Apparently reaching the pinnacle of the college football world doesn't mean much to UF President Bernie Machen, who seems to think championships are as commonplace as players like Oklahoma's outspoken Dominique Franks.
As Thursday's BCS National Championship Game looms, the Editorial Board advises you not to make the trip down to Miami - unless of course you don't mind suffering the consequences in the classroom.
Past years have seen a kinder and more sympathetic Bernie advising professors not to punish students for missing class the day after the game as they travel home or recover from celebrating on University Avenue.
With excellence becoming synonymous with UF athletics, Machen has refused to extend a grace of sorts to students as current plans for Friday call for business as usual on campus.
We as students can't help the fact that UF happens to start its spring semester earlier than many other schools - heck, our opponents don't go back to class until Jan. 20.
The Editorial Board isn't expecting a major shift in the academic calendar - just a mutual understanding that we might not be in class on Friday.
Is it too much to ask for the opportunity to enjoy in the success of our team without having to worry about the academic repercussions?
Sharing in the success of the UF football team should unite the administration, staff and students - not cause a divide. We are talking about the first Friday of the first week of school, hardly the week before finals.
It's never too late for a new year's resolution, Bernie.
