Thoughts From The Valley

The Hangover

How I am feeling: Somewhat dazed after a long weekend of football, eating and drinking in Cleveland, not to mention an always enjoyable 7-hour drive back home with two mildly unhappy, car-seat restrained children. But otherwise, of course, I am feeling fantastic. Because my beloved Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday clinched their second Big Ten championship in four years by crushing Michigan State, 49-16. With the win, the Nits locked up a bid to the Rose Bowl.

What I am drinking: Green Chartreuse. OK, I am not technically drinking Green Chartreuse now. But I did drink Green Chatreuse on Saturday evening, raising a toast to the Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions along with my Dad, who is the only person I know who has a bottle of Green Chartreuse on hand at all times.

What I am listening to: Willie Nelson, Stardust. Yes, still.

My thoughts on the weekend: Because I am writing this on Monday night, rather than Sunday night, and because I am completely wiped out by our soul-sucking car ride today, I am going to be brief.

Here are my quick-hit thoughts on college football after Week 13:

1. Texas Tech is learning the hard way one of the harshest lessons of the BCS: It's not if you lose, it's when you lose. Because the Red Raiders lost late, their national title hopes are completely shot.

2. Of course, they could have helped their cause by playing at least a little defense against Oklahoma.

3. Alabama is the only undefeated major-conference team remaining. And yet nobody seems to give them any respect at all. Why? Because they don't have flashy uniforms. I am completely convinced this is true.

4. Michigan fans should be rightly concerned about the Rich Rodriguez Era. I know the guy didn't have much talent to work with this year. But 3-9? Are you kidding? The Wolverines weren't even competitive most of the season. And here's a scary thought: They lose 7 defensive starters next year.

5. Does anybody really want to see a Penn State-Oregon State rematch in the Rose Bowl? Yeah, me either. But that's what we're going to get.

6. Meanwhile, the Capital One Bowl folks are simply giddy: It looks like they'll get Ohio State vs. Georgia.

7. Anyone who hates the BCS should be rooting for Missouri to win the Big 12 Championship Game. Because if that happens, chaos ensues.

8. Brian Kelly is one of the best coaches in America. He will be coaching at Tennessee next season. Sorry, Cincy.

9. Notre Dame is awful.

10. Even though I've seen it hundreds of times now, every time Lee Corso puts on the "headgear" at the end of ESPN's College GameDay, I laugh out loud. It is the best two minutes of television, every single week.

Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust

 

 

Three: I love college football, folks. And I really don't enjoy the NFL. And a big reason for that is that I believe the NFL has sucked the life out of the game by overloading it with commercials. The tipping point for me came when the NFL instituted the truly dreadful "touchdown-commercial-kickoff-commercial" scenario. Whenever that happens, I immediately turn off any NFL game I am watching. It's horrible for the fans, unfair to the teams and bad for the game. But as an honest "journalist" I must report here that I have now seen "touchdown-commercial-kickoff-commercial" occur twice this season in college football. I warn you, NCAA. Stop this.

Two ...: If Notre Dame gets blown out by USC, I would not be surprised one bit if Charlie Weis gets fired.

One ...: In 2004, Penn State finished the season 4-7. The year before that, they were 3-8. And everyone thought the program was hopeless. That is, everyone except for a bunch of high school seniors--some highly recruited (Derrick Williams, Lydell Sargeant), some not (Anthony Scirotto, Josh Gaines)--who believed they could make Penn State matter again. Well, those kids just won their second Big Ten championship in four years. They have gone 40-10 in their Penn State careers, 26-2 at home, and earned four straight bowl bids, including two from BCS-level bowls. The lesson? Well, it's obvious: Michigan fans, fear not. You are literally one recruiting class away from turning things around. But it would also help if your coach was really, really old.

Touchdown ...: Though nobody seems to be even entertaining the possibility that either of these things might happen, I happen to believe one or the other will happen. What things? These things: Florida State beating Florida, or Auburn beating Alabama. Just sayin'.