College Football 2012

Now that the 2012 College Football regular season has come to close, we are now subjected to the worst post season in all of sport.  While the regular season brought much excitement, including the emergence of Johnny "Football/Touchdown/Heisman" Manziel, the post/bowl/silly season brings many yawns including a New Year's Day game matching up Northwestern and Mississippi State.  Mark your calendars for that one.

We could go off on a lengthy rant about the entire bowl process (which somehow excludes the second most prolific offensive team in Louisiana Tech) but we will focus here on the BCS Trophy game and the upcoming four team playoff starting in two years.

While we are no fans of the current system, it seems to get it right most years just by sheer luck.  This year, not so much.  We are not convinced that either of the teams (Notre Dame and Alabama) are the best two teams in the country.  There is circumstantial evidence to back this up.  However, there is no concrete evidence to argue otherwise.  Notre Dame is undefeated playing a schedule that did not include any cupcakes.  Alabama won the SEC, which many argue is the best conference in the nation.

We think any among Oregon, Texas A&M, Stanford, Kansas State, Florida and LSU could beat either of those teams on a neutral field at any given time.  Or not.  It's that close.

So, things would be better if we had the four team playoff in effect this season, right?

In the words of Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend."

Sports Illustrated had a mock selection committee pick the four playoff teams here.  Very interesting read.

But are you comfortable with a final four of Notre Dame, Alabama, Oregon and Florida? We're not.  While that would provide for three very interesting games, leaving out Stanford (who beat Oregon), Texas A&M (who beat Alabama), Kansas State and LSU just seems wrong to us.

The four team playoff is a step in the right direction.  But it is not that much better than what we have right now.  We say either go all in with an eight team playoff, or keep it as is, or maybe scrap the whole thing and go back to the old way and end everything on January 1.

Oh yeah, and you kids get off of our lawn.

Losing Weight, #CFBUniWatch

OK.  I admit it.

I'm overweight.

I should lose about 70 pounds.  My goal is 50.

There.  I've said it.  The pounds should start melting away just because I decided to lose weight. No pills, no fads, just gonna do it.  Shouldn't it be that easy?

Realistically, it's going to take time.  I also think 50 is a realistic goal.  It may be at a snail's pace, but it can and will be done.

I'm so far out of shape that the whole process is going to take time.  I can't just start running miles per day.  I've got to work up to everything.  Many years of sedation do not get erased in one morning.

Some may scoff, but I have started  by walking 2.5 miles at least three times per week. Watching portion sizes.  Baby steps.  It's working so far.  I've lost 5 pounds.  Not much, but a start. No pills, no fads.  Just trying to live healthier.

This blog will not become a personal diary on my quest to lose weight.  From time to time I may update my progress, but it will  be in passing, not as a focus.

 And while I'm here:  Time for a little College Football Uniform Watch.

Not much going on this Saturday, but West Virginia and the gray helmets.  Yep, that was your downfall in losing to Texas Tech.  Forget the facts that your offense was anemic and your defense was a sieve.  It's all about the unis.

As I write at the moment, South Carolina is on the field against LSU in what can only be categorized as an atrocity.  The gray on gray is NOT working.  While we don't have a dog in the hunt, we were pulling for  SC to take out LSU in Death Valley until they took the field with costumes.  Their best defensive player's last name is Clowney.  No need to dress the entire team like clowns.

Perspective and Balance

Exactly when did being a fan of a particular team go from supporting said team to ripping each and every shortcoming?  With the proliferation of sports talk radio, sports talk radio on TV, shows consisting of highly opinionated people loudly making, sometimes fallacious, points, we can see where fans might become confused, ripping their favorite team instead of rooting for their favorite team.  Because that's what everybody does - tear people down.

Here in the Cheap Seats, we are unabashed fans of the Texas Rangers.  Yes, the end of the season was very disappointing.  Even more so considering the high expectations and the fact that they led the A's by 13 games as late as June.  And needed to win only one game in the season-ending series in Oakland to clinch the division title.  Sure, it sucks to put it mildly.  But really, it's just sports.  Move on.

LSU lost a college football game today against a ranked Florida team on the road.  LSU's offense was inept. As it was last year.  For reference see both games against Alabama.

Judging by Tweets and facebook posts, one might conclude that both Texas and LSU went on marauding sprees, killing firstborn children and molesting women immediately after their respective games.  They were also the most disgraceful, inept and stupid collection of players to ever be assembled, led by incompetents who should never work in their preferred field again.

Of course it's perfectly right to criticize your favorite team.  That's just part of the deal.  But to come completely unhinged and emotionally unstable?  Maybe an intervention or professional therapy is needed.

Perspective and balance, folks.  Just a nice way of saying "Get a life."