In America, the winner takes all.

Chapter 164

"The NCAA banned the Crimson Tide from participating in any bowl games in 1995 and 1996, reduced scholarships, restricted recruiting activities, and imposed individual penalties on some coaches and players." Bob Bockrath explained.He shares the same name as Ethan's previous high school coach, but a different last name.

“All bowl games?”

"Yes, to be precise, there is only one game. You know, there are not many college football games in a year. And it is not that there is no room for mediation. In fact, the NCAA does not have full control over the organizing committee of the event."

How many games does a college football team go through in a season?

The answer is: no more than 15 games at most, mostly within the range of 10-13 games.

Teams in the top five leagues usually play 10 league games and one or two bowl games.

Even if you are the strongest in the country, you still have so many games.

As for the "national champion", there is currently no national champion in college football. There is only "the strongest in the country." The strongest in the country is determined by the Associated Press, National Coaches Association, and sports media through season performance.

As for the reason, the official statement is that players need to have sufficient winter break time, and too many games will affect the players' learning.

The real situation is that the NCAA refuses to host rugby competitions above the five major conferences. Not only does it not host, it also refuses to recognize "the strongest in the country."This stems from the complex interests entangled between the school and the NCAA in football.

There is another important reason, and that is the existence of bowl games.

In 1902, the Rose Parade of the New Year's Celebration in Pasadena, California decided to invite two teams from the East and West for a New Year's exhibition game. At that time, the participating teams were Stanford and the University of Michigan.This is the origin of the Rose Bowl.

It can be said that as early as when the NCAA first appeared, the Rose Bowl game was held for many times.

Unable to shake the historical status of the Rose Bowl, let alone include it, the NCAA had no choice but to withdraw.

Other regions have also followed suit. From the Rose Bowl at the beginning, to the six major bowl games, as of this year, there are already 18 bowl games, and the number continues to grow. In more than 20 years, there will be a situation like 40 bowl games.These bowl games take on postseason duties in a sense.

Each bowl game has a separate tournament organizing committee that works individually with each major league to obtain the draft picks.

For example, the Rose Bowl has the No. picks from both the Big Ten Conference and the Pac- Conference, and regularly invites the two top teams every year.And the one with the No. picks in these two leagues is the Alamo Bowl, and so on.

Each of these bowl games has a separate broadcast contract, separate sponsors, separate media cooperation, and the teams participating in the game are also paid.It belongs to everyone who has money to make money together, and it can be regarded as a microcosm of the development of commercial sports in the United States.

However, this model is not without its drawbacks. If there is a "tie for first place" and both teams win the corresponding bowl game, it will cause ranking difficulties.

For this reason, the five major conferences and the independent University of Notre Dame combined seven bowl games to launch the "Bowl League" in 1992 to produce a convincing national champion. As a result, it was hurriedly suspended after only two years.The main reason is that the rules are not strict.

For this reason, a new bowl league was launched last year, which still caused a lot of controversy. Last year's nominally No. 12 Nebraska State University (0-11) and No. 0 Penn State University (-) were not would appear in the same bowl game, and the title of "national champion" once again lost its persuasiveness.

"Our mission this season is to win at least the SEC Western Conference championship and a bowl game championship." Bob Boone said about this year's plan.

The college football game starts in September every year and ends in January every year, which only lasts for 9 months.

This is already an unattainable result for many college teams, but for the Crimson Tide, it can be called "conservative". In fact, this is still a low point for the Crimson Tide.

"Can I ask why the Crimson Tide was punished?" Ethan asked at this time.

"The same old stuff, providing financial aid to players, giving high-value gifts, illegal use of consultants and agents, contacting tutors and admissions offices at schools, tampering with academic records, it's that simple." Boone shrugged.

"Easy?" Ethan narrowed his eyes.

"There may be a little too many players involved," Boone corrected cautiously.

"Although we have been limited in recruiting activities this year, if we get you, it will all be worth it." Boone breathed a sigh of relief.

At this time, he noticed the list that Ethan casually threw on the table and looked at the dazzling array of university names on it.

"Boone, you should take a look at this. We are most likely excluded." Mary noticed the list on the table at this time.

