Historical Look: Spanish Wars of Independence

For the past few months I have causally watched a historical drama series on Netflix named Bolivar, about the life of Simon Bolivar. While the show is somewhat lackluster in quality catering more to the soap opera crowd, it still has provided me with new insight on South American history. It's a historical topic I have always wanted to dive deep into, especially having Colombian heritage myself, yet was just waiting for some inspiration. Well thanks to this show I finally have a reason to study this long over due topic regarding South America's historical fight for independence.

Just as the United States of America had their War of Independence against the British in the 1700s, the Latin American colonies had theirs against the Spanish Empire shortly after in the 1800s. It was no doubt a rebellious fervor brewing for many of years throughout Central and South America, before organized action took place. And just as America had it's father of independence, George Washington, the Spanish colonies had their leader in Simon Bolivar, known as "El Libertador" (The Liberator).


The Rise of Simon Bolivar

The turn of the 19th century in my opinion is one of the most fascinating points in history. Following America's War and Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1776, Europe was in a wave of revolutionary ideals that spanned across the globe, and South America was no exception. The ideals of the Enlightenment inspired one young aristocrat in particular from Venezuela named Simon Bolivar.

During the early 1800s Bolivar studied in Madrid in the midst of the French Revolutionary Wars. He even witnessed Napoleon crowned as emperor in Notre Dame 1804. During his time in Europe, Simon Bolivar was no doubt influenced by the enlightenment and revolutionary ideals which he used to begin a liberation campaign in South America.


Bolivar's Military Campaign

Simon Bolivar returned to his home country of Venezuela in 1807 intent on leading a military coup against the Spanish Empire. He sought to take advantage of Spain's military conflict against France during the Peninsula War of 1807-1814. With Spain more concentrated on France, Bolivar was able to successfully overthrow the Spanish government on April 19th, 1810 and established the First Republic of Venezuela. The Republic however only lasted a year as it was torn between Civil War and Spanish Royalist resistance.

By 1812 Bolivar was exiled from Venezuela and in response he organized the "Admirable Campaign" thru the Andes Mountains. He was able to retake Venezuela and establish the Second Republic of Venezuela in 1813. He later marched his army into the northwestern territory of New Granada, which was to be modern day Colombia. He was able to capture the city of Bogota which brought him his infamous title as El Libertador.   

However his conquests continued to dismantle due to infighting and further Spanish royalist engagement. By 1817 he was able to retain control of Venezuela and established the Third Republic of Venezuela. He furthered his reach into Colombia and Ecuador and in 1821 he achieved a monumental victory against the Spanish Monarchy at the Battle of Carabobo. Through this victory Bolivar established Gran Colombia which was a unified state of modern day Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.

Bolivar left the governing of the newly established state to political leaders, while he continued his military campaign further west into Ecuador and Peru. In May of 1822 he defeated the Spanish Armies at the Battle of Pichincha and marched into the city of Quito shortly after. On August 6th of 1824 he decisively defeated the Spanish armies at the Battle of Junin thus liberating Peru. This vast mountainous land was broken up into two regions, with the establishment of the Republic of Bolivia, named after the heroic commander. By 1827 Simon Bolivar returned to Caracas to help administer his newly established government.


Gran Colombia

The state of Gran Colombia demonstrated Bolivar's ambitious vision to unite Latin America and compete with the likes of Europe and the newly established United States. However the state was never allowed to fully develop due to constant infighting. Bolivar was accused of being a dictator and various political leaders sought to break away into smaller centralized republics. Each territory in South America sought to govern itself, and Bolivar eventually realized his dream was out of reach. On January 20th of 1830 he stepped down as president of Gran Colombia and the union was dissolved a year later.

Simon Bolivar died later that year in 1830 of tuberculosis at the young age of 47. The union of Gran Colombia was dissolved into three separate republics of Venezuela, Ecuador, and New Granada. The Republic of New Granada would later be known as the Granadine Confederation in 1858, the United States of Colombia in 1863, and finally it's modern day government, the Republic of Colombia was established in 1886. Although he was unable to achieve his ultimate goal of unifying Latin America, Simon Bolivar is without question the most pivotal figure of South American independence.


Central and South American Wars of Independence

My study here on the Spanish Wars of Independence pertains more to Simon Bolivar's military campaign. And while he was one of the key patriotic leaders, there were a number of ongoing conflicts during this time fought against the Spanish Monarchy. Simon Bolivar was no doubt associated with most of the South American campaigns in the northern region, yet he was also aided by the leadership of Jose de San Martin in the Peruvian regions. Simultaneously to these revolutions was the May Revolution in Argentina and the Mexican War of Independence which were all just as historically significant.

