[NU Sports] Playoff time!

[Arthur Miller]

I agree that we should keep the bowl system, but reluctantly have come to
believe a four-team playoff system would be workable.  Take the top 4 BCS
teams, seeded according to their place in the BCS standings, then add hold
the BCS Championship two weeks after the BCS bowl games.  It would only add
one additional postseason game, and would still maintain the importance of
regular-season games.  To me, an 8- or 16-team playoff would be ludicrous.

Sure, undefeated teams like Boise State would still be caught on the outside
looking in, but this should not concern us.  Frankly, I think Division I-A
is too crowded as it is (119 teams now...sheez) and would prefer to see the
BCS conferences split apart from the rest of I-A and form their own football
division.  With only a handful of exceptions, the BCS conferences largely
consist of the oldest football programs with the largest fan bases and TV
audiences...it is only right that we keep the revenue.

Art Miller



-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of cherron604 at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2006 1:54 PM
To: tbng at comcast.net; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Playoff time!

Keep the bowls.  I am envious that Northern Illinois gets a trip to San
Diego, and we're staying home.  I remember that last year's trip to El Paso
was fun, and it was an important event (as well as a great party) for El
Paso.  Talking to alot of the locals convinced me that bowl games mean alot
to them locally.
 
Keep the present method, perhaps tweaking it a bit here and there.
Controversy, chaos, injustice and skullduggery have always been part of the
Football National Championship scene, and should remain there.  A sterile
8-team playoff might be fairer, but this feels like more fun (to me as an
observer).
 
A fast start next year will be critical - three non-conference games, all
three at home (not sure any of the 3 will draw more than a scattering of
fans).  We have to beat Northeastern, Nevada and Duke on the first 3
Saturdays of September, especially with a road date in Columbus and a
Michigan home game to follow.  
 
Chuck Herron  Tech '85