My family loves football. This time of year is especially fun for us because of the collegiate rivalries that exist between and among my brothers and sisters. For example, I am a proud Georgia Tech graduate. My brother, sister, and sisters-in-law are all University of Georgia alum. My other brother played football at the University of Nebraska. And to top it all off, my nephew is currently the starting center for Florida State University. Georgia Tech. Nebraska. UGA. FSU. How 'bout that for sibling rivalry?
Though Georgia Tech has had an outstanding year on the football field, I am proud to say that Georgia Tech emphasizes academics over athletics. Though clearly Tech rises head and shoulders above those lesser institutions in the field of academics, on the football field we are not as big, we are not as fast, and we don't pay our players as much as the alma maters of my siblings. We are just happy to put eleven men on the field. Talk about good old fashioned hate!!
On any given Saturday, my family could not engage in a harmonious conversation if we tried, but on one issue related to college football we agree: A college football playoff. Both Georgia Tech (9-3) and FSU (7-5) were snubbed by the Gator Bowl, which chose Clemson (1-17) to play Nebraska (6-4). The Gator Bowl is a January bowl...and both Georgia Tech and FSU are thrown to the bowl obscurity pile and are left to play December bowls. The reason: the Gator Bowl felt that Clemson would bring more fans (a.k.a. rednecks with a little extra money and a whole lot of time) to Jacksonville to spend more money. Georgia Tech, who could beat Clemson every day of the week and twice on Sunday, will go across the street to play the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. Granted, the Chick-fil-A Bowl is technically a higher rated bowl than the Gator, January 1st bowls carry a lot more prestige. FSU will play in the Sponge Bob Square Pants Bowl in Peoria, Ill.
Some say that there is no rhyme or reason in selecting bowl participants. I disagree. There is a reason, and it rhymes with funny: money! A true national champion battles worthy foes, overcomes mistakes and challenges, rises to the occasion, and bests its adversary on the playing field, not on a balance sheet. A college football playoff system is long overdue. An unfair advantage is given to richer schools, and players, fans, and families suffer because the deck is stacked, the game is rigged, and the field of play is slanted toward programs with piles of powerful dollars. It's all about the payoff. It's time for a change.
Another advantage to a playoff system would be end of the ridiculous corporate bowl names. Who gives a rat's behind about the corporate giants that appropriated football and stole the purity and dignity of our bowls? Does it disgust anyone besides me that college football's crowning moments each year don titles such as the Nokia Citrus Bowl, the Enron Ethics Bowl, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the Carquest Bowl, the Chick-fil-A Bowl? It's ridiculous. It's time for a change.
Even Barack O'Bama supports a college football playoff. Imagine that.
I........sometimes, enjoy reading your "Hikers Guide To Comedy Blog" and I even agree with your comments about the corporate name that bowl game. But with you having the high standards of a Ga Tech Yellow Jacket (I am not going to say bumble bee) I would think you would strive to get your bull accurate. But no, you will definetly play in the December 2008 "In-Accurate Bowl"!! Along with your TEAM!
FSU's record this year was 9-3, not 7-5 as you so calmly mention in your comedy blog. For the record I refuse to count any non-win against an opponent that had never beaten an FSU team coached by B. Bowden.....fluke is the word, not win!
Also, you are a little off on the Nebraska record........but I digress..
GO NOLES AND GO DAWGS
PS..I understand that the Chick-fil-A Bowl is giving out little colored calculators for the players who participate in this years game, economics I guess.
Posted by: Michael J. McMahon | 12/05/2008 at 01:23 PM