Boise State - putting just the right amount of "BS" in the BCS

I'm huddled on the couch, settling in for yet another night of college football in what may be the longest, most drawn out BCS bowl season to date.

For those of you not in the know, the bowl championship series (BCS) was once a one-day, action packed day of college football. Today: it has managed to stretch itself over two weeks, leaving females everywhere exposed to nearly two weeks of mindless football, ridiculous office pools, countless debates on the integrity of the bowl championship system and the review of insanely stupid corporate sponsorship names (check out Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl presented by Bridgestone - http://www.musiccitybowl.com/ - do they really think that will help sales for either company? More on that at a later date).

ESPN, the drug of choice for any sports fanatic, dubs this week the "Best Week of the Year" - As a side note, someone needs to let ESPN know that most of us consider a week to be 7 days - by the end of the bowl season, we'll be at about day 14 of their "best week of the year." While you have them on the line, let them know that I still don't get ESPN Classic. If I know the outcome of the game from 20 years ago, remind me why we are watching it again as if it's live? Remind me to talk on that topic later, too.

But I digress. Back to the BCS. I've come prepared this season, armed with all the essentials required for quality football viewing over these weeks. In one hand, I hold the latest copies of In Touch and People magazine, prepared to keep me occupied through the slower parts of any game (although there are some rare exceptions, the slower parts generally include the entire first half of any sporting event).

In the other hand, I'm armed with my drink of choice for an evenings such as this - what else but hot chocolate? Given the absurd length of this season's BCS bowl events, I've had to reluctantly downgrade to no-calorie hot cocoa or this season will leave me with another inch on my waistline that I can't afford.

So it's the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Arizona - Oklahoma vs. Boise State. Not entirely new to college football (after all, I am a proud alum of two schools with fairly significant football programs), I'm knowledgeable enough to be dangerous and so, as the game kicks off, I drill my loving and patient husband on Boise State. Are they normally in bowl games? (no) Are they the ones with the blue field at their stadium? (yes). Do you think the whole state traveled to Arizona for this? (possibly). They are the underdogs right? (absolutely).

After my flurry of questions, my no calorie hot chocolate and my third US Weekly article on Britney Spears' propensity to leave her underwear at home, I fall fast asleep on the couch. I manage to make it to the bed with about 30 minutes left to go in the game (that's about 2 hours in football years, by the way). The office pool is looking up as Boise State has a considerable lead on Oklahoma and that's apparently what we were aiming for this evening. I kiss my loving and happy husband goodnight and crawl into bed.

I'm startled awake but instantly alert. You have to see this, my husband says. I rub my eyes, climb out of bed and I'm back out to the couch. This better be good. With excitement in his eyes, he rewinds the play (thanks to the DVR, we get to watch replays of replays - does it get better than this?). Before my eyes I see what is actually an interestingly and exciting play that ties the game. Apparently, somewhere between my final sip of hot cocoa and this moment, Oklahoma miraculously came back to take the lead and Boise State needed a big moment to tie it up. They succeeded.

I'm impressed, but not enough to keep me awake for overtime and so I saunter back to bed which isn't far given the size of our tiny NYC apartment. But minutes later, my hubby wakes me up again - You really, really need to see this, he says.

Call it love. Call it crazy, but I get up again. At this point, I'm also getting a soft spot for Boise State. Underdog. Small State. Blue grass at home. Who wouldn't like them?

Once again, the replay is replayed thanks to Mr.DVR and, again, I admit it is an impressive play. The play, I learn, is called a "Statue of Liberty" even though from what I can tell, the quarterback actually lowers his arm and puts it behind his back. Call me crazy (again), but I think Miss Liberty still raises her hand proudly, at least the last time I checked in with her. I'm tempted to ask but I'm too tired to bother.

In any event, another kiss good night and I pile back into bed. No sooner do I do that and my husband yells Oh, you have to see this!!!


At this point, I fight it. Love and insanity can only get you so far. The game is over. What possibly could warrant yet another trip from my warm bed? But, alas, he convinces me that this is right up my alley.

Back out to the living room. Mr. DVR is in overdrive again. But this time my husband is absolutely right - before my eyes, the game winning receiver kneels before his perfectly pretty girlfriend and asks for her hand in marriage.

Suddenly, I'm wide awake. Rewind that again, I say. And again. Thank goodness for Mr. DVR. I'll never mock it again! And, I'm back to my questions -

"What year are these kids" (sophomores!)

"Why on earth did the sportscaster have to blow it by saying 'and now you can propose to your girlfriend' before the kid even got down on one knee?"
(because sportscasters aren't good at this type of thing, except in movies)

"Do you think he planned this engagement or he is cauhght up in this win?" (not sure)

"Will he be in the NFL one day" (unclear at this time).

And for the first time in long time, I get it - the drama of the BCS, the thrill of victory and the value of staying up until one in the morning for a silly game. More importantly, of course, I love that my husband gets me. He's right - that was right up my alley. Thanks, Boise State.