The travesty that is the Division II football playoffs begin this weekend.

What a steaming a pile of mastodon dump.

There are three Gulf South Conference schools in the post season. They have all already faced each other this year. So obviously in the playoffs let's not only make them play each other in the first round but lets have them also face off in the second round.

I understand that this how it shook it out and we should have the GSC teams face each other because of their final regional rankings, but I disagree with this so called exact science they use. The second you have a rule like Earned Access you throw out the whole exact science argument and we can just keep adding stipulations to the rules.

This is a sick joke. Not to take anything away from the non-GSC schools in the hunt, but there is no reason for them to face each other and not the two schools who are from the same conference, have similar opponents and have already played each other.

All of you D II fans love to rave about how your level actually plays it out or a championship. As long as the BCS is around you will never have to see two teams play each other twice for a national title. Oregon and Alabama will not get another shot at LSU. Why should these GSC teams have to keep knocking each other off in the first two rounds of the playoffs?

It is so hard to distinguish how good every team is at this level or a variety of reasons. So I understand that this system (as a whole) may work best for now. But the details are terrible.

There are 150 Division II football teams and in the next two weeks three teams will have to play a team they have already played once this year in order to just make the Super Region 2 championship game.

That is wrong. Do something about it.

Now that I have completely crushed my own soap box jumping up and down like a child lets quickly recap one of the most remarkable weeks in Gulf South Conference history.

West Georgia not only knocked off number one ranked Delta State last week but the win also allowed them to not finish in last place for the first time in forever.

Emmanuel Taylor ran for 97 yards, threw for 258 and had four total touchdowns. That is the type of day we expected from him more often this year. If he is back at UWG next year this team will be in the hunt once again to knock off some big dogs.

Congratulations to Darryl Dickey on a turnaround complete. Welcome to legitimacy.

Valdosta State finished the year with three of the most heart wrenching fourth quarters I can remember witnessing. I said all along they were a year away. They played above their maturity early in the year and even when things went wrong were still in every game. Next year could be huge for them.

David Dean should not be fired and I am confident without having any confirmation from sources, that he will not be fired. The talk of that is more ridiculous than the current vampire obsession sweeping the world. If he was let go he would be unemployed for all of a few hours. He has the pieces in place for another title run.

Delta State finally got burnt playing with fire. I have only been saying it since opening week that it would happen eventually. The week I finally say it won't happen, it does and to the most unlikely of opponents. I think this is just what the doctor ordered. The Statesmen found out they are mortal, like Ivan Drago when he got cut. Except now the more talented fighter will release the demons on everybody in it's path.

This week we begin this stupid ass path to the Super Region 2 Championship with a rematch from three weeks ago. So obviously since then these have become two totally different teams lets give you some new information on how much has changed since then...not.

Saturday 1 pm EST North Alabama at West Alabama

My big, bold, daring prediction last week was that West Alabama would reach the region championship game. When I said that, I didn't know they would have to face two teams they've already played in the last month alone.

I know recently there has been success in GSC teams sweeping each other for the year but overall it's incredibly tough to do.

Kyle Caldwell has been a God send under center for UWA but for him to beat this UNA defense twice in a year, it's going to take a lot. The offense may revolve around running back Matt Willis, who should have been GSC Offensive Player of the Year by the way, but Caldwell will still have to make big plays here and there because this Lion defense is capable of taking away your best feature.

Starting a true freshman in the playoffs verse talent like this is scary. If Willis doesn't go for 120 plus I wouldn't bet on Caldwell carrying UWA to a win. That is asking a lot from a young up and comer and pretty unfair as well.

I haven't loved the Lion offense this year. It's not that they're not good, it's that they could be so much better. They lack the explosion I was expecting. Could they just be saving it for the playoffs? This match up doesn't bode well for them to score on big plays though. It will take a lot of ground and pound to get to the endzone.

UWA's veteran defense should keep Lee Chapple from torching them through the air. The concern is what can Wes Holland and Antwan Ivey do against this defense?

Deon Lacey and Gabe Poe cover more ground sideline to sideline than any other line backer tandem in the GSC. They can run with anybody and do not miss tackles. Ivey and Holland are as necessary to UNA's success this week as Lacey and Poe are to UWA's.

That is your key match up to watch. UNA's running backs against UWA's linebackers. Winner of that wins this week and advances to face DSU for a second time this year.

Everything in this match up points to a low scoring game and the winner of the possession clock also winning the game.

Do you take the tandem of Holland and Ivey for fresher legs? Or the stud single back in Willis.
Everything in my heart says it's too tough of a task to beat a GSC team twice in one year.

But I've abused that thing with fried food for song long it's probably no good anyway.

Prediction: UWA over UNA 17-14