After the above, the University of Alabama did not tick the box, which immediately made the three school staff feel threatened, especially when they saw the price offered by other schools to Ethan, their expressions became even more ugly.

"It's over, it's all over." Recruitment liaison Ron Middlebrooks sat down with some dejection. He was a member of the Crimson Tide eight years ago and was at the forward position.After graduation, he chose to stay in school and is currently the assistant coach of the forwards.

As for the recruitment liaison officer, as the name suggests, he will help the team select the most suitable reserves and conduct basic recruitment contacts. He was the one who initially contacted Ethan and then conveyed Ethan's conditions to the school's sports director.

He even wanted Ethan to join the team more than Boone.

"I had a dream last night, and I dreamed that Ethan nodded at me. I thought it was a good sign." He covered his face with his hands, feeling particularly depressed.

"If I can't bring Ethan back, I will receive death threats from fans! I don't want to move again." Boone began to tremble.

His relationship with the team was not good, and his relationship with the fans was even worse. Fans believed that he did not recruit good enough players and coaches to the Crimson Tide, and there was a lot of local opposition to him.

"No, we are going to lose Ethan." Mary even twitched her nose and shed tears silently.

"I'm just a player, you guys can have other choices." Ethan looked at the three of them and felt that their reaction was a bit too much.

"You are a player, but you are not just a player. You have extraordinary meaning to every fan." Mary took out a tissue.

There's no question that when it comes to college football, Alabama has extraordinary passion, and it's pure passion.

"Well, since I'm a team member, how about I treat the three people who came from afar to a dinner tonight?" Ethan looked at the three of them.

"Thank you for your kindness, but now we have to take a red-eye flight to the next city, and we don't have enough budget..." Boone shook his head and stopped suddenly in the middle of the sentence.

Ron Middlebrooks, a former rugby striker, rushed over to grab the dropped ball and hugged Ethan.

Mary immediately wiped away her tears and stood up to celebrate with Boone.

Three people literally made the noise of thirty people, so much so that Ethan’s neighbors came to complain.

"Yanks, if you still can't calm down, I will call the police!" He threatened several people.

In fact, all three of them have somewhat of a southern accent and are commonly known as "hillbillies."

"People from Los Angeles, do you want to fight? This southern girl like me wants you to taste the fists from the country!" Mary actually started to roll up her sleeves.

And when Ron Middlebrooks, who was tall and not much inferior to Ethan, approached, the other party decided to leave decisively.

"I'm not afraid of anything but a gun, let alone an Angeleno." Mary closed the door.

"We'd better stop. After all, this is not our territory, but Los Angeles." Boone still said.

Ethan invited the three of them to the Italian restaurant Lisa invested in. As soon as they sat down, the three of them were full of praise for the spacious streets of Los Angeles.

Although in Ethan's eyes, the streets of Los Angeles are just that, for the three people from Alabama, Los Angeles is undoubtedly the symbol of a "big city."

Tuscaloosa, home to Alabama State University, is not even as big as the San Fernando Valley if you don't count the lakes to the north.

The most central location of the city is the "Bryant Denny Stadium". From this location alone, you can feel the status of college football in the hearts of local residents.And when the three of them saw that Ethan could leave without paying the bill, the three of them seemed even more unbelievable.

"This is a restaurant invested by my friend. If you need it, you can take some away." Ethan said to the three of them.

"Then I'll take some away and keep them to eat in Seattle." Boone has a heavy task and has to go to other cities to recruit other athletes.

"Sports director, this is rude." Mary was a little embarrassed and felt a little embarrassed.

"There is nothing polite or impolite. We are a team now." Ethan shook his head. Compared to red tape, he preferred such simple, straightforward and honest communication.

"But having said that, after Ethan leaves Los Angeles, he will no longer be able to come here to dine every day." Ron Middlebrooks shook his head and sighed.

After Ethan leaves Los Angeles, his interpersonal relationships will also change. For example, Lisa and Jennifer will have less and less time to see them.

·
"Alabama? What I can guarantee is that as soon as you leave the school gate, your mobile phone will have no signal, not even on campus." Lying beside her, Lisa frowned when she heard that Ethan was sure to go to Alabama. wrinkle.

"Shops close on time at p.m., and you won't see anyone in the city for half a day. You have to drive for more than half an hour before you might even come across a restaurant. Everyone's car is being robbed!"

