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UC was banned during ATM's pickem' game two of three years and entirely banned the other???? For the same reasons???? And this year it is over maybe 3 games in 270? Sorry UC, advantage ATM. Probably 25% of this thread has been dedicated to this situation and I believe I now know how I will interact next season. Collectively, you people ("the regulars") are knowledgeable college football fans and offer good competition in the fun of picking games each week. Thank you ATM again for running your game and also to CRA for his.

As for UC, your strongest asset is to not complain and to set up your own game if you like. I don't think anyone here would say you don't know college football well enough. Your pickem' record should be proof enough. But, by starting your own game (without the whining and "ATM challenges" that could arise,) it can do two things: 1) silently reflect your pontificated views and 2) allow you to enjoy playing the game more. Obviously you are a very competitive person but every coach I ever had always taught respect, humility, and good sportsmanship win or lose, good calls or bad. There always was something to point to that also was the reason for victory or defeat that went beyond the rules. Here's my example.

I'm reminded of my high school homecoming football game when I was a junior. We played a "mystery" school out of our district who "suddenly" became a good team. The game was close the entire time and yes, we were very surprised that we were not beating them badly being champions in our own right. We had made a couple of turnovers but other than that, the game was "clean" with few penalties. This team led 8-6 with the scoring comprising of two touchdowns with one missed and one blocked extra point and a safety. We had the ball at midfield with one play left in the game and called a long pass play (not a hail mary) that would give us 1 on 1 isolation on the corner with a secondary receiver while the "power" of our offensive passing game drew the coverage of virtually everyone else to the other side of the field and toward the goal line. (It had worked earlier in the game but the ball fell incomplete).

This time the play worked and we caught a 50 yard TD. Now here's the thing. 1) The refs never signaled TD but instead walked off the field leaving everyone wondering what happened. 2) One ref threw a flag on the play near the "decoyed area" but it was never addressed as it was picked up shortly after the TD. Both teams stood on the field as if frozen. The stands virtually silent and the scoreboard showing 12-8 with no time on the clock. It took nearly 35 minutes to find out what happened. The ref (as film would show he was a good 20 yards away from the play and in a bad angle) said our receiver stepped out of bounds at the 3 yardline to end the game. The flag was on the defense for holding in the secondary but was picked up because the ref "saw" the TD and figured the game ending TD would not be replayed.

There were lots of miscues made on this play by the refs but the fact is that film shows they were wrong on all accounts. We should have won that game. Our assistant coach on our defensive side found out this information from the head ref and came back to the field, where most everybody still was, and yelled "we've been screwed!" Then he was given a megaphone (though with his voice he didn't need one) which he used to more calmly explain that the play was ruled out of bounds and the final score was 8-6. Their team obviously was happy and we were not. We were angry -- cheated we were.

But we had great coaches. They talked about doing things within our control. Being respectful of our opponents and refs. That game helped move us to being better and we went undefeated in our district and into the state playoffs. UC right or wrong, step away. You'll get more respect in the end. Start a pickem game of your own or a yahoo game of your own if you want. If you get enough players I may even play.

My preseason Top 25 rankings will be out just before the first game. Til next year, thanks everyone!