DUNCAN — For the life of me, I don’t understand all the confusion each year about a college football playoff system to determine the national champion. The solution seems simple.

Create a four-team bracket. Utilize a BCS-type system to determine the four participants. Reach an agreement with five bowl games — Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton and Fiesta — to provide the proper venues, realizing one might ultimately succumb to financial woes or attendance problems.

Put teams ranked No. 5 and No. 6 in the Fiesta Bowl and teams ranked No. 7 and No. 8 in the Cotton Bowl as a prelude to the actual championship playoff. Schedule both games right after Christmas but before New Year’s Day.

Match the top-ranked team against the No. 4 team in the Orange Bowl and the No. 2 team against the No. 3 team in the Sugar Bowl. Play both games as near Jan. 1 as is possible.

Winners meet in 10 days or two weeks — Jan. 10-15, or so — in the Rose Bowl (called the “Granddaddy of Them All” because it started in 1916) for the championship, allowing enough time for team preparation, fan scheduling and overall promotion.

The following year, observe the same format but rotate the bowl sites, ensuring each remains in the national spotlight annually and each will host the championship game once every five years.

There ought to be some systematic approach to the other bowl games — eliminating those with poor attendance or actually cost the universities more than they make, for starters — but that’s another issue for another day.

A word of warning, though. Greed may ultimately destroy college football as we know and love it today.

Enough of that. There are other odds and ends, bits and pieces and opinions that ought to be shared today, as we wonder if weather watchers are concerned our unseasonably warm weather suggests we might be in for another horrifically hot summer.

 …The eulogy Ron Harris offered at his dad’s (Bob) funeral was simply eloquent, reminding us all we’ve lost another fine citizen … and that we ought to be more giving with our hugs to loved ones.

Supporters are working hard to encourage parents, businesses and the community at large to vote in favor of a Feb. 14 Duncan Public Schools bond issue that would address serious needs at Duncan High School without adding a penny to local taxes …they figure 4,000 “yes” votes are needed … 2,349 voted “yes” on the previous issue last September, translating to a 52 percent approval rate in a race that requires a super-majority (60 percent) for passage.

… Backers of a possible private school seem more interested in adding to than taking from … best wishes to Marlow school leaders on their construction project …

Will be interesting to see what type representation Duncan and Stephens County receive when the Oklahoma state legislature convenes Feb. 6.  District 24 Sen. Anthony Sykes finds himself in something of a lame duck position because of upcoming reapportionment that ultimately moves our area into District 43 now represented by newcomer Greg Childers, who, technically, will have to run for re-election in November from an area that will include Stephens County

... That said, Duncan’s Clark Southard is putting together a strong support team as an announced candidate in that race …

Ever wonder how long it must take for those annoying little straight pins to be put in a man’s new shirt? Or why we say unemployment rates are down instead of employment rates are up?  Or when the medical procedure we once called an operation became a surgery?

… Belated congratulations to Audrey and Bob Diggs Brown on their 70th wedding anniversary … to Duncan Association of Realtors’ president Lynn Parr and an “atta boy” to past president Jerry Shaffer …

Crepe myrtles lining Duncan Golf and Tennis Club, Kelsey Avants’ new office on 10th Street and the Stephens County Fairgrounds seems like a beautiful idea, pun intended ... changes from the past? Impressive meeting facilities at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center and the Duncan Regional Hospital Pavilion … miss the flag above BancFirst downtown … wish we had a farmers’ market.

… Words to the wise: Never fry bacon naked …

Looking forward to attending my first Bean-O-Rama at First Christian Church and the sixth annual Trail Dance Film Festival … hope the upcoming annual meeting of the United Way of Stephens County produces some positive monetary surprises … many have worked hard through the campaign to help those less fortunate …

Finally, never underestimate the power of love or forgiveness.

Have a nice day!



edarling@duncanbanner.com

580-255-5354, Ext. 130