The BCS: A crystal football full of lies

I'm sure someone, somewhere has written or talked about this, but I haven't seen or heard it yet. Have you noticed that the garbage coming from BCS Coordinator John Swofford, has done nothing to prove that the BCS is here to help college football?

"Well, people are talking about it all the time, and that's all the justification we need to keep this system in tact for the next 10,000 years."

No, that's not a real quote from him, but it's really freaking close. The BCS has been assailed by a new wave of "what about us" gangs, mainly from the Big XII (because the Big Ten and Pac-10 aren't a bunch of whiners). Now, I have nothing personally against them, as I'm sure Penn State fans would be kicking and screaming if in Texas' position. But this isn't about them, it's about "the system."

Was there ever an intent by the BCS creators to create the most fair method to select the college football national champion? It seems less likely every day. We all know that college football is more corrupt, full of more kickbacks, favors and lobbying than the Bush Administration. It's always been like that, and always will be. I don't mind, just don't tell me it's "better" now than it was then. To who? You? Because it sure as hell isn't better for us, the fans.

I do love the quote from Swofford, after Barack Obama said he wants to see some sort of college football playoff. Swofford must go by the "Dick Cheney Majority" formula in this one: Majority = <1% of the population.

"For now, our constituencies... have settled on the current BCS system, which the majority believe is the best system yet to determine a national champion while also maintaining the college football regular season as the best and most meaningful in sports."

Of course, that formula only works if the BCS's "constituencies" are actually the fans. (They're not, but I'll get back to that in a minute)

Now, I'm not going to compare the BCS or Swofford to the Nazis or Hitler. That might be going too far. After all, the Third Reich didn't play American college football.

You know, I really wouldn't mind this system so much, if the people who run the damn thing would just admit that they are in it for the money, and have no intention of improving college football's method of naming a national champion.

Swofford better stop this bullshit of portraying us, the college football fans, as his constituencies. We're not; we never were. Those constituencies are the bowl games, presidents and corporate sponsors burning a hole in your wallet. So the BCS should stop pretending to care what we want, because it doesn't. If it or Swofford did care, we'd be saying "buh-bye BCS."

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Racism, in a Red State? No way

A recently dismissed Texas Longhorns lineman, Buck Burnette, posted something really bad on his Facebook page. While I would never, EVER, say what he said, I'm almost more upset that he was so ridiculously retarded to say it "aloud" in the first place. You see, I grew up in Northeast New Jersey. If we said that (and actually meant it, as this kid did) we could come home missing a few teeth and plenty of internal bleeding, and not just from black people. I'm not going to preach. Yes, people shouldn't really get so upset over words. But, I wonder what white people would say if they were enslaved for 300 years, then treated like sub-humans even after they were "free." I know I wouldn't be too happy.

And don't give me the "well, all the liberals hated Bush out loud." True, the far-left has said pretty rough things about President Bush, over the last eight years. But if I even have to explain the differences between that, and what Burnette said, then you're just as bad as him.

This nation should watch more South Park, and admit that we just "don't get it." I know I sure don't, and don't even pretend to.

Burnette should be happy he was kicked out of the Longhorns program. I can't even imagine the world of hurt he would be in, the next time he took the field.

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Around Happy Valley

Ok, so this is more of a way to keep you all busy while I get my act together. Here's some decent reading for the rest of today.

• The Collegian did their yearly, "yes, we do have a band, and they do stuff" article. Frankly, they always give the impression that it's really hard to get into, and participate in the Blue Band. I know, this is more about the new Blue Band documentary premiering tonight. But just reading the article brings me back, to hating all those dork-ass bandos.*

"He said the tryout process begins with an initial music audition, in which the person selects a piece to audition with. Then they are asked to do some sight-reading -- on the spot playing of a composition they have never seen before. If someone makes it past this part, they join in on the days of fast-paced marching drills, he said."

• Staying with the Collegian, there's still a lot of hoopla around the post-Ohio State riots downtown. I guess the borough council never realized State College was a hard-core COLLEGE town.

"Other council members also denounced the riot and briefly discussed how to keep students out of Beaver Canyon during potentially riot-inciting conditions. The balconies in Beaver Canyon “make it entirely likely that somebody’s going to get killed,” said Mayor Bill Welch."

Really? You just thought of that now, Mayor Welch? I mean, it's not like those apartment towers haven't been there for decades.

"Borough Councilwoman Theresa Lafer said she has "neighbors who are thinking of using violence against students," after Police Chief Tom King recounted the riot in Beaver Canyon after Penn State's football victory over Ohio State. “They’re not just unhappy,” said Lafer, who lives on East Foster Avenue. “They’re furious.”

Sure, I mean, why would anyone expect there to be college students living in State College? Can Lafter and her neighbors really sit there with a straight face, pretending they didn't know that living so close to downtown State College was going to be quiet and peaceful? I mean, I'm not one who thinks what college students do is acceptable in the real world, but downtown State College–and the four to five block radius surrounding it–is not the real world, never mind quiet and peaceful. These townies need to get over themselves.

• Joe Paterno was happy to talk about the election, and had some very impressive things to say about the country.

"So, I think it's great to see that there will be, you say 200 million people are going to vote? Well, that's fine. I think that's great. Because it's our country. It not just your country, it's not 100 million people's country; it's not the rich cats who spend a lot of money to have some impact on the economy. It's our country. I read something three or four weeks ago that in 50 years from now, there will be more Hispanic and African-Americans than there will be white Americans in the sense of whatever a white American is; that we will have more people who have a different background than this country had when we fought the Revolution. We are very dynamic and we are a very, very exciting place to be, and it's a very challenging thing for leadership, because you've got such diverse groups. Now, can 200 million people make a better decision than 100 million? Well, if you believe that, you don't believe in democracy."

Of course, that was before John McCain got bitch-slapped by Barack Obama. That's not to say Paterno won't respect Obama as President. Joe's the kind of guy who practices what he preaches, to respect your leaders, even if you don't agree on everything.

• Here's BWI's coverage of the football parts of the press conference.

*I can say that because I was in the Blue Band for four years, earning a spot as Marching Guide and Music Section Leader.

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Vote!

Here's my mandatory "Go Vote" post for today. If I had to get up at 5 a.m., you can certainly get your asses to the precincts by the end of today!

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