The Plus 1 (Final Four) system does not improve or resolve the situation surrounding the BCS.  It actually makes the system even more exclusive in terms of teams and bowl venues.  Here are a few fundamental questions which are never considered when discussing the BCS. The solution to the BCS is not as complex as the Commissioners and media would have you to believe.  The problem with the BCS format is the RANKING SYSTEM not the Bowl venues or student schedules, etc. 

FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS:

How are they ranked?

What/which system does the NCAA use to rank teams?

Are these processes based on subjective or objective data and criteria?

What if the significance of the “Top 25”? 

If there are 4 Exclusive Bowl games, (Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange) with a possibility of a 5^th (Cotton), how do you reduce the field from 8 teams and select the 4 who will participate?

Facts:

There are 119(120) FBS (D1) college football teams.

The FBS can be easily examined if broken down into 4 tiers.

The 1^st tier teams represent the “Top 25” (30) teams in the country mostly from “BCS” eligible conferences. (1-30)  

The 2^nd tier of teams usually contains the remaining mid-level programs of “BCS” eligible conferences. (31-60)

The 3^rd tier will mostly contain the worst/rebuilding teams from “BCS” eligible conferences with a few non-BCS schools. (61-90)  

The 4^th tier contains programs we would normally pay no attention to. (91-120)

If the Top Tier teams represent 25% of college football, then the Top 12 teams in the country represent the Top 10 percent of all college football. (Top 16 = 13%)

Statistically, (not subjectively), 16 teams provide the best sample-size most representative of the entire selection pool. (FBS 120)

By limiting the participants to anything less than 12 teams, the BCS will never have a true representation of the best FBS teams and further becomes more exclusionary by only accepting the 3% (4 teams).

How does the BCS now distinguish the Top 4 from the Top 8, or Top 10 especially when there are numerous teams with 1-loss?  They Can’t!!! This is why the system will always be subjective and convoluted.

 How are the “Final Four” teams going to be selected?  It sounds like the Commissioner with the most seniority will choose.

If the BCS will still ultimately have to decide who the Final Four teams are, why bother ranking teams during the regular season when the "Plus 1 format" would essentially re-rank teams for the post season to accommodate playoff participants based on a subjective selection process.  What happens if an un-ranked team wins a Conference Championship?

The Bowl Playoff Series has provided the answers to all the BCS’s woes for the past 14 years.  But the BCS and media want us to believe the same person(s) who created this concept, Roy Kramer, has the vision at 82 years old to resolve his own fundamental problem for the foreseeable future.  It’s time that the BCS and NCAA step back and allow the real thinkers to tackle the problem.  The “Plus 1” model is not a playoff, it’s merely pacification. www.bowlplayoffseries.com

Category: NCAAF

We have all seen the succes of both the MLB and NFL Network.  UFC is seriously considering there own network.  Even WWE has thoughts of a 24/7 Network.  So where is College Football in all of this?  Within the next few years Goddell is thinking of purchasing more college games for NFL network exclusives.  We all know since the 80's College Football has been the farm system to the NFL.  There is no doubt College Football Fans are as devoted to their favorite team or teams as much as Futbol Fans are!  We need a Network devoted 24/7 to College Football.  The regular season ratings have never been higher over the past five years than ever before.  With the possibility of the BCS restructure to a plus one scenario or a four team playoff the time is now to seriously consider a network.  Yes I know there are conference networks but most of those are just regional.  With the soon to be influx of team networks going national like USC,Notre Dame,Nebraska,and of course Texas the popularity of College Football in some markets eclipses the NFL.  We don't care if its run my Fox or Espn and maybe a joint partnership but this could bring in even more fans than what they have now.  People can talk about the SB as the NFL only has one big game a year but College Football at least in the regular season for top tier teams every week is like the SB.  College Football fans are way more passionate than NFL fans.  Express your ideas if you would like a College Football Network!!!!!!!!!!!!

Category: NCAAF

So I have been paying attention to who is leaving and who is returning next year to figure out who will be in the running for the Heisman next year to start the season. I just really wanted to get a look at who you may think is your Top 5. Here is my list with a few guys who could be honorable mentions. This is also in no particular order.

1. Matt Barkley QB USC
2. Marcus Lattimore RB South Carolina
3. Landry Jones QB Oklahoma
4. Monte Ball RB Wisconsin
5. D'Anthony Thomas RB Oregon

Honorable Mention
1. Robert Woods WR USC
2. Denard Robinson QB Michigan 
3. Aj McCarron QB Alabama
4. Keith Price QB Washington

 

Category: NCAAF

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/
53206839-183/bcs-bowl-shurtleff-sta
te.html.csp?page=1

It's always refreshing to hear that someone is threatening to sue the BCS.  Unfortunately, NO ONE has actually had the gutts to step up to the "Good Ole Boy Network of College Football.

When Utah got snubbed a few years back, Shurtleff threatened the same actions.  I'm still looking for the public record of that filing.

Fact of the matter is until an actual law suit IS filed, the true flaws and exclusionary practices will not exposed to the concerned public.

I'd rather have someone file suit and lose the case versus making threats to a mob-like organization that merely strong arms any opposition and pays off powerful political allies to remain in control.

Instead of soliciting firms to try the case, how bout forming an official Bowl Playoff Committee with processes and procedures first, then pursue legal actions.  For the BCS to be considered as violating anti-trust laws, it needs a competing system. 

Keep in mind, the BCS National Championship is merely an EXIBITION game with no association to the NCAA as many would like us to believe.

The BCS is merely an Ad-hoc committee masquerading around as the Official governing body of Division I college football.

As another added piece of advice to Shurtleff, how about soliciting the assistance of individuals who can provide him with data and scenarios that would make Bill Hancock bow like a little girl before any judge or Congress.

www.bowlplayoffseries.com

Category: NCAAF

Norm Chow, offensive coordinator at Utah, accepted the job on Wednesday for the Head coaching job at the University of Hawaii, making it his first head coaching job at a major college. He is now also the first Asian-American head coach at a major college football team. Today at 3:00 HST (8 EST), athletic director Jim Donovan will formally announce that Norm Chow is the new head coach. After 39 years being an offensive coordinator, the local man can come home. He has a great resume and here is what it looks like

Coaching Resume:
1973-1999: BYU (244-91-3 at BYU)
Coached Ty Detmer, won Heisman in 1990

2000: NC State
Coached Phillip Rivers as freshman to Freshaman All American Honors

2001-2004: USC
2 National Championships w/ team
Coached Carson Palmer (2002) and Matt Leinart (2004), both won Heisman

2005-2007: Tennessee Titans (NFL)
Coached Vince Young, won Rookie of the Year and first Rookie that played in Pro Bowl
2007: Helped Titans to 10 wins, earning spot in postseason

2008-2010: UCLA
2008: Led Bruins to EagleBank Bowl in Washington, won vs. Temple 30-21

2011: Utah
Leads Utah to Hyundai Sun Bowl vs. Georgia Tech in El Paso, Texas (Dec. 31 2 EST on CBS)

2012-?: Hawaii
Agreed and signed to 5 year, $550,000 annual base salary deal.

Looking very impressive. And now Hawaii moves on to the Mountain West conference. What a good time to get a great new head coach. But ironically, next year, they play 2 teams that Chow used to be the coordinator for. Hawaii's first test is @ the colisseum against USC. And then Hawaii's 3rd test is @ BYU (test meaning non conference game). But lets not worry about the future just yet. But today, the present, Hawaii gets a new and fresh start with a new head coach. Now is not down time, but Chow time...


Category: NCAAF