It's a busy time of year for everyone, so I know how tough it is to keep up with everything, but relax, 'cause I've got you covered and, if you'll give me just a couple of minutes, I'll get you all caught up on everything you need to know. It'll only take a second, so hang on tight 'cause here we go:
My latest round of self-aggrandizing nominations for The 2006 College Football Blogger Awards at least has had one positive effect, as it prompted Fotodog to offer his own explanation of why he is a Georgia fan. Be sure to give it a look and feel free to add one of your own.
By the time you read this, it may be old news, but it appears that Georgia's Neil Callaway will be the new head coach at U.A.B. and Vince Dooley's son, Derek Dooley, will take over the Louisiana Tech program. We at Dawg Sports send Coach Callaway and Coach Dooley fils our best wishes on their new assignments.
Meanwhile, the Alabama head coaching search is dragging out longer than the Judds' farewell tour. (Image from Rock on the Net.)
Is there a chance of bringing peace to Los Angeles? Maybe . . . just maybe.
As always, Doug Gillett is all over the aforementioned Alabama coaching situation, but that didn't stop him from taking the time to remember his sister's birthday. Although I take issue with Ann's fanciful version of the events of Bloggerpalooza '06, I send my best wishes to her on this occasion.
On the left, Ann, birthday girl. In the middle and on the right, Doug and me, respectively, looking like dorks.
I completely disagree with every single one of Carolina March's arguments in favor of a Division I-A college football playoff, each of which set up and knocked down a series of straw men. As an adamant playoff opponent, I can honestly say that I don't think the national championship is mythical, I don't think the old system was broken, I don't think Boise State is out of the hunt, I don't think there's anything un-American about supporting a system in which important decisions are made by voting, I don't think the present system fails to settle the championship on the field, I don't think the men's basketball tournament produces only a minimal number of upsets, and I don't think the regular season is of dubious importance.
I also find it more than a bit bizarre that critics of a system of 32 bowl games wish to devise brackets to settle college football's championship by using a scaled-down model of the N.C.A.A. basketball tournament. The premise of that position seems to be, "It's not right that 64 teams make it into postseason play . . . so let's emulate a format that lets 64 teams make it into postseason play!" (Yes, I know, everyone is just proposing an eight- or 16-team playoff format . . . for now.)
On the plus side, College Football Resource graciously responded to my recent remarks, for which I was most grateful, and Mountainlair's Johnny was kind enough to call me "the reason I will never go to law school" and he, too, made his case against a playoff system. Ramblin' Racket also is on the right side of this debate.
"Playoffs? Playoffs?" (Photograph from E.S.P.N.)
I go back and forth over which was the best compliment I received last week. Perhaps it was this one from Burnt Orange Nation:
One last word on Kyle's writing: he's not just thoughtful, he has a warmness with his words that serve to, ultimately, further strengthen his voice. There can be, at times, a bit of a culture of "one-upsmanship" in the blogosphere. Kyle always resists that temptation, writing consistently with a measured respect. Just one more feather in Kyle's very full cap.
On the other hand, there was this observation from Subcommandante Wayne, which comes with an adult content advisory for language:
Much obliged, gentlemen, much obliged.
Go 'Dawgs!