Quote of the Day:

"No one ever drowned in sweat." - Lou Holtz, legendary head coach
Pick 'Em Penny-Saver
CHICAGO, IL - Saturday August 31, 2024 - Read Current Edition
College football season, 'Pick 'Em Classic' kick off

by JUSTIN O'CONNOR

The most-anticipated college football season in recent memory kicked off Thursday --- and so too did the inaugural Primetime College Football Pick-'Em Classic.

So far, four brave individuals --- Henry Litsky, Marla Litsky, Justin O'Connor and Sarah Woodams --- have expressed interest in the Pick-'Em Classic, with more expected to fall in line after a concerted pressure campaign breaks their will to resist.

Folks interested in joining the action should fill out the sign-up form.

While the first college football games of the season are being played this weekend, the Pick-'Em Classic won't kick off until this upcoming week. This is to account for the volatility of the sport --- it's hard to pick winners before you've seen a team play.

The form to pick winners next week will be sent after the AP Top 25 are updated on Tuesday. The poll is typically updated on Sundays, but games are being played through Monday due to labor day.

Some good games have already been played as of the time of this publication (Friday night).

Colorado barely eked out a 31-26 win over FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. The game left many wondering whether Colorado will be able to overcome their 4-8 record from last year. The team's always in the headlines because their coach is Deion Sanders, bringing high fan expectations despite persistent struggles.

Wisconsin bested Western Michigan 28-14 in a real brawl of a game.

TCU topped Stanford 34-27 in a contest that wasn't sealed until the final minutes.

That being said, all of the big games are set to be played this weekend. Clemson (14) at Georgia (1), Notre Dame (7) at Texas A&M (20) and USC (23) at LSU (13) are big match-ups to watch.

College football's greatest crowd traditions

An unparalleled fan experience.

Nothing sends chills through the body quite like watching 100,000 people chant their so-called troops into war, and college football stadiums are the center of true passion in American sports fandom.

Here are some videos to get you jazzed up for the season.

1. To start, a personal favorite of mine (Go Blue!). Mr. Brightside at Michigan Stadium:



2. Next, a solid contender for greatest tradition in the country --- the Hokies storming the field to Enter Sandman:



I played football for 13 years. Seeing that would have made me shit my pants.

3. While Enter Sandman at VTech is terrifying, most everyone agrees that there isn't an intimidating venture in the world to rival Chief Osceola and Renegade leading the War Chant at Florida State. Here it is kicking off Notre Dame-FSU, one of the greatest contemporary CFB rivalries:



I played football for 13 years. Seeing that would have made me kill myself.

4. You are in Madison, Wisconsin. The snow is punishing. The bugle has sounded. House of Pain is upon you. There is but one thing that it is in your nature to do --- and that is Jump Around:



5. And on the eighth day, God almighty looked down on the meaningless struggles of man, and He proclaimed: Let there be a river flowing through the Tennessee Valley. And on the banks of this river, let there be built a stadium. And in that stadium, let there play the greatest team to ever touch a football. And let them be called the Volunteers. And in those stands let there be a sea of men and women, and let them sing a great hymn to the proud state of Tennessee. And let that hymn be ol' Rocky Top, and let it always be:



And lo! God looked down upon Neyland Stadium, and it was good. Very good.

Worst uniforms of all time

College football's ugliest looks ever assembled

Dishonorable Mention: Idaho Butt Logo

In case you were wondering who this ass belongs to.

The Idaho Vandals sported a logo over their assholes for one singular game --- a 70-0 blowout loss to Arizona in 2008.

The debacle earned them the "Butt Vandals" moniker. There's no coming back from that.

Luckily, nobody has ever watched an Idaho football game, so maybe no one saw.

3. Florida's (Literal) Gator Uniforms

I don't want to see these later, alligator!

Back in 2017, the Florida Gators dressed up like actual alligators, and it went as poorly as that sounds.

I can somewhat appreciate these uniforms. In all fairness, if you're going to dress up like an alligator, this particular execution of it is probably the best that can look.

2. BYU Bib Jerseys

Papa's ready to eat.

Turns out mormons can be wrong sometimes.

BYU rocked these back in 1999 after a long tradition of very simple uniforms. This was, quite literally, their first and last foray into "design."

The white on the uniforms wasn't just ugly --- it was against the NCAA's rules. Thank God the league chose to maintain law and order in 2000.

1. UCF QR Code Jerseys

Need I say more?

During last year's spring game, a very bright blind man got the chance to make a splash in the design world. UCF dropped the numbers on their kits in favor of QR codes you could scan to read a player's online bio.

You know, the type of thing you want to be doing while people are running around and there's a game in front of you.

It's the unholy union of bad design, annoying functionality, and Silicon Valley perversion that makes these the undisputed worst uniforms ever, in my opinion.

Bevo and Uga: A romance against nature

A Penny-Saver fiction serial

Can two enemies find love?

"Your hooves are so cold, love," Uga whispered to Bevo as the two lay facing each other on a straw pile in Bevo's bull pen. The 1,800 pound mammal was lazily tracing circles around the bulldog's bare chest.

Bevo rolled to the side and stood up, turning away from Uga.

"I have to go anyway," he told the dog. "Make sure you leave through the back door."

"No, no, Bevo, I didn't mean anything by it. I love spending time with you."

"What does it matter, Uga? We can't keep doing this. Texas and Georgia? Bull and bulldog? If anyone finds out about us, our world will come crumbling down," the bull snapped back with a mighty snort. A silence fell over the forbidden lovers.

"Bevo, wait!" Uga cried as the cow trotted out for game day. Bevo swung his big hip to slam the stable door behind him.

No one walks out on a Georgia bulldog, thought Uga. Someone has to fight for us. I'm going after him.

Read next week's Penny-Saver to find out what happens.