Fallout from Florida State being left out of the College Football Playoff continues to rain down on the selection committee from many fronts. It didn't take long for politicians to weigh in on the matter.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sharply criticized the committee for its decision to leave the undefeated Seminoles out of the four-team playoff. But the governor didn't stop there.
DeSantis, a GOP presidential candidate, announced at a Tuesday news conference he is asking for $1 million in the state's budget to allow Florida State to sue the committee over its decision. The news conference centered on a spending proposal that calls for a $114.4 billion budget. DeSantis even referred to his children and their distress over the Seminoles being snubbed.
"My first grader, my fifth grader and my preschooler ... they are all 'noles and they are big-time fans and they do the tomahawk chop and they were not happy," DeSantis said, according to The Associated Press. "We are going to set aside $1 million and let the chips fall where they may."
It's touching that DeSantis wants to see his kids happy (what good parent wouldn't?), but this goes beyond reason. While it's true DeSantis' recommendation is only a suggestion to the Florida Legislature, the spending proposal also calls for the elimination of more than 1,000 state jobs and cutting the current budget by more than $4.6 billion. The governor spent more time lauding his past achievements and criticizing the selection committee than he did talking specifically about what jobs would be cut.
DeSantis isn't the only Florida politician to speak on the FSU debacle. Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott sent a three-page letter to Boo Corrigan, the chair of the selection committee, demanding answers and asking for detailed information that led to its decision. Former President Donald Trump, whom DeSantis is challenging for the Republican presidential nomination, posted on Truth Social that FSU was "treated very badly" by the committee and added, "really bad lobbying effort ... Let's blame Desanctimonious."
It's one thing to state an opinion, but politicians wishing to allocate money out of a budget or take legal action on a matter outside the realm of national security, foreign policy or other similar issues is a waste of time and resources. It would be months before DeSantis' budget proposal could be voted on, long after the college football national championship has been decided. As emotional as sports can be, it pales in comparison to workers losing their jobs or vital programs and services being cut.
