Leadership

ATLANTA Ð'- Wearing two hats and willing to be declared two-faced, Mike Slive stood in the Georgia Dome press box and gave up on impartiality.

The Bowl Championship Series coordinator is also the Southeastern Conference commissioner, and moments after Southern California was vanquished from the national-title chase, Slive was determined to petition for the champion of his league to get its shot.

"I think any team that wins our league with one loss should have the chance to play for the national championship," he said of the Florida Gators, who ran their record to 12-1 with a 38-28 victory over Arkansas for the SEC title.

And if Florida doesn't move past 11-1 Michigan to No. 2 in the final BCS standings, which will be released Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, and gain a shot at No. 1 Ohio State in the BCS title game?

"I'd be disappointed," he said.

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Only in college football could the official head of the official postseason system officially admit he might not agree with the official result.

Of course, regardless of whether that comment was appropriate, when it comes down to it, Slive was correct. He should be disappointed. And so should any college football fan who doesn't bleed maize and blue (more on that, naturally, later).

In this most hyperactive, insane sport, Saturday was one for the ages Ð'- a coast-to-coast, back-and-forth day of action which saw three teams Ð'- only two of which were playing Ð'- have their title fates swing back and forth.

It was a day in which the crowd here in the South went bananas for the final score out in Los Angeles and where up in