I have often thought the old system was better, and really regret its loss. I don't know this writer (Tim Stephens) but he makes great points and I heartily agree with him.
"On Jan. 1, 1979, I was that 9-year-old boy wearing the jersey and sitting down with pops. I sprang from my bed before the sun came up, watched the parades and counted down the minutes until kickoff. It was an anticipation rivaled only by Christmas morning. Food. Family. Football. More food. More football.
Mid-day gave us the greatest Cotton Bowl ever, with Joe Montana rallying Notre Dame with three touchdowns in the final eight minutes to beat Houston 35-34. Then came the Sugar Bowl and No. 2 Alabama's goal-line stand to beat No. 1 Penn State 14-7. The Rose Bowl gave us the day's controversy, with USC using a phantom touchdown by Charles White to beat Michigan 17-10. Night brought the Orange Bowl spectacle of Oklahoma defeating Nebraska in a rematch of elite teams.
Has there ever been a better New Year's Day?"
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/orl-sportsbowls01010109jan01,0,1859287.storyOh, and he even mentioned the phantom touchdown!!!!!