By BRAD SENKIW
Scripps Howard News Service
May 11, 2008

- Now that spring football is over, playoff talk is over and the long wait for a new season has begun, it's time to take shots at the issues of college football.

There are less than 16 weeks between now and the season opener for most teams on the weekend of Aug. 30.

And, even most of the media are very big college football fans and must suffer the nearly four-month drought with everyone else, without practices or games to write about.

Around here though, it's a little early to start asking about Clemson's offensive line or South Carolina's strange quarterback situation. I'll save that for another time.

Let's face it, as wonderful as college football is, there are plaguing issues that could always use some fine-tuning:

-- There is a discipline problem across the nation.

I'm sure that isn't going to make you spit up any coffee. And dealing with players getting in trouble is nothing new.

But, after seeing how many times Ryan Perrilloux was disciplined at LSU, it shows no talent or school is immune. We tend to localize problems at South Carolina and Clemson, making a big deal out of Stephen Garcia and Cortney Vincent. But, trouble happens everywhere, from Tennessee to Florida State.

I've always believed in second chances. Humans make mistakes.

But, coaches have been prone recently to give third, fourth and sometimes many more chances because a guy like Perrilloux can lead to a national title, the only goal besides making money. Cutting the cord on troubled players early could send a clearer message to others.

-- There are now 34 bowls.

With the addition of 2008 bowl games in Washington, D.C., and St. Petersburg, Fla., 57 percent of Football Bowl Subdivision teams will compete in the postseason. What is this, little league? Do the fans need to start bringing snacks for players after the game, and can we all go to the team banquet at Pizza Hut?

I understand it's all about money. But, that means there are two more times I'll have to turn the channel from No. 3 WAC team vs. the ninth-best ACC team to reruns of the World Series of Poker.

For once, put the mighty dollar to the side, and quit telling us it's exciting to watch a pair of .500 teams.

-- Players need more time off.

It's hard to argue that college football is a 365-day business. "Student-athletes" are asked to go through fall practice, spring practice, a 12-game schedule, weeks of bowl preparation, winter workouts, summer workouts and, oh, class.

The only time they aren't involved? Right now. Most players get the end of April and most of May off before reporting for "summer school." It's really just a semi-laid back boot camp with a few hours of classes mixed in.

And we wonder why injuries are so severe and prevalent. The speed and size of players is greater than it was 20 years ago. But, these guys aren't professionals. And their bodies aren't healing.