We had a huge opportunity to get a nice dose of national respect in the Sugar Bowl had we played Michigan or Ohio State. I think the program would have a better reputation with the media right now had we soundly beaten one of those two rather than "flash-in-the-pan" Illinois. I hated that they won the Big 10 that year. They were very good, but beating them did little to raise our stature.
That flash in the pan had a higher ranking than we did, the media was madly in love with Illinois and profoundly bummed out that they were the first Big 10 champ pushed out of the Rose Bowl. It was almost as if they were coached by Urban Meyer!
I really want to see us play USC more than anyone. It'd be cool if we did play OSU or Michigan (ESPECIALLY MICHIGAN!). I think if we stomped USC, there would be lynch mobs forming in Alabama, making way to Indianapolis. (not that that's a good thing, FBI; totally kidding, ya see )
I'm not buying it my friend. LSU beat almighty OU to win a BCS title. That trumps anything but I gotta tell ya, it sucks being good when USC is good too. West Coast will win everytime.
I'm just saying a win over Michigan in a recent Sugar Bowl would add some luster to the program. Illinois....not so much.
