| | The Florida State Seminoles are the best college football team in the nation, says ESPN's Beano Cook. But who the Seminoles play in the championship game and whether they will win the national title are still very much up in the air, says Cook.
During his weekly chat with ESPN.com users, the college football analyst said Bobby Bowden's troops can beat anyone in the nation but anything can happen in a one-game series. Cook also batted around the different options on who the Seminoles might play in the Sugar Bowl, who deserves Coach of the Year honors and what three teams should battle it out for all the marbles next season.
An edited transcript from Beano's No. 24 chat follows:
| |  | | Are Bobby Bowden's Seminoles are the best in the country? |
Beano Cook: If Virginia Tech finishes 11-0, they deserve the Sugar Bowl. But if Nebraska wins their final two
games, and they finish No. 2, they deserve it.
But you are talking to someone who picked Florida over Florida State.
Bama_fan: What chances do you give 'Bama of beating Florida for a second time?
Beano Cook:
I give them a chance. There have been bigger upsets, they have a shot. They have the athletes
and Florida has to be down. They are getting the Gators at the right time. They can win this
game.
Eddie: You mentioned a while back that Penn State would decline a bowl invite, given the fact that they
lost their last three games and wanted to get their season over with. Any update on this?
Beano Cook: This is what I said: If the team votes to decline an invitation, they may decline. They did it in '64 after a team vote. In '62 the team
voted against the Gator Bowl, the athletic department made them go and they lost. Now Penn
State goes by a team vote. So they may not go, but things could change if it is a New Year's Day
bowl game.
Joe Donald: What is you opinion of conference tie-ins to bowl games? I feel that it takes away
some of the excitement of November.
Beano Cook:
You might be right, but it is the age-old adage, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. You have
to be able to plan your budget. If I was a coach, I would hate it. If I was an AD, I would like it.
Buckeye: Do you think Virginia Tech or Nebraska and can stay with the Seminoles?
Beano Cook: I think FSU is the best team in the country. But in the Sugar Bowl it won't be best out of seven.
In one game, anything can happen. If FSU plays their best game, they won't get beat. If they are
off that day, they are beatable.
Dboiy: Did Paul Hackett save his job by beating UCLA?
Beano Cook:
I think he was going to get another year regardless. That was a big win because UCLA has
dominated that series in the '90s. If he splits that series and beats Notre Dame, he is OK. But if
he loses to those teams, he would be in trouble.
It's just like at Alabama, you had better not lose to Auburn too often.
HokieNutz: Who was the last "unknown" to win a national title? Would you put Washington or Georgia Tech in
that category in 1990? Or is Virginia Tech stepping into possible unchartered waters?
Beano Cook:
Georgia Tech won national titles before and Washington has always had good teams. The real
surprise was BYU in 1984.
But Va. Tech is in that category. If they win the title this year, they would be the biggest surprise, along with BYU
in '84, in the last 50 years.
Chris: What are your thoughts on Friday's game in Boulder?
Beano Cook: Nebraska should win and will try to roll up the score. It is not whether they win, but by how
much. It is bad for college football to have teams rolling up the score to impress the pollsters. I am
not saying Nebraska will win by 50, but if they can, they will.
Wayne Ozmore: Is Thomas Jones (RB-Virginia) gaining ground on Ron Dayne in the Heisman race?
Beano Cook:
He might be gaining ground, but it is very unlikely anyone will catch Dayne. I just think Dayne will
win it.
Battle: Will Illinois be playing during the holidays?
Beano Cook:
There is a chance and it would be nice. Turner has done a great job there. I have said for 30
years, you can win at Illinois, but the question is, "why haven't they won more?" I think they are
pointed in the right direction. They gave Penn State a battle.
Hokie High: What are your thoughts for the simplest way to have a playoff so no one would get the
shaft like either Tech or Nebraska will?
Beano Cook:
You have the four major bowl games, take the four winners, play the two semifinals around Jan. 10 or 11
and then the championship the Monday before the Super Bowl.
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COOK'S FILE
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Cook, who joined ESPN in March 1986, serves as a college football studio commentator and occasional sideline reporter. He also offers college football commentary on ESPN Radio. Cook came to ESPN after four years (1982-85) at ABC Sports as a studio commentator during its College Football Association telecasts. From 1977-82, he worked in public relations for CBS Sports. From 1974-77, he was a sportswriter for the St. Petersburg Times; the director of public relations for the Miami Dolphins; public relations director for the Mutual Radio Network and he also toured with VISTA. He was ABC Sports NCAA press director from 1966-74.
