8 Things College Football Teaches Me About Science Ficiton
December 6, 2007 by Andy
In honor of the 8-team (or 16-team) playoff that the unethical BCS cartel will never let happen, here are some lessons college football teaches me about writing science fiction:
- Laundry matters: Michigan can lose to Appalachian State and climb back into the rankings in a matter of weeks. But the bar is set much higher for getting ranked (or published) if you’re not already a big name. Similarly:
- Being the best in a little league doesn’t count for much: Until you’re publishing in major venues and making real money, you’ve still got something to prove. Cf. BYU, Utah, TCU, Boise State, Hawaii, and the best example, Louisville, whose migration from C-USA to the Big East proved that the same team gets more respect when they move to the big leagues, even if they aren’t any better than before.
- Gimmicks only get you so far: Like Texas Tech, Hawaii, and other “system” teams, gimmicks might get you noticed, but if they’re all you have to offer don’t expect long-lasting respect.
- The game can pass you by -or- The game is faddish: Nebraska fired Frank Solich (58-19) because they thought the option was a thing of the past. Since then, Bill Callahan installed a pro-style offense and went 27-22, Solich has resuscitated Ohio, and the spread is the new holy grail. Similarly, cyberpunk and elves both now taste like furry green cheese.
- Once you’re an icon even your crap gets respect: It took a 3-9 season to finally keep Notre Dame out of the BCS.
- Most icons are icons for good reason: Despite periodic slumps USC, Oklahoma, and Ohio State just won’t stay dead.
- Discipline matters: Those icons are usually standout examples of discipline. Only geniuses can succeed without discipline.
- Undisciplined geniuses are evil: The state of Florida in the 80s and 90s was an Axis of Evil. Steve Spurrier, Florida State, and Miami. Remember how cocky Miami was in 1986, coming into the Fiesta Bowl in fatigues, only to be upset by nose-to-the-grindstone Penn State?
You won’t be wrong if you suspect a hint of Salieri, my patron saint, creeping into that last point.
“. . . only the ability to recognize the incarnation.”
