ESPN College Football

LSU fans wrote to complain about my story of Georgia coming back to beat South Carolina, saying that when LSU pulls out a close game, it's lucky, but when Georgia does it, it's character.

While I was thinking about that, an Ohio State fan wrote to say that when the Buckeyes win a close game, they're lucky, but when Georgia and LSU do it, it's character.

But the mailbag filled up the most from South Florida, where Miami fans wrote en masse to question my sanity, eyesight, moral character, and pharmaceutical sources for saying that Florida State dominated the game for 59 minutes. OK, I'll grant you, that was strong.

But let's look at something. Say that Miami led 10-3 with 1:20 to play, that the 'Canes had held the 'Noles to 264 yards and 11 first downs, that FSU had first-and-goal at the Miami 2 in the fourth quarter and didn't get into the end zone. You'd feel like Miami had dominated, wouldn't you?

Well, those stats are what Florida State had done to Miami until that final minute. Florida State had stopped Miami cold, which is what made the final minute and overtime all the more impressive. As I went on to say in the same paragraph, in the end Miami dominated Florida State again.

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As part of the typical Monday morning banter, my colleagues and I were having a discussion on all of the weekend's games. When it came down to it, the player that got the most discussion time was (Miami corner) Antrel Rolle, who had by far the most impressive game of the college season for any player at any position. Just dominating. I decided to look at ESPN.com's Heisman watch site to see if somebody at the worldwide leader had any vision, and instead I see the lone defensive player listed as David Pollack. What a joke. Please, please, please...more people need to be talking about Rolle, who gave the most dominating performance I've seen in college in a long time.

Jason Anderson
Dallas, Texas

Good point, Jason. I should have included Rolle myself in my vote. If he continues to play as he did against Florida State (six tackles, three for loss, one sack), I will. So will everyone else.

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As much as I love the Wolverines the first two games have been mediocre, and the schedule doesn't get any easier. Everyone expected some struggles offensively, but have you been as surprised as I have at the complete lack of a running game? I mean 56 yards is just embarrassing and with the special teams problems again there's only so much the defense can do. First question is do you think Michigan will do better than 7-4 this season? Second, where do you think Lloyd Carr ranks in the coaching world? Since the '97 championship season UM has had one 4-loss season, four 3-loss seasons, and one 2-loss season and while a .760 winning percentage over these 6 seasons isn't bad, the Wolverines haven't really been close to a national title.

David Rauch
London, England

I'm a sucker for the European fans. David, several Michigan fans wrote in with similar complaints about Carr, who did win a national championship, which not even Bo could do. All those complaints last season dissipated once the Wolverines made it to the Rose Bowl. I don't think Carr in general or Michigan this year is anywhere close to being written off yet.

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I enjoy reading your mailbag column on ESPN.com, but none of your pieces have had the effect of the recent article on the Special Spectators program. This ol' tough guy admits to getting a little teary eyed while reading this story of triumph through tragedy. I would hope that all collegiate programs (including my beloved Hokies) would make room in their stadiums for this program. If I had a seat at a game, I'd gladly give it up just so a sick child could smile for once. That's a guaranteed 'W' in the stat column, no matter what the score is on the field!

Thanks for your time, and thanks for bringing this program to your readers. The world needs more 'good guys' like Blake Rockwell.

Very respectfully,
Joel Richardson,
Hickam AFB, HI

Joel, thanks. Again, for those of you who are interested, please go to the SpecialSpectators.org for more details.

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Good for Sylvester Croom and shame on the media. Croom is the only one who doesn't see color. The supposedly color-blind media harps on "the first African American this" and "the 1st African-American that" If another black man is hired in the SEC do not fool yourself into thinking that the "color-blind" media will not hit us with "the 2nd African American....."

Last year when Rush Limbaugh made his comments (which in my opinion were correct but did not belong on a pregame show) the media hit us with "we don't see color we only see athletes....."

Croom earned his job and was hired to win football games and coach college players. He was not hired as some sort of token and does not need his race mentioned in every single story written about him. His name is Sylvester Croom, not African-American football coach Sylvester Croom.

Good for him that he is focused on his job and shame on the media for not doing the same.

Rob Buonomo
Las Vegas NV

Rob, I appreciate you writing, and as I have written here and in my stories, I think we disagree on the definition of news. But to use Colin Powell as an example, when he was first appointed to the Joint Chiefs, and then as chairman, and then as Secretary of State, his color played a role in those stories. It didn't thereafter. Croom had to endure, and hopefully, enjoy the stories until he coached his first game.

Now we can all talk about important stuff, like how in the world Rush Limbaugh gets to date Daryn Kagan. What is up with her?

