Sports are changing and I'm not happy

This week I am choosing a different topic. Now I am not an authority on college football, but I grew up in the days of Murry Warmath and idolized folks like Carl Eller, Sandy Stephens and all of the great college players that made football great in those days. I can’t remember when any of those games were played at night. To me, football should always have been played on a Saturday afternoon. I can remember when the Rose Bowl was the king of all the bowl games. I believe there was also the Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl. Now there are so many bowl games that almost everyone qualifies. That seems to be the participation trophy of college football.

 

I also feel that the transfer portal has done a lot to separate the haves and the have nots. Take Ohio State, for example; they are a very good football team, but their roster has a lot of folks that went through the transfer portal. Before there was any of this grabbing good football players from above average but not great teams. There was once a rule when you couldn’t transfer until the junior year and then they had to sit out for a year. Now it is open season on good players and that only helps the top keep average team’s average. This is just my two cents' worth, but it is something that I feel is ruining the sport for many schools.

Until next time: The weather is cooling down, so it is time to break out the warm coats and gloves. I have been wearing a stocking cap to protect my hairless melon. There are still a few days left on the agenda where the lakes are open, but those days are numbered. I have seen a few folks fishing off the pier in the channel by Frank Hall Park. I would assume that they are catching perch like on other fall days in the past.

 

I don’t want to jinx them, but the Wild are doing well after a rough start. The Gopher football team is struggling, and the Vikings can’t seem to get it together with their young quarterback. I guess I am getting all of my sports frustrations out of the way today.

 

I don’t believe that there is anything more rewarding than cheering on our local high school teams. No matter if you are from Albert Lea, or one of the surrounding towns, supporting your team is a part of supporting your community.

 

Kudos to the Albert Lea Tigers football team. It has been a long time coming, so enjoy it; you earned it.

 

Please take the time to remember our troops that are serving now and those that have served before them. They are the reason that we have all of the Freedoms that we enjoy today.