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The best game going

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Posted: Monday August 02, 1999 12:07 PM

Every year we're reminded about what's wrong with college football.

Rules violations. The ever-confusing BCS formula. And another useless corporate bowl game seems to pop up every other day.

But I want to take a few moments to talk about what's right with the game.

First of all, consider the atmosphere. There's no better place to be than in a major college football stadium on a crisp, fall afternoon. Think of Ann Arbor, Mich. One hundred thousand people grilling brats and burgers, and settling in to see Ohio State blow a chance at another national championship. Or how about being in College Station on Friday night before the Texas game? The entire student body enjoys the world's largest bonfire. Can you imagine the fans of the St. Louis Rams doing that?

How about the unique players? Chris Weinke was a 26-year old freshman for Florida State last year. Other players like Georgia's Quincy Carter and LSU's Josh Booty pursued their dream of playing major league baseball, only to come back to college football.

You know what else is great? College football's varied offenses. Think about the option. In the age of the Internet and technological advancement, a simple fake-dive-to-the-fullback, pitch-to-the-tailback can confuse even the best defensive coordinators. Can you imagine Dan Marino running the option keeper around right end? I didn't think so.

Or how about Louisiana Tech's all-out air assault? Quarterback Tim Rattay comes to the line of scrimmage every play and says, "We are going to throw the ball." In polar opposite to the option, Louisiana Tech puts five wide receivers in the game and dares you to stop them.

Finally, you've got to love the mascots. As a player at Nebraska, I'll never forget Florida State's Chief Oceola slamming that spear into the Seminole logo at midfield and feeling the goose bumps, wishing our mascot, Herbie, were just a little tougher. And standing in Boulder, Colo., where four 125-pound fraternity brothers held a rope as two tons of Ralphie the Buffalo thundered right at me. Again I looked at Herbie and wished he were more threatening. Whether it's Uga at Georgia or Bevo at Texas, college football boasts the best mascots.

Sure, college football has some problems. But it's still the best game going.

 

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