2001: The Real National Championship

Colorado Fans found out the hard way about the BCS

In the college football season of 2001, The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) had the fans of both the University of Oregon Ducks as well as the University of Colorado Buffalos in an uproar! 

The University of Nebraska Cornhuskers had been number 1 all season long, but in the last regular season game of the year,  Nebraska was CRUSHED by Colorado.  The Buffs laid 62 points on the No. 1 Huskers, defeating them, 62-24.  Not only had Colorado beat them, but Colorado would go unto to be Big 12 Champions, not Nebraska!  After this beating the University of Nebraska dropped to No. 4 in both the Coaches poll as well as the AP poll.  The Oregon Ducks, which were having a tremendous year, led by all American quarterback Joey Harrington were ranked a solid No. 2 in both human polls.  It certainly looked like it would be the Miami Hurricanes vs. either the Colorado Buffaloes or the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl and for the 2001 BCS Title.

As you can see from the table above, the computers still loved the Huskers. Colorado fans were in disbelief!  How the hell after that ass beating of the Huskers, Nebraska was still going to the Rose Bowl? The BCS is S#!+ was the cry from Boulder.
Oregon Duck fans were saying:  We are a solid number 2 in both polls and we’re getting ripped off and not playing in the BCS Title game? What the F@&%!

These fans needed a shirt… and FAST!  While the official bookstore of the University of Oregon would probably not  typically buy an unlicensed shirt, they had to have this one.  And did they buy it… big-time!  And man, did those Duck fans buy that shirt; they were pissed!  The UO Bookstore not only sold it in Eugene but even brought hundreds of the shirt down to Tempe.  Yes, the Fiesta Bowl. And we deemed it HALF THE REAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.  It was the Oregon Ducks vs. Colorado Buffalos.  Pissed off fans and school vs. Pissed off fans and school!  And I guess what really made it worse was the fact that the Huskers got destroyed by the Hurricanes in the Rose Bowl.  Oregon and even Colorado fans were probably thinking, why the hell did the BCS ever select Nebraska?