ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL

 It's about to get real for college football in this town.  The stars have aligned and our UC Bearcats are about to compete in the highest level of intercollegiate sport - the semi-finals of the National Championship of College Football.  I'm still amazed.  Not only have we never before done such a thing but never before did anyone dare to imagine it.  

I grew up in a time when the National Championship was awarded by the press.  Actually, that was the case until 1998 when the BCS made the selection.  Starting in 2014, four teams were selected by a group selected by an NCAA appointed group and those four had a two-week playoff.  That's the way it stands now.  

The first national champ was designated in 1869.  From then until 1900, all champs were from the Ivy League.  When I was growing up, it was Frank Leahy at Notre Dame, Bud Wilkinson at Oklahoma, 'Bear' Bryant at Alabama and 'Woody' Hayes at Ohio State.  Of course there were others but these guys dominated in my mind.  

Now, the last five years, we have Dabo Swinney at Clemson and Nick Saban at Alabama who have dominated.  Enter Luke Fickel.  Who?  UC, what?  From nowhere, this team has emerged.  Now, the unthinkable is reality.  The Bearcats are challenging the bluebloods of the sport.

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats meet the Alabama Crimson Tide Friday afternoon in Dallas, Texas in the Cotton Bowl.  The game will be played in the house that "Jerry" built - the home of the Dallas Cowboys.  Not many expect UC to be able to stand up to the Tide much less win.  The betting line gives Alabama an almost two touchdown advantage.  I have no idea what will happen but it is one I don't want to miss.  People around here will talk about it for years to come.

On Sunday, the warm weather gets blown out of town by an arctic blast and the entrance of the Kansas City Chiefs football team.  Pro football has once again become real in this town.  The Bengals have two games to play.  Win two and they are firmly in the hunt for a Super Bowl birth.  Win one and they are in the playoffs.  Win neither and the season could be over.  A week from Sunday, the team has to travel to Cleveland to play the Browns who murdered them a few weeks ago.

The Chiefs are the class of the American Conference right now.  No sterner test could be available.  They stand atop the power rankings on all networks.  They have an 8-game winning streak and have been winning with ease.  The betting moguls have installed the KC team as 5 point favorite - up from 4 at the beginning of the week.   

What a way to bring in the New Year.  I'm ready for some football.  Bring it on.