History gets rewritten, with CFP selection committee chairman Gary Barta and his group

Ten days after Michigan State defeated Michigan 37-33, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee ranked the Spartans behind the Wolverines because, in the words of committee chair Gary Barta, “the committee believes Michigan is the more complete team.” As we await the committee’s latest wisdom, to be delivered Tuesday night . . .

ATLANTA, Jan. 8, 2018 – Georgia, playing one hour from campus, won its first national championship in 38 years Monday night after a 26-23 overtime loss to SEC foe Alabama. The Bulldogs dominated the game for most of regulation until Crimson Tide freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa entered the game to replace Jalen Hurts. Tagovailoa threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to classmate DeVonta Smith (his only catch of the game) in overtime. But College Football Playoff Selection Committee chair Gary Barta said, “The committee believes Georgia is the more complete team. Anyone watching could see that.”

HOUSTON, Feb. 5, 2017 – The Atlanta Falcons won the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night, coming from a 28-3 lead to lose to the New England Patriots 34-28 in overtime in Super Bowl LI. The Falcons denied New England coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady their fifth ring by dominating the first three quarters of the game. “It was a close vote,” Super Bowl Selection Committee chairman Gary Barta said, “but the committee believes Atlanta is the more complete team. Besides, no one would ever believe that a team actually lost a 25-point lead in the Super Bowl.”

INDIANAPOLIS, April 5, 2010 – Butler finished a storybook season Monday night by winning the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship just miles from its Indianapolis campus. The Bulldogs lost to Duke 61-59 when Butler forward Gordon Hayward’s halfcourt buzzer-beater bounced off the backboard, hit the rim but failed to go down. “C’mon. We’re not letting one shot ruin one of the great stories in NCAA history,” Final Four Selection Committee chair Gary Barta said. “For that reason alone, the committee believes Butler is the more complete team.”

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2009 – Nebraska tackle Ndamukong Suh became the first defensive lineman to win the Heisman Trophy despite finishing fourth in the voting behind Alabama running back Mark Ingram, Stanford running back Toby Gerhart and somebody else, probably Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, but really, what does it matter, because, as Heisman Trophy Selection Committee chair Gary Barta said, “The committee believes Suh is the more complete player.”

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Jan. 3, 2007 – Despite the doggedness of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore, who for weeks recruited Nick Saban to fill the vacant Crimson Tide coach job, West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez will take over the football program. Saban, the Miami Dolphins’ coach, appeared ready to return to the college game. But Alabama Coach Selection Committee chair Gary Barta said, “The committee believes Rodriguez is the more complete coach. Look at their records. Saban can’t stay anywhere more than five seasons. He isn’t winning in the NFL. We’re doing the university a favor here.”

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 21, 1999 – “Saving Private Ryan,” as expected, won the Academy Award for Best Picture tonight after a controversial vote in which the World War II epic lost to the historical romcom “Shakespeare in Love.” Academy Award Selection Committee chair Gary Barta mounted the stage, snatched the statuette from “Shakespeare in Love” executive producer Harvey Weinstein and announced to the worldwide TV audience, “You gotta be [expletive] kidding me. The committee believes ‘Saving Private Ryan’ is the more complete film. What were you voters thinking?”

MIAMI, Jan. 3, 1984 – After years of being known as the Best Coach to Never Win a National Championship, Tom Osborne celebrated today after the College Football Playoff Selection Committee named Nebraska the national champion. The No. 1 Huskers lost to No. 5 Miami 31-30 in the Orange Bowl last night. “The committee believes Nebraska is the more complete team,” chair Gary Barta said. “Look at their season, not to mention that Miami got to play a home game last night.”

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 20, 1982 – Senior quarterback John Elway is going to a bowl for the first time in his career after Stanford defeated California 20-19 to win the Big Game. The Golden Bears appeared to win 25-20 after the final play, a crazy, five-lateral kickoff return through the Stanford band, which had rushed the field to celebrate the victory. Officials huddled and ruled that Cal had won. But Big Game Selection Committee chair Gary Barta cut through the confusion to announce, “The committee believes Stanford played the more complete game. And one of those Bears’ knees was down.”

VALLEY OF ELAH, 11^th Century B.C. – Goliath defeated David in battle today, but the Philistine giant was unable to accept the championship trophy because his young Israelite opponent had killed him with a slingshot and stones. “It’s always disappointing when the winner is unable to appear at the championship ceremony because he died,” Battle Committee Chair Gary Barta said. “Let’s not let one death in the championship cancel what happened before it. The committee believes Goliath is the more complete fighter.”