“We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

So says Illinois Democratic Representative Bobby Rush.

Debatable, at best.

Though I don’t know Rep. Rush personally, making a sweeping generalization, I’ll go so far as to suggest that our elected representatives should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. That is, they should possess the necessary dexterity to multitask on the most basic of levels. Yet, for some members of Congress, based on their past performance, I have serious doubts. Not that I doubt their motor skills as much as I call into question as to their actual eagerness to accomplish two meaningful tasks simultaneously, let alone more than one in the same session.

Although, more important than the quote itself and the source, is the fount from which the quote sprung – a discussion about legislating a playoff system in college football. Our lawmakers, according to an Associated Press story, in a House subcommittee Wednesday approved legislation “aimed at forcing college football to switch to a playoff system.”

As if they don’t have enough to do already, the U.S. House of Representatives is actually discussing the merits of the Bowl Championship Series.

Men and women are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Unemployment hovers around terrifying heights.

Both the national debt and deficit are more than anyone can consider comprehending, and our civil servants have time to debate a playoff system.

What business, what right, what authority, pray tell, does Congress even have meddling with the style or rules of a collegiate sport? I’ll answer. None at all.

For those of you wondering, the bill came out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and only one person on that entire committee seems to understand the ludicrousness of even introducing such a bill. Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga, voiced his displeasure by dissenting with an audible “no” in the meeting. After stressing the fact that he doesn’t like the way that the championship is determined, he panned, “With all due respect, I really think we have more important things to spend our time on.”

Bravo. Thank you, for your sanity and perspective. It is somewhat refreshing.

So, there you have it. When one politician says that some things are more important than football, another smartly retorts that there’s enough time in the day to legislate everything under the sun (i.e., - we can walk and chew gum … ).

Look far and wide and you’ll not find a person who enjoys the game of college football more than I do. You can keep looking and you’ll not find another person who believes that the sport needs a legitimate championship determined on the field and not in the polls, but your search can stop right there because I’m getting off the bandwagon when it pulls up to the Capitol steps.

Congress, please stay away from college football. Stay away from sports all together. Given ample time and liberty, each governing body can and will police their sports within their own communities.

As a college football fan and a proponent of limited government, if I had an audience with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I would most likely tell them just to punt. To leave it alone. I’d like to tell them to just stop walking and go back to chewing gum. In this situation, it would be much more productive.

Michael Andrzejewski can be reached at preacher@mbcportugalmissions.com

Michael Andrzejewski, a former LaGrange pastor, is a missionary and church planter in Portugal. He can be reached at preacher@mbcportugalmissions.com