Here we go again (BCS Playoff)

[Nick Douglas]

Maybe I should post this in politics/religion since it tends to start arguments.

Tuberville is the latest coach to sound off and it's getting me worried that they are going to start pushing for a college football playoff again.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2612789

First of all, before anyone from the Big XII, SEC or ACC starts saying that a playoff would give their teams a better shot at the strap, they need to ditch their own conference championship games. Those things are worthless and they often rob us of good bowl matchups.

More importantly, Tuberville is being a selfish jerk and not thinking of the alumni that help keep his program strong. Alumni who attend bowl games (like myself) generally want to keep the current system so that we can plan our December/January travel around the team.

A playoff would completely ruin the special place that college football holds for traveling alumni. And for what? For bitter coaches, bettors and sports columnists? Do we really want to make it like basketball where nobody cares two years later who made it through the mess in March?

College football is great especially for the fact that it rewards season-long excellence above a lucky short-term run. Until the day I die I'll remember that OU was the best team in 1986, that the 'Canes ruled '88, that Ohio State were the real 1996 champs and that USC was tops in '02 (and those are just a few examples).

If you're an alumni who regularly attends your school's games, I hope you're with me on this one. We need to make it clear that we like the one-game postseason and that a playoff would make college football just another team sport.

 

[IntenseOperator]

Maybe I should post this in politics/religion since it tends to start arguments.

not a Nick Douglas thread

 

[Blackman]

More importantly, Tuberville is being a selfish jerk and not thinking of the alumni that help keep his program strong. Alumni who attend bowl games (like myself) generally want to keep the current system so that we can plan our December/January travel around the team.

.

He's thinking about the well being of his team, you are worried about your own travel plans...and he's the selfish jerk?

 

[dawgball]

There is always going to be muddy waters.

I use to absolutely think that a playoff system was best. I'm still not convinced that it isn't, but I think what would really make immediate steps for vast improvement is not releasing polls that matter until Week 4.

Auburn has a legitimate complaint here, Nick. It happened to them a few years back as well. If they, USC, and Ohio State win out - they will, once again, be on the outside looking in. That simply isn't fair. And this isn't life. It's football. This should be fair for all teams (especially those of the major conference -- opening a whole new discussion).

I think if you do away with pre-season polls (that count towards BCS rankings) and start the official rankings after Week 4, there are two outcomes.

1. Who gives a shit about last year? National Champs should not be #1 until they get beat. New year, New season, New team, New rank.

2. Harder schedules -- If a team knows that they are going to be ranked on their first four games, and that SOS is a big part of the ranking, then I think teams will be more proactive in scheduling more respectable teams.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Sun Tzu]

Obviously when your team is in a crappy conference (as the Pac 10 and Big 12 are right now) you dont want a playoff because you can cruise throught the season. Auburn Florida etc might lose in the SEC, but if they were in the Big 12 or pac 10 there (in most years) would not be much concern. The ability for them to win a title is based on what conference they are in rather than if they are deserving. Iif our goal is to have the best team win the title, a playoff makes sense. If we want better out of conference games, a playoff makes sense. If we just want the Texas/OU winner and USC to be the only teams with a chance keep it the way it is.

 

[wareagle]

NIck is disagree with you on just about every point...

the playoff is the only way to go...think of it like the ncaa tourney in march. a few things need to happen first. every conference needs a championship game. it's not fair for sec, acc ect.. to have to play this game when you have the pac 10 and big ten not doing it. so you take the champ from each conf. 12 teams make the playoff. the only reason the bowls are there is $$$...nobody gives a shit about the flowers.com bowl between nevada reno and texas tech unless they have a wager on the game. now if you had rd 1 matchups of all conf winners IMO it would be a meaningful game. the bowls dont mean dick except for the national champ game.

 

[taoist]

I agree with Wareagle...except I would take it one step further.... Expand it to 16 teams and have 4 at large bids.... That way if one of the major conferences has a team that only lost one game (the champ game), they would still have a chance to get into the playoffs.... Likewise for Notre Dame.... Either join the Big 10 or take your chances that you may or may not get an at large bid....

16 teams over 5 weeks.... Throw out a OCC game each year and begin the first round of the playoffs the first weekend in december.... NC game at or around New years.... Seems perfectly reasonable to me.... :shrug:

 

[Phenom]

Maybe I should post this in politics/religion since it tends to start arguments.

Tuberville is the latest coach to sound off and it's getting me worried that they are going to start pushing for a college football playoff again.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2612789

First of all, before anyone from the Big XII, SEC or ACC starts saying that a playoff would give their teams a better shot at the strap, they need to ditch their own conference championship games. Those things are worthless and they often rob us of good bowl matchups.

More importantly, Tuberville is being a selfish jerk and not thinking of the alumni that help keep his program strong. Alumni who attend bowl games (like myself) generally want to keep the current system so that we can plan our December/January travel around the team.

A playoff would completely ruin the special place that college football holds for traveling alumni. And for what? For bitter coaches, bettors and sports columnists? Do we really want to make it like basketball where nobody cares two years later who made it through the mess in March?

College football is great especially for the fact that it rewards season-long excellence above a lucky short-term run. Until the day I die I'll remember that OU was the best team in 1986, that the 'Canes ruled '88, that Ohio State were the real 1996 champs and that USC was tops in '02 (and those are just a few examples).

