College vs. Professional - Who Plays With More Passion

When it comes down to it, college football is surely played with more passion than professional football. College players are still playing for the game. They are playing for the fun, the recognition, and their pride...something that seems to lack on the pro level. Can you remember the good 'ol days when you played just to play? Do you remember what it felt like just to be on that field? If the pro players of today played with that same amount of passion and love, it would be noticed by all of their fans. Instead, we've seen the fame and money go to their heads. We've seen them break the law and walk away from punishment. Money may buy their freedom most of the time, but it can never buy their passion and commitment.

Watching the Saturday games in the fall, we can feel the power...the competition...the drive to succeed. Those players are fighting their way to the top to prove something. They're driven by an inner need to win - not for their fans, but for themselves. For every completed pass, every interception, and every touchdown their desire to play the game is apparent. Whether or not they ever play the game again is not what matters to them. Sure, you have some college players that are out there to try to make it into the NFL. But, in those same games, you have the players that may end up being lawyers, doctors, or accountants. Most of them may never play the game again...and it doesn't matter. College players are playing for today. They're on that field Saturday afternoons for who they are now...not who they may be in 5 years.

I'm not saying that professional football isn't great - I'm a die-hard fan. My television flips between all the games on Sunday afternoons. The only difference is why they play...what it means...how it feels. So, when it comes down to it, football is the greatest sport in the world. From the pee-wee leagues to high school, the whole way to pro status - football is what it is...only a game. A game where the best athletes shine above all the others.

Shocking Defeat...

Almost halfway through regular season...a time when the best shall prevail!

If only someone would have let the athletes in on that little thought. As with every Sunday (and Monday night) my television was set to the football games. I was ready to watch the Redskins trample the Rams...the Cowboys take care of the Cardinals...the Giants rise above the Browns. None of which resulted the way I thought!

This proved to be a week of the under-dogs. A day for the weak to become the strong...for the strong to become the weak. Usually, I am screaming at the TV - jumping around like a monkey on crack! That proved pointless by the 3rd quarter of the Skins game. I just sat down, bowed my head in defeat, and held my losing football pool ticket in my hand. It's not a real football pool...that's not legal! But, me and my boys came up with our own. Just a little challenge to see who can call them right! It's been neck-in-neck for the past 5 weeks. Now, although I'm in the lead...it was still discouraging!

I've watched the Redskins rise to where I never thought they could be. My whole life, I've been a die-hard Cowboys fan...my dad was a die-hard Redskins fan. Since he passed away 2 years ago, I've been keeping track of his team for him. I cheer them on - except when they go up against my Boys. My dad always wanted to see them go all the way. I thought this could possibly be their year...maybe it still can be. If they want it bad enough, they better put their heads back into the game! As for my Cowboys...there really isn't much to say. They started out amazing. Then, they let something go. There's no 'team play' on the field like there was at the beginning of the season.

How about them Panthers? They have been dominating the gridiron for weeks...a team that's defeating the odds...turning from 'nobodys' into 'somebodys'. Or so that's how it looked. There is a lot of hype over the Panthers. Thoughts that they wouldn't be in the picture at all without Steve Smith. Wrong! It became apparent that they were more than just that one man. For they prevailed when he was sidelined...what went wrong on Sunday? Maybe the next game will turn out the way they want it to!

Let's discuss the Texans...a team that has perfected losing! I have given Houston the benefit of the doubt. Every week, they are one of my picks in the pool. Not because I like them...simply because they did good in pre-season. It seems they are coming together as a team...well, they proved it Sunday! Although, last week I picked the Dolphins to win! That was a hard game to pick. I decided on the Dolphins because the Texans let me down every week so far. Guess I should have stuck with tradition and picked 'em! Somehow, they emerged victorious...congrats to them!

I'm not going to give up on my pool...after all, football is the sport of Gods! I do NOT work on a Sunday because I'm glued in front of the television. So, I've made my pics for next week...and I am going to share them with you right now!

Buffalo over the Chargers

Carolina over the Saints

Chicago over the Vikings

Steelers over the Bengals

Titans over the Chiefs

Miami over the Ravens

Giants over the 49ers

Cowboys over the Rams

Houston over the Lions

Colts over the Packers

Jets over the Raiders

Redskins over the Browns

Seattle over Tampa Bay

Broncos over the Patriots

Tune in next week to see how I did...it can't be any worse than this past week was!

Winning a College Football Game

When it comes down to winning a college football game, it's based on so many different things. Some may say it's pride...many say it's heart...then, there's what I say!

The drive to win comes from the passion that's held deep within every player that runs onto the gridiron. It's the desire to play the game. In all reality...that's what it is - a game. College football is a sport in which men get to play for respect, honor, and dignity. They haven't yet hit the point of million dollar contracts or endorsements. Not many of them will ever get to see that. They play for the fun of the game...that one moment in time which may never come again.

Saturday afternoons this fall, turn on your television and just watch...there is so much to be learned from these athletes. You will see teamwork and sportsmanship. You'll see pride and defeat...anger and elation. Every emotion that can be experienced in one's lifetime can be felt through each player in one afternoon. You will see the best of the best...it's evident in the attitude of the coaches, the authority of the refs, the screams of the thousands sitting in the stands.

So, when you ask what is needed to win a college football game, you will be provided with a compilation of answers. There is no one answer that supercedes another...they are all equally important to the outcome you'll see upon the scoreboard. The sport of college football does not depend on any one player or any one coach. It's success relies solely on the ability of those involved to work as one. It's a bond that emerges with the same strength as family...ties that can not be broken. When they look at each other as brothers, only then can they acquire greatness. That will make these men

unstoppable...

unreachable...

untouchable!

College football - the greatest of all pasttimes. A sport where men prove who they are both on and off the field. Men who may never play again...men with a passion. You could possibly be seeing future doctors, lawyers, and journalists. Men who play football today...the same men who may change the world tomorrow.

Some of you may agree with me...some of you may not. Either way, it must be acknowledged that these men stand out above most others. Their fear is masked by their strength...their weaknesses are protected by their power...and their determination is what prevails. This is what gives each athlete that you see a burning desire to win! They are playing the game for this one moment in time...