BCS Playoff Scenario Part Two!
Written by Nolan Thomas, Saturday May 09 2009
With some of the comments concerning my original article, I felt it necessary to write a follow up in order to further explain why I believe a college playoff system is the best thing for college football.
My whole point was that just because a small school plays other small schools does not necessarily mean they are playing "weaker" opponents in my book. It just means that it is a smaller school. Why is it that small schools are considered weaker opponents?
Because they have a smaller student body, or because they have less money, or because they do not have the majority of top-notch high school athletes attend their schools, or because they do not have the big budgets for their football programs that the so-called big schools have?
I think it is all hogwash! The size of the school or what conference they play in should not matter what so ever. It is what they do on a football field and nothing; absolutely nothing else should matter or even be brought into the equation.
Some of the best pro football players in the history of the game have come from small schools. Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, and LaDainian Tomlinson to name a few.
Excuses aside,
Why is it that
In 2008, there were two undefeated teams prior to the bowl games,
It should not matter how big a school is or what conference they play in. If that team has one of the best records in the country after the regular season, then they deserve the right to play for the National Championship and prove it with a playoff system.
As far as the possibility of
As far as the BCS being designed to get the best teams in the country, I disagree; it was designed to get the richest teams in the country and the ones that have the possibility of making the most money.
As far as December graduations, I am sure any school and student in the country would be willing to wait until after the football season for a graduation ceremony if a National Championship was on the line.
In speaking about only going with eight teams, why would you need more? That is six more teams then only the two that get a chance at the National Championship now. The last thing I want is for it to end up like March Madness. I want fairness, not total madness.
In addition, a system such as this would not eliminate the Bowl system. You could still have all of the other Bowl games. As one commenter stated, they mean nothing as far as the National Championship is concerned anyway, so what is the difference? Play the games, earn your money, and have fun.
Right now, the system favors big schools in big conferences such as the SEC, the Big Ten, the PAC 10 and the ACC, and the one major independent Notre Dame. I think that every school in the NCAA should have a chance at the title game regardless of schedule or conference if in fact they have one of the best overall records in the country.
Besides college football, every sport, both pro and college has a playoff system. In order to win it all you have to play and beat numerous other teams. Why in college football should they only have to play one game to claim the title?
If there were playoffs, in the end, regardless of the size of the school or what conference they play in, the BEST team on the field would win it all. Moreover, that is the way it should be!
Photo Credit: Rhona Wise / Icon SMI
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17 comments
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sorry if i offended you, babe. it was just a little exaggerated comedy....on a serious note, there is nothing more important than college football. absolutely nothing.
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Wow that's pretty scary that you would think that way. Hey were are talking BCS and vs non BCS not whether or not we should be in Iraq. Damn some of you guys scare me. It's not that serious and it's not that deep.
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This comment is separate from other comments on this article, and separate from the article itself. To be honest, my stomach is aching and I could throuw up if I continue reading past the 1st couple of comments.... Anyone who agrees with the BCS or says that a playoff system is not necessary is just above whale's shit on the totem pole of life-that's a fact, not just my opinion. I know all the arguments in favor of the bowl system, and they suck. I have a perfect solution, but I can't share it as I am hoping, like the hypocrites running our colleges, to cash in on it.
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The only thing march madness does is give you 2 days probably at the most of excitement and in the end who usually wins fellows? The big name team from a larger conference and a playoff in football would produce the same.
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I really wish there was a satire section of this site because Bama can't really believe the nonsense she posts. If March Madness has proven anything it's that more often than not the premier programs are the ones that are going to make the Final Four more often than not. George Mason was the exception that proves the rule. In playoff scenarios, the cream rises to the top. You can't fake being good against other good teams. You can fake being good playing weak non-conference schedules or playing in a weak conference (2006 Ohio State I'm looking at you.) If Utah or Boise can withstand playing two of the 5 or 6 best teams in the country in an 8 team playoff then they've earned the right to play for a national title. Let's not forget that before Bowden and Schnellenberger FSU and Miami were major afterthoughts that shaped the history of college football in the 1980s and 90s. Utah has been a very solid program since Urban Meyer was the coach there. They went to Ann Arbor and beat Michigan last year, what more do you want out of them? This might be hard for you to deal with Bama, but they also whipped Alabama's ass. They were one of the best teams in the country last year, no doubt. There is no "perfect" solution. Hell, the Patriots were more deserving of a playoff bid last year than the Super Bowl runner ups, but if you can't recognize that a playoff is a FAR more effective solution than the BCS then you are a damn fool.
