It’s a Mad, Mad World…Literally
The whole world seems to be going crazy…but at least we have Saturdays in the fall.
By: Dr. B
Started in the 2020 season, “The Deep South’s Oldest Column” is a feature from Biscuits & SEC where B&S contributor Dr. B will examine an SEC or college football topic from a cultural perspective. There will be examinations of the conference we love and why we love it. Stories of the role models who passed on the love of football in the South. Fun will be poked at other conferences - and often at ourselves. There will be introspection, life lessons, tales of big wins, crushing losses, history, tear-jerkers, joy...and the ties that bind us together.
Back in 1963, Mickey Rooney starred in a comedy classic called “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” that told the tale of a cross country chase in pursuit of buried fortune. No question, it’s a fun, feel good film that never fails to produce laughs. After all, at the end of the road was free cash and the guarantee of a worry free life…not too bad at all.
Movie poster from Rooney’s classic movie. Imagine via IMDB
It’s safe to say that the last few years have failed greatly in producing laughs in the same way the Rooney classic does. A stifling pandemic, unemployment, inflation, an invasion of Ukraine, mass shootings, unreal political divide, and striking levels of mental health issues and depression among youth and adults alike have made the modern world seem very bleak. Add on the usual stressors of life and the end result is a real mad, mad, mad, mad world, one we have never seen before. To say current affairs are extremely sad is beyond an understatement. In short, we are facing an unprecedented level of social and emotional chaos that has gripped society and we need a cure.
Overall, I’m a pretty optimistic guy who is a classic peacemaker. Confrontation makes me uncomfortable. Even witnessing confrontations can leave a mark on my general psyche. Yet, in the past two years, I have witnessed more “unpleasantness” and a level of complete foolishness from totally rational people that has stunned me. I’ve seen principals freaking out on parents over the smallest things, youth sports referees going nuts on coaches and fans, drivers threatening other drivers for going the speed limit, shoppers and store employees going at it over ridiculous things. I’ve seen neighbors who used to be tight turn on their fellow neighbors due to differing political views. No, nothing earth shattering, but more than enough to sit back and say “What in the world is going on?” My wife summed it up perfectly…the modern world is stressed, tired, and just plain mad.
During my summer reading, I came across a terrific thought in a book that was so simple, yet very profound. It simply stated that when people sense danger, they naturally retreat to their “safe” spaces. For many, that safe space could be nature, a special room in a house, the beach, perhaps even a car ride down a special street. Back in the day, which was a much simpler era for me than today, my safe spot used to be my candy apple red motorcycle, and riding through the Virginia countryside was an incredible escape for me during stressful times. The motorcycle is long gone, sold right before my pursuit of a master’s degree (the bike paid for my very expensive campus parking pass throughout my studies, a depressing fact that haunts me to this day…a motorcycle for a stinking parking pass?!?!). The reading got me thinking…where is my safe place where I can retreat?
Not a bad place for a motorcycle cruise. Image via Eatsleepride
For the past few years, a place I have grown to love when I sense even a smell of danger has been the wonderful world of college football. I have found it to be a place of great healing and relaxation that is hard to top. In times of trouble, I have retreated to the brilliance of Sirius XM’s ESPNU channel, which is a glorious 24 hour running commentary on college sports, most notably football. I retreat to my preseason magazines, losing myself in season previews according to Athlon and Lindy’s. I am a computer click away from replays of last year's playoff…from the epic Oklahoma-Georgia overtime playoff game of ‘18…from the Texas A&M’s placekicker’s mother crying for joy as her son nailed the game winner against Alabama last season. I’m a click away from the epic ‘83 national title game pitting Nebraska against an upstart Miami squad led by a guy named Schnellenberger. Throw in Bama’s rout of Ohio State in the ‘21 title game and the botched punt that decided the 2015 Michigan-Michigan State game, the world starts to look a lot brighter (unless you are a Michigan fan).
Thoughts of Saturdays calm my troubled soul, as my family, who are as passionate about college football and a certain team that wears crimson and white as I am, clears all for epic college football days. We have our own gameday traditions, which include setting up a tailgate in our living room during College Gameday. Even though an angry world sits right outside my front door, games at 12, 3:30, 6:00, 7:30, and 10:30 eastern time block out the chaos. In the midst of games, there are championships to be won with my son and his friends on our driveway basketball court and my daughter’s dollhouse village needs time for expansion…we all need a breather on football Saturdays. Yet, I cannot even think about bed and church until “College Football Final” is ready to roll in the wee hours each Sunday. I would have it no other way.
This past offseason was crazy, with issues surrounding NIL, the transfer portal, and a coaching carousel and conference realignment that seems to have changed the game forever. Yet, just the thought of College Gameday reminds me of what is good in the world. Seeing students with those hilarious signs brings joy to my heart. The thought of games stretching from Thursday night through post-game on Sunday mornings actually has me psyched about life, and it has literally become a safe place for me. Have you ever seen a college band angry? Me either.
More than ever before, we need the Grove…we need Toomer’s Corner and that dang Eagle landing at midfield. We need to Anchor Down and the Swamp and a taste of Starkvegas. Let the banter begin about the greatness of the Alabama program (did you see how Coach Saban just stated that the 2021 season, one that saw the Tide win the SEC championship and come within 10 minutes of repeating as national champions, was “kind of a rebuilding year”?) and the potential of Georgia to repeat. Let’s talk about whether or not Tennessee is set to challenge for the SEC East or how many victories Brian Harsin needs to remain on the Plains. Will Shane Beamer continue to move towards challenging in the East as well as toppling Clemson for the South Carolina state championship? Can Mark Stoops continue to build a football winner in the Bluegrass state? And will Jimbo reach the national mountaintop this season, or perhaps next? No matter, let’s just talk college football.
As I wrote this column on a hot, August morning with the 2021 college football playoffs playing in the background, my wife looked over at me and asked what I was doing. I told her I was writing my column for Biscuits & SEC, and she calmly stated “You look so happy.” I responded that I was. After all, I am in my safe place and the very best, the 2022 season, which started on Saturday, August 27th, is already delivering that much needed escape. The first game pitted Austin Peay and Western Kentucky at noon EST, and it was fantastic. So let the world continue to be mad…knowing matchups like the Governors against the Hilltoppers, Ducks against Dawgs, Noles against Tigers, Buckeyes against Fighting Irish, and more await, it reminds me that in the world of college football, all indeed is set to be well once again.
- Dr. B
Dr. B has lived and taught throughout the South, attending The University of Alabama and earning a Ph.D. from The University of Georgia. He has come to know and love the people and rich traditions of the SEC and its rabid fan bases.