The idea that an unbeaten team like Utah -- or Boise State or Ball State or Wyoming or (insert school here) -- is not allowed a legitimate chance to compete for a national championship is absurd. It's one of the better arguments that playoff proponents have in their arsenal.

Of course, now that the Utes have been ranked No. 2 in the country, the counter-argument from some circles -- that Utah is inferior to USC and Texas and would not have gone unbeaten in a "power" conference -- also holds merit. Fans can -- and certainly will -- debate this issue through spring practice all the way until the opening kickoff of next season.

But, it isn't going to help.

At the risk of sounding crass, the system sucks. It has sucked for awhile. No matter how much anyone whines, it's going to keep on sucking.

Utah just enjoyed an incredible season punctuated by a stirring victory over one of the marquee programs in the country. By focusing on whining, which isn't going to do any good, Utes fans may be missing out on the fun.

I visited Utah a few years back. It's an absolutely beautiful state. The residents I came across were engaging, energetic and -- by and large -- quite attractive.

My advice to Utah fans is simple. Go viral. If you think you're the best football team in the nation, go ahead and act like it. Enjoy the parade. Print up a bunch of T-shirts with your record and the fact that you're really No. 1.

Who cares what pollstars or edu-crats or writers think? Enjoy your success and enjoy the off-season. Watch the 75 hours of coverage of the NFL Draft. Worry about the recruiting class, or the chance that your coach will leave.

Just stop whining. It might make you feel better. But, it's already tiresome for the rest of us. And, sadly, it isn't going to change anything.

Hell's Bells: After enduring the Eric Gagne Experience last season, many Brewers fans are leery about the team's signing of veteran closer Trevor Hoffman. That's understandable, but this was another low-risk, high-reward move that general manager Doug Melvin has pulled before.

Was anyone thrilled when Melvin acquired Dan Kolb, Brian Shouse or Francisco Cordero? They, among others, turned out to be serviceable pitchers. Given his status in the game, Hoffman comes in with more hype and higher expectations. But, he probably has a better chance of having a positive impact, too.

Bottom line: the Brewers needed a closer and they signed the best guy available at the time -- a guy also happens to hold the major-league record for saves.

Larry King Lounge: It's hard to blame Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill for leaving early and declaring for the NFL Draft. The guy probably wasn't going to improve his draft position as a senior and could have hampered it with a subpar performance or injury.

• If college football fans applied their logic to hoops, this would be the result: Boston College beat No. 1 North Carolina. Harvard beat Boston College. Therefore, Harvard should be ranked No. 1.
• The notion that Prince Fielder will someday sign a multi-year contract extension with the Brewers is a long shot, but it's going to get longer when Fielder and Scott Boras sit in a room and listen to club officials point out his statistical shortcomings and weight issues.
• If Jim Powell bolts for Atlanta, and it doesn't sound like the Brewers or WTMJ are doing much to prevent such an occurrence, an interesting dilemma will arise. In the past, the club has experienced great success with young, relatively inexperienced and cheap hires like Matt Vasgersian, Powell, Daron Sutton and Brian Anderson. Since Powell is a WTMJ employee, and Journal Company stock is in the dumper, it's likely that they'd like to go to cheap again. The problem with that plan is that Powell's replacement likely will slide into the No. 1 chair when and if Bob Uecker retires. The Brewers have a decent track record with announcers, but this will be a hire to watch.
• Speaking of the Brewers, the all-encompassing sponsorship deal with Potawatomi is a sign of the times. The Diamondbacks (Gila River) and Padres (Sycuan) have had casino partners in the past and other teams will follow suit if the right offer arises.