SERIOUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUESTIONS
You're a college football fan. And dangit, you want a playoff. And just about everybody that you know does. As does most everyone in the media. But there are still idiots out there (such as this blogger) who want to deny you that joy.
Okay. Do me this favor. Don't send me your 14-paragraph plan for how to institute a college football playoff. Instead, please reply by answering these simple questions.
Before I get to them, a little background on myself. I've covered college football for more than 20 years for just two publications: Sports Illustrated and this site (and loved every minute of it). I attended a (one-time) major college football powerhouse and understand the environment at such schools. I played a varsity club sport (rowing). And I had the same major and the same GPA as Florida State safety Myron Rolle (you'll understand in a bit why I mention that). So here are the questions:
1) Do you understand that the entire feeling of the regular season will be altered with a playoff? You're okay with that, right? If you're a fan of Miami, for example, why would you care any more about Texas Tech-Oklahoma this weekend than, say, Pittsburgh-Cincinnati? Both games are for a berth in the eight-team playoff.
2) Where do you propose we play these national quarterfinals and semi-finals? On campus? Because at a school such as Oklahoma or USC, a playoff game on the weekend before finals is a MAJOR distraction. This isn't D-II. And if you have a major in which grades matter, e.g., pre-med, don't you deserve better than this from your university to whom you probably pay at least a five-figure tuition? I might have ended someone back in my sophomore year if I could not have found a quiet place to study for my Orgo and Bio finals on the weekend leading up to them because my roommate had invited his 17 best friends from home to sleep on our floor for the playoff game.
Or do you play the games on campus during semester break? Or do you play them at a neutral site? And if so, do you think the sport is better-served by having its most meaningful games played at neutral sites (such as the SEC championship game is now) or on campus? To me that's not even close.
3) Do you really think, once the playoff bubble has been popped, that it will remain at eight teams permanently? Have you seen Jim Boeheim of Syracuse politicking for 128 teams in the NCAA hoops tourney? As if having 65 teams is too exclusive and leaves out deserving teams. You know who else will push for expansion? Whichever network has the rights. First it will be an 8-9 play-in game. Then 12 teams. Then 16.
I understand why you want a playoff. The current system is not perfect. Most every year there's going to be a team that has the same number of losses as a BCS championship game entrant that will be excluded.
All I ask, as someone who has to be the equivalent of your mom telling you why you can't have a pet tiger, is, Have you asked yourself the above questions? Do you have satisfactory answers to them? If so, please write and tell me. Again, don't send me your wonderfully ingenious playoff format. Just answer those questions.
You know, I'd hate to be wrong. But worse, I'd hate to be right and ten years from now saying, "I told you so."
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It's kind of hard to answer John's questions without proposing a plan, but I'll do my best to play by the rules. Heck, I won't even ask John my own slanted questions which by their nature will almost force an answer that backs up my position.
1) Do you understand that the entire feeling of the regular season will be altered with a playoff?
Just because something is altered (i.e. 'different') doesn't make it worse. The same (or more) excitement will still exist, just in other areas. Instead of focusing on just one game (ex: TT v OU) there would be greater emphasis on more games to see who would get in. How cool would it be to see Paterno get a 2nd chance to go out a winner if he can beat MSU? What if Michigan & Rich Rod could keep Ohio State out of the playoffs? Could the Ball States, Utahs & Boise States of the world actually make Hoosiers Part Deux? Heck, I'd argue the regular season doesn't even matter that much right now. Teams can win the national title without even winning their own conference title. I don't know any backwards logic that says that is right. Plus, if teams knew 1 loss wouldn't kill them, they might be more inclined to schedule better. I sure don't see how Booster University vs Little Sisters of The Poor makes for a compelling regular season matchup.
2) Where do you propose we play these national quarterfinals and semi-finals?
Does it really matter? Whether they are on campus or neutral will mostly have the same effects. If I accept John's distraction argument it would be because of media hype and general interest not because of where the game is. John discounted the sub FBS schools as irrelevant comparisons, but you could argue those schools and students would be more distracted by their playoffs. FBS schools are used to the big event atmosphere. Don't you think it's a distraction for a school to be on national TV for the first time during finals?
I'd love to say more but John said I could only answer his questions.
I missed question 3...
3) Do you really think, once the playoff bubble has been popped, that it will remain at eight teams permanently?
Who says more than 8 teams is bad? D1 FCS, DII, & DIII are all at 16 teams.
Interesting points Mike.
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