Just scholars playing ball

Do you feel the exhilaration? If not, fear not. There’s still time to gin it up before Monday’s college football championship.

The scholar-athletes of the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies will vie for national championship honors. We italicized “scholar” because, of course, college football players are students first and always.

Thank goodness. Because the game will celebrate sportsmanship unsullied by cheating and money.

And that’s exactly as they intended, the coaches, athletic directors, college presidents, conference executives, ESPN glitterati, pushy boosters and giddy bettors. Yes, thank them all, for they sacrifice so much to support the scholars who labor (mostly) without pay.

The game promises thrills. But watch, too, for the companies that lend their names. You’ll see ’em in commercials and on coaches’ headphones, the pre- and post-game shows and more.

They’ll all be there. The makers of trucks, beer and tax-preparation software. The sellers of insurance, chicken, cell services and food delivery.

And just wait! Conference realignment will make next year’s championship even more principled, more pure.

More profitable.

Ahhh. The simple pleasures of scholars playing ball.