College football: To boo or not to boo? Chris Dufresne hears from readers

Question: I agree that you should never boo a college athlete but people are sometimes pretty ignorant.

I was at the game and heard the boos around me and those close by. I asked if they were booing Prince. The answer was 100% no. They were booing the decision to put Prince in the game. We are starving for success at UCLA and want to see if the freshman kid Hundley just might be the answer.

Did you ask the people booing if they were indeed booing Prince?

Robert Lorenzi

Answer: No more than you asked everyone in attendance — although that might be possible at UCLA home games this year.

But do you think Kevin Prince, when he trotted on the field, knew people weren’t booing him but were actually booing because he wasn’t Brett Hundley?

And isn’t that the same thing as booing Prince?

Also, from what I hear, Hundley isn’t quite ready yet to lead UCLA’s offense. No one at UCLA wants to play Hundley unless it’s absolutely necessary. Hundley doesn’t want to burn his redshirt year six games into his first season.

Prince was the no-brainer call to replace Richard Brehaut in that emergency situation. He proved it by leading UCLA to victory, right?

Q: Hey Chris DUHfresne, I am booing your article. It belongs in a high school newspaper. Are you going to be OK?

Trojanh8ter

A: You are so busy hating Trojans you missed the point. I’m a professional writer. I get paid. You can boo me until the cows come home or UCLA plays in a Bowl Championship Series game. Right now, put your money on the cows.

Q: So you’re saying college players aren’t pros?

Michael Murphy

A: No. In fact, the NCAA just ruled no one could prove Cam Newton received any money for leading Auburn to last year’s national title.

The NCAA did determine Cam’s dad tried to sell his son’s services for $180,000, but couldn’t connect any dots back to Auburn or Cam.

So that pretty much settles it. You are not a pro player if the NCAA can’t prove you are.

Q: When is it OK to boo at a college football game? When the officials make an incorrect call.

Lois Eisenberg

A: This happens so often in the Pacific 12 Conference, some fans have hired “booers’ to fill their seats when they leave to get a hot dog or use the restroom.

Q: I was at that UCLA game, Chris, and, yes, there was a lot of booing when Kevin entered the game. There were also a lot of folks who told the “booers” to shut it, give the guy a chance and let’s see what he can do. So not everyone was booing and those who did were quickly silenced by Kevin’s actions on the field.

Bart Bogy

Whittier

A: Bart, those who did not boo and told others to refrain should be commended. Unfortunately, as part of the crowd, the actions of a few sometimes implicate all. Maybe those who told others not to boo should have cheered Prince instead to balance things out?

Q: I am perplexed by your inclusion of USC in your ranking of the top 25 football programs in the country…What gives?

Bill Ackerman

A: I have only ranked USC’s offense the last two weeks. After Thursday’s defensive performance against Cal, however, it may be time for a rankings marriage ceremony.

Q: Why is Mizzou/SEC dragging out so long?

Larry Nielson

A: My best guess is they’re trying to get better “Nielsen ratings.”

Q: What’s with this constant bashing of LSU? Did someone from LSU steal food out your mouth? Did someone from LSU beat you up when you were a kid?

I suspect your bitterness goes back to LSU winning the BCS trophy in 2003, the year USC was shut out of the championship game. Chris, it’s time to let it go.

Roger A. Bowers

Whittier

A: I don’t talk about this often. But, yes, when I was a child, a bully from school used to hit me every day with a red stick. I found out later that Baton Rouge, in French, means “red stick.” This traumatized me into adulthood and I have been unable to say anything nice about LSU.

Thanks for bringing that up.

Q: You wrote the annual “What happens if there are X number of undefeated teams? Shouldn’t you wait until at least the first BCS standings are released?

Gerry Swider

A: Gerry, have you ever seen that “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy can’t keep up with items on the assembly-line conveyor belt?

Welcome to my world. I’ve got space to fill, pal, daily deadlines to meet. Every story I file comes with the addendum: “Great. What do you have tomorrow?”

I don’t have time to wait for things to happen before I weigh in. Writing about the BCS has always been my “rainy-day” fund for a column.

Since 1998, it’s been the gift that keeps on giving!

Q: When’s the last time a Florida school was not ranked in the AP top 25?

Real Sports Dawgz

A: It was sometime between 1513 and 1981, the era that bridged Ponce de Leon and Bobby Bowden.

Q: Why can’t a decent conference want us? If people would actually have an open mind, Boise State has a lot to offer.

@murphgal1991 Linda

A: I know, I know. The problem is conferences have different reasons for inviting schools and not all of them are related to top-flight football. Boise State’s history as a junior college and so-so academic reputation is certainly a factor. Another problem is Boise does not add much “footprint” value.

The SEC liked the idea of adding Texas A&M because it gets the conference into the state of Texas.

Boise State football is certainly worthy of major conference status, but there are other factors.

And so long as you’re stuck there, the Mountain West is a “decent” conference.

Q: Can KU go independent in football in the future?

Mike Solomon

A: Mike, my big fear is that Kansas will split apart Saturday against Oklahoma.

Q: Love your column. But will you PLEASE start giving Michigan some respect? Thanks.

Chris Pentzell

A: Chris, I have a respect appointment scheduled with Michigan for Saturday morning. That’s when the Wolverines play at Michigan State. Michigan has done a great job so far this year, but its first FIVE games were at home and its only “road” game so far was last week’s puddle-jumper across Lake Michigan to Northwestern.

Q: OK, hypothetically speaking let’s say that we have more than three undefeated teams at the end of the season:

--One from the SEC (Alabama or LSU)

--One from the Big Ten (Wisconsin or Michigan)

--One from the Big 12 (Oklahoma)

--One from the Pac-12 (Stanford)

--One from the ACC (Clemson)

All of these are possibilities. Which two teams should play for the BCS championship?

Mr. Vega

A: Some years that would be tough to answer… but not this year. And you forgot to include possible undefeated “non-AQ” schools Boise State and Houston.

In your scenario, the Alabama/LSU winner will play Oklahoma for the BCS title in New Orleans. I can’t see where there would be any debate on this.

The other BCS bowls would also be thrilled because the Rose would get undefeated Stanford vs. Wisconsin or Michigan. The Alabama/LSU loser, likely still a top-five team, drops to the Sugar Bowl to play… how about undefeated Boise State?

Clemson is bound to the Orange Bowl, possibly against a one-loss West Virginia.

The Fiesta Bowl could take the Big 12 runner-up, let’s say one-loss Texas, and match the Longhorns against Michigan.

That’s a pretty strong lineup and the bowls’ biggest argument against a playoff.

chris.dufresne@latimes.com

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