping Wisconsin's play calling. They didn't dedicate themselves to the power running game until the final drive. I don't think the better team won.

I agree about Wisconsin's offense. For most of the first two quarters they were running it straight up the middle and TCU had no answer. Then TCU stacked the line a few plays and stopped the run, so Wisconsin decided to abandoned what they were doing until that final drive when they were running it down their throat again.

However, TCU moved the ball on Wisconsin fairly well against Wisconsin too.