Without commenting on the politics and off-the-field problems of the sport, I present you with the things I like about college football and college sports in general in no particular order, but just as I think of them...

1) ESPN Gameday - I love waking up saturday mornings, rolling over, pressing the remote to ESPN, then closing my eyes again for another 2 hours with Gameday running in the background.

2) Gameday continued - I love seeing Herbstreit, May, and Fowler eat crow about their picks and comments at the end of a day of football. I hate seeing Corso and Holtz act like football gods who are never wrong, but just misunderstood.

3) "The Big House" - no matter how much I hate Michigan, I can still watch their games at the Big House because there's nothing like seeing all of that blue maize color in the stands and hearing the Michigan fight song.

4) UGA - no matter how unwatchable a UGA game is, I still get tingly hearing "between the hedges" and seeing that ugly bulldog on the sidelines.

5) "Death Valley" - this past weekend when USC went to LSU, I was reminded of how much I enjoy seeing LSU home games. The fans are totally bananas, and its always raining and muddy in Baton Rouge.

6) The 12th Man and the Bonfire - I may make fun of Aggies a lot since I'm an Orangeblood, but I highly respect their traditions ranging from the patented 12th Man, to their pre-Thanksgiving bonfire, to the spine chilling Aggie War Hymn being marched to by the cadet band. Not to mention aggies kissing their dogs after each touchdown.

7) Trojans - even when USC stunk in the late 80's and 90's, I always thought the idea of playing in the Olympic Colosseum was kewl. Now, one can't help but to think of college football and USC hand in hand. Tons of talent pouring through there. Its Football U. these days.

8) Stanford - that awful but memorable mascot of a tree. Classically college. Also, "The Play" is still the greatest play ever. Off the top of my head I can't remember which side scored, but I remember Stanford being there.

9) Colorado - that stampeding buffalo running out on the field with its handlers. That stadium built against the mountainous backdrop. The Stewart to Westbrook hail mary. On the negative side of things: Neihuisel.

10) Oregon - lots of offense and lots of ugly green uniforms.

11) Boise St. - The Blue Field - nothing has been worse for HD television than a blue field. I think my eyes are still permanently scarred with yellow ghost images.

12) Arizona St. - even though it's not football, I remember U2's kewl entrance with Where the Streets Have No Name in Sun Devil Stadium for their Rattle and Hum video.

13) Nebraska - the Red Sea - when the blimp looks down at the stadium I'm reminded of the Kotex commercials with the red spot. Intimidating to say the least. I also think of Mike Rozier and Tommy Frazier running over and around everything when their defense wasn't smashing everything in the mouth.

14) Iowa vs Iowa St. - this game always reminds me of a high school game. Everything looks so down-home. Too bad both teams usually are of high school caliber.

15) Minn. - That axe they play for. Not sure what it's about, but it's always fun to see the whole team run over everyone on the sidelines when they win just trying to get to the axe. It would be kewler if they started swinging it around like some Xbox game.

16) Penn St. - No one spells or smells like old football more than Joe Pa. I think he's older than the sport itself. Anyway, I loved seeing that white out a few weeks ago at Happy Valley...very collegiate.

17) Notre Dame - as much as I hate them, they still do remind me of college football as much as anyone else. They have the most notable fight song, history, and movies. You can't fight with a school who has Touchdown Jesus on its side. Unless you're a Sun Devil, Blue Devil, or Demon Deacon.

18) Illinois - on the surface the Illini don't do much for me, but I remember Red Grange and Dick Butkus, two of the most dominating players ever.

19) Tenn. - Rocky Top - I hate the song, love to hear 100,000 people shouting it. Tenn also has the ugliest, most memorable endzones in the land. Very collegiate. I like that old coon hound too.

20) Miami - they might be a bunch of thugs and gangstas, but they've won a lot of championships in the last 25 years, and played a lot of intimidating football. Bernie, Vinny, Gino, Jim, The Edge, Michael Irvin, Sapp...the list goes on and on.

21) FSU - the Tomahawk Chop and Chant - I like their version better than the Atlanta Braves because it's more intimidating with 90,000 people than 15,000. Also, despite his recent setbacks, I still think Bobby Bowden is one of the most recognizable and revered coaches ever. Not to mention decades of butt-kicking in the ACC.

22) Gators - the chomp is totally goofy. speed speed speed. swamp swamp swamp. I use to always think of the ole Ball Coach, but I really respect what Urban has done in a short time. Dynasty in the making.

23) 'Bama - Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, Forrest Gump. I can't imagine football without 'Bama. Even when they suck you still expect to see them around.

24) Sooners - That schooner is gay. I love when it turns over. The Boomer Sooner song is annoying too. I think of cheating Switzer. I give Stoops all the respect and honor he deserves. I'm glad OU is OU again, and not the laughing stock they become in the 90's. Red River Shootout is coming!!!

25) Longhorns - of course I save my boys for last. BEVO. Earl. Ricky. Vince. Royal. Eyes of Texas. Wishbone-T Triple Option. Hook'em Horns! The University.

OK fire away at what I forgot, and I'll likely agree with you. There's so much that can be said that brings up thoughts of the college gridiron. This is all of the stuff that the corporate, concrete jungles of the NFL can't shine a light to. When I think of NFL, I really do think of the No Fun League. Its all money driven, beer commercials, and primadonna athletic criminals.

Give me your favorite college football thoughts and feelings and traditions.