The National Title Game is Here. In Case You Didn't Notice.
Full disclosure, in case you did not know, I am a Buckeyes football fan.
That said, the excitement about this game is, well, missing? Yeah, missing. It might end up being a good game. Or it might not. LSU will romp. Or they won't. But I don't know that anyone particuarly cares all that much in the greater scheme of things. Assuming my general thesis is right, here's my guess as to why:
1. The winner won't really feel like a true national champ. USC, West Virginia, and Georgia, at the least, have decent arguments to make that they are at least as good, if not better, than whoever wins tonight.
2. tOSU fatigue. After last year's false coronation, and then subsequent humiliation, there is plenty of legit skepticism to hurl Ohio State's way. And people don't usually get fired up about potential blowouts.
3. LSU doesn't have a lot of star power, all things considered. Ohio State too, for that matter. Plenty of talent, but nothing that really pops, for excitement purposes.
But, regardless, they will play a game tonight. And one team will hold a pretty trophy and call itself national champ. And we will all get used to calling the winner national champ. Even though, at the end of the day, no one will really know.
If only there was some way to settle this on the field...
Stewart Mandel of si.com with a guess at what will matter in the game. He thinks the now fully healthy Tigers will be at a distinct advantage. I guess there is no good reason to disagree, other than my partisan hope that he is wrong.
Hopefully, on behalf of Buckeye fans, Jim Tressell will not coach this year's alleged title game with his head firmly lodged up his sweater-vested ass. That would be a nice start.
Edited to add: I am apparently not the only one feeling less than fired up about this game. Head to the Swamp and this thread where all-infinity swamper bobp is on a similar road.
