There goes the football season

By Mark Hopkins

Super Bowl 2014 is now history and Seattle stands alone at the top of the professional football world. Who would have thought this could happen just two years ago when that struggling franchise was 7-9? Add a defensive-minded coach and a young dynamic quarterback and wonders never cease.

I readily admit that I am a serious fan of professional and college football. I am always saddened when football season is over, whether pro or college. However, I see some major advantages the college game has over the pro game for the average fan. At the end of the professional season one team stands alone. By contrast, at the end of a major college football season about one in eight teams has won a conference championship, one in two has gone to a bowl game, and half of those have come home as winners. That leaves the rest to say with great emotion, "Wait 'til next year."

Whatever the outcome for your favorite team, the season's end always seems to leave the fans wanting more, and wanting it now. Who can ignore college football with all the hoopla, sports media coverage and outright hysteria that is experienced in this country for three months each year. For dedicated tailgaters there aren't four seasons in a year, only two, football season and spring football season.

Those who proclaim that college exists for scholarship have righteousness on their side. But, there is room at a university for marching bands and goal-line stands and songs that stir emotions like "On Wisconsin," "Tiger Rag" and "Fight for Old Mizzou."

I love the nicknames: Notre Dame's "Four Horsemen," Wisconsin's "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, "Slinging" Sammy Baugh of Texas Christian, "Sam the Bam" Cunningham of Southern California, "Mean" Joe Green of North Texas and Notre Dame's George Gipp, as in "Win one for the Gipper." Should I mention one called "Orange Juice?"

There never was a better name for a football player than Bronko Nagurski, unless it is "The Galloping Ghost," the sports writer's description of Red Grange of Illinois. Fielding Yost, Michigan's coach, once scoffed: "All Grange can do is run." To which Grange's coach responded; "Yes, and all Caruso can do is sing."

Where could you find a more delightfully fanciful team name than TCU's "Horned Frogs?" Was there ever a more perfect name for a football coach than Alabama's "Bear" Bryant? Some say that Knute Rockne of Notre Dame was the greatest of all college coaches. He may have been, with his record of 105 wins, 12 loses and five ties from 1918 through 1930. But, don't forget Amos Alonzao Stagg of the University of Chicago. Stagg invented the huddle, the single wing, the shift, the end run, the practice dummy and cheerleaders.

For those who are feeling down that the season is now behind us, buck up. It is only 60 days until spring practice. Ahh, college football.

Mark Hopkins is a former Chaffee resident. He can be reached at presnet@presnet.net. Books by Hopkins can be found in the Chaffee Library.