Storyline: I’m an avid college football fan, but I’m also irritated by things that happened this season. “Irritated” doesn’t go far enough, either. Some things made me furious!
Happy Festivus!
Courtesy: Quotesgram.com
“Festivus” is a holiday Frank Costanza created because he was fed up with the commercialism and pressures of Christmas. Costanza, as many recall, was a character on the popular TV show, Seinfeld.
His vision of the holiday included a Festivus pole, a dinner, an airing of grievances, and finally, “the feats of strength”– a tradition that says the holiday isn’t over until the head of the household is pinned.
I don’t celebrate Festivus, which is December 23, by the way. But one thing that I do like about the holiday is the airing of grievances.
With the college football season fresh in mind here are the beefs I have with the game. Don’t get me wrong. I’m an avid college football fan, but I’m also irritated by some of the things that happened this season. And “irritated” doesn’t go far enough. In some cases I’m just furious!
So, in the spirit of Festivus, here are my grievances about College Football 2016.
Jim Harbaugh’s reaction to the officiating in the Michigan-Ohio State game. I’ve never been a huge Jim Harbaugh fan. After what happened at the press conference following the Ohio State game, I don’t see that reaction changing anytime soon. The Michigan coach blamed the officials for the Wolverines’ loss, saying he was “bitterly disappointed” in some of the “outrageous calls” that were made.
Those refs! (photo, veooz.com)
Do I think there was a missed pass interference call on the Buckeyes? Yes. Do I think the officials should have reviewed the spot to determine whether or not OSU quarterback J.T. Barrett converted on that fourth-and-1 in double overtime? Yes.
Did the officiating cost the Wolverines the game? Absolutely not.
The truth is this: the Wolverines’ loss was the result of self-inflicted wounds. Those wounds included a fumble at the OSU 1-yard line and two interceptions deep in its own territory, including a pick-six that put the Buckeyes on the board.
Harbaugh’s comments were both unprofessional and uncalled for. The $10,000 fine the NCAA slapped on him was well-deserved.
The way Texas fired Charlie Strong. Everybody knew what was coming. Texas had just suffered a humiliating loss to the atrocious Kansas Jayhawks (it was the first time KU had beaten the Longhorns since 1938), and the whole nation knew that Charlie Strong was done. But UT officials dragged the whole thing out making Strong attend press conferences and talk about HIS future with Texas. University officials said they would conduct a “performance evaluation” after the regular season finale against TCU.
The Longhorns lost to the Horned Frogs, 31-9, but it wouldn’t have mattered if the Longhorns had won–by a large margin, even. UT was going to fire Strong regardless of the outcome and hire former Houston coach, Tom Herman. The way the university strung out the poor guy is simply inexcusable.
That look says it all. Vols on empty…. (photo, SEC Country)
The play of Tennessee this season. Butch Jones needs to be fired. Tennessee had a team with the potential to run the table in the SEC East and, maybe, (just maybe) sneak its way into the playoffs–had the Vols beaten Alabama.
With playmaking QB, Joshua Dobbs, and Derek Barnett, who’s one of the best linemen in college football, it was supposed to be jubilation on Rocky Top this year. Instead the Vols were blown out by Alabama at home (49-10) and lost to teams that, well, they should have beaten (South Carolina and Vanderbilt).
And, let’s be clear about how bad the Vols were this year. If not for answered prayers, TN would have also lost to Appalachian State and Georgia, too. At 8-4, stumbling Tennessee will now meet Nebraska in The Music City Bowl.
2016 was a huge disappointment for the state of Tennessee. It should have been something special.
Heisman candidates striking the pose after making a big play. If I had a Heisman vote, I’d automatically disqualify anybody who has ever struck the Heisman pose after making a big play. To me that shows that they care more about individual achievements than team success.
Take Lamar Jackson, for example. After tying the game late in the fourth quarter against Kentucky Jackson did “the pose.” It’s not like the game was in hand, either. The Wildcats won! How? Jackson fumbled, setting up a game-winning 47-yard field goal.
Undefeated and MAC champ WMU won’t participate in the CFP (photo, Locker Dome)
Leaving teams like Western Michigan and Penn State out of the CFP. Western Michigan had a remarkable season. The MAC champs finished the year undefeated, joining top-ranked Alabama as the nation’s only unbeaten team.
But while the Crimson Tide are the #1 seed in the College Football Playoff, WMU is not. Their consolation prize is a “New Year’s 6” game in the AT&T Cotton Bowl with Wisconsin.
Is this fair? No! Who cares about a low strength of schedule? The more important point is that WMU is undefeated! It’s yet another reason why the playoff needs to expand to eight teams. Sports fans love to see the underdog or “the little guy” win. That’s what makes the NCAA Basketball Tournament so great. But there’s no chance of that happening in college football–as long as the tournament includes only four teams.
And then there’s Penn State, a team that defeated #3-seed Ohio State and won the Big Ten Championship. The Committee left out the Nittany Lions, too.
Solution: make room for outstanding teams from the non-power alignment and include the Power 5 conference champions. Expand to eight teams!
Well, I’ve listed my grievances. It’s on to the feats of strength.
Happy Festivus, everybody!
