When did football turn into a passing contest?

[Syrinx]

I thought the regular-season Alabama-LSU game was one of the greatest games I've seen in years.

Yet, there were people in here complaining about it because it didn't have enough points.

I thought those complaints were stupid and silly.

What is inherently wrong about great defenses going up against one another?

The height of this stupidity may've been reached on ESPN's website.

The Tide and Tigers played a hard-hitting defensive slog billed as the Game of the Century. And it was exciting in the way Notre Dame and Army's scoreless tie was exciting in the 1946 version of the Game of the Century.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7316817/lsu-tigers-alabama-crimson-tide-rematch-set-bcs-title-game

Of course, the game didn't end in a tie. We don't have ties anymore in college football.

Why is scoring touchdowns more exciting than stopping touchdowns?

Someone needs to explain that to me.

I think it has more to do with marketing than anything else.

It's less to do with quality, and more to do with advertising campaigns.

Commercialism over quality.

Kind of the same reason that the Khardasian idiots are a multi-million industry.

[trumad]

1. I think when it is your team that has gread defense...

it's fantastic.

The last 5 games the Dolphins defense has been nothing short of terrific---and I love watching them play defense and bust the opposing team up.

If it is not my team I prefer more offense--- a little more exciting for sure.

[trotsky]

2. Because that's what appeals to more people.

Virtually every rule change of the last few decades has been to favor the passing game. I can think of only one significant recent change that didn't - the elimination of the "force-out" rule. And honestly, that's so rare that I can't imagine it affecting more than one game per season, if that. People love offense and they love to see the ball thrown. The NFL, never missing a chance to improve on its market share, has responded.

[Mudoria]

3. I miss the way football was played in the 70's-80's

Hard hitting defenses and QB's and WR's weren't treated like an endangered species and protected if they got a smudge on their uni's.

[joeglow3]

4. I am ticked because the BCS got it wrong

Comparing the body of work, Oklahoma State clearly deserved it more than Alabama. However, ESPN is so busy sucking the SEC's dick that they effectively set the matchup with their coverage.

And this is coming from a Nebraska fan who like Alabama and hates the Big XII.

[El Supremo]

5. I blame the west coast.

Particularly the 49ers.

:P

[Auggie]

8. Oh, brother...

:eyes:

[thelordofhell]

6. Quick.....name a modern rule change that benefits the running game

I can name changes that have benefitted the passing game (pass interference, roughing the qb). The NFL is making itself a passing league, and leaving running and good defense in the dust.

[a la izquierda]

7. Big catches? Exciting rushes? Hail mary passes?

Kicks that make (or in Alabama's case, break) a game? Coaches that aren't monumental dou....oh wait, that has nothing to do with offense or defense.
Some of us like a little bit of both. The LSU vs. Alabama snoozer had defense and nothing more. If I had only watched that game, and not another game played by those two teams, I'd be convinced they were terrible because they played well on one side of the ball, but not both (in that game- it's clear that at least LSU can pound the crap out of someone when they have to).

[Awsi Dooger]

9. Tutu Goodell

The only commissioner in any major sport who left it unrecognizable. I've gone back and inputted stats from 1978 forth and nothing changed dramatically until Goodell's tenure.