WHY I’m the Voice of Reason

No one questions the passion of sports fans. Their logic, however, is a different story. Fandom clouds judgment. That especially holds true for fans of college football.

Maybe that is due to the alumni factor. I’ve long said college fans are the only ones I’ll give a pass for using “we” when referring to their favorite team. If you went to that school, paid tuition and sat in class with the players (provided they went to class), you have a genuine connection to the team. In that case, it truly is us against them.

Rising from that passion is a trend where intelligent people look at certain situations through colored glasses. Not rose colored glasses… more like crimson and cream, or maize and blue or blue and gold.

That brings me to my role in this whole situation. Not too long ago, I dubbed myself “the Voice of Reason.” It’s not because I’m always right. It’s because my opinions will always come after weighing all sides. Hosting my radio show for three hours, every day for almost five years has prepared me for this. Besides merely having my own opinion, I at times will play devil’s advocate with a caller or co-host. Even if I agree with your opinion, I’ll make sure you’ve looked at all sides of the argument before you get on your pedestal.

I will make you look harder at your team than anyone else. That especially holds true for my fellow Nittany Lion fans. They don’t like hearing that their program is not on the same level as USC, Florida or Ohio State. It never has been. Penn State has never been a team that competes for the national title EVERY year, even at its zenith. Can PSU beat those teams? Sure. Are they as talented man for man? No. Don’t agree? Watch the NFL draft each year and take note in the fluctuation of Penn State players compared to the steady flow of players from other programs.

My opinions may not be right, but they will always be fair. They will be based in fact and reason. They will not be based on where I went to school or what color jersey I am wearing.

I have said numerous times that college football needs a playoff. Yet, a few months ago, I heard someone on my own station call me a BCS supporter who believes in our current system. How did that get misconstrued? I stand up for the BCS. And by “stand up,” I mean point out the many reasons why there isn’t a playoff. I also have the audacity to say the BCS has improved college football immensely.

Without the BCS, would Boise State, Hawaii or Cincinnati be playing in a major bowl game? Not a chance. People are so quick to forget how ridiculous and biased the previous system was.

Fans and sports writers are quick to slam the BCS. Most fans don’t understand the BCS and don’t want to either. I have no problem with BCS haters. However, if the media is going to slam the BCS, they should look into and explain WHY things happen instead of just moaning about it like Joe Buckeye.

I actually read a column last week that still blamed the Rose Bowl for picking Illinois for the ’08 game over Georgia. I agree a match-up between USC and the Bulldogs would have been more interesting and more competitive than the shellacking the Trojans laid on Ron Zook’s squad. The problem is that match-up wasn’t possible.

The Rose Bowl needed the Sugar Bowl’s permission to pick an SEC team. Considering the fact that the Sugar Bowl was going to pick last among the BCS eligible teams, they knew they’d be stuck with Colt Brennan’s Hawaii team. They blocked the pick to ensure themselves a team that would fill the Superdome if the undefeated squad from the islands only brought 10 fans. The Rose Bowl then chose the guaranteed 30,000 fans the Illini would bring.

What about Missouri? Their fan base had just traveled to San Antonio for the Big 12 Title game. How many of them would make another trip? Bowl officials don’t pick teams based on what will be the most competitive game. Bowl games were created as a tourist attraction. They want the two teams that will bring fans to fill the stadium, the bars and the hotel rooms.

No one takes the time to explain any of that though. When I do, I’m a BCS apologist who loves our current system. Actually, I just do homework before I start complaining. That way I can be informed and inform others without allowing my passions and allegiances to influence my opinions. That’s why I’m the Voice of Reason.