Mar. 5—***

Of course, adding Mark Dantonio to the College Football Playoff selection committee makes a lot of sense. The guy won a bunch of games at Michigan State and knows the sport well. A fine representative

I have no beef with other newcomers either. Damon Evans is the athletic director at Maryland, so he is qualified. Ivan Maisel was a longtime reporter covering college sports, so he fits too. And Wesley Walls was an All-American tight end at Mississippi

So, my question: What do I need to do to get on the list? Even just a year would be a blast, enough material for a book. Though that probably isn't allowed, so scrap that last part.

I've put in 35 years, so far, covering the Big Ten. I've been to more than half the stadiums in college football. The late, great Keith Jackson once praised a column of mine on air. I still have the tape to prove it. If the VCR still works.

I'm a longtime AP Top 25 voter and even longer-time Heisman voter. I record about 10-15 games each Saturday both for ranking purposes and my own enjoyment. I literally go through the list of available games and ponder "Yes, that's watchable." I'm not a snob, spreading my college football watching time between all of the conferences, big and small.

On the Saturdays when Illinois is not playing, I hunker down in my favorite chair and only move to get refreshments and walk the dog. It's 12 to 15 hours of bliss.

Anyway, if the committee calls, it will get someone devoted to the sport and also hellbent on getting it right. Actually, they might not like me because some of my football thoughts fly against conventional wisdom. But I promise to always keep an open mind and not allow my own interests to interfere with what is best.

Think about it CFP. How cool would it be to pick someone from a normal-sized community? I haven't asked the bosses yet, but I'm sure they would be cool with my participating.

I'm ready to serve.