OPINION

By Matt Hayes

updated 8:06 p.m. ET Dec. 19, 2008

Matt Hayes

Five things to watch this weekend:

1. The consequences of your decisions.
Listen up, Auburn fans. Take a gander at the Eaglebank Bowl and see what could've been yours. And see what would've been a much brighter future.

On one sideline is Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, the coach who has proven that, yes, miracles really do come true: the 'Deacs are among the ACC elite.

On the other sideline is Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, who has proven that, yes, men of color are just as capable as your average, everyday Caucasian coaching retread.

Meanwhile, Auburn ends up with Gene Chizik — he of the five career wins at Iowa State and the sparkling 2-14 Big 12 record in two seasons at Ames. How exciting.

Auburn officials spoke with Grobe, and apparently those in charge weren't interested in — oh, I don't know — a man of proven coaching ability. The Auburn search committee (insert punch line) didn't talk to Niumatalolo, who won eight games in his first season at the Academy and likely wouldn't have had the job without some (listen up again, Aubie) forward thinking administrators who saw talent — not skin color.

I've said this time and again, and I'll say it one more time: the good people at Auburn don't deserve a few knuckleheads gumming up the entire operation.

Now, I'll say it in a language the knuckleheads can clearly understand: Nick Saban is laughing at you.

2. Back in the day.
Remember earlier this decade when Fresno State and Colorado State had two of the best non-BCS games this decade? When guys like David Carr and Bradlee Van Pelt led memorable games that had nothing to do with the SEC or USC or BCS.

OK, maybe BCS.

• In 2001, Carr led a game-tying drive in the final seconds of regulation and Fresno State got a field goal in overtime to win 25-22. Six days later — and after victories over Colorado, Oregon State and Wisconsin had the Bulldogs ranked No. 8 in the nation and dreaming of becoming the first non-BCS team in a big boy bowl — Boise State's 35-30 win ended the magical season.
• The following season, with Colorado State holding slim hopes of finding a way to a BCS game, Fresno State finally found a way to stop Van Pelt and won 32-30. Van Pelt had passed for 214 yards and rushed for 125, but his two-point conversion throw was batted away with 50 seconds to play to end it.

Now these two teams couldn't be further away from BCS dreams.

3. The fade.
It was all so perfect last year; the story of the moment. USF, barely walking as a Division I program, ranked No. 2 in the nation.

And then, pffffft.

Let's take a look at the slide, shall we? Since the 6-0 start last year, the Bulls are 10-9 — but 7-9 vs. BCS schools and 5-8 vs. the Big East, whose stock is hovering just above GM and Chrysler.

A year ago, USF was talking about playing for the national title in the Superdome. Now the Bulls are playing in something called the magicJack Bowl in a broken down baseball dome in St. Petersburg.

From the dynamic debauchery of New Orleans, to the sedate trip across the bay in St. Petersburg. From playing an SEC team for the national title, to playing an SEC wannabe in a game with zero panache.

Wasn't so long ago that USF was bragging about being the best team in the state of Florida. The Bulls may not be the best team in Hillsborough County.

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