The Crystal Football

Who will elevate the BCS trophy "the crystal football" this coming Monday night in the Superdome in New Orleans?

My wild-haired guess is the guy in the top picture above, affable and quirky Coach Les Miles of the LSU Tigers. That's he hoisting the crystal in 2007 as his Tigers defeated THE Ohio State University Buckeyes in the Superdome for the national college football championship. But don't discount the guy in the bottom picture, his opponent for the evening, the "reddest ass" in college football Coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide. That's he hoisting the same trophy two years later in the Rose Bowl after his Tide defeated the Texas Longhorns in 2009.

LSU undefeated #1 in the country, defeated #2 Alabama earlier in the season in a 9-6 overtime defensive battle and playing with a home field advantage in the Louisiana Superdome are just a few of the reasons why they will prevail in this game. On top of those advantages, LSU has more talent on the sidelines than most college teams have in their starting lineups. Simply, LSU is stacked, ornery, nasty and hungry for another championship crystal ball to rest in Baton Rouge. So, can the Tide and Saban spoil their coronation as one of the best teams ever? You bet. That's the beauty of sports. Winning is never certain. "That's why they play the game." Heroes are made in games like these. While sweat, blood then tears will be shed.

So, pull up a comfy chair with your favorite crystal-loaded beverage and snack on Monday evening and watch this historic epic battle of arguably the two best teams ever to play for the national championship. Experts predict every down battles between two great offenses, defenses, special teams and coaching from both sides.
The difference between these two evenly-matched exceptional teams is minuscule. Winning and losing this game will come down to one play...one mistake...a moment. I can't wait.

One thing is for certain, whomever wins this game glorifies the sustaining power and the prowess of the Southeastern Conference, the SEC, the best conference in college football. The SEC's football annual exceptionalism poses an almost unfair comparison or model for the other wannabe-great conferences in college football. Here's proof of the SEC dominance in this game: in the last ten national championships, a SEC team has won seven of them including this Monday night.

For us rabid college football fans is there anything better than Bama v LSU championship game in 2012 from the rowdy Dome in New Orleans? I think not!

Enjoy the game.

Geaux Tigers!