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

[RavennaAl]

I hear ya Reg. I never understood the BCS stuff anyways. Why not have a playoff system? That would be the only way to determine who is the best, not who all the "experts" think is the best. If all that matters is what people think, then why even bother playing the games in the first place? Why noy just have the "experts" pick the winners and losers every week? College schmolege, I'ld rather watch the high school kids play.

As far as the NFL goes, I used to be a big fan back in the day, 60's, 70's and 80's. But when they started switching players around every year, I gave up. The money aspect just ruined the game for me. So, now I concentrate on Imaginary teams. Green Bay Glenn got it right. Make up your own teams and have your own league. Someday I'll get all my teams done, each with their own field and stadium. Then I'll have some real fun!

[RooMorgans]

I'll take college football over the NFL any day.

[wolverine]

reg i was born into a Michigan family...i started rooting for the wolverines in 1964,i worked at u of m and attended school there until i dropped out to start a business's me Michigan was more than school it was a way of life....it meant honesty ,integrity ,loyalty

i always was proud of Michigan even when they lost....until yesterday...right now I'm so mad i could not speak for 3 to 4 hours after that farce...so as i said in my announcement..i will not root for Michigan until Carr is gone as head coach

i will watch other teams in the ncaa and ill enjoy it because i love college football...ill watch some pro games..but i still love college too much..maybe ill pick a substitute for Michigan until Carr is gone

I know that you have to be a fan to the end BUT when your coach and team quits you i believe you have the right to protest

[Michigan Joe]

My heart was ripped out on Saturday in Ann Arbor as I was at the game watching the Michigan upset. College football draws on those emotions for me, not Pro ball. In college you play for your team, in the NFL that doesn't always seem so obvious. The NFL is the best Pro league for sure, but when I think of emotion I think college ball. And just because my team lost doesn't mean I won't watch anymore, far from it. If you see college football for championship or bust I don't think you see it as I do. I see it as youthful emotions, rivalries, personal growth in the face of adversities, and LOVE OF THE GAME.

Back to the Michigan game (I was there):
Don't be fooled, the Michigan upset was not as shockling for me and many of those that were at the game. Sure Michigan played very poorly and flat, but App St had 5 offensive players at 185 pounds or less who could flat out fly. Those 5 skilled players were simply faster than anyone on our defense and if we played them again I don't know if we'd have an answer for that. Now the Michigan offense on the other hand could probably put up 40+ points in 9/10 times against that team, but on Saturday they didn't because they were sloppy and our passing game never stepped up to make a big play (plus Mike Hart was out for half the game). App St clearly believed all day and from the 1st quarter on there was no doubt the game "was on". One of the positives of the game as a Michigan fan was seeing Mike Hart come back from injury in the 4th quarter to lift the spirit of the team and almost single handedly carry them on to a come from behind victory, his 4th quarter effort showed his special abilities both athletically and his leadership.

In retrospect, the "upset" is the beauty of college football and App St deserves a lot of credit for how they came to win. To believe that you can win when everyone says you can't do it is a remarkable thing. For Michigan, the rest of the season will be a test of character for the players, will they fold or will they use this experience to propell them to be a better team than they would without the humbeling experience.

Joe

Sometimes it's for the ILLINI and sometimes it's for DA' BEARS, but blue and orange it is!!!

Yesterday, as Ron C.'s BADGERS and my ILLINI scrimmaged again, we were watching the Illinois/Mizzou game and the friggin' DVR stopped with 14:38 left in the game!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!! !

We were losing - both in real life and in miniature!!! I was down 10-0 at Halftime and the real guys had pulled back to within 3 points early in the 4th when "the lights went out!" I had high hopes we both could do it and didn't find out until 10 minutes ago that we didn't do it. BUT...two things will hold my angst until next week...

1. My mini-ILLINI came back to win 19-10!!!!
   
2. MICHIGAN GOT BEAT BY APPALACHIAN STATE!!!!!!!!! :p :p :p

RR and Wolverine: This is EXACTLY why at the MWEFL's Miniature College Football Championships in January we have a Playoff system. Even the 1-loss teams can make it. Ask Norbit!?!?!

How can you call yourself a fan of college football. I always new Tennessee fans were like that (lol). I am a Crimson Tide fan .And I do stand behind them all the way. I love the NFL , But college football is true to my heart. I will love my Chiefs, And Cheer for Seattle and Will Watch the Cowboys have a superbowl season< But College Football and all of the pagentry involved , How could you not love it. I want you to know that I can understand how wolverine feels we just went through it with Alabama. Notre Dame should not distinguish there football team god like , And have thier own channell. I wont comment on the Vols, Uhh yes I will. Tennessee just got out played by Cal . Cal got embarrased by Tennessee last year and they wanted to right that loss by a win . It happens , I know just how they felt I do the same . I know we dont like it when our team loses , but in retrospect it does give birth to some great rivalries. I hope I didnt offend anyone , That wasent my intention.............College Football Is an Institution and a great way to spend time with family and friends.

