LSU and Alabama saw each other nearly month ago and for the two weeks leading up to it, the game was billed as "The Game of the Century". High expectations to live up to, but the game disappointed nonetheless. LSU emerged the victor in overtime in a whopping 9-6 overtime victory that never saw a touchdown. No touchdowns. How's that for the game of the century.
Critics are now maligning the BCS for the scheduled rematch, accusing the game as a letdown. They want to see a good game, not a boring one. Apparently this means more than including the two best teams in college football -which clearly applies to LSU and Alabama.
Others claim that the rematch is fair. Both teams rose to the top of BCS standings, and a rematch isn't the worst thing that could happen. Sure, a rematch is not as exciting as seeing two teams that haven't faced off before, but what's really important is to see the best two teams go at it in the Championship Bowl.
To me, the difference in opinions represents the difference in satisfizers and maximizers. A maximizer looks for the best possible outcome, here represented by a intriguing new and unique matchup, and is disappointed by anything less. A satisfizer accepts something that may be less than maximal, but is tolerant of an option that is guaranteed to please. Here, the rematch represents that option.
The difference in maximizers and satisfizers have been studied extensively in psychology and results have pointed to the fact that satizfizers overall lead happier lives. Instead of constantly searching for the best possible option, they are willing to accept the first one that is acceptable. They move on and don't worry about the better alternatives and instead focus on the positives of what was presented to them.
It is interesting to me that the same critics (the maximizers) are often pushing for the much-talked-about BCS Playoff system in which 8 teams would spar off in a bracket to determine the national champion. This is a way to better guarantee the crowning of the "best" college football team, maximizing the odds.
I say, forget about maximizing. Be appreciative that we have football games at all, and that we are going to get to see the best two teams face each other. The game may be boring, yes, but I would rather see the best two teams go at it, than watch a beat-down in a national championship game. Stop complaining, you maximizers.
