Going Over The Wall. Reach Out Across the Aisle This Holiday Season.

I like to think of myself more of a libertarian, and the idea of spending money to build a wall to keep people out is about as wasteful a way for our government to spend our tax dollars.  Spend them on schools, use them to help alleviate medical costs, use them to help train and educate our work force, or help veterans adapt to life after service, but don't use them to build walls that keep people out. 

As a Government shutdown looms, and a storied marine leaves his post over a disagreement with the Commander in Chief about the role of the military and their mission we should take a long moment to reflect about what our country is, what it should be, and how can we get closer to that ideal.

Most of us have chosen over the past few years to try and ignore that real divide when we sit at our tables.  Maybe we shall speak into an echo chamber, but when we know that on the other side sits an opposing view we clam up rather than try to come together.

I believe that America should be the home of the brave.  That we aren't scared about the outside world because at the heart of the idea of America is that are a welcoming Country, one that will take in the refugees of ANY country knowing full well that there are chances that people could act in a heinous way.  America should be a country that will not fear the outsiders, that will take in people from all countries and make it as easy as possible for all to live under the same roof.

This is what I believe America should be.  Land of the free, and the home of the brave. I think that all of mankind should be free to do as they wish, travel as they please, and not fear the wrath of an intolerant and controlling government. 

I've always felt the biggest reason for Americas greatness has been that we've been able to include such a diverse group of cultures and people who have been either displaced or have come to seek a better life for themselves. 

When 9/11 happened, I believe America began to act in perpetual fear about Terror and the outside world and has responded by placing and funding arbitrary projects in response to our fear.  We wasted trillions of dollars and sacrificed thousands of lives to "feel safer" in the Iraq War when in reality terror attacks have been mostly contained by the incredibly hard work of the CIA and FBI.  There have been far more acts of domestic violence and crimes rather than ones committed by people coming in from another Country.

Right now you were to bet on the next mass shooting, act of terrorism or act of almost ANY crime IN America, it is FAR more likely to be the product of someone who was born and raised in America.

Before we spend so much money exploiting people's fear of an outside or an unknown why don't we use Government correctly and honestly based on data and science?

We need to address as a community the differences between us, and honestly it should happen in person.  The internet and social space can be fun, and at times useful but at some level it cant be trusted more than a full human interaction. 

If we have differences of opinion it would be far more beneficial to speak to those differences in person.  Tone and non-verbal cues as well as the ability to speak in real time is the way to settle disputes, not the written word.

This coming Holiday we will see our families as Americas future is literally on the balance.  I would urge families to put their smart phones away and talk honestly about that future.

 

Try these questions. 

How should we spend our tax dollars?  Who do we respect as people to represent our beliefs?  Are we scared or less trustful of people who don't share your ethnicity, religion, geographical upbringing?

Rather than talk about how things are or the sins of the past, talk about how we would want them to be.  Focus on where we are similar.  I'm betting that on both sides of aisle legalized marijuana is an agreeable topic.  Cheaper, affordable healthcare.  Taking care of our schools and roads and limiting the use of our military to things that are pertinent.  Almost all of us desire peace.

If we are the country that aspires to truly be that place where all men and women are treated equal and fair, then we must be a country that accepts all people, no matter where they're from or what they believe, welcome them into our home, and talk to them without fear, and without hate.

Though I have disagreed myself from time to time on the internet with various friends and family, I love you all, just as I know deep down you all love me.  And that gives me all the confidence in the world to speak about the future of this great country.

That Time Penn State Played Alabama on a Snowy Night In Pittsburgh. The Case For Playoff Expansion.

It's all I can do to not yell at the television that the answer is so obvious that I don't understand why the concept hasn't been made reality yet, other than the current scenario without doubt favors the SEC and the South in general.

I still think the best option is get auto bids by power 5 Conferences with 3 At Large bids as well.

There is far more money in a playoff scenario.  That would bring your must watch games (minus alma maters) to 7.

This year might also have been the PERFECT year to do it.

My seeding would go as follows.

