Reasons to Love the NFL over the NCAA

[Reginald Rutledge]

I am a college football fan, trust me. I wear my emotions on my sleeve when it comes to the "Big Orange". There's no question. But my frustrations of college football does not center around whether my team lose as much around the hypocrisy of the NCAA.

In 1976 or 1978, I remember watching Notre Dame and Alabama. I remember Dave Casper catching a great pass to win the game for the Fighting Irish. I am not certain if the broadcasters were Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, or Duffy Doughretty (?), but all I remember is the discussion of a playoff system coming up. I remember them talking about hopefully a playoff system will be coming soon to establish who the real National Champion is instead of the mythical mess. I thought "Wow, that will certainly add excitement in the game". That's one of those moments in life you never forget. More than 30 years later, that has not been rectified because of greed by universities, media, and bowl associations. In my lifetime, I don't foresee it coming to past! I wish it would.

Coach J, no doubt Cal played a great game. I've got no problem with the win of Cal. They outplay the VOLS in nearly phase of the game. The atmosphere was electric! We always know that anytime two teams win, despite what the prognosticators say, there is a 50-50 chance to win or lose. That's the intriguing aspect of college football. Like you, I am definitely "Old School" too. I love watching the old movies of Knute Rockne, the Galloping Ghost and so many other AMC movies on college football. It send chills up my spine. Shucks, I even cry when Rudy says, "I've been waiting for this day all my life".

Suffering through losing of your college team is difficult but its all a part of winning. In 1998, the VOLS won a national championship on January 4th. That was my birthday, probably the greatest present I ever had. That was a season on the brink for me because I always knew if we had one loss, we would be done. To me, that's unfair!

Too many great teams have one loss and have no chance of getting back in the hunt. It's undfair to those teams because dependent on the time of year, they may be better than a team who is still undefeated. It's even worse when you are a team who went 14-0 and still had no shot. I remember 2003 and 2004, LSU and Auburn went undefeated and still had no claim on the National Championship because writers said otherwise.

To me, those seasons were great seasons for my SEC-rival schools but a big time waste too! They could not decide on the field. For me, with all the things I do, waddling through a Saturday plopped down to watch college football is just something I can now not waste my time doing. Yeah, I will still watch a game or two from the SEC and maybe OU, Nebraska, and Meechegan and the VOLS, but I will not plan my Saturdays around college football. It's one and done.

Congrats Coach J on a tremendous win. The Anthony Forsett kid (RB) went to high school at Grace Prep, which is about 2 minutes from my house. We know the program well. The head coach is Mike Barber, former tight end for the Earl Campbell-led Houston Oilers. His daughter and mine played volleyball together and we've traveled together so we know he produce fine players. That Forsett kid was just one in a long line of great players he had.