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BCSReform.org
AMERICAN PLAYOFF
It's important to initially identify the attributes / characteristics that make America great and then build an American playoff that matches such. It's interesting to note that the BCS generally has the opposite of many of these following ideal, quintessential American attributes / characteristics (except for the “Capitalistic” attribute):
1). Fairness – It will be a clearly understood, logical, and generally accepted playoff system that is perceived as fair and that minimizes controversy regarding the teams selected to participate in such;
2). Equal Opportunity - All 120 Division 1 – A / FBS BCS and non – BCS teams (and any future teams that join the Division) will have an equal opportunity to become the National Champion;
3). Transparency – The entire system will be open and public to prevent powerful groups from exerting their influence “behind – the – scenes” to promote their self – interest at the expense of the common good;
4). Equitable Revenue Distribution – In general, all the revenues from the playoff should be evenly distributed to all 11 Division 1 – A conferences and members (including the 4 independent teams). Of course, those teams that advance in the playoff should be rewarded for such excellence;
5). Leadership – The playoff should be properly managed by an honorable NCAA that currently administers 88 other NCAA collegiate championships in 23 different sports with 380,000 NCAA student – athlete participants;
6). Capitalistic – The NCAA must take advantage of its unique position to exert maximum economic / market control / leverage in the market place on behalf of all the NCAA Division 1 – A / FBS schools that it represents. It has done this with CBS and the $6 billion, 11-year contract for television rights for regular season and tournament NCAA basketball games. A shrewd and wise NCAA steward would combine the billion - dollar NCAA basketball deal with the billion - dollar Division 1 – A / FBS playoff deal and request competitive bids for the entire collegiate basketball / football package from companies such as CBS, Fox, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBC, NFL Network, etc. This approach would maximize the NCAA's economic / market control / leverage and the resultant revenues it can distribute to its university / college members;
7). Dedicated to the Common Good – The playoff should not favor specific teams or conferences, but follow the overriding principle to provide for the common good;
8). Adaptable – The playoff and its management should be flexible enough to recognize the need for modification / change and incorporate such easily within the system;
9). Inspirational – The playoff will inspire the student – athletes and coaches that participate in it and the fans of such teams; and
10). Patriotic – The playoff will represent all that is good in America and promote solid American values, principles, and virtues.
Admittedly, the format of a playoff must address the honorable / reasonable needs of many different constituencies. It must address the criticisms (sham, hypocritical, and real) that the BCS (and its supporters) has and continues to level against a playoff. The creation of an American playoff that meets all the American attributes noted herein and addresses the needs of many diverse constituencies is a complex and challenging task. The following basic playoff format / structure meets this goal and is quintessentially American:
• A 16 team playoff would require 15 games in a 4 week period;
• The playoff would commence in early December with the National Championship Game played the first week of January. It is recommended that all teams reduce the number of games played in the regular season to 11 games from the current 12 games;
• The teams would include the champion of each 11 Division 1 – A / FBS Conference and 5 at – large teams;
• The seeding of the tournament and the at – large teams should be picked by a poll using a voter representative from each of the 120 Division 1 – A universities / colleges (not a current Head Coach). A former, retired Head Coach could be considered since they may have more time, they're not busy recruiting, preparing for future games or watching bulletin boards. All the votes of each poll will be made public each week. The first poll would be taken and made public the last Tuesday in September and each Tuesday thereafter (not immediately after the last college game for the weekend has been completed). Let voters take some time, do the necessary research, and allow the process to percolate. Allow for the West Coast teams (e.g., Hawaii and its opponents, etc.) to be given equal consideration. Current Head Coaches have a self interest in voting for their own team and teams in their conference. Many have special financial incentives / bonuses in their contracts tied to rankings achieved, conference championships won, and / or a berth in a BCS game or the BCS National Championship Game;
• The first round of 8 games is played at the stadium of the team that is the higher playoff seed (or at a nearby stadium selected by the host team), which is consistent on how it is done with the existing 16 - team Division 1 - AA / FCS National Championship Playoff. All current 29 non – BCS bowls continue to host their future games except that 3 of them will host a second round playoff game on a rotating basis. The non – BCS bowls can invite teams losing in the playoff to their bowls; and
• The current 4 BCS bowl sites would together host 4 playoff games (i.e., one second round game, 2 third round / semi - final games, and the fourth round / National Championship game), one each on a rotating basis.
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