I swear, it’s true.
There really was a time when I loved college football.
But that all changed when the COVID pandemic hit in 2020 and we suddenly witnessed the travesty of young men being pushed by shortsighted universities and self-serving athletic conferences – not to mention reckless, irresponsible politicians like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – to play college football amid a lethal, worldwide, highly contagious plague with no known treatment or cure in sight.
I thought it was sickening and horrifying back then.
I still do nearly five years later.
And during those nearly five years, my love for college football has gradually morphed into something closer to hate.
Nah.
Let’s just totally lean into this.
I do hate college football these days.
And with a nod to college football’s 12-team playoff, which concludes Monday when Ohio State and Notre Dame play for the national title, here are 12 reasons why I hate – yes, I said it! – college football:
1. Er, um, the 12-team playoff
The move by college football to expand the playoff system to 12 teams was all about greed.
Period.
It had nothing to do with giving more deserving football programs a chance to play for a title.
And college football is getting just what it deserves for being so money-grubbing.
The new playoff system has been rife with mismatches – come on, did anyone really think pretenders and wannabes like Indiana, Boise State and SMU wouldn’t get their rear ends kicked to an incandescent glow? – and underwhelming viewership numbers.
And all this to end up with two perennial powerhouse programs – Ohio State and Notre Dame –predictably in the championship game?
Oh boy!
Woo-hoo!
2. The relentless worship of college football coaches
Sorry, but I don’t find much reason for over-the-top fawning regarding a profession whose members:
So why are college football coaches often the highest-paid employees in their states?
And when a college football coach merely retires, why are so many people so heartbroken that they literally place offerings before shrines that have been erected to honor Great Dear Leader Big Coach?
Seriously?
3. Coach-worshipping media sycophants
Whenever a team makes a great play during a college football game, do you ever notice how frequently the gushing announcers will immediately praise some coach for “dialing up” a brilliant strategy or formation – rather than properly recognizing and crediting the players who actually made the great play?
And you wonder why so many college football coaches have emperor complexes?
4. Obnoxious college football mascots . . .
Like the Oregon Duck.
5. Tiresome college football rituals . . .
Like the University of Florida “Gator Chomp – though, thank God, the racist “Gator Bait” cheer is no more.
6. Offensive college football traditions . . .
Like Florida State’s Tomahawk Chop and War Chant.
More:Karma’s calling, FSU Seminoles: Get rid of the stupid Tomahawk Chop, War Chant | Opinion
7. Increasingly toxic levels of trolling
Look, even popular college football rivalry games have become tainted by the growing trend of taunting winning teams trying to plant their school flags on their opponents’ midfield logos.
8. Politics and college football games
Sure, politicians have always found it worthwhile to show up at college football games.
But now college football games have become a go-to spot for political campaign stops and politically motivated appearances with controversial figures enjoying their 15 minutes of fame.
9. Urban Meyer
It should tell you all you need to know about college football that Meyer – a head coach who departed the University of Florida under a cloud of controversy, left Ohio State amid a scandal AND ruined my favorite NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, while getting handsy in a Columbus, Ohio, bar – has just been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
10. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville
It should tell you all you need to know that Tuberville, one of America’s most ignorant political figures, is a former college football coach.
11. Anger over pay, freedom for college football players
No one had a problem when college football coaches jumped from school to school for big money – but Congress needs to get involved when players get paid or want to transfer to other schools?
And . . . No. 12:
Did I mention how Urban Meyer messed up my favorite NFL team?
Opinion Editor Roger Brown can be reached at roger.brown@heraldtribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter @RBrown_HTOpin.
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