• Argentine War of Independence
• Dates: 1810-1818
• Key Leaders: Manuel Belgrano, Juan Jose Castelli, and Jose de San Martin
• Territorial Changes: Fall of the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata, establishment of Republic of Argentina in 1816 
• Bolivian War of Independence
• Dates: 1809-1825
• Key Leaders: Simon Bolivar, Jose Antonio de Sucre
• Territorial Changes: Fall of the Viceroyalty of Peru and the Rio de la Plata, establishment of Republic of Bolivia in 1825
• Chilean War of Independence
• Dates: 1810-1826
• Key Leaders: Jose de San Martin
• Territorial Changes: Fall of the Viceroyalty of Peru, establishment of the Republic of Chile in 1818 
• Mexican War of Independence
• Dates: 1810-1821
• Key Leaders: Miguel Hidalgo, Jose Maria Morelos
• Territorial Change: Fall of New Spain, establishment of Mexico
• Venezuelan War of Independence
• Dates: 1810-1823
• Key Leaders: Simon Bolivar
• Territorial Changes: Fall of Spanish Province, establishment of Gran Colombia in 1819, and later Republic of Venezuela in 1830
• Colombian War of Independence

• Dates: 1819-1820
• Key Leader: Simon Bolivar, Jose Antonio Paez, Francisco de Paula Santander
• Territorial Changes: Fall of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, establishment of Gran Colombia in 1819, Granadine Confederation in 1858, United States of Colombia in 1863, and Republic of Colombia in 1886)
• Ecuadorian War of Independence
• Dates: 1820-1822
• Key Leaders: Simon Bolivar, Antonio Jose de Sucre
• Territorial Changes: Fall of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, establishment of Gran Colombia in 1819, and the Republic of Ecuador in 1830 
• Peruvian War of Independence
• Dates: 1811-1826
• Key Leaders: Jose de San Martin, Simon Bolivar 
• Territorial Changes: Fall of the Viceroyalty of New Peru, establishment of the Republic of Peru in 1826

History of the NFL

With it being the 100th anniversary of the National Football League, I thought it a fitting occasion to do a deeper dive into the history of my favorite professional sports league. I have written various times regarding my love of the NFL, my favorite team of the Detroit Lions, the leagues' greatest rivalries, the greatest players by position, and the greatest coaches. However I have yet to make a proper post regarding the history and formation of the league, as I did with baseball several years back (see History of the MLB). So in conjunction with my recent post regarding NCAA football, I will consider this my cumulative study on the sport of football.


The Birth of Football

The modern day game of American football as we now it, began as an infusion of soccer and rugby in the 1860s. It was in 1869 when the first considered football game took place between Princeton and Rutgers. These two teams were later joined by Colombia and Yale to establish a set of rules for the game that included a round ball and 20 players on each team. However the University of Harvard later demonstrated a new format inspired from Canadian rules, that introduced an 11 player team, tackling, and an oblong shaped ball instead of the round one. In 1879 a Yale athlete named Walter Camp, considered the father of American football, helped establish the Intercollegiate Football Association.

By the 1880s various rule changes continued to evolve the game, away from the format of rugby.  The concept of a snap, football pads, a first down, and the gridiron structure were introduced as well as a new point system that had different scores for a touchdown, field goal, and a safety. However the game was very physical and violent and after multiple fatalities President Theodore Roosevelt threatened to abolish the game unless there were major rule changes. In 1906 new rules were instituted that reduced the game play to 60 minutes, reduced the field to 100 yards, introduced the forward pass as an option away from running the ball, teams were allowed four downs instead of three downs to gain 10 yards for a first down, and increased the use of leather helmets and pads (helmets did not become mandatory until 1939). This general format to the sport remains in tact to this day, with many other bylaw adjustments along the way.


The Birth of the NFL

By the early 1900s football had become a very popular sport in America, and the desire to make money on the game began to emerge. In 1892 the collegiate superstars, William Heffelfinger and Ben Donnelly were recruited and paid by the Allegheny Athletic Association to become the first ever professional athletes. This began a series of regional circuit leagues throughout the Midwest trying to emulate the established National Baseball League. In 1917 the Ohio football league were able to recruit the national Olympic icon, Jim Thorpe to play and coach the Canton Bulldogs. Teams throughout Ohio and New York became quite popular as they went on barnstorming tours throughout the Midwest. Following WWI it became clear to various owners that a national league could be very successful and profitable.

In August of 1920 owners from the Ohio League met in Canton Ohio to establish the American Football Professional Association. This included mostly Ohio teams such as Thorpe's Canton Bulldogs as well as teams from New York and other Midwestern states. Several of the original teams quickly folded due to lack of interest and funding. The Akron Pros claimed the first championship in 1920. By 1922 various other teams had joined the league, that was headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and became known as the National Football League.

