It's unbelievable to me, as a Bearcat football fan from the 1990s, to even talk about the Bearcats and BCS title in the same breath. Last year's Orange Bowl appearance was special, at least until they took the field. So, I'm putting out there, with the memory of losing to an average Virginia Tech team in the Orange Bowl last year, the idea of the best scenario for the long-term health of the Bearcat football program would be for the Cats to go undefeated and then get snubbed by not getting a shot at the BCS title. The Cats could be this year's Utah or Boise State (heck Boise State could be this year's Boise State) and that wouldn't be a bad thing. If the Cats win out, they get a BCS bowl. Probably another trip to Miami in January (would that be so bad?).

But, by being "snubbed", they would avoid any potential embarrassment of being annhialated by a Florida, Alabama or Texas squad, for all the nation to laugh and say "I told you so." Instead, if UC goes undefeated, gets back to the Orange Bowl, beats an ACC team and dominates them, finishing undefeated, it would build a huge legacy off the what if scenario. For us, what if is better than the potential of losing on the national stage, at least at this infant stage of the Bearcat football program.

Look what Utah and Boise have been able to do since being snubbed by the BCS. They've increased their recruiting base, increased their national prominence and built more of a legacy. And conversely, look what has happened to Ohio State by losing a couple of embarrassing national title games. While their legacy hasn't been decimated, their reputation has been tarnished by losing, badly, in the national title game.

So, relax Bearcat fans. Enjoy the ride and take it game by game. Until then, any talk of a BCS title is premature.

College Football