I'll be brief. With yet another internet virus floating around, you might not get this anyway. So I'll be brief unto myself. Actually, I'll be brief for an entirely different reason -- I'm just using the virus for an excuse -- because the topic I'd chosen for this Fortnight was swept out from under my feet, when I learned some disturbing news about college football.

You see, I was going to write about major college football playoffs, and give my predictions for the season. But nooooooo, someone informed me that we don't have a College Football Playoff for a real on-the-field national champion - at least for the big boys - and I couldn't believe it. We have playoffs for Bi-Polar Lacrosse and Dancing on a Block of Wood and Five-Sided Grommet Chasing ... why not big-time college football. I was told it was something about money ... or politics ... or maybe even ... money.

Now, come on. That argument can't hold a water bucket, can it?   Money?   Politics? ... Or maybe even ... money? ... affecting college football? Say it ain't so, Coach Stagg.

Yep ... money, politics, and computers determine the champ ... and a little "running-up-the-score" on the small fry doesn't hurt, either.

Well, I tell ya'... I wouldn't wish a computer virus on anyone - it's not fun ... but along about November, don't you wish those computers which rate college football teams into their mythical slide-rule "national rankings" would catch a little cold or some strange little electronic bug infestation? Hey, maybe the viruses could have a playoff, eh? We've got playoffs for everything else ... 'cept big-time college football, that is.