• Akron Pros (1908-1927)
• Columbus Panhandles (1901-1926)
• Decatur Staleys (1919-became the modern day Chicago Bears)
• Buffalo All Americans (1915-1929)
• Dayton Triangles (1913-1929)
• Detroit Heralds (1905-1921)
• Canton Bulldogs (1903-1927)
• Green Bay Packers (1919-present)
• Hammond Pros (1917-1926)
• Chicago Cardinals (1920-became the modern day Arizona Cardinals)
• Rock Island Independents (1907-1926)
• Muncie Flyers (1905-1925)
• Chicago Tigers (1920)
• Toledo Maroons (1902-1923)
• Racine Legion (1915-1926)
• Cleveland Tigers (1916-1921)
• Kenosha Maroons (1924)
• Rochester Jeffersons (1898-1928)

In 1925 the New York Giants joined the league and were later joined by the Portsmouth Spartans in 1930, who later relocated to Detroit in 1934 as the Detroit Lions. 

The Eastern/Western Conferences

In 1933 the league reorganized itself into two conferences, five teams from the east, and five teams from the west. The champion of each conference would face off in the NFL championship. At this point the Boston Braves (later the Washington Redskins), the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Pittsburg Pirates (later the Pittsburgh Steelers had joined the league. The New York Giants went on to defeat the Chicago Bears in the first NFL championship of 1933.

Original Eastern Division

Boston Redskins (1932-became the modern day Washington Redskins)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1930-1945)
New York Giants (1925-present)
Philadelphia Eagles (1933-present)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1933-became the modern day Pittsburgh Steelers)

Original Western Division

Chicago Bears (1919-present)
Chicago Cardinals (1920-became the modern day Arizona Cardinals)
Green Bay Packers (1919-present)
Portsmouth Spartans (1930-became the modern day Detroit Lions)
Cincinnati Reds (1933-1934)


The American Football League

The NFL had various competition from other leagues and one of the most notable of these competitors was the American Football League. The AFL first began operation in 1926 yet went defunct after only one season. It's second attempt came ten years later in 1935, and this time made it thru two seasons before it folded. A third attempt was made in 1940, however it yet again had to fold after only one season. This gave way to the more successful All-American Football Conference that lasted from 1946 to 1949. The league generated periods of success and after it's closure three of it's teams joined the NFL; the San Francisco 49ers, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore Colts.

Teams of the AAFC

• New York Yankees (1946-1949)
• Brooklyn Dodgers (1946-1949)
• Buffalo Bisons (1946-1949)
• Miami Seahawks (1946-1947)
• Baltimore Colts (1947-1950)
• Cleveland Browns (1944-present)
• Chicago Rockets (1946-1949)
• Los Angeles Dons (1946-1949)
• San Francisco 49ers (1946-present)

In 1960 a group of business owners, referred to as the "Foolish Club" had grown frustrated with their denied attempts to join their teams to the NFL, so they established their own league. This time the AFL had become a major competitor to the NFL and even was able to recruit various big name college stars such as Joe Namath to the New York Jets. The league lasted for ten years until the NFL agreed to merge with them, which gave way to the modern day Super Bowl era.

AFL teams

• Boston Patriots (1960-became the modern day New England Patriots)
• Buffalo Bills (1960-present)
• Houston Oilers (1960-became the modern day Tennessee Titans)
• Miami Dolphins (1966-present)
• New York Jets (1960-present)
• Cincinnati Bengals (1968-present)
• Kansas City Chiefs (1960-present)
• Denver Broncos (1960-present)
• San Diego Chargers (1960-present)
• Oakland Raiders (1960)

AFL/NFL Merger

In an effort to compete with the up-and-coming AFL, the NFL began an expansion campaign in the 1960s which included the Dallas Cowboys, the Minnesota Vikings, the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, and the Los Angeles Rams. However it became clear to the NFL that the AFL had greater wealth and were beginning to recruit top notch college players. In 1966 an agreement was made to merge the leagues so that the AFL champion would play the NFL champion for the national championship. 

The first Super Bowl was played between the Green Bay Packers from the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL, with Lombardi's Packers winning the 1st ever Super Bowl in 1967. This format went on for four seasons until 1970 where both leagues merged into one league separated by the AFC and NFC conferences. This is the modern day Super Bowl format that still operates today. 