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Just for clarification, I went with 8 teams because all of the top 16 teams usually do not have a good enough record to be considered for a national championship. The top 8, when including overall W-L record only and not "strength" of opponents would not only make it fair but interesting and exciting as well.
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i disagree, i think with the overwhelming support of the idea of a playoff system, no matter what the specific format, that everyone has shown a great deal of interest in the idea and very little overall opposition except for you bama. You see it as showing there's a great deal of discontent over the idea, but if you read over all the comments with an unbiased eye you'd see the only real discontent was coming from you. I'm sure if they went with 8 teams, those of us looking for 16 would still be happier than we are now with the system, and the same goes the other way. And yes given the incredible success of March Madness I would trust that the NCAA would do the right thing, and I think others will once again agree with these points.
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I like being out on a limb by myself. If too many people get on my limb, it will break. My main point being there is no perfect situation to solving the BCS. Luke and B-Dub are saying 16 teams should be involved, Nolan says only eight, I say leave it the way it is. There is no "right" solution. You guys think well just get a playoff and everything will fall into place but as this discussion has shown, even if that were to happen nobody seems to agree on how it should be done and if we can't agree, do you trust the NCAA to do the right thing for all teams involved?
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Bama, your example has zero to do with anything we're talking about. Yea people may not want to watch as much when Tiger isn't playing, or when tw3o small schools play a meaningless game. Not as many people watched regular season games that Arizona played this year, but when they played Louisville in the Sweet 16 I guarantee a lot more people tuned in. People love watching the underdog fight to get to the top, it's part of the charm of sports in general, and particularly college sports. People love to watch the top seed go down. A lot of people can probably remember when George Mason made their run a few years back, or Davidson last year-but I bet very few can tell you off the top of their head who won the year George Mason made a run, and in five years or so the same will probably be able to be said about last year-most will recall Davidson's run but very few the title game. The simple fact here Bama, is even just in this forum you're outnumbered 4 to 1, not one single person has posted here saying "bama, you're right, I hate underdogs" or "god I wish the system could be more tilted towards the big schools and bigger conferences". It's amazing, your inability to argue your point. No matter how many people disagree, no matter how many points are made against your side, you just keep repeating yourself over and over. Once again bama, if the two best teams are the best, they shouldn't have any problem working their way through a playoff should they? Although I'm sure you're right, noone else in the country (besides...ya know...everyone who has posted here-I'm sure the people that agree with you are just being very quiet, lol) wants to watch an underdog take down a top seed in a playoff. I was wondering why there was so much noise about changing the current system to a playoff...must be because everyone's happy with the current system...idiot.
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Geez bamababe, typical female, stubborn as hell! I hate to tell you, I disagree with you as well. I have seen a ton of exciting games in the ACC, the BigTen, and even the WAC to name a few. Needless to say the SEC is not the only conference that offers exciting football games. As far as Utah and Florida in the title game, it wouldn't have mattered because Florida would have beaten anybody last year. So congratulations an SEC team won it all, and deservedly so. But I think a playoff system would be great to allow the small schools a chance. If they get beat, then so be it, but I would bet some of them would surprise and beat up on some of the big schools. That is what makes it exciting. OH and I'm not a "yankee" either. I just prefer the ACC and I'm from South Carolina. There are always some great games in the ACC with Miami, West Virgina, Clemson, Boston College, and Florida State to name a few. And I love it when an SEC team loses, especially to a small school or the ACC! :)
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Tedster are you and Luke high? Of course you guys would love it, but the rest of the country wouldn't and I repeat WOUDLN'T want to watch Florida vs Utah for a national championship game. I want to watch the two best teams out there and you are not going to convince me that Utah was close to being Florida's equal. Had Alabama done it's job and whip Utah's ass, you guys wouldn't have a leg to stand on. The ratings wouldn't be high and if people are that interested in seeing the little schools play, then people need to stop watching the SEC game of the week on CBS because the ratings are sky high for those games. I know most of you "Yankees" love to see the SEC go down but I got news for you, If Florida played Utah and or Boise State this past year, they would have gotten killed. As far as the most exciting games that is no gurantee with that either. The most exciting games week end and week out are played in the SEC sorry but it's true. As far as waking up, getting a playoff won't matter because the SEC will dominate that too. It will just shut you guys up for another year until you'll piss and moan about why that isn't fair either.
