One Thing Is Certain in the BCS Mess

If Oregon has a stumble down the stretch, they are done as far as the BCS and national championship is concerned. There are too many undefeated teams left, and too many quality one-loss teams who lost earlier and have had time to rebuild their resume. Alabama, Ohio State, Nebraska, TCU, Utah, Boise State, Michigan State, Missouri, Auburn and Wisconsin would all be ahead of a one-loss Oregon team.

The Ducks would fall hard, harder than most unbeatens. There’s something about the Oregon program, the offense, the uniforms, the geographic location, the lack of a big-time history and reputation, that inspires doubters, naysayers, nitpickers and critics. The Robert Smiths and Jon Wilners of the world predict four or five Oregon losses a year, and when one actually occurs, they stand on the footstool of circumstance and say, “See, I told you they were overrated.” It is easier to be a critic than a believer. It’s easier to doubt and predict failure. Cynicism is the refuge of cowards and quitters. Passion has a price, and the risk of disappointment. Cynicism revels in disappointment, in looking for the flaw, in waiting for dreams to crash down. The Ducks are flashy and ambitious. Some people are eager for them to fall, anticipate it, invent reasons for it to happen. Objectivity is one thing, but there is a vital difference between objectivity and transparent, obstinate negativity. Smith and Wilner regularly cross the line.

Imagine a season when winning a second straight conference championship and going to the Rose Bowl would feel like a consolation prize. Yet 7-0 is a guarantee of nothing except the Emerald Bowl. USC looked like the USC of old against Cal. The Huskies’ defense is porous, but they were good enough to beat USC in the Coliseum, good enough to overcome the Beavers in two overtimes. Cal manhandled an Arizona State team the Ducks had trouble with. Arizona pummeled Washington today with a substitute quarterback. The Beavers will save their best game of the year for the Ducks.

It’s a 12-round heavyweight fight. Right now the Ducks are leading on all three cards, but the bell will ring for round eight in six days.