Modern Super Bowl Era

By 1970 football had become mainstream and it's popularity had begun to surpass that of baseball. Monday Night Football became a major feature of the national televised sport that drew massive audiences. In the mid 1970s two more teams were added to the league in the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the mid 1990s three more teams were added in the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Baltimore Ravens. In 2002 the last team was added in the Houston Texans which capped the league off at the 32 teams that exist today. 

Since the merger the league has undergone various rule changes to make the game more exciting and safer. It also adjusted each conference into a eastern, western, and central division. With the addition of the Texans in 2002, the league readjusted itself into eight divisions of four teams (East, West, North, and South). This made for a more balanced playoff system in which each conference would have four divisional winners and two wild-card contenders. 

To this day the NFL is miles ahead of the competition, which includes that in the sport of football, as well as other sports. The evolution of this league is the epitome of American ideals, that demonstrate capitalism at it's finest. Today it has become a behemoth money maker, laced with advertisements, marketing, merchandise, video games, fantasy leagues, and so much glamour. The success of the NFL is no doubt accredited to the exciting physical game of football, yet also to it's business structure that has continued to expand. With that in mind, I enjoy the league just as it is, especially with the team salary caps, and dread the day it expands to became a global league. 

NFL Teams Today

AFC East

• Buffalo Bills (AFL team in 1960)
• Miami Dolphins (AFL team in 1966) 2 championships (1972, 1973)
• New England Patriots (AFL team in 1960) 6 championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018)
• New York Jets (AFL team in 1960) 1 championship (1968)

AFC North

• Baltimore Ravens (Expansion team 1996) 2 championships (2000, 2012)
• Cincinnati Bengals (AFL team in 1968) 
• Cleveland Browns (AAFC team in 1946) 8 championships (1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1964)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL team 1933) 6 championships (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008)

AFC South

• Houston Texans (Expansion team 2002) 
• Indianapolis Colts (NFL 1953 as Baltimore Colts) 4 championships (1958, 1959, 1970, 2006)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (Expansion team 1995)
• Tennessee Titans (AFL team in 1960 as Houston Oilers) 2 championships (1960, 1961)

AFC West

• Denver Broncos (AFL team in 1960) 3 championships (1997, 1998, 2015)
• Kansas City Chiefs (AFL team in 1960) 3 championships (1962, 1966, 1969)
• Los Angeles Chargers (AFL team in 1960) 1 championship (1963)
• Oakland Raiders (AFL team in 1960) 3 championships (1976, 1980, 1983)

NFC East

• Dallas Cowboys (NFL team in 1960) 5 championships (1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995)
• New York Giants (NFL team in 1925) 8 championships (1927, 1934, 1938, 1956, 1986, 1990, 2007, 2011)
• Philadelphia Eagles (NFL team in 1933) 4 championships (1948, 1949, 1960, 2017)
• Washington Redskins (NFL team in 1932) 5 championships (1937, 1942, 1982, 1987, 1991)

NFC North

• Chicago Bears (NFL team in 1920) 9 championships (1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, 1985)
• Detroit Lions (NFL team in 1930) 4 championships (1935, 1952, 1953, 1957)
• Green Bay Packers (NFL team in 1921) 13 championships (1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1996, 2010)
• Minnesota Vikings (NFL team in 1961) 

NFC South

• Atlanta Falcons (NFL team in 1966) 
• Carolina Panthers (Expansion team in 1995)
• New Orleans Saints (NFL team in 1967) 1 championship (2009)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL team in 1976) 1 championship (2002)

NFC West

• Arizona Cardinals (NFL team in 1920 as Chicago Cardinals) 2 championships (1925, 1947)
• Los Angeles Rams (AFL team in 1936) 3 championships (1945, 1951, 1999)
• San Francisco 49ers (AAFC team in 1946) 5 championships (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994)
• Seattle Seahawks (NFL team in 1976) 1 championship (2013)

NFL Champions

1920 - Akron Pros

1921 - Chicago Staleys

1922 - Canton Bulldogs

1923 - Canton Bulldogs

1924 - Cleveland Bulldogs

1925 - Chicago Cardinals

1926 - Frankford Yellow Jackets

1927 - New York Giants

1928 - Providence Steam Roller

1929 - Green Bay Packers

1930 - Green Bay Packers

1931 - Green Bay Packers

1932 - Chicago Bears

1933 - Chicago Bears

1934 - New York Giants

1935 - Detroit Lions

1936 - Green Bay Packers

1937 - Washington Redskins

1938 - New York Giants

1939 - Green Bay Packers

1940 - Chicago Bears

1941 - Chicago Bears

1942 - Washington Redskins

1943 - Chicago Bears

1944 - Green Bay Packers

1945 - Cleveland Rams

1946 - Chicago Bears

1947 - Chicago Cardinals

1948 - Philadelphia Eagles

1949 - Philadelphia Eagles

1950 - Cleveland Browns

1951 - Los Angeles Rams

1952 - Detroit Lions

1953 - Detroit Lions

1954 - Cleveland Browns

1955 - Cleveland Browns

1956 - New York Giants

1957 - Detroit Lions

1958 - Baltimore Colts

1959 - Baltimore Colts

1960 - Houston Oilers (AFL)