If you're an alumni who regularly attends your school's games, I hope you're with me on this one. We need to make it clear that we like the one-game postseason and that a playoff would make college football just another team sport.

Totally disagree with you on everything and I go to many college games each year...

 

[Wineguy]

Wow, you must be an important alumni. Maybe you just aren't used to USC ever being in the "March Mess". My school has a tremendous alumni following for college basketball and don't need to "plan" for their winter travel. If they love the team, they just GO! As do other Alums of other college basketball schools. Just my 2 cents.

 

[smurphy]

How hard would it be to add 1 frickin game? Have #4 play #1, 2 vs 3, then winner vs winner. It would solve 90% of the BCS garbage.

 

[The Big Tease]

I think this clown just comes in here from time to time to get people talking about how ridiculous his ideas are.......either that, or this guy is just plain deficient.

 

[vinnie]

Obviously when your team is in a crappy conference (as the Pac 10 and Big 12 are right now) you dont want a playoff because you can cruise throught the season. Auburn Florida etc might lose in the SEC, but if they were in the Big 12 or pac 10 there (in most years) would not be much concern. The ability for them to win a title is based on what conference they are in rather than if they are deserving. Iif our goal is to have the best team win the title, a playoff makes sense. If we want better out of conference games, a playoff makes sense. If we just want the Texas/OU winner and USC to be the only teams with a chance keep it the way it is.

this about raps it up

 

[Nick Douglas]

Phenom,

You mentioned you go to many games, but are you an alumni of Auburn (or another BCS school)?

Others,

Any arguments about fan interest are hogwash. Even Tuberville knows that. When you add up all the bowls you get way more money than if you had a playoff. That'll be my only response to those arguments.

College basketball travel analogies are also irrelevant. They seat 10,000/game in the early rounds of the March Mess. Many bowl games seat over 60,000 every year.

The weak conference argument doesn't hold water, either. Teams in strong conferences tend to play patsies so it ends up evening out. Check out Auburn's non-conference schedule: WSU, Ark St., Tulane and Buffalo. That's almost as bad as their non-conference schedule the year they finished 2nd. If they really wanted a shot at the strap they'd play somebody.

Lastly, to the point of Tuberville, "thinking about the well being of his team," that made me laugh out loud. Rip the worthless SEC championship game (played at or near semester exam time for many schools) if you are concerned about the well-being of your team. Don't tell me your team needs to play more games in January.

 

[smurphy]

When you add up all the bowls you get way more money than if you had a playoff. .

How can you possibly know this? Have you glimped into a prallel universe where they have a playoff system and seen that it doesn't generate much money?

Playoffs would be a goldmine for pretty much everyone.

 

[Blackman]

Lastly, to the point of Tuberville, "thinking about the well being of his team," that made me laugh out loud. Rip the worthless SEC championship game (played at or near semester exam time for many schools) if you are concerned about the well-being of your team. Don't tell me your team needs to play more games in January.

Thanks for spinning my words, a strength of yours.

I meant the well being of his team on the field, and their pursuit of a National title. It's Auburn, not Harvard, who is kidding who about academic priorities.

But you are right, he should be keeping the account majors from ten years ago in mind and not the players on his team when he decides what is best for his program.

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Good post, Nick!

Alumni are the only ones that should be allowed in any of the stadia. It's only right. And a playoff would only allow upsets to happen, and where's the fun in that?

 

[3 Seconds]

Is this jackass related to Scott4USC??

I see many of the same 'spin' tactics being used & a whole bunch of arrogance.

Here we go again...:com:

 

[redsfann]

this is so easy i can't even take a shot at the mental midget that is Nick Douglas....

I'm going to attend 11 of the 12 Iowa Hawkeye games this season( skipped that roadie to Syracuse..and if you have ever been to Syracuse, you'll know why I didn't make that trip..lol)


there is absolutly NO reason at all that there is not a national championship playoff system in college football, except to placate numbnuts like Nick Douglas.


Under the current system, there is exactly NO chance that Iowa could win the national title--but put us(Iowa) in a playoff...

 

[Wineguy]

this is so easy i can't even take a shot at the mental midget that is Nick Douglas....



Now, that is classic. Nicky, who made your opinion the ONLY opinion? No wonder Beantown always refers to your idiotness , I just never really paid attention to who you were. Your comments about attendance comparing basketball and football are ludicrous. :shrug:

 

[SixFive]

I don't attend any college football games for several reasons.

1) I have better things to do on weekends such as kill/maim innocent animals

2) They cost a lot of money, and i'm thrifty.

3) I can watch on tv if I want.

4) I have no rooting interest or big program around here (I hate UofL as a fan, and that's it in this area). Maybe I would feel differently if UK wasn't always in the best conference as the weak sister; I'm not sure...

I would, however, really enjoy a playoff; probably not as much as March Madness, but it would be close to it. I'm sure the kids who play also wouldn't argue with this. Doubt we would hear many, "Man, we made the playoffs so we have another possible 5 games to play. That sucks ass!"

We might even get a #14 vs. #2 on the Boise State Smurf field in a blizzard! Wouldn't that be cool?? Just think of all the cool games these normally chitty bowls would get.

Nick, you are right about one thing. The alumni do a hell of a lot for these big programs. How else could these kids be making all this money at summer jobs and driving these nice cars? $100 handshakes are also very nice.