Reasons to Love the NFL over the NCAA

[Reginald Rutledge]

I feel the sentiments of Wolverine. Although "Meechigan" losing to a D-1AA power is arguably the biggest upset in college football history, my beloved VOLS loss to Cal had the same effect on me.

I was born into being a VOL. I plan to be buried in an orange and white Tennessee casket. So the stakes are very high for me. The last time I went to the hospital and blood had to be drawn, the nurse saw that I had white blood cells (which seemed normal) but orange blood cells came rushing out as well. In our home, I have Neyland Stadium hanging on the wall just to help me remember my years at Tennessee. So when Tennessee lose, whether it's football, basketball, baseball, track, or hopscotch, it is a devastating tragedy in the Rutledge house. My wife loves the VOLS and my kids have been singing "Rocky Top" since they came out of the womb. So losing to Cal was a hard blow. I'd rather lose to Florida than Cal. Now I know, the season is officially "One and Done". In Tennessee, the stakes are high. Fighting for SEC crowns and national championships is what keep us all interested. Anything less is considered a losing season. For us, the national title is out. Get ready for 2008. The SEC title may be out if we can't make a stand in "The Swamp".

So watching Wolverine have a near-heart attack over his Wolverines, I could not comment until after last night game. I don't know if I was just too scared to jinx anything but now, I am on to the NFL season.

As much as some of us love the NCAA, the reason we play miniature football is because of the NFL. Even when we were small, the logos of the Bears, Cowboys, and Rams shown on the side of a 645 revved my energy just to play. It was never Notre Dame, OU, or USC. I never understood why back then but as I got older, I began to understand what made the NFL so intriguing. It was the fact that you could come back to "fight another day". If you lost 2 games in a row, your season was not over! To err is human, right? The NFL took into account that every team will not be on their "A-game" every week so let's create the trials and tribulations of a season and end it with the best of the best meeting in a playoff system!

Now, I have no need to watch 14 weeks of college football because one loss and it's really over. Alot depends on where you are ranked. And if you are an Appalachian State and go 12-0, will you be playing for a national title? The hypocrisy of college football!

So now, I am on to the NFL, waiting with great anticipation for next week's kickoff. I know if my beloved Vikes, Raiders, and Cowboys lose early, there is still hope. The NFL has gotten me locked in for 17 weeks despite my VERY busy schedule but now, I probably will not watch another down of college football. So bring on the love and excitement of the NFL, it's time to get those pads cracking!

Reg