TCU dodged a bullet Sunday when Florida head coach Urban Meyer decided to take a leave of absence and remain with the Gators instead of giving up the position.
Some argued the shock waves of a retirement decision might have bounced Frog head coach Gary Patterson to another national powerhouse. Maybe it could’ve been the University of Oklahoma if Bob Stoops was lured to the Sunshine state to take Meyer’s job.
But the assurance gained by knowing Fort Worth’s most popular Frog is staying in town might have cost the Frogs a share of the national spotlight they have accumulated for their “left-out” BCS bowl game.
After the initial booing and hissing that brought the Fiesta Bowl selections to forefront of sports news, it was evident that the Fiesta Bowl selection committee was smarter than fans gave them credit for being. It’s the Kanye West Effect.
The Fiesta Bowl knew that matching up two non-automatic qualifying teams in a BCS game and keeping them from proving their worth against a big boy would draw all the media attention. There have been countless columns written since that Sunday early in December talking about how these two teams were given the shaft and how corrupt the BCS has become. However, the day following Selection Sunday, the Fiesta Bowl was voted on ESPN.com as the most interesting bowl game this side of the BCS National Championship Game.
It’s a technique Kanye West perfected over the years and the Fiesta Bowl caught on. News is news, even if it’s bad news. Getting people to talk and think about how bad this year’s Fiesta Bowl matchup is would make it one of the highest-rated bowl games this year. And their plan almost worked. Ask Taylor Swift if you don’t believe the Kanye West Effect worked.
Now, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is poised and ready to bring the wrath of God on Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl to ease the pain he feels for his coach and second father figure, Urban Meyer.
The nation watched Sunday as Tebow sat confidently praising his coach as Meyer sat next to the quarterback looking shaken and distraught. They heard Tebow’s stories of Meyer’s “I love you” exchanges that took place with various players this week as if Meyer knew his end was near. Now the nation will watch as the Gators march into New Orleans with the name of Meyer on their hearts and bring a hurt on a coachless University of Cincinnati that might force thoughts of retirement into the Bearcats’ minds.
Poll the country now and I think everyone outside the Frog nation would rather see a united family of Gators win for their coach, their second dad, than feel sorry for a few small teams who think they should have gotten a cooler Christmas present.
The Frogs now need to make an amazing showing in Glendale on Jan. 4 or blue and orange might fill the lead on ESPN that night and it won’t be that of Boise State uniforms.
