Blogpoll Roundtable

Without a game this weekend to blog about, the latest blogpoll roundtable comes at just the right time. Check out CrossCyed to read what other bloggers had to say.

1. We're about halfway through the season at this point. Have you gotten a gauge on your team's chances this year to make noise in conference play, or is the team still a total freaking mystery?

Total freaking mystery. Our record, as TOB will tell you, is good. 4-1 at this point certainly means bowl bound, but the team has underachieved and barely won any of its games. As the season moves on I think the Clemson and BYU wins will look pretty good but for now they have a hollow taste to them. The real test is this month. If the team beats Virginia Tech and FSU, they have a shot at the conference title. If they donÂ’t it will be another bowl game that no one cares about.

2. Many of the bigger conferences such as the Big 12 and the Big 10 use a rotating schedule to determine conference games each year. What are your feelings on the current system used in your conference? Does a rotating schedule work? Has your team always caught a break?

I like the way the SEC and ACC schedule. While the SECÂ’s division make much more sense than the ACCÂ’s contrived Coastal and Atlantic nonsense, both conferences have tested champions. You have to have the best record in your division, are likely to rotate through at least one power team from the other division and must win a conference title game. In my mind that is a better test than say a Big 10 team getting by without playing Michigan or Ohio state.

3. In an effort to get to know more about college football, both nationally and regionally, what have you done to expand your college football horizons? Have you caught yourself watching games from other conferences, or taking an interest in games that show up on ESPNU or Fox Sports?

While regionalism certainly plays into my bias, IÂ’d like to think I have a pretty expansive knowledge base. IÂ’ve got ESPN Gameplan and lived in nearly every region of the country, so I respect various styles and traditions. But as a voter and blogger, I just try to be honest and myself and let the votes and bias work themselves out. I am more likely to give Rutgers a boost in the poll yet at the same time ding WVU. You wonÂ’t find many AP voters who will admit to that sort of subjective skewing.

4. What would you change about the current exposure your team gets, either on the radio, television, print, or on the internet?

I am a displaced fan first, so I one thing I would like to change is the increasing number of non-televised games. We just had our first one and have at least two more on the schedule. It is all a result of BC watering down its schedule. I would love to see a better out of conference slate, but I am not holding my breath happeningpening.

5. During last Saturday's game against I-AA Northern Iowa, Iowa State trailed 21-7 at the half. The Cyclone Marching Band played a variety of songs from animated shows, including selections from South Park titled "Blame Canada" and "What Would Brian Boitano Do?" Needless to say, the Cyclones outscored the Panthers 21-6 in the second half. If you had to pick one song for your favorite team to rally to, what would it be? Because we all know what they did for the 2005 White Sox, Journey and "Don't Stop Believing" are not to be considered.

The BC band has a rep for a limited repertoire. But their trump card is the ultimate crowd pumping song -- Bon Jovi's "Livin' On a Prayer." The irony, the joy, the cheesereligiouslconnotationsations, the nostalgia, the appropriateness within the game, it's all there. The perfect song.