The beginning of the end?

Will this be the beginning of the end of the BCS and the college bowl system?

The Fiesta Bowl is in hot water and (surprise! surprise! surprise!) it appears it will be first of the BCS dominos to fall, as other allegations surrounding the Orange and Sugar Bowl are beginning to emerge.

On top of that we have the growing scandal at Ohio State involving Jim Tressel, who has screwed up big time. In this case, I think the cover up is worse than the crime.

HBO's Real Sports interviewed some former Auburn players who basically spelled out what many have suspected for a long time - athletes are paid under the table, before and during their recruiting, signing and playing careers. Not sure I believe everything the Auburn boys had to say, but I buy a lot of it.

I suspect the NCAA is going to level SMU-type sanctions (aka the Death Penalty) on a major college football program within the next year to show folks they have control of the situation, even though everyone knows that's not the case. I'm also willing to bet the farm the federal government steps in to take a closer look at the bowl folks and the BCS.

Me? I'm out. Done with college football.

The game has been ruined for me and I just don't give a damn anymore. This is coming from a 38-year-old man who has enjoyed a near-life-long love of college football. I fell in love with Penn State and Joe Paterno in 1981. Was in awe of Paul "Bear" Bryant and Herschel Walker. Taped the 1987 National Championship Game (Penn State's Fiesta Bowl win over Miami) because my mom made me go to bed, so I got up at 6 a.m. the next morning to watch the last 10 minutes of the game. I also remember WVU's rare, 1984 win over Penn State. The Beckley Register-Herald had a giant cutout of the Mountaineer standing on top of a dead lion. And of course the Major Harris game against the Lions a few years later.

Was at WVU in 1988 when the 'Eers beat Syracuse to cap the first unbeaten regular season in school history. Stormed the field when the '93 team beat Miami.

Stood next to Lynn Swann when he interviewed Ken Dorsey after the Hurricanes beat Va. Tech in Blacksburg. Stood underneath the goalpost at Ohio Stadium when Mike Nugent's 55-yard field goal sailed through to beat Marshall (a game the Herd so should have and could have won).

Those were great moments for me.

Now? I no longer care.

I'm out.