What a bittersweet day in sports. The NCAA has announced that there will be a four team college football playoff. While the words "playoff" and " college football" when combined force cream in my pants, it's all ultimately unsatisfying.
To the committee, congrats on almost getting it right. College football had a chance to fix what was without a doubt the worst computer ranking system on the planet. But no... instead of actually doing justice and making things right - a real legitimate chance for a playoff - the committee kept all the power in their hands.
If you thought the computer ranking was bad, wait til you see how bad these knuckleheads mess this up. Think about it: by only allowing four teams, you're essentially picking the top four teams from the top four conferences. Who's that? Hmm, let's see: if USC or Oregon wins the PAC 10 (refusal to acknowledge the term PAC-12) then boom, they're in. If Michigan or Ohio State wins the Big Ten then boom, they're in. And then...?! What's going to happen when the SEC tournament comes around? Obviously LSU and Alabama can't play each other due to both being in the SEC western division. So what then? Let's say both of these teams are ranked #1 and #2 respectively when they meet. Does that mean on November 3rd when the Tide rolls into Baton Rouge that it's for all the marbles? Is the committee going to take two teams OUT OF FOUR from the same conference? Not a chance. Even though these are clearly the best two teams? And then, what if Georgia somehow wins the SEC east, plays either LSU or Alabama, and beats them? Because Georgia (by definition) won the SEC does that mean they have an argument to be in the top four?!?! #ridiculous
What's going to happen to that final spot? What about the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Kansas State, Nebraska, & Wisconsin? Will the Big Twelve winner be considered a shoe-in?
And ACC fans... yeah right and good luck. You could win every game and possibly not get in to the top four brotherhood. Clemson, Virginia Tech, Miami, & Florida State? Sorry. Is 12-0 Clemson better than 11-1 Alabama with a loss to LSU? Maybe... maybe not. The point is that we'll never know because someone on the committee thinks that they know. And that's what matters right....? Right!?
Isn't the whole point of playoffs to give teams with great regular season records a chance to compete for the big kahuna? Because that's not happening here. Do you think undefeated Boise State will be in that top four?
And as much as it pains me to say, you know Notre Dame will be in the conversation just because they're Notre Dame. Don't even get me started about this. When they get absolutely thrashed in a bloodbath by USC, some idiots out there will still argue that they're better than say a Florida State or a Georgia or maybe a one-loss Alabama or LSU. It's all too cringe-worthy. Committees love the Irish. But when was the last time they did ANYTHING? Who is the last great Notre Dame pro? Jimmy Clausen? Dear God.
It's all one of the darkest, worst jokes I've ever seen in all of sports and in fact, the word mirage comes to mind. Webster defines the word mirage as "something that appears real but is not". Sounds pretty accurate to me. In theory, we all like the word "playoff" but there is no real playoff happening here. Whether it's a committee or a computer or a talisman, FOUR TEAMS IS NOT ENOUGH. Of course, at some point you have to pick a number of teams and go with it. And of course those last teams not in will scream and rant and throw temper tantrums
So what's the number? 10. If you can make the top ten of any poll - AP, Coach's, BCS, RPI, whatever, just pick one - you deserve a chance. This would only take four weeks to complete and allows the mid-major to get in. I'll never forget in 1998, when Tulane, headed by Shaun King, went 12-0 and ended the season ranked No. 7, and thinking, "Wouldn't it be fun to see how far they can go..." A 10 team playoff gives college fans that wet dream. Check it out: http://www.printyourbrackets.com/10teamsingleelimination.html Teams 10, 9, 8, 7 duke it out first, while everyone else watches, then those two winners play numbers one and two and so on til we have a winner. It's so simple. Incorporate the playoff games into the already pre-contracted bowl games. Everyone benefits from this. The mid major gets a big check and an increased viewership. Right now, I couldn't give a rip about the J.P Morgan Gingerbread Bowl, but if you tell me that whoever wins that game takes on USC or LSU or Alabama next, you're damn right I wanna see how they match up. That's right... I'm now watching the J.P. Morgan Gingerbread Bowl.
Like riding in a stretch-Hyandai limo. Like going on a date with a hand model. Like going in just tip deep. Yes, you're riding a limo. Yes, you're dating a model. Yes, you're technically inside. BUT SO WHAT?!? If you're not going to do it right, then what's the point? I want the real thing. Not a mirage.
#mmjb
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