| | The sound you hear coming from the Bowl Championship Series is the Kansas State Wildcats getting the shaft, says ESPN's college football analyst Beano Cook.
Never one to mince words, Cook told an ESPN.com audience it is a travesty the Wildcats are getting passed over, again, for one of the major New Year's Day bowl games. Cook also talked about the front runners for next year's Heisman trophy, his top three coaches he would build a program around and of course, he offered up his weekly prediction.
If you missed Cook's Dec. 1 chat, fear not, and edited transcript follows.
| |  | | Kansas State QB Jonathon Beasley and the Wildcats got left out of the BCS. |
Beano Cook: Good afternoon. I am ready to roll. These weekly sessions will be coming to an end soon. You
won't miss them, but I will! The biggest joke is that Kansas State won't be in one of the four
major bowls. It is an absolute disgrace and any pretense that college football is nothing less than
a business would be ludicrous.
Pdove9: Do you think Kansas State is getting a bad deal by the BCS by not getting a bid by the major bowls?
Beano Cook:
As I just said, yes. Listen, if the people who run college football ran baseball, the Mets and
Yankees would meet in the World Series every year.
I feel Tennessee and Kansas State should be the two at-large teams for the BCS.
HokiezInNewOrleans: Do you think a lot of people/coaches are upset to see Virginia Tech playing Florida State?
Beano Cook:
No, I don't think people are upset about that matchup in the Sugar Bowl.
SECfan: So who shouldn't be there Tennessee or Michigan? I think if anyone from the Big Ten it should be Michigan State.
Beano Cook:
Michigan shouldn't be there. Kansas State lost at Nebraska and Tennessee lost two on the
road. Common sense dictates that Kansas State should be one of the two teams.
Midwest Fan: What happens if BOTH Florida and Nebraska lose on Saturday? That would totally mess up
the Fiesta and Orange Bowls, wouldn't it?
Beano Cook:
Yes, Alabama and Michigan would be in the Orange and Tennessee vs. Texas in the Fiesta.
Those are attractive games. Hey, we're not talking about attractive games, we are talking about
fair play.
HokieG: How does Michael Vick's freshman year rank among the best freshman performances of all
time?
Beano Cook:
It ranks up there with Tony Dorsett in 1973, Herschel Walker. Remember, there weren't
freshmen playing often except during the war and then the 70s-90s. I know Ron Dayne and
Marshall Faulk had big seasons as freshmen, but more people knew about Dorsett and Walker
in their first years, respectively.
Spencer Limbach: Does Joe Hamilton have a chance at the Heisman?
Beano Cook:
No. The Heisman Trophy is like a democrat running in Chicago. It would take an act of God not
to win it at this point. I voted Dayne first, Arrington second and Hamilton third.
Marcus: I want to know what's in Mike Wadsworth's head at Notre Dame? He tries to get people off
his back by claiming that Notre Dame is an educational institution, not a sports institution. I bet
NBC wishes he would have told them that before they signed the contract extension.
Beano Cook:
All I know is the senate faculty voted 25-4 to join the Big Ten. If the Stanford faculty voted
25-4 to join the WAC, they would have been in the WAC. It may have been different in the
past, but it is the same now for everyone. Look at the schools they criticized over the years,
Oklahoma and Miami.
GoState: Do you think Mariucci is the top candidate for the MSU coaching job?
Beano Cook:
No, I think he will try to stay with the Niners. His relationship with basketball coach Tom Izzo
is the main reason for the rumors.
|
COOK'S FILE
|
|
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.
|
Collegefan: Can Florida stop Alexander from running over them this time?
Beano Cook:
My recommendation is: they'd better. He had 200 yards total offense and the winning TD last
time.
KSUwildcat: Do you think the Big 12 should have a championship game? The way it works, Texas gets to
go. And K-State, the real No. 2 in the conference, sits at home. Should there be a game at all?
Beano Cook:
They do it for the money. Tom Osborne said that an unbeaten team could lose in that game and
back in 1996, Nebraska blew a shot at the national title in that game.
Mark: Who are some of your Heisman Trophy candidates for next year?
Beano Cook:
Drew Brees of Purdue, Michael Vick of Virginia Tech and Marques Tuiasosopo of
Washington. Anyone who can pass for 300 and run for 200 against a good team like he did,
that is unbelievable.
OSU Pokes: Will more people cry for a playoff system now?
Beano Cook:
The people cry for honest politicians but they don't get them. Forget about playoffs for a couple
of years. You are wasting your time.
Mike: I have to admire your consistency, you've always trashed Michigan over the years. Bowl games have
been about money for the last 30 years and never been fair. How many 8-3 ND teams were in
major bowls over the years. Give UM a break, perhaps we need to schedule down a little to be
as good as KSU That's sad. Maybe KSU can play Purdue in a rematch vs the Big Ten's No. 5 team
Beano Cook:
Why is my favorite song, "The Victors". I am bashing the system, where Kansas State gets
shafted, not Michigan. How can I get mad at a school which gave us Arthur Miller and Mike
Wallace. Yes, Notre Dame teams at 8-3 got to major bowls and this system was supposed to
correct some of that and it hasn't.
LSU: Do you think LSU made a good decision in Nick Saban?
Beano Cook:
I think LSU made a good decision, I am not sure if Nick Saban did. When I first heard about
this, I did not think he would take the job. Obviously, I was wrong.
Tobdawg: What did you think about the end of the Georgia-Georgia Tech game?
Beano Cook:
Things happen and it was unfortunate for Georgia. Tough call. We saw the replay in slow
motion.
Mulderkr: What do you think of the BCS system?
Beano Cook:
Two years and we've had the top two teams in the championship game. Give this a chance. By
the way, the championship game should use instant replay. Get the calls right.
