The day after the College Football Playoff committee decided not to include undefeated Florida State in the four teams that made the playoff (but did include one-loss teams Texas and Alabama), former President Donald Trump took to his social media platform to blame Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump said the Seminoles team “was treated very badly by the ‘Committee.’” Then, he said, “Lets blame DeSanctimonious” for the “Really bad lobbying effort.”
A governor shouldn’t have anything to do with whether a football team in his state gets to play for a national championship, but it will be hard for DeSantis to call out Trump’s comment as inappropriate.
A governor shouldn’t have anything to do with whether a football team in his state gets to play for a national championship, but it will be hard for DeSantis to call out Trump’s comment as inappropriate given that he himself has now pledged $1 million for any lawsuit filed that challenges the exclusion of the 13-0 Seminoles from the four final teams.
If you’re counting, DeSantis’ pledge to assist any frivolous lawsuit that arises from what he perceives to be a snub is the same amount he pledged to bolster security at Edward Waters University after a man carried out a racist mass shooting that killed three Black people near the HBCU in August. (DeSantis pledged another $100,000 to help families affected by that tragedy.)
Republican politicians obviously want their constituents to believe that they care about football. As Trump was blaming DeSantis and DeSantis was encouraging litigation, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., was sending a three-page letter to CFP chair Boo Corrigan demanding answers for FSU’s being snubbed. “There are hopes, dreams and billions of dollars in economic activity that hinge on the decisions made by the 13-member group you lead,” Scott wrote. “Given the unprecedented nature of your recent decision, an unprecedented commitment to transparency is required.”
But that’s not the only regrettable mix of football and politics we’ve seen recently. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, during halftime of the annual contest between hated intrastate rivals Clemson and South Carolina, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, to cheers and jeers, brought Trump out onto the field as his honored guest.
Why was Trump there? Simple. A college football game lasts 60 minutes, but campaigning never stops. Trump’s visit to South Carolina — more specifically, McMaster’s inviting him to South Carolina — was the proverbial wiping of the feet on former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s couch. (She’s the South Carolinian candidate for president now that Sen. Tim Scott has dropped out.)
One hopes that while Trump was in Columbia, he saw the digital billboards that were “Sponsored by League of Radical Leftist Vermin — Jay Bender Instigator.” The billboards read: “You lost. You’re guilty. Welcome to Columbia, Donald.” Bender,