A Rose Bowl By Any Other Name . . .

. . . would still smell as sweet for undefeated and #3 ranked Texas Christian University after their 21-19 victory over #4 ranked Wisconsin.  The victory probably won’t catapult TCU to a post-season #1 ranking, since the upcoming Jan. 10 Fiesta Bowl features a battle between #1 ranked Auburn and #2 ranked Oregon, both unbeaten.

But TCU has an excellent chance to end the post season ranked #2 in the land, and an opportunity to shut the big mouth of Ohio State University president Gordon Gee, who needs to eat a little crow with his black-eyed peas.  Earlier in the season, Gee publicly questioned the quality of opponents that TCU has played in the Mountain West Conference and how they would fare playing tougher competition.  TCU responded by offering to play the Ohio State Buckeyes anywhere, anytime. Now TCU has beaten the same Wisconsin team that humiliated the Ohio State Buckeyes earlier in the season and we can safely assume that Ohio State has no desire to take up the challenge to add a tough game against TCU to their football schedule.  We can also hope we’ve settled the question of Gordon Gee’s football IQ forever.

Of course, Wisconsin wasn’t the only blemish on the Buckeyes’ record this season.  Five Ohio State players, including their starting quarterback, will be ineligible to play in the first five games of next season, with one player ineligible for the first game of next season, after violating NCAA rules. Why the NCAA didn’t suspend these six players for Ohio State’s upcoming bowl game against Arkansas is cause for some concern.  I suppose by now it’s old hat for Coach Jim Tressel and Ohio State to play in bowl games with dubious players.  After all, they won a national championship in 2002 when NCAA rules violator and running back Maurice Clarett scored the winning touchdown against the University of Miami.

While the Ohio State team continues to be mired in controversy (and mediocrity), everything’s coming up Roses for TCU.