The Times-Journal

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 | DeKalb County's Oldest Newspaper

Classifieds | Jobs | Homes | Autos

Alabama makes the title game, but …

By Lew Gilliland
The Times-Journal

Published March 21, 2009

Let’s imagine, just for a few minutes, the Alabama football team reaching next year’s BCS National Championship Game.

It shouldn’t be difficult for all you Crimson Tide fans to picture. After all, Alabama almost got there last year before settling for a Sugar Bowl berth.

Anyway, back to our narrative. The Crimson Tide goes undefeated in the regular season. Along the way it beats down Tennessee and its new loudmouth coach, Lane Kiffin, before smashing Auburn to maintain Iron Bowl bragging rights.

While walking off the field, coach Nick Saban holds up two fingers to symbolize Alabama’s second straight victory over its archrival.

In the SEC Championship Game, the Tide embarrasses Florida and all-world quarterback Tim Tebow. Serves him right, you think. He should have never picked Florida over your beloved ’Bama as a high school senior.

And now Saban and the fellas are headed to the national title game, where they’ll meet West Coast bully USC, also undefeated.

It’s a dream matchup of traditional powers. Pundits are already breaking out the “Game of the Century” label.

But then, just as the hype reaches peak levels, the NCAA decides this is a game you don’t need to see. Seems the NCAA thinks society is putting collegiate athletes on too big a pedestal and is tired of the media creating heroes out of football players instead of valedictorians and Rhodes scholars.

So, the NCAA decides to take a stand. No fans will be allowed to attend the title game. No network will be allowed televise it, and no radio station will be allowed to broadcast play-by-play. The only people in attendance will be the coaches, players, officials, a few staff members from each school and a clock operator (the clock will be kept on the field, in-stadium scoreboards will be turned off). No photos will be taken.

The schools are free to issue press releases after the game, but otherwise, no information will be available about who won and how. The trophy presentation will be made in a darkened broom closet in the winner’s locker room.

Now, if you think that whole scenario sounds ridiculous — that’s because it is.

For starters, the NCAA would get scorched by a media firestorm if it tried such a stunt. More importantly, it would be sacrificing millions of dollars, which is about as likely as President Obama suddenly turning into a fiscal conservative.

So yes, this whole notion about a blacked-out national title game is silly.

Not nearly as funny is the idea of our elected leaders doing their work in the dark, in similar conditions to our fictional championship game — with no media, no critics, and certainly no voters watching.

Tough decisions become easier when no one has to take a stand and defend their position. Raising taxes requires less hassle when no one knows you’re doing it. The same goes for spending the people’s money.

That’s why sunshine laws — laws that require open government — are so critical, and it’s why papers such as ours make a big deal out of Sunshine Week each year.

Every citizen has the duty to keep up with current events and demand our elected and appointed leaders do their work in the sunshine.

If we the people don’t hold our government accountable, we only have ourselves to blame for the consequences.

Share | Save | Mail | Print

Photo Reprints
Purchase select photographs from local games and events. New from The Times-Journal and The Times-Journal.

Business Card Directory

Your Fort Payne and DeKalb County reference guide, featuring accounting, automotive, banks, insurance, restaurants and much more!

Subscription Services: Circulation | Home Delivery | Back Issues | Vacation Stops | Newspapers In Education

The Fort Payne Times-Journal | Publisher: J.D. Davidson

811 Greenhill Blvd.NW, Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Tel: 256-845-2550 | Email