the tindog coffeehouse

You might be thinking based on my recent “Longhorns Inc.” post that I’m biased against college football because of the commercial aspects of the game. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite the commercialism, I still love college football, and this week is a perfect example of why.

Tomorrow the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns head to my hometown of Lubbock to face off against the No. 7 Texas Tech Red Raiders. Both teams are undefeated and ranked in the Top 10, and both are led by Heisman-worthy quarterbacks. As the Austin American-Statesman said, “Yep, it’s a big one.” Seems like we’ve heard that a few times before this season.

Anyway, since the “Longhorns Inc.” post focused on a lot of numbers, let’s look at a few others:

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I guess Ted Stevens was wrong. Turns out the Internet is actually a camel.

Texas Monthly has an outstanding cover story in their November issue on the big business of The University of Texas athletics.

It’s no surprise that there’s a lot of money being made in college athletics these days, particularly football. But as they say, everything is bigger in Texas, from UT’s massive $8 million scoreboard (the Godzillatron), to it’s recently expanded north end zone (NEZ) of Royal-Memorial Stadium (at $176.5 million).

With its massive laid-brick turrets and cantilevered deck, the NEZ has transformed Royal-Memorial from what was merely a first-class arena into arguably the finest football facility in the country. It also represents the crown jewel of a decade-long construction spree that has cost $348 million and rebuilt or refurbished most of the university’s sports venues. If that seems like a lot of money, then consider this: When Brown was hired, in 1997, the budget for UT’s sports program was $21.4 million. This year the figure is expected to hit $126.8 million, the largest of any university in the nation. …

If you divide UT’s total sports budget by the number of athletes, the per-athlete figure is $170,000. No other college in America comes close to that amount. …

Including the new suites, club seating, and additional seats at all three venues, UT will make a total of $23 million this year, of which roughly $14.5 million is consumed by debt payments from construction costs, leaving $8.5 million in profit. When the debt is eventually paid off, of course, the profit will be 100 percent. UT believes that the NEZ project will generate $318 million in the next thirty years.

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This old White Heart song from 1992, “Who Owns You”, popped up on my MP3 player this morning on the way to work. Seems strangely relevant today.

I’m being swallowed by America
Losing my soul in America
I can’t keep up in America
‘Cause now they’re selling dreams in America

Livin’ in the malls of America
Deals made behind the walls of America
Try to find my face in America
Now you gotta buy your place in America

Tell me who owns you, baby
Tell me who owns you now
Tell me who holds the key to your captive heart
Tell me who owns you, baby
Tell me, do you even know?
Who is the one who unlocks the dreams of your soul?

Come stand with me in this holy place
Let the mountain breeze run over our face
And cleanse the shame for what we’ve done
‘Cause we’ve been livin’ our lives for only one

Gotta wash the wounds of America
Step out of the tombs of America
We’ve gotta find our faith in America
Love one another in America
Love one another in America
Love one another

Tell me who owns you, baby
Tell me who owns you now
Tell me who holds the key to your captive heart
Tell me who owns you, baby
Tell me, do you even know?
Who is the one who unlocks the dreams of your soul?

We were watching TV the other night, and a Barack Obama commercial came on. Then out of the blue, I hear a small, angelic voice announce, “That’s who I voted for!”

Huh?

Turns out the girls’ elementary school held a mock election, and Megan and Erin both voted for Obama over McCain.

Interesting.

I asked them why they voted for Obama. Megan didn’t know. Erin (the angelic one who made the announcement) said it was because she liked him. I guess that’s about the most political analysis you’re going to get out of a five-year-old.

The school hasn’t announced the winner of the mock election yet, but Obama did win Nickelodeon’s online Kids Pick the President poll (51% to 49%). (The poll has been run every election year since 1988 and has correctly predicted the winner in 4 out of 5 races.)

Erin’s proclamation reminded me of when I was in first grade way back during the 1980 election. I don’t remember voting, but I do remember hearing an announcement over the intercom that Ronald Reagan had won. I was so happy, but I honestly don’t know why. Maybe it was something I had picked up from my parents or TV. Maybe I just knew how great a president he would be.

Since we certainly haven’t endorsed Obama, I don’t think the girls would’ve picked him because of us. My guess is, it has more to do with aesthetics. Obama is a tall, slender 47-year-old while McCain, at 72, is battle-scarred and about 7 or 8 inches shorter than his opponent. And since 1900, the taller candidate has won two-thirds of the time.

So the good news is, the girls’ votes don’t necessarily indicate a life-long affinity for Democrats. But the bad news is, they probably correctly picked the winner of the real election.

Today’s Rudy Park cartoon:

Hmm… I wonder how bad the economy will have to get before I can buy a new HDTV?