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UGA Man: Any thoughts on UGA vs. Georgia Tech?
Beano Cook:
Tough call and the toughest of the day to call. I really don't have a strong opinion, but I think
Georgia will pull a small upset.
Khuvinen: With a strong bowl game performance, and a likely conference MVP award; where
would you rank Washington's Marques Tuiasosoppo's chances for the Heisman next season?
Beano Cook:
I think his chances are very good. He has a chance, that is obvious. People know what he is doing and that is
what helps a team and a player -- a good performance in a bowl game. You have to get the ink. I
haven't thought about the year 2000 Heisman. But if you asked me the favorite going into the
season it would be Drew Brees. This year it was Peter Warrick. Even if he hadn't had his trouble,
Ron Dayne may still have won it.
Erik the Red: Do you feel there is a Big Ten/SEC bias in the polls and in the media?
Beano Cook:
Bias in my opinion is doing something on feelings and not judgment. I believe those two are the
best conferences. If I felt otherwise and voted that way, there would be a bias. I don't think the
Big Ten is as good this year as many think, but the SEC is pretty good.
So I don't think there is a bias, at least not that much to make a difference.
Chris: Please give me your thoughts on Lamont Jordan?
Beano Cook:
He had a great game against Virginia (unbelievable). When you have over 300 yards, you catch
the attention of voters. At least he caught mine.
Bamadude: Why does Notre Dame get so much publicity? They get more talk than any other team in the
nation, but they deserve none of it! I wish they would join the SEC. Tennessee blasted them, and in a
few years they play 'Bama.
Beano Cook:
Last time I looked, ND is 4-1 against Alabama. They have more national titles and more Heisman
trophy winners than any other school. They have had their down times, but they still have the
titles.
Buckeye: Who do you think will be the next coach at LSU?
Beano Cook: No idea. I thought Terry Bowden might take the job, but he just signed a two-year extension with
ABC.
Up North: Why would anyone want to give up a TV job to go back into coaching?
Beano Cook:
I agree 100 percent.
Kent Cook: Is Glenn Mason going to leave Minnesota after he has turned the program around just as he did at
Kansas?
Beano Cook:
There is a chance he might. I have no inside information, but there aren't that many good jobs
open this year that would tempt him to leave.
Buckeye hater:: Will John Cooper be fired after falling to 2-9-1 against Michigan?
Beano Cook:
I don't think so. But I think he will have to have a good next year. It will have to be a REAL good
year. This year he had to play Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State on the road. Next year
they are coming to his place and that will make a difference. He was due for a down year.
Robert: Will Texas be able to beat Nebraska twice in one year? If they do beat A&M then Nebraska,
what bowl will they go to?
Beano Cook:
They would probably go to the Fiesta Bowl. If they win the conference title it is the Fiesta. They
have conference tie-ins.
Yes, I think Texas has an excellent chance of winning that game because they can throw the ball
well.
Here is a quick statement I would like to make:
If Kansas State isn't one of the at-large teams for a BCS bowl, it will be a disgrace and a
misjustice. The other wild card teams should be between Tennessee, Michigan or Michigan State.
I think Tennessee is a shoe-in.
Zeff: What are your thoughts on what Bill Snyder did with a team that lost 18 starters and was
supposed to finish third in the Big 12 North?
Beano Cook:
Quite surprised. I thought they would lose three, maybe four games. Before the season I would
have said 7-4 is much more likely than 10-1.
Davebo: How does it feel to be a thorn in the side of business? With around 750 people glued to
their computer instead of being productive?
Beano Cook:
It could be worse, they all could be watching local news -- speaking of a waste of time. Or
listening to a pledge drive on PBS.
Lonnie Giamela: Who will win the Rose Bowl?
Beano Cook: Too early to tell, but you would have to pick Wisconsin at this point. They will be favored. It will
be their sixth trip to the Rose Bowl and they have been favored three times.
Marzxyz: Does Boston College have any chance of upsetting Virginia Tech on Friday?
Beano Cook:
Worse teams than BC have beaten better teams than Va. Tech. But I don't see it happening in this
game. Emotionally BC will be down no matter what the coaches do. If you asked BC who they
would rather beat, they would always say Notre Dame.
BEC Eagle: A Boston radio station reported that Joe Paterno is thinking about stepping down. Any color on this?
