OK...I admit it. I was wrong about the meaningfulness of Alabama's season. After a wild final two weeks, Alabama backed it's way into the BCS championship game and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
After Alabama's ugly, self-inflicted overtime loss to #1 LSU on 4 November, Alabama's season seemed all but over. On 12 November, Stanford lost to Oregon. On 18 November, Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State. On 19 November, Oregon lost to USC. Alabama slaughtered Auburn on 26 November, and Oklahoma State did the same to Oklahoma on 3 December. Despite having the last laugh, because of a pathetic loss to an woefully inferior team, Oklahoma State was unable to secure enough votes to overcome Alabama at the #2 BCS spot. Through the failures of the rest of the top 3, some savvy politicking, and a strong performance on a nationally-televised game against Auburn, Alabama survived to fight another day.
I have spent my adult life hating the hopeful catch phrases of those fans that have faith until the very last moment, such as "on any given day..." and "that's why they play the games." I prefer the realism and disappointment mitigation of proactive expectations management. I guess I learned that the game really does matter. It's not decided on paper, on radio, in booths, or in TV commentary. If it was, Oklahoma State would be undefeated and playing LSU for the BCS national championship. I still hate the phrases, but maybe I gained a little more faith.
Alabama received a little help this season. In two weeks, we'll see if they take advantage of it.
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