1960 - Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)

1961 - Houston Oilers (AFL)

1961 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)

1962 - Dallas Texans (AFL)

1962 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)

1963 - San Diego Chargers (AFL)

1963 - Chicago Bears (NFL)

1964 - Buffalo Bills (AFL)

1964 - Cleveland Browns (NFL)

1965 - Buffalo Bills (AFL)

1965 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)

1966 - Kansas City Chiefs (AFL)

1966 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)

1967 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)

1968 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)

1969 - New York Jets (AFL)

1970 - Kansas City

1971 - Baltimore Colts

1972 - Dallas Cowboys

1973 - Miami Dolphins

1974 - Miami Dolphins

1975 - Pittsburgh Steelers

1976 - Pittsburgh Steelers

1977 - Oakland Raiders

1978 - Dallas Cowboys

1979 - Pittsburgh Steelers

1980 - Pittsburgh Steelers

1981 - Oakland Raiders

1982 - San Francisco 49ers

1983 - Washington Redskins

1984 - Los Angeles Raiders

1985 - San Francisco 49ers

1986 - Chicago Bears

1987 - New York Giants

1988 - Washington Redskins

1989 - San Francisco 49ers

1990 - San Francisco 49ers

1991 - New York Giants

1992 - Washington Redskins

1993 - Dallas Cowboys

1994 - Dallas Cowboys

1995 - San Francisco 49ers

1996 - Dallas Cowboys

1997 - Green Bay Packers

1998 - Denver Broncos

1999 - Denver Broncos

2000 - St. Louis Rams

2001 - Baltimore Ravens

2002 - New England Patriots

2003 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2004 - New England Patriots

2005 - New England Patriots

2006 - Pittsburgh Steelers

2007 - Indianapolis Colts

2008 - New York Giants

2009- Pittsburgh Steelers

2010 - New Orleans Saints

2011 - Green Bay Packers

2012 - New York Giants

2013 - Baltimore Ravens

2014 - Seattle Seahawks

2015 - New England Patriots

2016 - Denver Broncos

2017 - New England Patriots

2018 - Philadelphia Eagles

2019 - New England Patriots

NCAA College Football

With the start of another NFL season scheduled to kick-off later tonight, I thought it was a fitting time to discuss my appreciation for the sport of football. Perhaps it's the cooler autumn weather or the fast paced physical impact of the game that exhilarates me. Maybe it's the hype, the fans, the tailgates, the stadium atmosphere, the cheerleaders, the rivalries, and the downright intense game play. Football is no doubt a modern day blood-sport, where the physicality of it is what makes it so popular. However it is also a team sport, and requires much more than just brute mindless strength. It requires tactics both from the coaching and the player's execution. The sport has become a bedrock of American culture and society. 

In this post I want to shift my focus away from the behemoth professional sports league that is the NFL, the undisputed greatest league in the world. Instead I want to focus on the roots of the game that comes from the collegiate systems where football first developed back in the late 1800s. 

The first ever football game was played between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869 and the game has ever since evolved. College football has a tradition and culture of it's own and has grown to become a very profitable sports market. While it could be considered a farming 2nd tier to the NFL, there are many fans who prefer the college leagues over the NFL.

How I became a fan of College Football

I myself have become a fan of college football throughout the years for various reasons. First is my enjoyment of the sport of football that first developed in the mid 1990s when I discovered the NFL. I confess as a kid I wasn't too familiar with the college teams and mostly just followed the NFL. But when I went to Indiana University in 2003 I became more familiar with the culture of college football. 

Of course IU is more regarded for it's basketball than it's football program, but I still took it all in. It was all new to me, from the tailgating, the atmosphere, and the Big Ten conference. I began to understand the success of the Big Ten Conference and it's championship caliber schools such as Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. I was proud to be a part of all that, and even though IU wasn't a championship caliber football team they were at least in one of the best conferences in the nation. And so just as I declared myself a Detroit Lions fan when I was a kid, I declared myself an IU Hoosier football fan during my college years, since after all it was my alma matter. (Both teams have continued to disappoint, but I remain loyal and hopeful that some day before I die they will win a title). 

