See it to believe it

If you'd told me at the start of the football season that TCU would be in the Top 5, that Notre Dame with its easiest schedule in 5 years would go 6-6, that Boston College would have eight wins, and that among the Heisman candidates would be a man from Stanford, I would not have believed you.

And yet here I stand (well, technically I am reclining, but you get my meaning) a changed woman.

Let me first say that I am confident tomorrow I will awaken to a new era of Notre Dame football that features God as head coach, Jesus as the offensive coordinator and the Holy Ghost running defense. Barring that, I'd at least like to imagine a world in which the quarterbacks coach for the Irish isn't the worst QB to come through the school in 20 years. And to be fair, Ron Pawlus may be the best coach ND has, considering their defensive performance this evening and their remarkable inability to win games this season.

Now then, let's talk rivalry week.

I enjoy this week of college football a whole lot, because every other school besides Boston College has an in-state rival to play. We? We get to play Maryland, because there is no other Division I-A football program in Massachusetts. If there is, I'd like to know about it.

But everyone else gets to play their most hated rival. For example, Clemson - South Carolina, Florida - Florida State, UCLA - USC. I always wonder about states where there are three or five schools with big football programs. Like, does it hurt one of those teams' feelings that they're not the one so hated that you finish the season with them?

My other favorite part of rivalry week are the weird names of the games. Like, for example, Mississippi State and Ole Miss meet in the EGG BOWL. Why? I think it must have to do with the golden egg that's given to the winner, but I'm unclear on why you would give the winner of a football game a golden egg. We may never know.

Here's another amazing one -- in Utah, Utah, Utah State and BYU play for the Beehive Boot, but the game between BYU and Utah is called The Holy War, which I find seriously hilarious. I'm curious whether the Mormons who go to the game actually call it the Holy War. But anyway, the Beehive Boot goes to the team with the best record in Utah.

Now that sort of makes sense because interestingly enough Utah is the Beehive State. Which actually makes me wonder whether Mississippi is maybe the Egg State. I'll check it out and get back to you.

Check out the Beehive Boot (it's a real pioneer boot!):



But what everyone wanted to talk about today was the Heisman race.

The big question on everyone's mind is whether Tim Tebow will win it again. Amazingly, this hasn't come up all season. He hasn't even been on the lists. And now all of a sudden, the guy's back in the race, even though he hasn't put up the same numbers as he did two years ago or even last year.

Two thoughts on Tim Tebow.

I cannot take seriously a man who wears things like THIS to a football game.

There was a time when eye black was to keep the sun from hurting your eyes. Now, it's apparently for proselytizing. Also, this is what Romans 1:16 says, if you're curious:

¹⁶I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

I have NO idea how that is connected to a football game. None.

And I will not take seriously any sports Web site that allows this headline on the front page of the site:

Sure, his stats stand out, but it's Tim Tebow's generosity of spirit that fans will cherish.

Generosity of spirit? This is football, people. I am a great lover of college football, but I will not have it described in such a way. Not on my watch, ESPN.com.

Anyway, now everyone is high on Toby Gerhart from Stanford, who lit up Notre Dame today in the fourth quarter. He's very good. He's also named Toby, but since he's so good, I'm going to let that part slide. But do you think Toby is short for something? And if so, what?

He's got great stats and I think his last few games of the year have cemented him in the running for the Heisman.

But my bets are on Colt McCoy, who although he has remarkably googly and vaguely Tyler Hansbrough eyes, is a great QB who is putting up great numbers. And he's had that sad little look for a couple years now, since he keeps getting beat out by people like Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford. Also, I feel like Colt McCoy is like a 9th year senior or something, his name has been thrown around for so long. Maybe if he wins the Heisman we can finally get rid of him.

That's all I've got tonight. Except that I went to see The Blind Side today and while it's super cheesy and predictable, it's also wonderful. Anyone who feels as deeply about sports movies and the power they have to make you cry and then make lists of life goals should definitely go see this movie.