ROLL TIDE
GARY

[Orleanian In Exile]

I concur fully on the emotion level of the college game. You just don't get that same buzz off an NFL game from either team or fans (yes even the ones who dress in costume). I dislike the phony, over-the-top displays put on by NFL players strutting about just when they make a tackle or manage to gain an extra five yards, which strikes me as egotistical theatrics for TV as opposed to the palpable thrill when a college runner manages to break through to the endzone over a last-ditch stand by the opposition defensive line for a critical touchdown or the genuine heartbreak you see coming from the losing side in the Army/Navy Game just before that final exchange of alma maters as people realise that a good number of them have played their last game before gaining their commissions in the service. By contrast, the sense I get from an NFL team is that for them it's just a day at the office.

I have also been decidedly put off in recent years by the crap officiating of the NFL, their very poorly-designed-and-executed instant replay system and the number of artificial breaks in the action simply to accomodate more TV commercial time. I was able to swallow that last year to watch my New Orleans Saints get almost within reach of the Super Bowl. That was also the first year in a long while I'd actually had any desire to see the final championship game and missed out on it due to a misprogrammed VCR, which made me a bit upset until I read the recap and saw just how badly Fumbles Grossman and the Bears threw away that game to Indy. After that I couldn't get worked up about missing the Super Bowl —I'd already seen far better on-field performances in the Sugar Bowl and the BCS game.

For me, the colleges are where the real football is to be found these days. I can watch a college game and find three hours have zipped by without my noticing it. I tune into an NFL game to find it the longest four hours of my life which I'll never get back again.

[Silverhorse 228]

This is a tough subject, but I like them both just the same...it is like trying to pick your favorite ice cream...it is all good. However, here is my top 5 Pros and Cons of both:

NFL Pros: 1. Pure Entertainment 2. It has a history and is the last great professional team sport 3. Without it fantasy football would not exist and maybe even miniature football 4. We have a champion at the end of the year 5. It positively effects the economies of the cities that NFL teams are in

NFL Cons: 1. To much movement by players 2. You have to pay for NFL Network 3. After football, NFL players spend the rest of their lives healing from injuries that will never heal 4. Money corrupts...and the wealth of the league is not evenly distributed among the players 5. Instant replay

NCAA Pros: 1. It is the legecy of what is right with American sports 2. The players perform "mostly" for the love of the game 3. "Rudy and Notre Dame" need I say more 4. The "little schools" can still win ie. Michigan this weekend 5. The atmosphere, the cheerleaders, the bands, the fans, the pride!

NCAA Cons: 1. No clear champion-we need a playoff system 2. Money corrupts-bigger schools recieve big tv contracts 3. Pressure to perform-players forget to have fun 4. Sometimes the education part of it comes in second 5. Bowls are great-but if it ain't the championship-then nobody watches

my two cents...

[Coach_J]

Hi Reg,

Greetings to you my friend and a nice post.

First things first. I am a Cal grad so I hope you are not upset with me that Cal beat Tennessee. Although I am a Cal grad I am not a die hard fan. I only attend a Cal game when they play Stanford, USC, or UCLA. I am not used to them winning so I don't lose any sleep when they lose. The only college team that I really cheer for is Florida State.

Now to the post. At one time I preferred the college game over the pro game. That started to change when the big $$$$$, corporate sponsors, and the BS, I mean BCS, got involved. Also when the traditional conferences started to expand and have championship games to determine the league champion like the SEC and the former Big 8 which is now the Big 12. No longer do we have the Southwest Conference. I am old school and grew up watching the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Orange Bowl on New Years Day. In other words just four bowl games on New Years Day and NO corporate sponsors. Now we have the NOKIA Sugar Bowl, FED EX Orange Bowl, MOBIL Cotton Bowl, TOSTIDOS (Sp) Fiesta Bowl, and I have forgotten the sponsor of the Rose Bowl. Plus you have 5 or 6, maybe more, games on New Years Day, and the major bowl games are spread out over two or three days. This year the BCS Championship was played on 1/8. Also I was born and raised in Pac-10 country and prefer the days when the Rose Bowl was played between the Big Ten and Pac Ten champion. Watching a Rose Bowl between Nebraska and the University of Miami just does not appeal to me. I am used to those teams playing each other in the Orange Bowl. The only thing that really grabs me now when it comes to the college game is watching College Game Day and hearing Lee Corso's famous words "NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND". Or when they are at the campus of the big game of the day and Lee picks the VISITING team to win. Or when Lee puts the team mascot of the team that he picks to win the big game on his head.

As for the pros I love going to the local Crowne Plaza every Sunday after church and watching 8 to 10 games played at one time on the various screens around the bar. After all of the games have been played I rush home to catch the replays of the games on ESPN with Chris Berman and Tom Jackson. Some people don't care much for Chris "Boomer" Berman but I love the names he gives the players and can't wait to hear him say "HE COULD GO ALL THE WAY". During the off season my TV is usually turned to the NFL Network to catch up on what is taking place around the league. I think I would lose my mind if I did not have the NFL Network. In a few days that will change. Even though the first game of the season is on a Thursday I prefer the energy that the games on Sunday generate.

Coach_J