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I have been reading both of these articles and the comments and I have come to the conclusion that bamababe lives her life with blinders on and is convinced that that everyone in the country agrees with her opinion and obvious bias towards Alabama and the SEC. Wake up girl, I happen to know that there are a lot of people that are sick and tired of seeing the same teams all the time and would relish a national Championship with two small schools. People love the little guys, the Davids out of the Goliaths. Personally, I would love to see the small schools with a chance to whoop up on the big guys and win a title. You mention what CBS and ESPN (total bias network, yet when Appellation State beat Michigan a couple of years ago, in Michigan, to open the season, the country was loving it and it was big news all over every network. All of a sudden the networks were following them every week. Gee I wonder why? That proves your point wrong right there. As Luke said, people love the underdog. I agree with the author that there should be a playoffs system and every school should have a shot. Personally, I think the whole idea scares you because you are afraid to be shown up by a small school. Oh wait, you already were by Utah. And except for you and the rest of the Alabama fans, most of the country loved it. I guess it still hits a nerve huh? Wake up lady and come into the real world! With a playoff system it would be much more exciting, especially if and when a small school kept beating up on the big guys to advance to the title game. The country would love it and the ratings would skyrocket. You are dead wrong bama and your opinions are not worth the paper they are printed on.
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You say that, but let's be honest here. The ratings for any major sporting event are down when popular players,teams or large cities aren't involved. Example is when Tiger Woods didn't play after the U.S. Open, the PGA ratings were down even though players like Phil Mickleson played in most of the PGA events the rest of the year. Do you think the NBA or for that matter the rest of the country want to see Atlanta and Houston play for the NBA Title? NO How good were the ratings last year for Laker/Celtics series. And if the rest of the country wants to see more Boise State and Utah games, then why aren't they on CBS, ESPN and ABC more often? Fox even has a Pac-10 package on their sports cable network. You know why? Because people aren't interested in that. They want to see the Titans of college football play. CBS and ESPN just signed up for several more years of SEC football because they are the best conference and it's what the country wants to see.
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Bama your first sentence is disproved by the rampant popularity of March Madness, and the way almost everyone world wide is enticed to consistently cheer for the underdog. The fact that the March Madness tournaments work so well, and generate so much interest particularly when lower seeded teams make it deep in the tournament makes me wonder if you've ever watched a sports game of any sort given your statement.
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Here is the deal, the system is not suppose to benefit everyone. I'm sorry but me and probably most of the country does not want to see Boise State or Utah fight for a national championship. I want to see LSU/USC or Alabama and Texas or Florida/Oklahoma or Michigan/Florida State. If Boise and Utah want their chance tougher up your schedule. You are not going to convince me that no one in the other BSC conferences will play them. Do what Southern Miss does go on the road and play these teams. It's not fair but that's the system we play in. Southern Miss built up their reputation over the years by going to other schools and playing them. In fact they beat Alabama when Brett Favre was playing at the time. For years Florida State was an unknown til Bobby Bowden got there and they had to take their lumps and go on the road too. But it made them a better program and they got the national recognition they deserved. The WAC or these other smaller conferences can't just fold their arms and say no one will play us therefore we are just going to take our ball and go home. If they want to be a part of the BCS they need to push their way in. No one is going to give it them, they need to earn it like everyone else small school or not. That's why I still say the season is the playoff and if the BCS would make these big teams play each other more often, then you will cut down on the arguments because they will knock each other off and then at the end the best team will come out on top.
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and your last paragraph sums up what I've been trying to say through my many comments on the subject on this site.
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The thing with the strength of schedule that bothers me is it punishes the athletes. I understand it could be taken advantage of, USC could play only lousy teams and end up undefeated, sure it could happen. However ultimately you're punishing the athletes at these smaller schools who didn't make the schedule, and they feel they played strong opponents I'm sure. They didn't make the schedule, they didn't get to take a vote on who they'd play, all they did was go out there, play their hearts out, win every game and go home. They've done absolutely everything you could ask them to do as a fan or coach or school or whatever, and yet despite their own perfection they're not allowed to participate in the title game, or even have a chance to prove they're good enough for that. All I've been saying is, if Utah, Boise State, or whoever goes undefeated or has a great season, they won't be in the national championship right now, but they should have the chance to be there, something they currently don't. A playoff system would likely allow teams such as this to have that opportunity.