Let the Debate Begin
http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/904/1/Let-the-Debate-Begin/Let-the-Debate-Begin.html
Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson is a current student at The Ohio State University studying
communications. After graduation he hopes to find a job in the
sports field in anyway possible. He is a die-hard Cleveland Browns,
Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavalier and of course Ohio State
Buckeye fan. His favorite things to do incude playing flag football and
basketball on eight foot tall basketball hoops. His favorite athlete of
all time is Sandy Alomar Jr.
communications. After graduation he hopes to find a job in the
sports field in anyway possible. He is a die-hard Cleveland Browns,
Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavalier and of course Ohio State
Buckeye fan. His favorite things to do incude playing flag football and
basketball on eight foot tall basketball hoops. His favorite athlete of
all time is Sandy Alomar Jr.
By Doug Wilson
Published on 09/11/2007
Every year, more and more fans and media members clamor for a college football playoff, but while Atomic Sports columnist Doug Wilson knows he's in the minority, he writes that things are pretty good the way they are.
Every year, more and more fans and media members clamor for a college football playoff, but while Atomic Sports columnist Doug Wilson knows he's in the minority, he writes that things are pretty good the way they are.
Let the Debate Begin
In the words of former Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Mora, “Playoffs? You wanna talk about playoffs?”
The college football season has started with a flash, just ask Michigan,
and it is only time before the debate over a playoff begins again. It happens almost every year, and at the end of the season you know at least one team will be griping when the final BCS rankings come out.
So let’s be the first to get it started. Should there be a playoff in Division I-A football (or I’m sorry, I mean the Football Bowl Subdivision)? My answer might surprise you. I am one of few people who are relatively happy with the way things are. Sure there are things that could be fixed, but there is one big reason why I love college football the way it is.
In no other league or sport are there regular-season games that mean so much. A game played before Labor Day could decide your entire season. When you have top-10 teams in a non-conference game the atmosphere is electric. Then you add in the fact that it is only the second game of the year and you realize why college football is so special.
Without a playoff, an upset like Appalachian State over Michigan is magnified even more because it ruins the season for a team with national title hopes. Sure Michigan could still win the Big Ten, but for the most part, their season is over and Appalachian State has cemented its place in history.
On the other hand, in men’s basketball North Carolina can lose to a team like Santa Clara to start its 2005 championship year, and it has absolutely no effect on the final result of the season. There is obviously nothing wrong with NCAA basketball, but just look at the fact that most fans don’t tune in until the tournament and you will realize why college football’s season is so great.
Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the controversy that comes with the current rules. When Auburn was left out in the cold a few years back it was obvious something needed to change. However, I think if the NCAA were to switch to a full-out playoff it would be a mistake. It is just not a realistic possibility.
The bowl season generates millions of dollars for schools and sponsors and there is no way it could just be done away with overnight. Also, it would be very difficult for teams to play all through December and expand the schedule to include more games. I just don’t see the NCAA being able to make the switch smoothly from one season to the next without all sorts of problems.
The only realistic option would be a “plus one” format where an additional game was added at the end of the season. That one game should be enough to solve any controversy that remains, and correctly name the national champion. If you are not good enough to be in the top four when the year ends then you are not good enough to be playing for a national championship.
Year after year, the debate will go on whether or not college football should have a playoff, and it may be some time before we have a solution. So for the time being enjoy the best regular season in sports. Enjoy the weekly match-ups between undefeated teams that are playing for everything. Every year there is at least one regular season game that will be remembered forever and the same can’t be said for all sports.
The college football season has started with a flash, just ask Michigan,
and it is only time before the debate over a playoff begins again. It happens almost every year, and at the end of the season you know at least one team will be griping when the final BCS rankings come out.
So let’s be the first to get it started. Should there be a playoff in Division I-A football (or I’m sorry, I mean the Football Bowl Subdivision)? My answer might surprise you. I am one of few people who are relatively happy with the way things are. Sure there are things that could be fixed, but there is one big reason why I love college football the way it is.
In no other league or sport are there regular-season games that mean so much. A game played before Labor Day could decide your entire season. When you have top-10 teams in a non-conference game the atmosphere is electric. Then you add in the fact that it is only the second game of the year and you realize why college football is so special.
Without a playoff, an upset like Appalachian State over Michigan is magnified even more because it ruins the season for a team with national title hopes. Sure Michigan could still win the Big Ten, but for the most part, their season is over and Appalachian State has cemented its place in history.
On the other hand, in men’s basketball North Carolina can lose to a team like Santa Clara to start its 2005 championship year, and it has absolutely no effect on the final result of the season. There is obviously nothing wrong with NCAA basketball, but just look at the fact that most fans don’t tune in until the tournament and you will realize why college football’s season is so great.
Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the controversy that comes with the current rules. When Auburn was left out in the cold a few years back it was obvious something needed to change. However, I think if the NCAA were to switch to a full-out playoff it would be a mistake. It is just not a realistic possibility.
The bowl season generates millions of dollars for schools and sponsors and there is no way it could just be done away with overnight. Also, it would be very difficult for teams to play all through December and expand the schedule to include more games. I just don’t see the NCAA being able to make the switch smoothly from one season to the next without all sorts of problems.
The only realistic option would be a “plus one” format where an additional game was added at the end of the season. That one game should be enough to solve any controversy that remains, and correctly name the national champion. If you are not good enough to be in the top four when the year ends then you are not good enough to be playing for a national championship.
Year after year, the debate will go on whether or not college football should have a playoff, and it may be some time before we have a solution. So for the time being enjoy the best regular season in sports. Enjoy the weekly match-ups between undefeated teams that are playing for everything. Every year there is at least one regular season game that will be remembered forever and the same can’t be said for all sports.