Florida-FIU: Will a Late Season Patsy Hurt the Gators' BCS Standing?

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The Gator Nation has succumbed to a dry, mediocre, and sometimes boring undefeated 2009 college football season.

The Gators have marched undefeated through their SEC schedule, South Carolina being the last team to fall victim, led by the OBC himself, Steve Spurrier.

The regular season always ends with the Gators' annual matchup with FSU, and this season's game will feature Tim Tebow's last home game as a Gator and possibly Bobby Bowden's final game as head coach of FSU.

But before we are treated to that potentially historic event, there is one game that the Gators must host in The Swamp the week before.

FIU—the Florida International University Golden Panthers.

You know, the school that hired NBA great Isiah Thomas (OK, I had to take a jab at the President of FIU, whatever his name is) to coach their basketball team. The school that was involved in that ridiculous bench-clearing brawl during a football game against the "U" back in 2006.

Yes, that FIU, and the Gator Nation is thrilled to host them this weekend. 

Seriously, when will the Gators start scheduling more respectable opponents that are outside the SEC? Sure, there are the arguments of the tough SEC schedule that the Gators face every season and the need to schedule schools that will play in The Swamp without needing a return engagement at their place for financial reasons. But enough is enough.

Will it damage Florida's BCS standing regardless of the outcome of the game? If the Gators were to be upset by FIU, it would without a doubt end their hopes of winning the national championship. If and when they defeat FIU, will it require an annihilation to impress the computers and voters?

I, for one, think it's time to punish teams that schedule doormats in order to increase cash flow and/or guarantee a victory. I understand that the smaller schools need the money for their programs, but there should be minimum requirements put in place to ensure each team's opponent is worthy of being on the schedule.

The Gators have already played Charleston Southern and Troy, and the third cream puff of the 2009 season is coming to town this weekend. Please wake me when it's over.

Gator fan, if you enjoy watching another boring and mundane game, feel free to reach out to your local cable operator to purchase the game on Pay-Per-View. I, on the other hand, will spend time with my family and get some chores done around the house instead.

OK, I'll probably listen to the game on Sirius or a local AM broadcast. But I refuse to help fill the coffers of the UF Athletic Department and will not pay one cent to witness this weekend's carnage.

Jeremy Foley, do the right thing and schedule more appropriate games, please?

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