However my appreciation of college football took a much deeper dive after I graduated from IU. I began work as a tech operator for Sportvision and traveled with the ESPN Thursday Night Football Crew in the fall of 2007. In the fall of 2008 I worked with the Mountain West TV crew, and in various years after I worked many Big Ten and other local games. I have worked at over 30 different college stadiums (of which I will detail below), setting up cameras and computers, and operating digital lines during the broadcast. However the beauty of the experience was to witness each of the college atmospheres and how much they enjoyed their football team. I was especially impressed with the southern college atmospheres which everyone knows takes their football very serious. 

College Stadiums I worked at

• Mississippi State 
• Auburn
• Cincinnati Bearcats
• Miami Hurricanes
• Georgia Tech
• Maryland
• Virginia Volunteers
• Virginia Tech
• West Virginia
• San Diego St
• Marshall
• South Carolina Gamecocks
• Rutgers
• Wake Forest
• Boise State
• Arizona
  
• Arizona State
• Michigan State
• Louisville
• Purdue Boilermakers
• Utah Utes
• BYU
• TCU
• Wyoming
• Northern Illinois
• Wisconsin Badgers
• Michigan Wolverines
• Ohio State Buckeyes
• Illinois Fighting Illini
• Ball State Cardinals
• Iowa Hawkeyes
• Western Michigan
• Northwestern

College Stadiums I would like to visit

• Notre Dame
• Washington Huskies
• USC
• Oregon
• Texas Longhorns
• Oklahoma Sooners
• LSU
• Florida Gators
• Alabama
• Tennessee Volunteers
• Penn State
• Clemson- I plan to visit this stadium (home to the 2018 defending champions) this fall with my cousin Marc

College Football vs Professional Football

Now just as I did with my post regarding NCAA basketball, I would now like to compare and contrast some of the major differences I notice between college football and the NFL. I'll be honest I prefer the NFL much more since it is what I have become most familiar with. First there is the obvious difference in player/team quality where stars in the NFL simply throw further, run faster, jump higher, and hit harder than in college which ultimately makes for a more thrilling viewership. It's always best to watch the best play the game, which is why I prefer the European soccer leagues over the American soccer leagues.

However in favor of the college leagues, there is an atmosphere and fan-ship that cannot be overlooked. Iconic football programs such as Notre Dame, U-of-M, USC, Ohio State, and Alabama to name a few have turned their football teams into cult-like status with an undeniable sense of pride. To many college football fans, their team represents a way of life and an embodiment of their local ideals. This idea is especially pertinent in the south where stadium capacities rival that of the NFL. The case being that in college football it's not so much about the money, glamour, and glitz, yet rather more about the team, the university, and the state. 

College Playoff System

My biggest argument against college football however is their playoff system which I don't feel is as adequate as that of the NCAA basketball tournament. For years it was just a regular season and then a series of Bowl games. The national title was the two best teams chosen by an overall ranking. Now there have been recent changes to the playoff format including 4 teams however I think this number needs to be increased to 16. 

The last game of the regular season is generally played around Thanksgiving, and if the Conference Title games are eliminated this format could be played throughout the month of December. This would bring us four weeks of elimination playoff football, and the Championship game could be played around the New Year holiday. This gives the top 16 teams a fair chance at the title which would make the champion much more undisputed in my opinion. And every other team who does not make the playoffs, yet still deserves contention, can still play in their respective bowl games in honor of tradition. This to me would make the college game all the more exciting especially come playoff time. 