Beano Cook: I don't think he would step down because he wants to beat Bear Bryant's coaching record which
he would do next year.
ASU: Why do you think that Notre Dame will challenge for the title next year? They are terrible.
Beano Cook:
They're not terrible, but my prediction is still early. It is subject to change.
Tennessee, Texas, and Florida State will fight for the national title next season with Notre Dame having an outside
chance. If they can survive the early part of their schedule, they have a chance.
Jimmy: Is Virginia Tech here to stay?
Beano Cook:
I have to be convinced, but I would have to say I think they will be pretty good for the next couple
of years with Vick at quarterback. I don't think they will go undefeated next year because they
have to go to Syracuse and Miami.
Mark: Florida State does an incredible job in recruiting, but more incredible is how they hold on to
assistant coaches. They've only lost one in the last six years. What does Bobby do to chase away
suitors to his assistants?
Beano Cook:
1. - they win and 2. - they get big bonuses. These coaches know they are going to win and
go to bowl games and get their bonuses.
However, if they are offered a head coaching job, I think they would take it.
Bob: Why is everybody always worried about Syracuse? What have they proven?
Beano Cook:
They won at Michigan in '98. They have a decent team and are capable of winning.
Volfan: What, in your opinion, are the best coaching staffs in the country?
Beano Cook:
That is very tough because I don't really know all the assistants. I would still say Joe Paterno is the
best head coach.
Outradition: What do you think about the job Bob Stoops has done at Oklahoma this year?
Beano Cook:
It is a very good job. Right away he has turned that team around. They have a great tradition, he
will recruit well and they will win. They are back to when they will give Texas problems. That is a
good division now with Texas and Texas A&M and now Oklahoma. It is much better than the
other side.
Mike: Why did Lou Holtz leave Notre Dame, a proven tradition, to go to perennial loser in South Carolina?
Beano Cook:
The administration made it uncomfortable for him and they wanted him out.
Someone: Notre Dame-Nebraska next year, what a way to start off the millennium. What are your early
thoughts?
Beano Cook:
ND has to do well. They have to start out well or they are looking at 6-5. They start with Texas
A&M, Nebraska, and Purdue. If they win two of those three, they could be on their way.
But the ND-Neb two-game set is very intriguing. ND goes to Florida State in 2002 and that will
also be very exciting. ND's schedules are getting tougher.
Canes Fan: How good will Miami be next year? Do they have a chance to win it all?
Beano Cook:
Very good. They are the team to beat in the Big East and they will be in contention for the
national title. The big game for them will be when Florida State visits in October.
No More JoPa!: How can Paterno be the best coach after this year's embarrassing season? It was pitiful!
Beano Cook:
It wasn't pitiful. The three losses were to top 25 teams headed to bowl games. Get a life!
GeorgiaNole: Any thoughts on ACC expansion?
Beano Cook:
They have talked about it, but it is unlikely at this stage. You keep hearing Miami but they have
seen the problems FSU has had competing in basketball. FSU has done nothing in hoops. There
are schools in that league that don't want Miami in the ACC.
Kyle: What's your opinion on Hawaii's success this year?
Beano Cook:
If June Jones wins against Washington State on Saturday, he should be Coach of the Year. By far
the best job in college football.
Battle: How about Lamar Odom and those Clippers?
Beano Cook:
Yes!!! Please save me two seats for the championship series.
TB: Will N.C. State go after Jim Donnan?
Beano Cook:
They might, but why would you leave Georgia to go play in a basketball conference? In Georgia
the alumni would much rather win a national title in football then basketball but at NC State they
want one in basketball. And Donnan is a football coach.
R.J.: Do you think that Ohio State is on the downswing or is this year just a fluke?
Beano Cook:
We find out next year but they have been in the hunt for the national title in '96 and '98. They
were due for a lull. I don't think anyone expected 6-6, but they will continue to dominate. Adding
Penn State to the Big Ten made the conference 30 percent tougher.
Someone: What do you see Coach Barnett doing at Colorado to bring them to the level of a Nebraska
or Texas? Can it happen?
Beano Cook:
It can happen, but it won't happen on a consistent basis. Over a 10-year period, Nebraska and
Texas will be the better teams but Colorado will have a couple of good years. You are in trouble
when your state has better skiers than blue-chip football players.
After a slow start of 1-4, our record stands at 8-5.
This week: Arizona State 24, Arizona 17
Have a good Turkey Day and don't stuff yourself too much. Take care and we'll do this again
next week.
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