BCS National Championship: Five Tell-Tale Signs 'The Big Wait' Is Too Long

It's almost unanimous.

Nearly every coach, player, fan and pundit agrees. The five-week layoff between Oregon and Auburn's final conference game and the national championship is way too long.

Probably the only ones who like the idea are a few gophers settling in for the normal off-season under the turf at University of Phoenix Stadium—and a handful of TV execs.

And, as if we needed proof to back up what seems like common sense, here are five unmistakable indicators that 1/10th of a year is too long to wait between football games.

Thoughtful Analysis Has Degraded To Vicious Carnage

The current dialogue between Oregon and Auburn fans is just as graphic.

When Oregon and Auburn were first introduced as contenders for the college football throne, the banter between fans in the blogs and online publications was respectful and cordial.

There was a willingness to share customs, quirks and insights regarding the two vastly different communities. Favorite recipes, hunting tips and even obscure team weaknesses were candidly disclosed.

However, while the passing of time is often considered a great healer, it can also become a simmering cauldron of hostility.

As the hours, days and weeks have dragged on, intelligent dialogue and analysis in the various comment threads has devolved almost exclusively into flaming arrows and grenades.

Fans from Oregon's and Auburn's bitter in-state rivals (Oregon State and Alabama respectively), have jumped into the fray, creating an even more explosive environment—and some very unexpected alliances.

The problem? Too much time on our hands.

Sportswriters Have Emptied The Well

Only a few more days and I'll grease this baby up again...

On the writer's palette, there are only so many creative approaches, slants and angles from which to select when attempting to portray a given subject.

Journalists, who are accustomed to having only a week between games to ladle up fresh ideas, are now tapping the same ol' stream for the fourth week - most coming up dry (this slide show being exhibit A).

Longtime columnists and beat reporters, normally the marquee attraction on the sports page, are now retreating to the break room while finding it conveniently advantageous to work the new cub reporter into the rotation.

Ahhh...such selfless mentoring.

But really...after four weeks now, what more can be said?

College Football Purists Are Losing Their Hair

Rogaine cannot keep up with the self-inflicted hair loss brought on by The Big Wait.

We older guys who remember when college football was boxed and wrapped on New Years Day are fit to be tied.

At our age, just making it to the next year is a gift from above. Must we now plead for 10 more days to know who the national champion will be?

January 1 is the day for finally putting the college football season to bed. The rest of the month is for failed resolutions, frozen pipes and NFL playoffs.

Tick...tick...tick...

Serious Gatorade Shortage

Fifteen gallons of Gatorade - $75. Versace loafers - $110. Ice bath in mid-January - priceless.

With US troops fighting in two arid countries, the NFL division races being settled this weekend, and over 50 bowl games throughout college football since the end of November, the Gatorade has seemingly been flowing like a river.

But have you noticed as we've progressed through the bowl season the Gatorade is getting more and more diluted (see photo)?

Too much time.

Too many bowl games.

Too much demand.

Not enough Gatorade.

I hope the BCS champs pop a cork this time.

We're Past The Point Of Diminishing Returns

(Courtesy veer.com) "This isn't right..."

At the corporate level, the thinking goes like this: "Extend the down time. Insert more advertising. Push the network. Let the tension and hype build."

At the fan's level, it's "C'mon, we're in the meat of the basketball season! This should have been settled days ago in a playoff!"

At the player's level, I can imagine, "Geez, I just wanna HIT somebody. Blow the stinkin' whistle, ref! I'm losing my edge."

In the quest to milk the season for all it's worth, have we waited so long that we're in danger of finally getting a product that cannot give us a full four quarters of excellent football?

We're close, my friends. Very close.

In Spite Of The Wait, It's...

Still, the best two teams in college football are on a collision course...

With less than a week to go, the pain of waiting has diminished. This is the week that should have been...in December.

After trudging through the desert for weeks now, the oasis is visible ahead.

Drink deep, fellow travelers. We're almost there.

This should be good.