College Football Championship History

Year	National Champion	Heisman Trophy
2018	Clemson (AP, CFP)	Kyler Murray
2017	Alabama (AP, CFP)	Baker Mayfield
2016	Clemson (AP, CFP)	Lamar Jackson
2015	Alabama (AP, CFP)	Derrick Henry
2014	Ohio State (AP, CFP)	Marcus Mariota
2013	Florida State (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA)	Jameis Winston
2012	Alabama (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA)	Johnny Manziel
2011	Alabama (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA)	Robert Griffin III
2010	Auburn (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA)	Cam Newton
2009	Alabama (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA)	Mark Ingram
2008	Florida (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA)	Sam Bradford
2007	LSU (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA)	Tim Tebow
2006	Florida (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA)	Troy Smith
2005	Texas (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA)	Reggie Bush
2004	USC (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA-ESPN)	Matt Leinart
2003	LSU (BCS, NFF, USA-ESPN), USC (AP, FWAA)	Jason White
2002	Ohio State (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA-ESPN)	Carson Palmer
2001	Miami (FL) (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA-ESPN)	Eric Crouch
2000	Oklahoma (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA-ESPN)	Chris Weinke
1999	Florida State (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA-ESPN)	Ron Dayne
1998	Tennessee (AP, BCS, FWAA, NFF, USA-ESPN)	Ricky Williams
1997	Michigan (AP, FWAA, NFF), Nebraska (USA-ESPN)	Charles Woodson
1996	Florida (AP, FWAA, NFF, USA-CNN)	Danny Wuerffel
1995	Nebraska (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, USA-CNN)	Eddie George
1994	Nebraska (AP, FWAA, UPI, USA-CNN, USA-NFF)	Rashaan Salaam
1993	Florida State (AP, FWAA, UPI, USA-CNN, USA-NFF)	Charlie Ward
1992	Alabama (AP, FWAA, UPI-NFF, USA-CNN)	Gino Torretta
1991	Washington (FWAA, UPI-NFF, USA-CNN), Miami (FL) (AP)	Desmond Howard
1990	Colorado (AP, FWAA, NFF, USA-CNN), Georgia Tech (UPI)	Ty Detmer
1989	Miami (FL) (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, USA-CNN)	Andre Ware
1988	Notre Dame (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, USA-CNN)	Barry Sanders
1987	Miami (FL) (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, USA-CNN)	Tim Brown
1986	Penn State (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, USA-CNN)	Vinny Testaverde
1985	Oklahoma (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, USA-CNN)	Bo Jackson
1984	Brigham Young (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, USA-CNN)	Doug Flutie
1983	Miami (FL) (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, USA-CNN)	Mike Rozier
1982	Penn State (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI, USA-CNN)	Herschel Walker
1981	Clemson (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Marcus Allen
1980	Georgia (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	George Rogers
1979	Alabama (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Charles White
1978	Alabama (AP, FWAA, NFF), USC (UPI)	Billy Sims
1977	Notre Dame (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Earl Campbell
1976	Pitt (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Tony Dorsett
1975	Oklahoma (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Archie Griffin
1974	USC (FWAA, NFF, UPI), Oklahoma (AP)	Archie Griffin
1973	Notre Dame (AP, FWAA, NFF), Alabama (UPI)	John Cappelletti
1972	USC (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Johnny Rodgers
1971	Nebraska (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Pat Sullivan
1970	Texas (NFF, UPI), Nebraska (AP, FWAA), Ohio State (NFF)	Jim Plunkett
1969	Texas (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Steve Owens
1968	Ohio State (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	O.J. Simpson
1967	USC (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Gary Beban
1966	Notre Dame (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI), Michigan State (NFF)	Steve Spurrier
1965	Michigan State (FWAA, NFF, UPI), Alabama (AP, FWAA)	Mike Garrett
1964	Alabama (AP, UPI), Arkansas (FWAA), Notre Dame (NFF)	John Huarte
1963	Texas (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Roger Staubach
1962	USC (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Terry Baker
1961	Alabama (AP, NFF, UPI), Ohio State (FWAA)	Ernie Davis
1960	Minnesota (AP, NFF, UPI), Ole Miss (FWAA)	Joe Bellino
1959	Syracuse (AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI)	Billy Cannon
1958	LSU (AP, UPI), Iowa (FWAA)	Pete Dawkins
1957	Ohio State (FWAA, UPI), Auburn (AP)	John David Crow
1956	Oklahoma (AP, FWAA, UPI)	Paul Hornung
1955	Oklahoma (AP, FWAA, UPI)	Howard Cassady
1954	UCLA (FWAA, UPI), Ohio State (AP)	Alan Ameche
1953	Maryland (AP, UPI)	Johnny Lattner
1952	Michigan State (AP, UPI)	Billy Vessels
1951	Tennessee (AP, UPI)	Dick Kazmaier
1950	Oklahoma (AP, UPI)	Vic Janowicz
1949	Notre Dame (AP)	Leon Hart
1948	Michigan (AP)	Doak Walker
1947	Notre Dame (AP)	Johnny Lujack
1946	Notre Dame (AP)	Glenn Davis
1945	Army (AP)	Doc Blanchard
1944	Army (AP)	Les Horvath
1943	Notre Dame (AP)	Angelo Bertelli
1942	Ohio State (AP)	Frank Sinkwich
1941	Minnesota (AP)	Bruce Smith
1940	Minnesota (AP)	Tom Harmon
1939	Texas A&M (AP)	Nile Kinnick
1938	Texas Christian (AP)	Davey O'Brien
1937	Pitt (AP)	Clint Frank
1936	Minnesota (AP)	Larry Kelley
1935	Minnesota (HELMS, NCF)	Jay Berwanger
1934	Minnesota (HELMS, NCF)
1933	Michigan (HELMS, NCF)
1932	USC (HELMS, NCF)
1931	USC (HELMS, NCF)
1930	Notre Dame (HELMS, NCF)
1929	Notre Dame (HELMS, NCF)
1928	Georgia Tech (HELMS, NCF)
1927	Illinois (HELMS, NCF)
1926	Alabama (HELMS, NCF), Stanford (HELMS, NCF)
1925	Alabama (HELMS, NCF)
1924	Notre Dame (HELMS, NCF)
1923	Illinois (HELMS, NCF), Michigan (NCF)
1922	Princeton (NCF), California (NCF), Cornell (HELMS)
1921	Cornell (HELMS, NCF)
1920	California (HELMS, NCF)
1919	Harvard (HELMS, NCF), Texas A&M (NCF), Notre Dame (NCF)
1918	Pitt (HELMS, NCF), Michigan (NCF)
1917	Georgia Tech (HELMS, NCF)
1916	Pitt (HELMS, NCF)
1915	Cornell (HELMS, NCF)
1914	Army (HELMS, NCF)
1913	Harvard (HELMS, NCF)
1912	Harvard (HELMS, NCF), Penn State (NCF)
1911	Princeton (HELMS, NCF), Penn State (NCF)
1910	Harvard (HELMS, NCF), Pitt (NCF)
1909	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1908	Pennsylvania (HELMS, NCF), LSU (NCF)
1907	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1906	Princeton (HELMS, NCF)
1905	Chicago (HELMS, NCF)
1904	Pennsylvania (HELMS, NCF), Michigan (NCF)
1903	Princeton (HELMS, NCF), Michigan (NCF)
1902	Michigan (HELMS, NCF)
1901	Michigan (HELMS, NCF)
1900	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1899	Harvard (HELMS, NCF)
1898	Harvard (HELMS, NCF)
1897	Pennsylvania (HELMS, NCF)
1896	Princeton (HELMS, NCF), Lafayette (NCF)
1895	Pennsylvania (HELMS, NCF)
1894	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1893	Princeton (HELMS, NCF)
1892	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1891	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1890	Harvard (HELMS, NCF)
1889	Princeton (HELMS, NCF)
1888	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1887	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1886	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1885	Princeton (HELMS, NCF)
1884	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1883	Yale (HELMS, NCF)
1882	Yale (NCF)
1881	Yale (NCF)
1880	Princeton (NCF), Yale (NCF)
1879	Princeton (NCF)
1878	Princeton (NCF)
1877	Yale (NCF)
1876	Yale (NCF)
1875	Harvard (NCF)
1874	Yale (NCF)
1873	Princeton (NCF)
1872	Princeton (NCF)
1870	Princeton (NCF)
1869	Princeton (NCF)

