A few games we'd like to see



The possibility exists that a strike by writers and actors could cripple the television and motion picture industry's plans for fall shows and films.
Heaven forbid we would all be deprived of a new season of Ally McBeal, Dharma and Greg, and Will and Grace. (OK, my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek, but that's an opinion best saved for another time.)
And, a walkout could result in even more of those reality-based shows, whose popularity continue to surpass all my realm of understanding.
But, if you read the stories about the proposed walkout carefully, a small note surrounding possible alternative programming this fall should have caught your eye. CBS officials admitted they are considering airing college football in prime time on Saturdays.
Never too much: We have one opinion when it comes to the college game -- too much is never enough.
ESPN starts off the weekly festival with its Thursday night game of the week, then its preview show on Saturday morning.
At noon, games kick off on at least three channels, and by midday there could be games on every over-the-air network (ABC, NBC and CBS), and all the cable networks.
If your eyes aren't spinning by all that, there's more games at night on ESPN and a West Coast game on the Fox Network at 10 p.m.
It's a college football junkie's dream.
Let's begin with ...: The stories we've seen have indicated that CBS is negotiating with a number of schools to move kickoffs to prime time.
Assuming there is a strike and CBS decided to air a prime time lineup of college football, here's a few games we'd like to see:
UFlorida vs. Miami (Fla.) -- this is a game which should be played every year, just like Florida-Florida State and Miami-FSU. In fact, there's been a couple of attempts in the state legislature to force the three superpowers to meet every season. There have been more than a few times in the last 20 years when winning the national championship was easier than winning the state championship of Florida.
UNotre Dame vs. Alabama -- this rivalry first began when Ara Parseghian and Bear Bryant's teams battled in back-to-back years in the Sugar and Orange Bowls in 1973 and 1974.
UOhio State vs. Nebraska -- These two traditional powers have never played.
UWashington vs. Colorado -- Coach Rick Neuheisel's current team and the school that wooed him from his former one with a bundle of cash. The Buffaloes have not forgotten ... or forgiven.
Find those skullcaps: Rutgers vs. Princeton -- a rematch of the first game ever played, way back in 1869. What would make this game worth watching? How about if they play the first half with 19th century rules and the second under current rules?
UPurdue vs. Virginia Tech -- OK, so this game probably wouldn't generate much anticipation. But suppose they organize a 7-on-7 pickup game at halftime between a Drew Brees-quarterbacked team against a Michael Vick-quarterbacked team?
USouthern California vs. Arizona -- former Arizona (and Brookfield and Niles McKinley High) coach Tony Mason once said, comparing his program to USC's: & quot;They sell Heismans. I sell cactus. & quot; Just to see if the cactus can win.
UOklahoma vs. Ohio State -- if you need a reason why, you haven't been paying much attention since January 1st. This would certainly be one game worth watching in Youngstown.
UFlorida State vs. Kent State -- for one simple, yet interesting reason: I can't remember the last time one team scored 100 points in a single game.
OK, so the chances any of these games are going to be played this season are remote at best.
But, a fan can dream, can't he?
XRob Todor is sports editor of The Vindicator.