1. Alabama vs. 8.Washington
2. Clemson vs. 7. Georgia
3. Notre Dame vs. 6. UCF
4. Oklahoma vs. 5. Ohio State

1. Alabama vs. 8. Washington (Hypothetical Location: New Orleans)

In this scenario the very first game you get is the best team from the "best conference" vs an incredibly maligned yet still potent power 5 Conference Champion, who is in based on their autobid and seeded due to their low ranking among the polls.  Would Washington pull off this upset?  Probably not.  But I garuntee this game is better than Washington vs Ohio State, and with an opportunity to still play either Oklahoma or Ohio State, followed by a National championship against either Clemson, Notre Dame, against SEC rival Geogia or the biggest underdog to make it, UCF, the stories just get better.

2.Clemson vs 7. Georgia (Hypothetical Location: Phoenix)
 
Two percieved powerhouses go toe to toe.  Georgia is perceived by some in the south as maybe the second best team in football.  Even though they lost to LSU and Alabama, they are thought of by many as a very tough and physical team.  Clemson meanwhile hasn't played a particularly close game all year and looks every bit ready to prove that it belongs right with 'Bama and further from the rest of the pack


3. Notre Dame vs UCF (Hypothetical Location : Philadelphia)

The battle of No conference vs small conference champion.  This game has all the makings of everyone asking if the other team is real or not.  Right now, nobody really knows, and after this game that might still be the case.  If Notre Dame wins, they would play the winner of Clemson/Georgia and beat a "real team"  The same might also be true for UCF, but UCF as an extreme underdog and unlikely story is going to hold that nations attention for as long as it's in the playoff.  If they manage somehow, someway to beat Notre Dame, then beat or play competively with Clemson/Georgia it will continue to erode the bias of conference superiority. 


4.Oklahoma vs. 5. Ohio State (San Diego)

The two likely best teams outside of Clemson and Alabama get to prove whose better.  Similar to Clemson and Georgia, this puts two heavy weights together and we get to see who comes out on top.  There is bad blood with the histories of OSU beating Oklahoma 45-24 in 2016, only to lose to them a year later and have Baker Mayfield plant a flag in Columbus.  This year would be the ultimate rubber match.

Don't get me wrong, I think some of the current bowl games will be fun, but I think this is better.  The idea of underdogs winning,and proving perception to be wrong.  You have more of that drama in an expanded playoff than you do without it. 

This is my dream.  That there is an 8 game playoff with the first round having a regional home field advantage as much as possible.  I want Southern Teams to prove their metal in the elements of the north to prove they can adapt back to playing in excellent conditions and away from their indoor practice facility. 

The spots would be chosen ahead of time to allow the games and venues to properly prepare for the playoff event similar to how it works now, only the regions now include cold weather venues.

Say a magical season happens, and Penn State led by Micah Parsons, Ricky Slade and Tommy Stephens, plays it's way to a 1 seed undefeated and looking every bit a deserving of a top seed though they survived a few close games to say Ohio State and Michigan State.

Alabama is loaded and started as Pre-Season favorites, but they trip in a game at Texas A&M and lose a crushing, competitive championship game by 10 points to Florida who has already lost 2 twice; once to Florida State or Miami, and once to LSU.

When it's all said and done, the landscape could look something like this

1.Clemson 13-0 vs 8. Michigan 10-2 (At Large)  in SE US (Charlotte, Memphis, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, etc.

2. Penn State 13-0 vs. 7. Alabama 10-2 in NE (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New York, Boston etc.

3. Oklahoma 12-1 vs. 6. Houston 12-0 (Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Chicago, Denver)

4. Standford 12-1 vs 5. Florida 10-2 (Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle)

In this particular scenario, Pittsburgh, Pa would get to see Alabama play in the snow against the Blue and White in what could be potentially a real "White Out" scenario. 

To me this jumps off the charts with exciting match-ups and follow up match ups.  Let's say PSU wins and has to play Oklahoma, followed by Clemson?  If Clemson loses to Michigan, that means an underdog WILL come from the other side meaning Standford, Florida or Michigan could play for the title.  The story lines become so much better, than championship, far more earned.

What this does is create so much more interesting conversations and stories.  I also includes incentives for far more people to stay enthused about the game and their schools.

I understand that change is hard and slow.  Logistics of so many things need to get worked out, but the system as it currently stands is simply not up to par, and we as fans, as well as the participating schools deserve a more fair and inclusive system.

Here's hoping that at the end of this playoff contract, we expand and finally get it right.