ESPN, you did it again ... providing another great game and an excuse to have an adult beverage on a school night. Pitt upset #10 South Florida on Thursday and I could not look away. I have no particular connection to either of these institutions/teams. Sure, I did travel to Pittsburgh to watch the Hawkeyes give a game to the Panthers, but if you asked me to name five schools in Florida ... chances are likely that I would not mention USF.
What I am trying to figure out, or rather, what I am trying to put into words is ... why I love college football so much. Please note: I did not say Hawkeye football, or merely football in general. Of course there is no team that I rather watch [and see win] than the mighty Hawkeyes. However, more important to this discussion, is the fact that I rather watch most any college game than an NFL contest [even one showcasing my 'Skins].
I doubt that many people would disagree with the statement that college basketball is far superior to the NBA variety. OK, OK ... I am not suggesting that certain players in the pros [especially those whose talent propelled them through college campuses at alarming rates] could not single-handedly dominate many NCAA squads. It is not all about individual talent ... ball [basket- or foot-] is a team sport after all. How can dollar-driven athletes [who walk through the first half of drawn out seasons] match the passion of 20 year-olds battling for the glory of ol' state?
In football though, the length of the regular season variable is removed. And while the personal compensation discrepancy remains, college football is big business ... most BCS bowl contenders play in stadiums that dwarf the average professional stage. In fact, my imaginary research suggests that if the NCAA would allow for liquor sales at sporting events, the entity could easily become the second-largest economy in the world!
Perhaps it all comes down to personal history. I went to [and eventually even graduated from a Big10] university. My college years were some of the best of my life. During my first freshman year alone, I met many of the guys that remain my closest buddies to this day. My cousin was Iowa's back-up QB at the time and I began my relationship with my wife-to-be. Each Saturday kick-off, I see those good times personified by chest-bumping cheerleaders, body-painting undergrads, mascots and marching bands.
I have noticed that many of my friends that did not attend or complete their post-secondary studies lean toward the NFL side of the fan spectrum. The control group in my study was comprised of individuals that attended schools without football programs [Loyola, IUP, Marquette and Grinnell come to mind]. For this subset of grads, the attraction to the college football scene appears to be directly related to their current physical proximity to a Division 1 program.
In the end ... perhaps my love of all things college football does not require an explanation. It's not like I am trying to defend seal clubbing or styrofoam cups here ... one does not need to craft a dissertation to explain their affinity for chocolate or sunshine. Some things are just GOOD. Yeah, you know ... forget I said anything.
What I am trying to figure out, or rather, what I am trying to put into words is ... why I love college football so much. Please note: I did not say Hawkeye football, or merely football in general. Of course there is no team that I rather watch [and see win] than the mighty Hawkeyes. However, more important to this discussion, is the fact that I rather watch most any college game than an NFL contest [even one showcasing my 'Skins].
I doubt that many people would disagree with the statement that college basketball is far superior to the NBA variety. OK, OK ... I am not suggesting that certain players in the pros [especially those whose talent propelled them through college campuses at alarming rates] could not single-handedly dominate many NCAA squads. It is not all about individual talent ... ball [basket- or foot-] is a team sport after all. How can dollar-driven athletes [who walk through the first half of drawn out seasons] match the passion of 20 year-olds battling for the glory of ol' state?
In football though, the length of the regular season variable is removed. And while the personal compensation discrepancy remains, college football is big business ... most BCS bowl contenders play in stadiums that dwarf the average professional stage. In fact, my imaginary research suggests that if the NCAA would allow for liquor sales at sporting events, the entity could easily become the second-largest economy in the world!
Perhaps it all comes down to personal history. I went to [and eventually even graduated from a Big10] university. My college years were some of the best of my life. During my first freshman year alone, I met many of the guys that remain my closest buddies to this day. My cousin was Iowa's back-up QB at the time and I began my relationship with my wife-to-be. Each Saturday kick-off, I see those good times personified by chest-bumping cheerleaders, body-painting undergrads, mascots and marching bands.
I have noticed that many of my friends that did not attend or complete their post-secondary studies lean toward the NFL side of the fan spectrum. The control group in my study was comprised of individuals that attended schools without football programs [Loyola, IUP, Marquette and Grinnell come to mind]. For this subset of grads, the attraction to the college football scene appears to be directly related to their current physical proximity to a Division 1 program.
In the end ... perhaps my love of all things college football does not require an explanation. It's not like I am trying to defend seal clubbing or styrofoam cups here ... one does not need to craft a dissertation to explain their affinity for chocolate or sunshine. Some things are just GOOD. Yeah, you know ... forget I said anything.
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