Steve Hoffacker's Sales Quips

I'm a big fan of college football - not a fan of BCS, however. I have to laugh now at how the major athletic conferences are throwing the BCS into disarray.

The BCS has a precise formula for which representatives of which conferences (by conference standing that season) go to which bowl games and play which other conferences. That was until now.

The Pac-10 has added Oklahoma (making it at least 11) and may get all 6 major texas teams to join in. The Big 10 has added Nebraska and maybe others. The Big 10 was already one member over their limit when Penn State joined. Now, I'm not sure what to call them - Big 10 + 2?

The Big 12 may implode altogether.

Traditional rivalries may no longer work on the schedule. Bowl matchups could change.

Notre Dame remains the wildcard - choosing to stay independent just for football.

The season hasn't even strted but there's plenty to watch.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entreprenuers, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Well, here we are embroiled in the perennial argument about which team is the best in men's college football. That's because this is bowl season, and the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) is underway. The name is quite deceptive because it is not a series and the bowls have nothing to do with the championship except for the winner of the game chosen to be the championship game.

This game won't quiet the discussionas and the argument about which team actually is the best. It will only define which school takes home the trophy.

We are stuck with the BCS for another 5 years. - and probably well beyond that. Many of the prominent coaches in the country want it this way and so do the networks. The BCS is under contract with the networks until 2015.

There really are a couple of points to this story. First, even if there was some type of a playoff system or tournament in college football (which I support) this would not determine the best team necessarily. It would only be the best team from the large schools. There are many more schools in various NCAA divisions and the NAIA where football is played. Those various divisions have their own tournaments and crown their respective champions each year. Therefore, there are multiple "national champions" every year in men's college football.

Second, the NCAA has misjudged their audience. They think their customer is the member schools. Wrong. While true to a point, do these coaches and players buy tickets to the games? Do they drive or fly to away games and bowl appearances? Do they campout in the parking lot before the game? Do they buy player merchandise? Are they fanatical supporters of their schools? Some are big fans and continue to be after their playing or coaching days, but the point is that the fans are the ultimate customer. We are the ones being dictated to and the ones having our voices disregarded.

Reminds you a little of Congress doesn't it?

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Today being the first Saturday of the college football season, I watched some of the action on TV.

The one thing that stood out was the number of penalties called - some for seemingly very minor stuff.

Either we have way too many rules, or the officials don't have the discretion to overlook minor infractions that don't impact the play.

People pay to see the action. People spend time in front of the TV to see the action. Watching officials throw yellow flags and dominant the game is not the kind of action we want to see.

Let 'em play.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. You can also listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

As I wrote the words "keep the BCS" I felt all of this negative energy being released toward me.

However, let me explain.

The BCS has no place in college football. Let me say that again so that there is no doubt on my stand - the BCS has no place in college football.  They just happened to luck out this year in the title game although there are some people still supporting their own contenders.

Anyone who's ever watched March Madness or participated in a friendly ping-pong or darts tournament has an idea of how to set up the playoffs. In fact, the other NCAA divisions and the NAIA and the community colleges all have playoffs for a national champion.

There are many scenarios of how to structure a viable championship tournament. That's why it will never happen - makes too much sense.

Two other practical reasons for not having a national championship - (1) bowl game revenue and payouts to participating teams and conferences and (2) we lose the chance to keep debating the merits of a playoff.

Yes, if we actually had one - which we're not likely to get no matter how much Obama or any of the rest of it want it - we wouldn't be able to point out the folly of the BCS anymore.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2009. All Rights Reserved.

One of the bitterweet parts about this time of year is that there are so many good college football matchups but that when the games are over the season is too for those teams.

The college football bowl season kicks off today and continues through the national championship game.

We wait all year for college football, then it goes by all too quickly in September, October, and November.

The bowl season is like a curtain call or encore for the season. It, too, will be over quickly. Then the wait til the fall (not counting spring drills).

Such is the life of a fan.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2008. All Rights Reserved.

We wait all year for the college football season, and then it's finally here in late August. And now it's gone basically after today.

Wow, that was fast.

Even the NFL is winding down with only one-fourth of their season left to play and then the playoofs for the few teams that are good enough.

Anticipation is powerful. Now we can look to next year, contemplate the bowl games, debate the merits of a playoff system and take out our frustrations on the BCS, and look forward to the NFL draft and spring ball. There's always something to look forward to - except anymore regular season games this year.

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, sales tips, insights, or strategies, visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my other blog homesalesinsights.com. © Steve Hoffacker, 2008. All Rights Reserved.

As the college football season heads into the final month of play, some upsets are likely as the teams that want to challenge for supremacy stake their claims.

Tonight's matchup in Lubbock is a case in point. Two teams - University of Texas ("Texas"), currently unbeaten and ranked #1, is playing at Texas Tech, currently unbeaten and ranked #7. One thing is clear - only one team will still be unbeaten tomorrow.

This brings me to one of the mysteries of life - at least sports' life.

If #7 beats #1, shouldn't they then become #1 - leapfrogging all the other teams? After all they beat the top team and the others didn't. I know #2-#6 didn't play the #1 team, but #7 did and won (if this happens). Sort of like king of the mountain - if you've ever played that kid's game.

If #7 does win, they'll probably move up one or two spots is all - depending on how the other teams ahead of them do.

And here's one for you. In a game if, #1 and #2 play and #1 wins - aren't they supposed to if they really are #1 - then #2 falls back - sometimes way back. I say they should remain #2 unless it's a real rout. If #2 plays #1 competitively, then the rankings are correct and shouldn't change if #1 wins as expected. Ah, but they always do.

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For more information on my coaching services or sales tips visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my blog homesalesinsights.com.

Today, all across America it's college football. Large schools, small schools - famous sports programs and the not so famous. For the next 6 Saturdays or so there will be full schedules. Nearly every team is playing every week. The non-conference "tune-up" games have been played, and the bye weeks have already happened. Now it's down to serious competition.

College football is truly part of Americana - as are friday night high school games.

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For more information on my coaching services or sales tips visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my blog homesalesinsights.com.

Today is the first official Saturday of the 2008 collegiate football season. By tonight, some teams' dream of an undefeated season will be derailed.

Imagine that. one game into the season and already it can seem like a lost cause if you happen to come out on the lower end of the final score.

College football - I love it for the on the field competition. I pretty much can ignore the posturing and off-field antics.

It's gotten so that a team must be undefeated to feel that it had a good season. What even happened to a winning season? And then, even if you go undefeated but didn't play the right teams on your schedule, that achievement is discounted.

A couple of years ago 3 major teams went undefeated - all laying claim to the national title, but only 2 got to play each other for the official national title - thank you BCS.

At the very least, let each conference champion (regardless of their record) advance to a March Madness style tournament and seed the stronger teams. This would still reward winning but not devastate a team - or its athletes - if they happened to lose a game along the way.

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For more information on my coaching services or sales tips visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my blog homesalesinsights.com.

Well, it's finally here. The weather doesn't support it in many parts of the country (like here in South Florida) but it's college football season.

I smell fall in the air. I detect a half-of-degree drop in temperature. Yup, it's football time.

In just a few hours, the first game of the 2008 collegiate football season will be played. Already there's talk of Heisman candidates, undefeated seasons, classic match-ups, and perennial foes.

Don't you just love it? Maybe not, but I do.

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For more information on my coaching services or sales tips visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my blog homesalesinsights.com.