By: CJ Clayborne
After much reflection the past few days, it has become clear that we are headed for a world where college football is not that fun at all. Yesterday, it was confirmed. The tradition, pageantry and raw emotion are being left behind for the bureaucracy and red tape that has killed most everything else in the American culture. We’re getting a college football playoff.
The crusty old bastards in conference offices across the country have compromised everything good about the sport for the sake of money. The newest “playoff” BCS formula is the latest example of that. What did it cost us? Oklahoma vs. Nebraska, Texas vs. Texas A&M, Colorado vs. Nebraska, Penn State vs. Notre Dame, Kansas vs. Missouri, Arkansas vs. Texas, Texas vs. Texas A&M and many more rivalries that I’ve probably forgotten.
The landacape of college football used to make sense along regional lines, but now West Virginia vs. Kansas State is a conference game. Let that really sink in. FSU vs. Baylor could be a conference game next year. I understand that money makes the world go round, but are these non-profit institutions grounded in ameturism or was that forgotten when Notre Dame signed the good name of football away in the early 1990′s for their TV contract with NBC?
I was all for SEC And Big 12 expansions, little did we know those moves were the tip of the iceberg in a chess game that has left our once sacred game devoid of character. The truth of the matter is why couldn’t powers that be just add one game at the season and hold the first round of the playoffs within the current system? That may be what they have actually have done but there are so many sub alliances (Big 12-SEC) and committees for committees about this process that who knows how it will play out. It is a shame that my 30-year old self wishes for the good ole days like I’m getting a retirement check or something. My advice to NCAA is to get it together for the fans, alumni and especially the student athletes not the cash ….because that’s what is important.
Who is selecting these four teams? Do they have an agenda? Why is there no computer component? Last year the four teams could have been decided three ways.
Top 4 BCS teams(there is no computer component)
1) LSU
2) Alabama
3) Oklahoma State
4) Stanford
Top 4 Conference Champions
1) LSU
2) Oregon
3) Oklahoma State
4) Wisconsin
What happens when the ACC returns to glory? Do you really think Miami and FSU are going to not be elite? They’ll be back. What happens when Notre Dame has a great fluke season? Boise State can easily win the Big East. What if there are six elite conference champions and Notre Dame goes undefeated? The problem wasn’t solved with this playoff system, it was made more complicated. A four team playoff is great…how these four teams are going to selected is not great. Money makes the world go round and the NCAA dictate circles around the fans. There will come a time when a team that is deserving to make the playoff will not be selected because…”their fans don’t travel well”, “they don’t get good ratings”, etc. Who is going to police the selection committee?