Here we are several days into the New Year, and the college football season is finally winding down. Bowl season used to start on Christmas day with an all star game for players from crummy teams that didn't get to go bowling. This was followed by a low rent contest between teams no one wanted to watch; usually someone like Auburn and Purdue.

Then the rest of the post season happened in a flurry of activity during an extended holiday weekend. New Year's Day wrapped up all the remaining games, and college football was over.

Now we start playing just after Thanksgiving, and it lasts until mid January. We even have pre- season contests. It is evident beyond any argument there are too dad gum many bowl games.

Americans are now the proud owners of 34 college post season events. This means 68 teams; way more than half of those schools playing D1 football, can go to a bowl. All a team needs is a non- losing record. This means any team that wins six games can be rewarded for their season. A head coach who wins only six games for three years running will be rewarded with a new career.

Hosting a bowl game has become popular since ESPN became the monster it is today. Any medium sized city with a barbeque joint, a bowling alley, a football stadium, and a historic downtown now has a televised game in December.

The announcers hype their own game by overstating the credentials of the two teams they are broadcasting. As well they should; it might be the only work they get all year.

The small number of competent announcers can't cover every game so television drags anyone with experience from the bottom of the barrel. Pat Summerall was a top shelf broadcaster 20 years ago. Now he looks embalmed. It was like watching Dick Clark.

The Sugar Bowl had some cyborg claiming to be an Albert brother calling that game. His eyes never blinked during his face time. With fewer games we would at least have less irritating announcers; although Brent Musburger is here to stay. He gets one of the top games each season. The sports fans of the U.S. must have done something really bad to be cursed with him for so long.

The commercials are the worst thing about this glut. An ad touting the manliness of Dodge trucks features macho guys representing macho occupations. The participants wear tee shirts with fireman and cowboy emblazoned on the front so we know they are truly manly men. It was like watching the Village People.

The most irritating commercial featured four old men on a road trip in a Mustang convertible. Every time they took a picture someone was in the bathroom. How impatient is the photographer if you can't wait a couple of minutes for someone to finish nature's call?

They appeared to be having fun just like when they were young, but you just know the trip consisted of four o'clock dinner at an Early Bird Special restaurant followed by a quick trip home so they didn't miss Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.