Guess it’s over, y’all, college football should be banned.
I’m not even sure exactly where to start on the absurdity of this debate. Maybe it’s because the arguments support of college football somehow devolved into calling upon patriotism (“college football is the Statue of Liberty”) and using ad hominem attacks (“[this argument] is being argued by well-intentioned people who don’t clearly understand the sport”).
Maybe it’s because the arguments for the banning were built entirely of straw-men. T. Boone Pickens would clearly throw his money around to other non-revenue sports without football. College football has created “the distracted university” that forgoes education. And, of course, the physical trauma, most notably concussions, as a result of playing in the NFL college football.
Perhaps it was the fact that the debate itself occurred in New York City, a place with little emotional attachment to college football due to a lack of a local program.
Or perhaps it was because Jason freakin’ Whitlock was called upon to defend college football.
Admittedly, college football is far from perfect and with increased study into concussions coupled along with a seemingly unending stream of scandals, it’s easy to see why. The money involved creates such high stakes that, at times, institutions of higher learning turn blind eyes to things they shouldn’t, allowing boosters, coaches, and players run wild.
Since the last Roundup alone, a Buckeye commit dropped Ohio State because of a sex offender, who was later arrested, was constantly tweeting at and having other contact with players. The Sandusky case put Penn State all over my newsfeeds this week. And amongst all that, which is just the tip of the iceberg, ESPN threw all kinds of crazy money at the ACC for a TV deal.
Sure there are problems, but banning the sport is the answer? That’s cutting off the nose to spite the face and an believably lazy solution to boot. If we seriously entertain this logic, we can justify banning damn near everything.
Anyways, to the Roundup before it gets banned as well
The Roundup
Big East bans their commissioner. Ok, so Marinatto actually resigned; however, there was no doubt that this was ever so slightly forced. Blame the university presidents if you want, but when you the head of an organization that has people looking to go just about anywhere else, you’re going to get the boot.
Clearly, we should ban all guns. Well done, Purdue. That’s how you get a felony charge to stick, Tommy.
While we are at it, ban pizza. Without pizza, these arrests clearly would not have happened.
In fact, we should ban all snacks. This is clearly out of control.
Is there any way that we can ban OU’s receiving corps? Oh wait, they did that on their own? SWEET!
Jim Delany will find a way to ban you from a playoff. Didn’t win your division? Tough. Related, I bet Alabama fans love Delany right now.
Just ban all conferences. Delany’s BS aside, it would seriously save a lot of headaches. By 2015, 25% of all FBS teams will have jumped ship. It’s nearly impossible to keep track of, but thankfully we have a guide that can help us (for a month–maybe).
Want to go Hawg Wild? Since he is likely forever banned from setting foot in Arkansas again, Bobby Petrino clearly doesn’t have use for this anymore.
Here’s a fantastic reason to never ban college football: Mike Leach. Seriously, this guy could not exist in any other environment. Not only did he do an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit, but he made sure to not dodge Craig James questions either. As if that wasn’t enough, he sent his level of awesome to a new level, acknowledging the “Craig James Killed Five Hookers” meme. #RememberThe5
The Beer
For this week, I wanted to see if a beer happened to fit the whole banning theme. Thankfully, Google delivered:
Dirty Bastard beer was recently banned in Alabama due to its name. A creation of Founders Brewing, Dirty Bastard is a solid 8.5% ABV, allowing this forbidden beer to pack quite a punch.
As the departed MCA would say:
Texan by birth, Irish by choice.
First-generation Domer and a former student manager, HLS podcast host, HLS Sim creator, Extra Life streamer, and technical problem haver. You can find more non-Notre Dame related writing on his Patreon.
- Epilogue - January 3, 2022
- HLS Podcast Finale - January 2, 2022
- The Final Fiesta: Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State NCAA ’14 Sim - December 31, 2021
I don’t want to ban everything… Just the actions and ideas that I don’t agree with. (pretty sure Hitler said those words at some point)
Did Alabama change their ABW laws? For a while, they were (like North By God Carolina used to be) in the only sub 5% can be legally sold class.
I thought for a while that Stone (brewers of Arrogant Bastard) were trying to sue anyone and everyone that had the word “bastard” in the names of their brews–making this almost a double-banning by the Bammers.
The fact that they put up Jason Whitlock, one of the most moronic, racist, and aloof sports writers in the history of athletics up against anyone in a debate of ideas was doomed to fail from the beginning. It’s kind of like putting Stephen Hawking against Usain Bolt in a 4×100 relay.
Skip Bayless was busy.
Where is Mark May when you need him?
On a side note, damn glad I live in TX where carrying a gun isnt a freaking FELONY…
Maybe he forgot he wasn’t in Indiana? We don’t even have CCW laws here. If you have your permit to carry a handgun, you can carry it however you want…concealed, or otherwise. I can strap my Glock to my forehead if I so desire (though obviously I wouldn’t as that would surely result in an unsafe sweep).