I also think overtime should be the same way the NFL does it just for that championship game.
Adampsu: Who do you think will be the first pick in the draft, Arrington or Courtney Brown?
Beano Cook:
Ask Mel Kiper. Cleveland would probably take Warrick or Arrington. He'll be on again later
in the year.
Nebraka forever: Do you think that Nebraska's overtime win against Colorado and a win over Texas this weekend
could keep the Huskers in the national championship race?
Beano Cook:
No shot. I thought so until I read the computer stuff. Virginia Tech should play Florida State for
the national title. That is the game that deserves to be played. Any other combination would be
unfair.
SECfan: If you were looking to hire a coach to start a program, who would your top three choices be?
Beano Cook:
Rockne, Leahy and Bryant. Regardless of age, every coach is 45 years old as a premise,
Paterno, George Welsh and Bobby Bowden.
Rolll Tide: Should Dubose remain at Alabama because of a nice season or should his off-the-field problems
earn him early retirement?
Beano Cook:
You have to ask the Chancellor, not me. Based on his performance on the field, he should stay
there. Off-the-field, that you'd have to ask the administration.
One comment I need to make: the problem with today's sports fan is, unless your team finishes
No. 1 everything else is garbage. That's the big problem today.
Jeff in Vacaville, CA: How much will FSU be favored by in the Sugar Bowl? Also, if they win, will that make
the Seminoles the team of the decade?
Beano Cook:
Although I am not a bookie, I would say 10-12 points. My typist feels 8 1/2.
SYFUMA: Why should overtime be like the NFL in the championship game?
Beano Cook:
Because I think all phases of the game should be covered in the title game, the punting, the
kicking, moving the ball up and down the field instead of trying from the 25.
Rolll Tide: Wouldn't most of America be happy to see Steve Spurrier lose to the same team twice in one
year?
Beano Cook:
Spurrier says what he thinks, he doesn't double talk. We should be grateful he is around. If you
want all the cliches, one game at a time, it's a game of inches, then there is something wrong
with you.
Cyrus76: How long do you think Lou Holtz will last at South Carolina?
Beano Cook:
I think he will definitely coach next year. If he finished 5-6 this season, he might not have
returned. I just don't see him leaving with an 0-11 record.
Jfathers: Isn't that what team sports are about, winning? Especially if we're paying to see them.
Beano Cook:
Yes, but because you don't win it doesn't mean you are dirt. America has an
obsession with being No. 1 and people should remember, it is just a sport.
Dawgs: The officiating has been horrible all year long. I can not remember a year this poorly officiated.
Do you think instant replay should be looked at by the NCAA?
Beano Cook:
I don't think it is possible financially to have instant replay at all of the college games. People
always complain about officiating, so it is no different than any other year. Players fumble,
officials err. That's just the way it is. It would still help in interconference games if officials came
from a neutral conference.
Rome: What was the deal when you were yelling to those production people, "tell him I
can hear him! Tell him I can hear him!"? That shows up on those ESPN blooper shows, and it's
one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
Beano Cook: People think that was on the air...that was the outtake. We went on at 11:00 p.m. That was
about 10:50 before the show. I was telling Chris Fowler that I could hear him in my earpiece at
the time. It was pretty funny, wasn't it?
But it wasn't the first time I made an ass of myself and it won't be the last.
Jfathers: Back on the winning thing. If you bought a broken dish washer, you'd return it. If you're a
season ticket holder especially, you want a "mint condition" product. Of course we're obsessed
with number one. we want our money's worth and should expect it.
Beano Cook:
If a team gives 100 percent and loses, it should not be condemned unless they lose on a regular
basis. Athletes should not be booed unless they are a dirty player or loafing. If a player isn't
good enough, blame management. Management is one of the reasons the Bengals don't field
strong teams.
Cyrus76: Do you have a prediction for the Army-Navy game Saturday?
Beano Cook:
I refuse to make predictions on the Army-Navy game when it is played on artificial turf. I only
make a prediction on grass.
Eframe: Do you think Rich Rodriguez of Clemson would be a good choice for a head coaching
position?
Beano Cook:
He will certainly be considered for several vacancies, including Texas Tech.
ND Fan: Have anything to say about a coaching change in South Bend? Perhaps a coordinator?
Beano Cook:
Somebody will be made a scapegoat. That's the new way now. You used to fire the head
coach. That's what they did at Ohio State and Oklahoma State and others will too.
In politics, there are scapegoats. There is no reason to believe that doesn't happen in college
athletics.
CUTiger Fan: Can you comment on the job Tommy Bowden did at Clemson this year? ACC Coach
of the Year? How long do you think it will take him to rebuild the Tiger program? Finally, do you
think he will stay or follow Daddy to FSU?
Beano Cook:
Very good job. They played Virginia Tech and Florida State close (the final score of the Tech
game was misleading). I would say Glen Mason of Minnesota, Ron Turner of Illinois and June
Jones of Hawaii would be the top candidates for Coach of the Year. My vote would be June
Jones.
Nittany Brian: I'll miss you in the offseason, Beano. You're more fun than
my girlfriend.
Beano Cook:
But I don't wear high heels.
THusker: With all of the upcoming vacancies at the helm, do you think Terry Bowden will get back into
coaching? More importantly, off TV.
Beano Cook:
No, he signed a new deal with ABC for two years.
Spending a Saturday afternoon with John Saunders is better than smooching boosters whose
whole life depends on whether the football team wins.
The record is 9-5. My pick for the week is Nebraska 28, Texas 24.
Thanks for all of your
questions. I will be off next week, returning just before the bowls. I look forward to it.
| |
|
