6B
SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2006
Round 'em up
Isaac Brekken/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trevor Brazil, of Decaur, Texas, competes in the tie-down roping event during the sixth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
NCAA FOOTBALL
Florida president wants BCS change
BY LOUIS ANASTASIS FLORIDA ALLIGATOR
GAINESVILLE, Fl. — Bernie Machen hates the BCS.
Despite the fact that the No. 2 Gators are on their way to the national championship game, the University of Florida's president won't rest easy until a playoff system replaces the Bowl Championship Series.
"We have to convince other schools that a new system can be just
as lucrative and maybe more lucrative and far and that it can work," Machen said after Saturday's Southeastern Conference Championship. "I think there so many people that think that way that it's just a matter of getting it done. In the end, I think we'll do it. It's about the money."
UF will play No. 1. Ohio State in the lan. 8 BCS Championship game. But the Gators were one hundredth of a point from watching Michigan take that honor away.
Without playoffs, two teams get a one-time crack at the championship, even if a handful of others also appear deserving.
"It's not fair. We should be talking about packing our bags tonight." Machen said Saturday night. "Instead, we're talking about style points and who gets to vote. It's ridiculous."
Under the current bowl format, any team that plays in a BCS bowl brings back money for the conference's other schools. So the presidents of weaker programs that are unlikely to make these bowls have little reason to abandon the BCS bandwagon - unless, of course, the NCAA finds a way to still compensate them financially.
"We're the kind of school that's going to be in whatever system there is, whether it's the BCS or a playoff". Machen said. "But there are a lot of other schools that won't be in, and they want to make sure that they're able to participate."
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
Nebraska prepares for Cotton Bowl
BY BEN GOULDSMITH
DAILY NEBRASKAN
LINCOLN, Neb. — Two days after losing the Big 12 Conference Championship game, Cornhusker players were ready to move on.
"You can't have the Big 12 Championship back," said Nebraska senior quarterback Zac Taylor. "Obviously we want it back, but it's not going to come. You can still salvage the season with a big win against a great team like Auburn."
With Saturday's 21-7 loss to Oklahoma still fresh on their minds, the No. 22 Huskers now must focus on preparations for No. 10 Auburn in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1 in Dallas.
It's not like they have much of a choice.
The Tigers own a 10-2 record, with their only losses coming at home against Southeastern Conference opponents Arkansas on Oct. 7 and Georgia on Nov. 11. Auburn has wins over No. 2 Florida and No. 4 LSU.
"If I had my druthers, I would play No. 1 through 10 if I could." Callahan said. "I would schedule them all, and that's because of the expectations at Nebraska. If you want to be great, you've got to play them all."
NU Coach Bill Callahan said during Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference that he was excited about the opportunity to play a marquee team in the bowl game.
Because the bowl game is nearly a month away and because final exams begin next week, the Huskers will get a bit of a break from the regular practice routine this week and work on conditioning.
NU junior tight end J.B. Phillips, who grew up about 30 minutes from the Cotton Bowl in Colleville, Texas, said the month before bowl practices is almost like another fall
camp.
"You can work on some of the younger guys and develop them," Phillips said, "but you can also get in there and really get some work done and work on the fundamentals."
An extra month of practice is also beneficial because it can help returning players get ready for next season.
NU players this year have credited their preparations before their win over Michigan in last year's Alamo Bowl at a time during which they were able to improve, especially since the team only gets 15 days of practice in the spring.
"It think it's a great bonus," Callahan said of the extra practice time. "Here in bowl practice, you can go crazy, and you can practice every day."
A win in the Cotton Bowl would be a confidence boost for returning players, said NU senior defensive end Adam Carriker.
"There still plenty to play for," Carriker said.
That doesn't mean the Huskers have forgotten the sting of Saturday's loss, Carriker said.
But the next month should give players an opportunity to watch film and work on deficiencies in their technique before Jan. 1.
This month also allows Nebraska's coaches plenty of time to put together a strong game plan for the Cotton Bowl.
Saturday's loss prevented the Huskers from earning a BCS bid to the Fiesta Bowl, but Taylor said the Huskers shouldn't be lacking motivation going to Dallas.
"It's not going to put a ring on your finger," Taylor said, "but going out with a win against Auburn would give this team a lot of momentum going into next season."
Rock-a-Hawk!
Our Hawk Week Event:
A welcome back bash for all students.
Ellsworth Corbin GSP Hashinger UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
AURH
ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE HALLS LEWIS McCOLLUM OLIVER TEMPLIN
Halloween in the Halls! Highest attendance in the past several year
Blood Drive! Collected blood in Oliver, GSP, and McCollum. 6th floor McCollum won a pizza party for volunteering and donating the most blood!
Looking to make a difference in your Residence Hall? Join A.U.R.H. Meetings every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in our office on the 2nd floor of McCollum.
over $1000 for Douglas County Aids Project!
Thanks for a great semester! Look for great things to come in the future of AURH!