January 6, 2010

College Football National Champioship

Theres only about 36 hours before the University of Alabama and the University of Texas face off on the grassy gridiron to establish supremacy in collegiate football. Big Whoop...

I love college football...the sanctity of the game is protected (hopefully) by amateur athletes, not competing for a paycheck, but for school and team pride. I have no pride in either school, so it is irrelevant to me who comes out the loser. What does matter is that one university in North Carolina is very near the top and is competing for a National Championship...of sorts.

North Carolina State University, the grand poo-bah in the Tarheel State, ranks SIXTH (6th) among ALL PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES - with or without a football team - as a top value university. That's something I take some pride in...Leading the way for NCSU include textile, agriculture, and engineering programs. Is it possible that one school can offer so much - oh yeah, it's also in Raleigh which may be one of the best towns in the country, despite having the I-440 Beltline?

I did not go to NC State for my degree...I went to another prestigious university that can also be found in top college countdowns. But NC State does oversee my employment at the Eastern 4-H Center. Which proves that NCSU, in one way or another, impacts the lives of not only students, but grown adults and tiny children. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences oversees the Cooperative Extension Service, which is the parent body to 4-H (who I work for) that seeks to offer youth development opportunities at every turn... CALS is also the backbone of the University.

The First Year College helps out lowly freshmen sort out their futures with classes and opportunities to develop a concentration and major. If you can get in, they want you to graduate! Some colleges take pride in limiting acceptance and keeping students in class for as long as possible...60 percent of students are accepted, so you have a D- chance of getting in...but it's a great place to be if your accepted.

NCSU is also one of the top research colleges...I think it ranks in the teens. Maybe that's why the Research Triangle Park has been so fortunate...their cultivating employees at the nearest University.

Nevertheless, NCSU has a football team. But students don't let that get them down. They also have a shooting sports team that is one of the "tops" in the country...and it is stacked with former North Carolina 4-H'ers. Maybe the football team should recruit 4-H'ers. Maybe not.

Anyway, there are lots of reasons to take pride in our state school, and other schools...even smaller schools can hang their hats on something...

Oh yeah, "War Eagle" and "Hook'em Horns!"

Enjoy the day...

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