[NU Sports] BCS

[Jonathan Hodges]

IMHO the best alternative to the current system is the Plus-One 4-team
playoff model that has been thrown around (and rejected by the BCS
commissioners just a few years back when ABC proposed it).  The biggest
issue that I have with the current system is how a BCS-conference team can
go undefeated and be locked out of the national championship (i.e. Auburn
2004); although it doesn't happen very often it is indeed possible.  So,
since there are rarely more than 4 undefeated BCS-conference teams, a 4 team
playoff would be the best solution.  It would keep the current bowl system
and even schedule intact (the national championship game is 1 week after the
rest of the BCS bowls) and the regular season would carry the same, if not
more weight.  My argument is that since the top 4 teams get in, teams with 1
loss would have a good shot, and that would encourage teams to schedule more
difficult non-conference opponents - strength of schedule would play a
bigger factor (currently, Alabama's strength of schedule isn't that great,
yet they are a shoo-in to the national title game).

And for those who want to ditch the bowl system, just look at NU in 2008 -
already a successful season with 8 wins, but there is no way the 'Cats are
in the top 16 nationally, so they would be locked out of any type of
playoffs.  And even if bowls remained along with the playoffs, they would be
no more than an afterthought for TV viewers or even most fans, so they would
wither away rather quickly.

But, no matter what anyone thinks, it's all about money.  Just look at ESPN
forking over $500 million for 3 of the BCS games + the national championship
for 4 years - about a 50% increase from the current Fox deal.  As long as
money like that is on the table AND the BCS-conference commissioners get to
retain their power (those 6 basically control the sport of college football
and all of the money that goes with it), then nothing is going to change.
The only chances of a change are: the NCAA stepping in (not likely since
they bow to the college presidents, who won't let it happen), the government
stepping in (not likely since it's not their jurisdiction), or a huge issue
that creates a large public outcry (also not likely since there are always
arguments either way when someone gets left out).

Jonathan

On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 1:38 AM, <Martinitis at aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> In a message dated 11/17/2008 10:58:41 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> sjtruog at yahoo.com writes:
>
> Week 13  and while we're lucky to have a great regular season in college
> football,  we're still unlucky in that you can feel another crummy finish
> coming,
> with a  third straight questionable championship. PLAYOFFS NOW!!!
>
>
> I guess I'm in the minority on this, but I much prefer the current Bowl
> set-up to a 4 or 8 team playoff.  Why?
>
>    1.  Length of the season aside, I enjoy the  debate of who's number one.
> And the regular season games are more  meaningful.
>
>    2.  I don't see the downside in the current  BCS system. Sure if there
> are 3 undefeated BCS games and only 2 can play for the  Championship, there
> would need be some subjectivity, but the debate is  fun.  And the unpicked
> team
> will always have bragging rights,  and as  time passes, more to talk up
> than the
> loser of the championship game.   Plus.if they're really good, they get to
> celebrate their season with a Big Bowl  win.  Just as..........
>
>    3. Some 20-30 other Bowl game winners will be able  to celebrate a
> wonderful season ending with meaningful, season ending Bowl  Victories.
>
>    4. The playoffs would diminish the existing  Bowls (heaven forbid a 16
> or
> 32 team playoff) and result with more season ending  losers than winners.
>
>     5. In today's NCAA only a handful of schools  could possibly survive,
> much less win, a national championship.  The remaining 1A schools would be
> giving up too much in order to give those  few the privilege of never
> having a
> controversial champion. (Which doesn't oft  happen anyway)
>
>
> Lou Martinaitis  '68, '69
>
>
> **************Get the Moviefone Toolbar. Showtimes, theaters, movie news &
> more!(
> http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212774565x1200812037/aol?redir=htt
> p://toolbar.aol.com/moviefone/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000001)
> _______________________________________________
> nwu-sports site list
> nwu-sports at tssi.com
> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>



-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
1237 Emerson St Apt 2
Evanston, IL  60201-3577
(847) 736-2449
jonathanwhodges at gmail.com