Pick a Side and Stay There!

So, most agree the current college football system is a joke in terms of crowning a National Champion. The majority in the college football world want some type of postseason, whether its an 'And 1' or playoff.

But, now I'm confused. This past Saturday we obviously watched the two best teams in the country play in Columbus, OH. The game was so thrilling that the first question asked was should there be a rematch?

Approximately half of the media and fans are in favor of it.

The other half?

Well, most use arguments along the line of 'its unfair to Ohio State' or 'give another team a chance' or 'Michigan had its shot' (in Columbus mind you).

Let me point out the problem with this. If you're part of the no rematch camp for reasons other than you DO NOT feel Michigan is #2, then you're really not in favor of a playoff and this shocks me. I am baffled that overnight a large portion of the college football world has decided a playoff is not the way to go.

You're probably asking why I'm saying this. Well, it's quite simple. If you're not in favor of a rematch, then a playoff will NOT work because rematches will be plentiful.

So we sit here today more confused than ever. As college football was, slowly, but surely moving toward a 'playoff', we just learned that there are many who actually don't want it because they hadn't taken the time to think it through.

You can't have a playoff without rematches!

Who would've thunk that?

Michigan vs. Ohio State (THE Game)

My first memory of this classic series is 1986. The Harbaugh led Wolverines walked into Columbus and fell behind Cris Carter's Buckeyes 14-3. However, Big Blue stormed backed from the early deficit to clip the Bucks 26-24, to clinch the Big Ten and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

I was 9 at the time and the hatred began that day. Over the years it has intensified and now lives at a soft boil, some 21 years later.

The 18th of November, 2006, will present to us one of the best match-ups in college football history. Not only is it Michigan vs. Ohio State, but it's for all the marbles. As if pure detest isn't enough, these two powerhouses will decide who books a trip to the National Championship this Saturday.

The ferocity of this series is unmatched. The war of the border is like no other. The tension escalates with each passing year and has now come to a climax. In the 102 year history of this epic series, never have they met ranked #1 and #2 and its quite possible it will never happen again.

For the fans, it is a week of two tales. The media coverage will be intense. You'll hear more statistics regarding the two teams then you'll care to know. The analysts will spew their meaningless jargon to hype THE Game to its highest magnitude. But come Friday night, every Michigan and Ohio State fan will have a feeling in the pit of their stomach that will not let them sleep. In fact, I doubt many do. Saturday morning will be welcomed with arms wide open, yet the nervousness and tension will escalate to unprecedented proportions.

Nobody is fooling anybody this week. Those fans who have an attachment to this game cannot concentrate a lick without thinking to Saturday. The game will be joyous for one side and sorrowful for the other. The emotions let loose during the week could supply enough power to generate a major city for months. What this game means to many cannot be quantified by on-field statistics. We will all hear why one team should beat the other, but emotions win in this rivalry. More often than not, the more talented team walks off as the loser. Heart and determination trump god given skill in this battle.

The media content this week has gotten so large that one doesn't even know where to begin. Maybe its best to just sit back and reflect. Enjoy some old classic battles between the two schools and relish in the history this rivalry has provided. After all, nobody truly understands the magnitude of this match-up outside of the two teams and its fan base. No one can comprehend the difficulty sleeping the Friday night before the game and the angst leading up to it on Saturday morning. Most of all, nobody on the outside understands the anguish of a loss that lives with us for 364 days.

But those within the walls of this classic rivalry fully understand what's at stake on Saturday for the 103rd time. Some will pop out of bed Sunday morning, while others will try to convince themselves it was only a dream.

Michigan vs. Ohio State for a chance to claim it all.


DP

Michigan vs. Ohio State Preview

Ohio State vs Michigan 2006 Hype Video


Michigan vs. Ohio State PROMO


Michigan - Ohio State 2006 (Inches Speech)

Buckle Up, America!

I feel terribly sad today because I was right. I was afraid this would happen, but few would listen. Back during the 2004 election, I urged those around me not to re-elect Bush. The writing was spray painted all over the wall that his 8 year Presidency could go down as one of the worst, ever. I stood, alone, on my island urging many to go in another direction.

I did this not because I was a Kerry supporter, afterall, I am independent conservative. I do feel there is something to be said in voting for the person not the party. Although this point gets lost on most biased Americans. Rather, I did this because I was afraid of the day we just experienced.

The Democrats now have control and they're radical leader has the podium to begin her quest to rot everything that is right, in America.

And the so called hard headed Republicans are the reason for this disaster by re-electing Bush.

But you say, the Democrats would've taken control regardless this fall and under that scenario the White House would be in 100% Democratic control.

I say, bad assumption.

What Americans did on Tuesday was not vote FOR the Democratic Party, rather they voted against Bush. The result is near disaster that could come to fruition in 2008.

The reality of Tuesday's vote, when all is said and done, was a bold statement against Bush and the Republican Party. However, what most voters do not understand is they may have mortgaged their morals and beliefs to make this statement.

There are so many Americans who continually vote and post a stand:

1. Against amnesty
2. For border control
3. Against affirmative action
4. For marriage only between man & woman
5. Against raising taxes
6. For prayer in school
7. Against degradation of the Flag
8. For the right to bear arms

And yet, the new speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi, is the exact opposite of what is listed above. It amazes me how a Nation could be, in majority, unified on the above issues, yet give up control to a party who will slowly drag these issues down the drain. I truly worry what this country will look like 6 years from now with radical leadership now in place.

True, Americans will probably get what they requested in giving Democrats control with the liklihood of the U.S. slowly pulling out of Iraq. Our leaders will mostly likely travel around the world and make nice over a cup of coffee with hate filled leaders of the Middle East & North Korea. But watch what happens within our country. Watch closely how values deteriorate over the next several years, at a rapid pace. Pay attention to what Americans mortgaged just to make a statement against Bush.

The Republicans, how I see it, do not possess a strong Presidential candidate for 2008, which means we could be in for full Democratic control in just a few short years. If this happens, the face of America will be vastly different:

• The government will be much larger, filled with many more 'special' groups
• Taxes will undoubtedly be up
• God will be forbidden
• Borders will be open
• Illegals will have access to public services they are 'entitled' to

And we will pay for all this.

I hope I am wrong about where this country is headed. But I also hoped I was wrong two years ago when Bush was re-elected.

Hopefully, in 2008, Americans will take notice of what they're voting for.

DP