Say What?! Southeastern Conference Bans Broadcast of SEC Football Highlights Online

The Southeastern Conference has banned media outlets from posting football highlights of conference games online. This Fall, web users who want to view video footage of SEC football games can only do so by visiting one website: The SEC Digital Network. The SEC is currently creating the SEC Digital Network, which, once completed, will allow viewers to watch highlights for free. People who want to download video footage, however, will have to pay a fee. The Gainesville Sun (the daily newspaper in Gator-ville) has the scoop.

My Take
If Congress is really interested in possible antitrust violations associated with college football, it should investigate this development -- instead of the BCS bowl structure. The New York Times -- which owns the Gainesville Sun, has threatened to pursue legal remedies. Critics are already saying that the rule will harm independent and alternative media and that it seems unfair for schools that operate with public support to have such a policy. It should be interesting to see how this rule operates in the Youtube and blog communities.

Gators Brutalize Georgia: 49-10!

I truly felt sorry for Georgia fans at one point during the game. Every time the Bulldogs approached or entered the "red zone," Florida took the ball and scored. Georgia became the latest victim of the Gators, who continue to punish Ole Miss indirectly by slaughtering other SEC opponents. Next year, the Gators will probably pulverize Ole Miss on the latter team's home turf.

As a BCS chaser, I also enjoyed watching Texas Tech's thrilling upset victory over the Texas Longhorns. That was quite an amazing game that went down to the final seconds. The Gators, by contrast, outscored Georgia before halftime. Still, seeing all of those touchdowns was really fascinating.

In order to help set up the Gators' next BCS championship showdown, Penn State and Texas Tech need to lose. We will take care of Alabama in the SEC championship game (knock on wood), but maybe LSU will help us out next week. If USC, with its pitiful schedule, ranks higher than UF in the BCS standings at the end of the season, then the BCS will lose the little remaining credibility it currently has.

Go Gators! Florida Routs LSU: 51-21!

If there is one thing about which I am truly partisan, it is Gator football. Having grown up in Gainesville, Florida, I did not have a choice about (1) liking football and (2) loving the Gators. Both were mandatory for good mental health. Although my crusty Ivy League education has changed me in many ways, it has not robbed me of my Florida football spirit. I really like LSU -- when they are not playing UF. Last night, it was all orange and blue.

PS: I know this is a law and politics blog, but I couldn't resist.