Class or: how I learned to stop being polite and blame the BCS

Last week's game against Miami was rather cathartic for us Gator fans. Having not won against them since '85, and 6 losses in the 23 years (Although three of those were against [Coach Redacted]. So, you know, that's not saying much), it was good to 'exorcize the demons', so to speak. Of course, the two and a half quarters of offensive misery was a bit worrisome, but it's good to see our defence isn't the source of unadulterated disaster like it was last year. Overall, it was a pretty decent slugfest, one where our defense proved solid, and Miami's defense proved amazing until they just ran out of depth.

Unfortunately, people won't stop talking about the field goal kicked at the end. Randy Shannon said of it "Sometimes when you do things, and people see what type of person you really are, you turn a lot of people off.". Hey, sure, let me know how running up the score on Charleston Southern went for you then. Of course, Warren Sapp was a bit less obscure... he just out called Urban Meyer a 'classless dirtbag'. Thank you sir, after your little incident with Chad Clifton, I'll happily take that as a compliment.

Was it a 'classy' thing to do? Of course not. The game was in hand. The starters were in. But look at Meyer's options. The offense looked horrible for most of the game, and poll voters are all too happy to penalize a team which doesn't make the highlight reels. A box score showing you don't beat the spread, and you weren't as good as they thought they were. Oh, and your field goal kicker hadn't kicked a field goal yet in either game. But was it 'classless'? Nope. But hey, if you Miami fans want to call it 'running up the score' and 'classless', I'd like you to explain how 2002 was any different, and why your repeated touchdowns late in the game were somehow less egregious than one field goal.

Ha ha, just kidding, I know you can't. Don't worry, I'm not calling you to task for 2002. That was [Coach Redacted], anyway. But running up the score post-1998 can't be held against anybody. Why 1998? Because that's when our good friend, the BCS came into being.

So, what is still 'classless'? Well, I'd argue picking a fight with an in-state rival on the field would count. Logo stomping (Yes, I'm aware the Gators have done this too, the examples I can think of happened under [Coach Redacted], but it's classless whenever it's done, period) is up there. Georgia's bench-clearing touchdown last year is up there. Both trying to run out the clock to prevent an offensive player from setting a record, and letting another team score to get that offensive player the record by very publicly 'playing dead' would count (Gator Flop).

Whats my point? Mainly that every team has its examples of poor sportsmanship in its history, that running up the score isn't poor sportsmanship in this beauty pagent era of college football, and especially that Miami crying fowl over running up the score is like the pot calling the kettle black.