First, I’ve watched with amazement for years about the controversy centered on the selection process for the BCS Championship Game. It’s done through a formula involving several computer ratings and polls. The sole purpose of the system is to find the country’s best two teams and have them play for the championship.

While TV and radio talking heads and newspaper columnists have tried to knock holes in the system, it has worked essentially every year. The lone possible exception was in 2004 when Auburn, USC and Oklahoma were all undefeated. Auburn was the team left out. But it has worked every other year, including this year. Notre Dame and Alabama are the two most deserving teams.

A move to a four-team playoff beginning in 2014 will be more controversial. The sports talk shows and sports columnists will tell us one or more or the teams left out are more deserving than teams that made it.

The truth is, the more teams involved in the playoff computes into more controversy. There are 65 teams in the NCAA basketball tournament, and the top story during the first week of the tournament is about those left out.

Until a true playoff system is developed for college football, the current system is the best possible solution. The problem is some of the big conferences that are no longer competitive want a slice of the money pie. That’s why you will see a playoff system that will expand through the years.

On the other matter, the Georgia-Alabama SEC Championship game last week was filled with examples of why athletic competition is perhaps the best teaching tool for children who need to learn about dealing with life’s challenges.

Both teams faced adversity throughout the game. They were down and almost out several times, but they kept going. They picked themselves up and fought through the challenges.

They leaned on their teammates and stayed focused on what they wanted to achieve.

We’ve heard all those things before, but one lesson taught last week should be remembered. When you are committed to a cause and to your teammate or family, you keep pushing even when you are hurting.

Delivering when people count on you surely leaves a good taste in your mouth.

Yes, there is much to learn from these games that some despise.