"It's a completely different world from Los Angeles. It seems to be stuck 30 years ago. People who can afford it have fled. I'm afraid you won't be able to adapt." Lisa looked worried.

While eating just now, the three of them also gave Ethan a general introduction to the situation in Alabama.

Many people who stayed there were living on relief benefits, and even those who owned the black soil of the "Black Belt" still had to work. The real farming was done by farmers who owned large tracts of land and planted cash crops, such as cotton, on a large scale.

Alabama was a typical example of the plantation economy.

If the traditional southern states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Texas are known as “Red Neck Base Camps” in the minds of outsiders, then Alabama is the base camp among the Red Neck Base Camps.It is the most “local” state in the United States and represents the most traditional group of white people.

Forrest Gump is from Alabama, and in the movie he is the running back of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

All forms of abortion are prohibited there, regardless of the reason.

"But the best college football is out there," Ethan said.

Locally, rugby is the only entertainment.

As for life, the university built by the entire state of Alabama is worse than other schools, but it is not much worse.

"I originally thought you could take over my shift..." Lisa muttered.

"That can only wait a few years." Ethan shook his head.

·
"Alabama? I quite like it there. If I retire, I will choose to build a farm there, but not now. Ethan, I will come to see you." Jennifer Hewitt said.

After completing her high school studies, she completely devoted herself to becoming an actress. She had a full schedule with three film appointments, one of which was co-starring with Sarah Gellar.

"Of course, you have to come, including you." Ethan looked at Sarah next to Jennifer.

At this time, Jennifer Hewitt and Sarah Gellar have gone from initial enemies to sisters stuck together with double-sided tape.

"If we have free time, we will go there." Jennifer took the initiative to say for Sarah.

·
"Are you sure you want to go to Alabama? I think this is a very wise choice." Grace looked at Ethan.

"When to set off?"

"tomorrow."

"So fast." Grace looked a little surprised.

After all, there is still some time before school starts.

"I plan to drive there and adapt to the life of a college player in advance, just like a trip."

"The company..."

"You don't need to quit, I will reserve a position for you. In addition, if Alabama needs it, I can actually serve there." Grace said suddenly.

Just like at BHHS, she felt that Ethan chose Alabama not just because of the local football atmosphere.

"Except for the sports director, I don't know anyone right now." Ethan admitted from the side.

Grace thought for a while: "Then I can wait. Anyway, without you, working here will be really boring."

Ethan walked over and kissed her.

If it weren't for the busy work schedule, I'm afraid Grace and Ethan would have to leave the office...

Finally, Ethan found another person, the female doctor Lila.

"I'm going to Alabama, so this is the last time either of us will see each other."

"Great, I finally don't have to see you." The expression on Laila's face looked very relaxed, mainly because Ethan made so many demands, which made her look tired every time.

Then he turned around and invited Ethan into the back room just like before.

"I have no other requests this time. I came here specifically to say goodbye to you." Ethan said as he watched.

"Oh, really, then I wish you good results at the University of Alabama." Lila nodded.

·
Early the next morning, Ron Middlebrooks and Mary looked at a red Porsche 928 GTS parked in front of them. When Ethan O'Connor got out of the car, their expressions were intriguing.

"I thought it was going to be a roomy vehicle," Ron Middlebrooks noted, noting the two-door design.

Bob Boone went to Seattle alone early yesterday morning. He and Mary stayed in Los Angeles, preparing to go back to school with Ethan.

If Ethan wants to drive this car across most of the southern United States, there is only one person who can go with him!
"Mary, I have a lot of things to tell Ethan about the team. You have to go back by yourself." Ron Middlebrook said immediately. He didn't want to give up the opportunity to ride in a popular car.

"Ethan is a player, but he is also a student. He has not even decided which academy he will enter. This is the most important thing that needs to be solved now." Mary said without hesitation.

In the end, Mary was the winner, and Ron had to return alone.

"Where is your luggage?" Mary saw that there was no luggage of Ethan's in the car.

"The luggage was packed last night and sent to Alabama via FEDEX." Ethan explained.

Mary got directly into the passenger seat.

"Get in the car, let's set off."

(End of this chapter)