128 Teams. 10 Conferences. 4 Independents. One dream.
Baseball is coming down the
homestretch, school is back in session, and the anticipation is building. This
can only mean one thing… College Football is back!! The best sport in the world
is upon us once again, and a multitude of story lines are set to unfold.
The Highlights. The Miracle plays. The Traditions. The
Rivalries. The Fans. College Gameday. The UPSETS. It’s all back and better than
ever as a new season is set to begin August 28.
In the sport of football, every game matters. Every team
gets one chance every week to prove themselves. This isn't a sport of multiple games every week. Just one game, and you better make it count!
In college football, this
statement cannot be more significant. With the BCS standings, it is imperative
for teams ranked in the top 10 to escape with a win each and every week as
hopes of a spot in the National Championship (now 4-game playoff) loom. Failing
to show up one week can certainly have its consequences.
But what is it that makes the game stand out from other
sports? Here are five reasons that make College Football far superior to that
of its peers:
The Unthinkable - Who in their right mind could have
predicted or even seen Auburn making it to the National Title game a year ago,
let alone the SEC Title game? The Tigers 2012 campaign saw them win only 3
games, not a single one in the SEC, as they were 3-9 overall (0-8 SEC)! Not
only that, but the Tigers had a revamped coaching staff and new head coach heading
into the 2013 season. On SEC media day in 2013, Auburn was projected to finish
10th in the Conference (5th in the SEC West). Yet with
the odds stacked against them, the Tigers took their talent (along with some
luck) all the way to the National Championship. In doing so, they had the two
best plays in college football, including one that will go down in the history of
college football as one of the best of all-time -- in the SEC title game against
Bama. Its stories such as these that make college football so fun to watch year
after year.
The Traditions – Just about every school has some
type of tradition when it comes to game day. Ohio State’s “Script Ohio” with the
dotting of the “I”, The 12th man of Texas A&M, Clemson’s
Howard’s Rock and the Hill, Penn State’s Beaver Stadium White Out, Auburn’s War
Eagle Flight, the Army-Navy game, and the list goes on. There is nothing quite
like the pageantry and history that surrounds college football come Saturday’s
in the fall. There is not another sport that can boast such greatness or
tradition than that of college football!
The Fans – From the 100,000+ fans that pack the Big
House, Beaver Stadium or the Shoe, to the raucous loud Tiger Stadium at Death Valley,
fans make college football so much more special. They give their respective
teams a unique home field advantage. No other sport can compare to the crowds
of loyalty that show up in droves each and every Saturday to support their
team, win or lose. It’s a sight that has transcended the modern era.
The Rivalries – Every year, players & fans circle
the one game that means more than the rest. The one game in which bragging
rights and glory are at stake for an entire year. The one game in which
anticipation builds as it gets closer and the intensity of players and fans
increase to a whole new level. The one game that can make or break the entire
season. Quite simply, the one game that can turn a losing season into a winning
season.
My favorite college football rivalries:
7. Florida State vs. Miami
6. Oklahoma vs. Texas (The Red River Shootout)
5. BGSU vs. Toledo (Battle of I-75)
4. Notre Dame vs. USC
3. Army vs. Navy
2. Ohio State vs. Michigan (The Game)
1. Alabama vs. Auburn (The Iron Bowl)
The Upsets – Every year there is a bevy of games in
which a top-ranked team is beaten by an unexpected foe, or an FCS team that
surprises an FBS school. This is what makes the game so great. Essentially, any
team can beat another on any given Saturday. Last year the following FCS
schools upset FBS opponents: Georgia Southern defeated (usual SEC power)
Florida, North Dakota State knocked off Kansas State, Northern Iowa defeated Iowa
State, Eastern Illinois upended San Diego State, McNeese State beat South
Florida, Eastern Washington defeated Oregon State, and Towson beat Connecticut.
In most cases the games weren't even close. In addition, Oregon was blown out
by Arizona 42-16, Duke beat Virginia Tech for the first time in years, BGSU
rocked undefeated Northern Illinois for the MAC Title, and Auburn defeated
Alabama in the Iron Bowl. And who could forget when Appalachian State upset the
Wolverines in the Big House?! In all, there’s nothing quite like the underdog
beating a heavy favorite.
The pride and passion of the sport of college football is
unlike any other. Now, the thrill and excitement of a new season is upon us once again,
as the long wait of 234 days is finally over! And let’s not forget, for the
first time ever, we get the luxury of a four-game playoff to decide the
National Champion – a College Football fan’s dream!!
Saddle up, this should be a season for the ages!!
Here's a video to get the juices flowing..