[NU Sports] Re: Utah and the playoff ...

[Eric West]

Arthur Miller wrote:
> All the ridiculous proposals for a 16-team playoff still can't get 
> around the fact that, unlike the NFL, the I-A conferences will persist 
> in having huge, systemic, disparities in strength.

You'll have to provide some concrete evidence for that "fact." Sure, 
there are plenty of blowout games in the current FBS, but they are as 
likely to happen within conferences as between them. Meanwhile, 
so-called "upsets" seem to increase every year, both in number and in 
degree (Appalachian State, anyone?). The myth that a team like Syracuse 
or Duke (or Indiana, or Washington, or Baylor, or Mississippi State) is 
intrinsically more worthy than Utah or Boise State is simply ludicrous, 
and has been for a while.

Of course FBS hasn't achieved NFL-like parity, but why is that 
considered something to strive for, and what does that have to do with 
the validity of a playoff anyway?


Eric West
e-west at northwestern.edu