On the day the college football season ended the chairman of the BCS announced a playoff would bring more injuries, de–emphasize academics, and minimize the regular season. It would also destroy the 34 game bowl season, with the half–filled stadiums and 6–6 teams going through the motions. If a playoff is that bad, maybe we need to get rid of the playoffs in all other divisions of college football and also all other NCAA sports.

My position is unchanged by such shaky logic. We need a 16 team playoff built around the existing major tier bowl games. It is an easy thing to do for any administrative group not financially and morally obliged to the existing bowl system. We can keep maybe ten other bowl games so teams not involved in the playoffs can still get that fabulous postseason experience.

We also need to fine tune the excessive celebration rule. Genuine celebration and exuberance should be allowed at any time, regardless of how stupid it might look to the wives of university presidents and big boosters. At the same time there needs to be a reduction in insincere exuberance for the sake of ESPN or to taunt the other team.

There is a difference, and it should be noticeable. Like love, genuine joy is hard to explain but easy to see. We should be able to allow players to celebrate really big plays without the team being penalized for their exuberance and reduce stylin’ for the camera. This is something the coaches and older players should be enforcing, not officials. They have enough problems trying to determine pass interference.

We also need to get rid of the “Gatorade on the coach after a victory” celebration. This practice has run its course and is stale enough to warrant replacement. Handshakes, dance moves, and lingo changes every five years. The Gatorade bath has been around for over two decades.

Either find something new or bring back the “ride off the field on the shoulders of two big linemen” thing. This was popular for a long time and isn’t dangerous as long as the guys carrying the coach are strong and agile. Two players who fit that description should be easy to find on any team, even Vandy.

Coach Saban was almost killed during the championship game when the water cooler slammed upside his head. How tragic would it be for a team to lose their coach while celebrating the biggest win of the year? Joe Paterno is old enough to go into cardiac arrest or get pneumonia from a cold jolt after a game.

I am also disappointed no NCAA official acted on last year’s suggestion we call a penalty on anyone who begs for a penalty. This is the second most offensive thing in college sports. The worst is a tie between furry mascots and Brent Musberger.

Like many other things, college football has changed over the last few decades. It might be getting a little more obnoxious but is still the best show around. The end of the season is always a little sad.

Oh well, only eight more months before the season kicks off again.