By Dan Shanoff
That was an amazing first day -- huge thanks to everyone who visited Quickish, who blogged and Tweeted about it and who emailed their congrats and feedback. That last part -- feedback -- is welcome anytime: dan[at]quickish.com.
"This is for all the Tostitos" will go down... well, as something. Frankly, even though I know Brent Musburger said it a decade ago, I think it was less contrived than Al Michaels' famous "Do you believe in miracles?!"
The fact is "This is for all the Tostitos" is as apt a phrase as "This is for the game." It was just so absurd -- and the resulting play so pivotal -- that I find myself appreciating it as a metaphor for our time.
Speaking of pivotal: It is very possible that "This is for all the Tostitos" was heard by more people than any other phrase ever uttered on cable TV. That's the new standard last night's game set: Most watched cable show ever.
So can we get to the game, please? Auburn is your champ, unless you're like me and -- if you were an AP voter -- would have given your No. 1 vote to TCU out of principle and integrity for the sport, a form of jury nullification, if you will.
The SEC fan in me hates the TCU fan in me, and just wants to crow "SEC! SEC!" As if it wasn't official three years ago, the SEC is college football's dynasty.
We normally don't think of dynasties as groups, only teams. But college football is so tribal -- no other sport (perhaps college basketball, but not even) affiliates itself so intensely with leagues as college football, particularly fans in the SEC.
College football is living in the SEC Dynasty, and it's hard to know when it will stop.
We know that the Auburn run will likely be one-and-done. Too many seniors leaving, too much Cam leaving. Michael Dyer -- the breakout star of the game (if you weren't paying attention during the season) -- will return next year as one of college football's star RBs. But Auburn fans should appreciate it while they can.
As for Oregon, they'll be back. They might even be back as soon as next year -- if Stanford doesn't derail them in Palo Alto first. Chip Kelly is so good -- the most energizing Xs and Os coach in the country, for my money -- that there will never be a drop-off.
Looking ahead to next year, I'll take the SEC champ over Stanford in the national-title game. Does it even matter which SEC team it ends up being?
Tracking today: State of the Carmelo trade (which is going to drag), state of Les Miles to Michigan (which may come to a swift conclusion) and the reality that the sports calendar is about to slow down from its frantic pace of the last month...
...just in time for Quickish's uptempo no-huddle offense. That's OK.
-- D.S.
