There's
a sweet, delicious, fattening pandemic sweeping college football. I'm
referring, of course, to the burgeoning number of big programs
scheduling sure-win cupcake games against tiny schools in the name of
padding stats and wallets. In a preseason column, the Wiz explains thusly:
The
excuse given for scheduling creampuffs is that good, old State U. needs
a few tuneups before playing legitimate competition. This, of course,
is a big, fat lie. The real reason is that coaches and athletic
directors like their big, fat paychecks. Going to a bowl game every
year virtually guarantees another year on the coach's contract. And if
the coach doesn't get fired, the athletic director has nothing to worry
about. Win-win and cash in.
Say what you
will about USC's head coach Pete Carroll, and plenty of you will say
plenty, but he schedules like a man--usually. Instead of romp-stomping
over a local Division II school to open the season, he took his squad
cross-country to play Virginia. The Trojans have had a yearly rivalry
game with Notre Dame since Notre Dame was good.
But
I just can't get next to these "Ohio State Buckeyes" as a worthy
opponent. You call this a marquee game, sir? A school who went 7-14
on third down conversions in their opener against mighty Youngstown
State? Who then failed in the following week to slam the door on Ohio
U, requiring two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lock down even a mildly
convincing win? The Buckeyes averaged 3.9 yards passing and 4.1 yards
rushing against a MAC team, and you want us to believe the ensuing
curb-stomping in the Coliseum means anything?
I'm disappointed, USC. You're rolling, but you don't have me convinced. Beat a real football team, and we'll talk.
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