NCAA’s Respect Weekend Has Big Potential To Fail

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The NCAA and AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) has decided to promote sportsmanship during the opening week of the 2009 season, calling college football’s opening slate of games Respect Weekend.

The NCAA is encouraging teams to meet at midfield prior to the start of the game and have the teams participate in a pregame hand shake.

The athletic directors and head coaches of both schools will be leading off the sportsmanship gesture.

The NCAA stated that part of the reason for this gesture is to show sportsmanship is a vital part of successful college programs.

They also stated that there have been several instances where head coaches did not shake hands after the game.

The NCAA thinks it’s a good idea to bring 200 highly charged football players to the center of the field prior to the game with the hopes they will be on their best behavior.

The NCAA and AFCA were smart enough to schedule this one time event at the beginning of the year when the majority of major college programs will be playing their cupcake schedules. It would have been a bad idea if they decided to do this during rivalry weekend.

The NCAA apparently did have one oversight when they looked at the opening weekend schedule.

The University of Miami will be visiting Florida State on September 7. The last time these teams met in 2008, the Seminoles knocked off the Hurricanes 41-39.

And remember, these two schools do not like each other. Even when it comes to other sports than college football.

A brawl nearly broke out when the Hurricanes baseball team won their home series versus the Seminoles.

As it was, I had already planned to watch this game and to root for my Alma mater as they wipe Doak Campbell stadium with the Hurricanes.

Now the NCAA gives the rest of the nation to tune in and see if the two can play nice before they go and try to rip each others head off.