In all of the criticism of too many college bowl games, leading to what critics and pundits call “sub-par” matchups with little fan interest, I would like to give a voice to the most important element in this ludicrous debate–the players. These young men, particularly the seniors, most of whom will never get paid millions of dollars to play the game they love, are offered another chance to reap the rewards of their years of sacrifice and hard work with an opportunity to play one more game. The memories of additional time spent with coaches and teammates, who sacrificed their bodies and souls for each other, are irreplaceable. The denying of an opportunity for the players to participate in another game by reducing the number of bowls, or by the coaching staff and/or athletic administration rejecting a bowl bid, would be a shame.
As a former college football player and current fan of the game, I feel compelled and qualified to speak on this topic. I will gladly take the liberty to express the sentiment shared by former teammates and ex-players alike: “Please, let them play one more game.”
