Well, he did mention snowstorms in Pullman, but he's touting the local rivalries that usually are inconsequential on a national scale, small teams getting a chance to knock off a big guy, and the pageantry of the game. His position is thin and attempts to play on our love of the game vs. the mean corporate monolith. It is indeed a plea.
"Not everyone has to be Alabama. Not everyone can be Alabama. Not everyone should be Alabama."
One out of three ain't bad.