It's one of the great ironies of life.

How did I, Aaron Torres, living in a region obsessed with baseball, in a college basketball crazed state, grow up to be such a big college football fan? It's like the Bermuda Triangle, Jimmy Johnson's hair, or going on a season of the Real World and being unable to hook-up. There's really no answer.

But I did. And not only did I grow up to be one of the biggest fans I know, but I also sprouted my college football legs at a time where the conference I was most affiliated with, the Big East, was coming under its greatest fire.

Believe me, I was attending UConn right around the time that Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College decided to skip town for the ACC, and I heard it all about my beloved Big East football:

"Take away their automatic BCS bid!!"

"How soon until basketball season starts?"

"I've seen casts of Showtime late night movies with more talent than these teams!"

That last one especially stung. Even if I did just make it up.

But after all that, all the "Big Least," remarks and everything else, I've got a dirty little secret for college football fans. As we enter the second decade of the 21st century, and scholarship limits, weight training, nutritional developments and technological advances give this sport more parity than its ever had before, Big East football has actually become...pretty good. Quite frankly, it's a lot better than you think.

When the news broke Tuesday night that Lane Kiffin was leaving Tennessee after just one season to coach at USC I was baffled. Like Jessica Simpson trying to read the Dictionary kind of baffled.

Right after the announcement, with the news blowing up all over the internet and ESPN, my phone blew up too, with calls, texts and e-mails from friends, wondering what in the hell was going on exactly.

To make things easier on everyone, I decided it was time to answer all your questions with just one broad stroke, in the "Idiot's Guide to the Lane Kiffin Hiring."

In the midst of Thursday night’s truly bizarre National Championship game, with Alabama ahead late, my buddy Matt sent me a text that summed up what he, I and millions of others were watching, about as well as anyone could. It read: 

I can’t believe what I’m seeing. This is the best, worst, most exciting boring game I’ve ever seen.

Hmm, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Thursday night’s BCS National Championship Game didn’t follow any type of logical format that was expected coming in. At times it looked like Texas was going to run away with this one, at others, Alabama the same.

There were no less than half a dozen unconventional plays (special teams blunders, interceptions, hard hits) that either made you jump up and dance like Elaine Benes, or jump up and throw your remote across the room.

At moments this game was as exciting as any I’ve ever seen, with a final quarter that ranks as good as any in recent college football history. At others it was so boring that I actually found myself flipping channels during game action. 

The BCS Championship Game was nothing like we’d expected it to be, with more plot twists than a bad Nic Cage movie, and a final margin of victory that told someone who didn’t watch that it wasn't much of a game at all.

Yet at the same time, it turned into everything we’d hoped it’d be, with Alabama clinging to a 24-21 lead with just minutes left, and Texas getting the ball back with a chance to drive the field and win the game. And when the final whistle did blow, the end result provided what any great championship game does: The team which made the biggest plays down the stretch was holding the crystal ball.

Again, it was the best, worst, most exciting boring game I’ve ever seen. But it was nothing, if not memorable.

Alright, so after almost a month away from college football, I was all set to blow you away with the most comprehensive BCS bowl previews anywhere on the internet.

Unfortunately, because of the bad weather, my irregular holiday schedule, and watching the New Jersey Nets in person the other night, I've come down with a vicious, violent illness. I'm even calling it A1T1, and if you haven't gotten your shot for it yet, well break down your doctors office door to get one.

Anyway, I'm nothing, if not for you all, my loyal readers. So despite my soaring temperature, blurry vision, and the fact that I just coughed up a boot, I've still come up with my BCS bowl game previews.

They're shorter than I'd like, and somewhat incoherent, but at least they're something. Besides, you all need something to make fun of me for, and I'm sure these picks will provide for that.

Regardless, enjoy the games, and enjoy your holiday, and check back next week for my BCS National Championship game preview, which I guarantee will be better than the jibberish below.

Happy New Year,

Aaron

In honor or ESPN.com’s Rick Reilly, I’m combining my thoughts on “The U,” documentary (amazing), and this week’s college football picks into one, in what I like to call, "Too Short For A Column."

Enjoy…

One night a few years back, I decided to surprise my mom, and came home for an unexpected visit. There was no ulterior motive, no need for money or a free a meal (at least that she knew about). I just genuinely wanted to stop in and say hi.

When I walked in the house, I was greeted by you guessed it, a surprised mom at the front door.

After a few minutes of small-talk, I did what I always do at her house, flipped on the TV and started channel surfing, before  settling on a New York Yankees playoff game. The Yanks were playing the Indians in an elimination game, and were all but dead in the water. As a Red Sox fan, I wanted to soak in every second of their season ending.



Yet the second I put the game on, my mom piped up, “No, no, I don’t want to watch this. Turn it off, I can’t stand to watch the Yankees. They’re going to come back and win. They always do.” Keep in mind, this was the 6th inning and they were down 6-2.

“You’re kidding mom, right?” I said. Indeed she was not. Her house, her rules and she was putting her foot down. The game went off.

Reading the above, I know what you’re thinking. Why would I care about a 2007 New York Yankees playoff game, and what could it possibly have to do with Saturday’s SEC Championship game?

Alright I’ve got to come clean.

After writing roughly a 3,000 word manifesto on this weekend’s SEC Championship game that took about a week off the back end of my life, and nearly caused me to start smoking, I am officially crapped out. I’m tired, I’m cranky, and stupidly I stayed up until nearly 2 a.m. watching MTV’s Jersey Shore premiere. Needless to say, I hate myself this morning.

However, I am nothing without you, my loyal readers. And because of it, I put together a patchwork Week 14 preview. It is hardly full of the insight and wit you’ve come to expect, instead basically, just any coherent thought I have on these games