ROSE BOWL THINKING OUTSIDE BCS BOX.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF 

Imagine a Rose Bowl in 2007 pitting Ohio State against Tulane. Or USC against Marshall. Or Michigan against Texas Christian.

Sounds like another example of the granddaddy of them all being abused by the Bowl Championship Series. At least that could be an initial impression, especially when it recently was announced a non-BCS conference team could find a way to Pasadena in two years.

But the Rose Bowl's decision might be shrewder than it looks.

Under the agreement, which is not a signed contract by the way, the Rose Bowl agreed to take a non-BCS conference or ``coalition'' school once every eight years beginning in the 2006 season. Coalition schools are members of the Sun Belt, WAC, MAC, Mountain West and Conference USA.

In order for a school like Tulane to qualify to play in the Rose Bowl, the Pacific-10 or Big Ten champion would have to be playing for the national championship. And Tulane would have to finish in the top 12 of the BCS standings. Tulane could also qualify if it is in the BCS top 16, but rated ahead of the lowest-ranked BCS conference champion.

In that perfect storm, the Green Wave would crash into Pasadena on New Year's Day. Hardly an ideal situation for the Rose Bowl right?

Maybe, but the Rose Bowl could be better off than its BCS rivals by only hosting a coalition team once every eight years. For example, if a coalition team met the above qualifications every season, the other BCS bowls would be on the hook because the Rose Bowl would meet its requirement the first season.

In that scenario, the Orange Bowl might host two non-BCS conference teams or more over the next decade, depending upon how often they qualify.

``If somebody qualified every year, the other bowls would have to take a coalition team more often than we do,'' said Rose Bowl executive director Mitch Dorger. ``We were willing to participate but not willing to carry the brunt of the problem.

``Once every eight years is what we were willing to do. We didn't have to take any of them. But we felt we needed to support the agreement with the BCS and the coalition schools.''

The Rose Bowl took the initiative by agreeing to be the first bowl willing to host a coalition team. The other bowls are banking on the idea few coalition teams will qualify under the agreement.

The more Tulanes and TCUs that do qualify, the better the Rose Bowl looks. The less teams that qualify could make the deal less attractive.

``It's a matter of perception whether it's a good deal or bad deal,'' Dorger said. ``We recognized our conferences were part of the BCS and we agreed to support them in resolving the access for coalition teams.''

Another change since the 2002 fiasco that saw Iowa and USC play in the Orange Bowl is a rule that gives the Rose Bowl the first chance to pick a No. 2 team from the Big Ten or Pac-10, if that team qualifies for a BCS bowl game.

For example, the Rose Bowl could pick Iowa under the new plan, an option that wasn't available two years ago.

``We're pleased with that change,'' Dorger said. ``In 2002, we had no special claim on the No. 2 Big Ten team.''

--No replays: The Big Ten is experimenting with instant replays for its nonconference games but not everyone went along with the idea, especially teams from the West.

Thirteen of the Big Ten's 17 nonconference home football games scheduled to appear on television will use instant replay, but four schools did not grant their approval: Arizona State (Sept. 11 at Northwestern), UCLA (Sept. 11 at Illinois), Iowa State (Sept. 11 at Iowa) and San Diego State (Sept. 18 at Michigan).

The Big Ten will experiment with instant replay for one season.

--Heisman candidate: If you're looking for an under-the-radar pick, how about Florida sophomore quarterback Chris Leak?

He already owns a victory over LSU, the only quarterback who could say that last season, and this year he actually knows Coach Ron Zook's offense.

--Needy students: Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz took some heat over the summer from a housing scandal reported by the Des Moines Register. The newspaper revealed that Ferentz's son, Brian, lived in an Iowa City apartment complex intended for needy families, elderly people or those with disabilities.

Kirk Ferentz is the state government's highest-paid employee, earning about $1.95 million last year, according to the paper. Brian Ferentz, an offensive lineman, was allowed to live in the complex because, like many student-athletes, he met the financial requirements.

The paper reported about 200 students lived in the apartments last year. Ferentz said he would not prohibit his players from living in subsidized housing.

``I'm not going down that road because to me it's a personal decision,'' he told the paper. ``To me, it's a HUD issue. I don't think it's my issue.''

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By Scott Wolf

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- Scott Wolf