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The BCS sucks. A playoff would suck. The NCAA sucks because they don't distinguish those suckers Jeremy Bloom and Mike Williams from the the other 10,000-plus NCAA athletes. The ACC sucks because their fans are spoiled intellectual elitists. The SEC sucks because they're cheaters. It sucks that the Pac-10 doesn't get the respect it deserves despite the fact that it still sucks. The Big Ten sucks because it has eleven teams. The Big 12 sucks because A&M got blasted by Utah and Texas is only interested in winning recruiting titles. The Big East sucks because Miami left. Mid-majors suck because they don't play USC, Michigan, Purdue, and a host of other big teams during their season. Notre Dame sucks because they do. Instant replay sucks because the officials are always correct. Officials suck because they can't watch everything in slow motion a dozen times before throwing a flag. USC sucks because they couldn't beat Virginia Tech by 100 points. LSU sucks because they aren't USC. You suck. I suck.

Now that that's all out of the way, why not leave out all the irrational ranting and use this column for stuff that doesn't suck?

Eddie Pettis
West Lafayette, IN

Eddie, that would have been a great letter if it didn't su - never mind. I can't write it. Too easy.

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My name is Eric and I am in the Air Force currently deployed over to Kyrgyzstan. I am also a Miami native and a diehard Canes fan. I read your article on the game and I was just curious, what game where you watching?? You referred to FSU dominating Miami twice in your article. The only thing they dominated in was lost yardage. Yes, they lead most of the game by 10...hardly domination. If I remember correctly Miami held FSU to double digits in total yardage for most of the game while Miami had over 300 yards offense. Where is the domination?

Basically our defense kept the game close and if not for 2 stupid fumbles it would have been a 10 point game the other way. Don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for you as a sports writer. I'm just tired of everybody jumping on the FSU bandwagon yet its always the cliché's like Miami somehow finds a way to win that makes me mad. How bout giving them credit for a change!!!! As far as I'm concerned I love watching any Bowden-coached team. That whole family is the definition of class. I only wish Miami had a coach that loyal to its program. Anyhow sorry I had some free time over hear and decided to vent! Thanks for listening!

Thanks!
TSgt Eric Bradley, USAF

Eric, thanks for your letter, and for your sacrifice, and for proving that there is one Miami fan out there who doesn't dismiss Bobby Bowden as a whipping boy, although I'm wondering if you're the only one, and they discovered you and shipped you out over there and won't let you come back -- nah, probably not.

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Ivan, I read your No. 2 point in your 9/10 Three-Point Stance and have this response. ARE YOU KIDDING!!! How can you ask the Canes to leave the very place that they have dominated for so long! I agree the place needs a little upkeep, but if you can improve a swamp...you can improve anything! The (real) Orange Bowl IS the mystique. What have the Dolphins done since they left? Too many of you guys are getting used to your comfy press boxes and forget what it's really all about, the fans, the real fans.

The Hurricanes have a great advantage being in the Orange Bowl. Only real Canes fans like to come out to the games there and sit on the bench seats with someone's elbow in their ribs for four hours. Or, sit in the last row of the top deck where you need a telescope to see the game. Who needs bathrooms, when the Canes are playing who goes to the bathroom anyway? Minor issues to deal with when you get to enjoy the best program in college football today.

If the Canes leave the Orange Bowl it will never be the same. Corporate sponsors will grab up tickets and issue them to ladder climbers so they can sit in skyboxes and talk nonsense and pretend to even have a remote interest in the game. I know, I have seen it first hand and deplore the skyboxes and wannabes that fill them. The real fans sit in 90-plus degree heat or pouring rain and root for the home team winning or losing. They aren't concerned about minor discomforts and are only concerned with seeing their team play well and cheering for them to win. These are also the same fans that will travel and deal with the taunts, jeers and bad seats somewhere else to watch their team play. It's all about the "U" and the students, alumni and fans that adore it. It's not a beautiful house, but it's about OUR HOUSE! The Orange Bowl IS our house!

I saw my first Canes game as a small boy back in '69 and was hooked! I am a season ticket holder and don't even live in Miami. I travel four hours to get to the Orange Bowl and don't regret one second of it! What makes it worth it? When I get there I know I will be surrounded by fans, real, rabid Canes fans. If you don't like our house, then don't come over anymore! That's one more space for a Canes fan! Oh yeah, never insult someone's house!

Chuck Jones
Somewhere in Caneland

Chuck, you make a fine defense of the old dump. And in honor of your namesake, I say, Th-th-th-th-that's All, Folks!

Ivan Maisel is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Send your question/comments to Ivan at ivan.maisel@espn3.com. Your e-mail could be answered in a future Maisel E-mails.