Championships by School

School	National Titles	Seasons
Princeton	28	1869, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889, 1893, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1906, 1911, 1920, 1922, 1933, 1935, 1950
Yale	27	1872, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1927
Alabama	17	1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017
Michigan	11	1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997
Notre Dame	11	1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988
USC	11	1928, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004
Pittsburgh	9	1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1976
Ohio State	8	1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014
Harvard	7	1890, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919
Minnesota	7	1904, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1960
Oklahoma	7	1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000
Penn	7	1894, 1895, 1897, 1904, 1907e, 1908, 1924
Michigan State	6	1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1966
Tennessee	6	1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, 1998
California	5	1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1937
Cornell	5	1915, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1939
Illinois	5	1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1951
Miami (FL)	5	1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2001
Nebraska	5	1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997
Georgia Tech	4	1917, 1928, 1952, 1990
Iowa	4	1921, 1956, 1958, 1960
Texas	4	1963, 1969, 1970, 2005
Washington	4	1960, 1984, 1990, 1991
Army	3	1944, 1945, 1946
Clemson	3	1981, 2016, 2018
Florida	3	1996, 2006, 2008
Florida State	3	1993, 1999, 2013
Lafayette	3	1896, 1921, 1926
LSU	3	1958, 2003, 2007
Ole Miss	3	1959, 1960, 1962
SMU	3	1935, 1981, 1982
Texas A&M	3	1919, 1927, 1939
Auburn	2	1957, 2010
Chicago	2	1905, 1913
Columbia	2	1875, 1933f
Georgia	2	1942, 1980
Penn State	2	1982, 1986
TCU	2	1935, 1938
Stanford	2	1926, 1940
Arkansas	1	1964
Boston College	1	1940
BYU	1	1984
Centre	1	1919
Colorado	1	1990
Dartmouth	1	1925
Detroit	1	1928
Kentucky	1	1950
Maryland	1	1953
Navy	1	1926
Oklahoma State	1	1945
Rutgers	1	1869
Syracuse	1	1959
UCF	1	2017
UCLA	1	1954