Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Thoughts on the Browny Championship Series: T.J. -- Your idea is smart, logical and a sure money maker, which is exactly why it will never be implemented. But nonetheless I have a few criticisms.
The playoff calendar is too long because it has too many teams. The format for the NCAA basketball tournament works because you can play two games in three days. Because football requires a week in between each round, having that many teams would take too long.
I propose starting with the BCS conference champions: Pitt, Michigan, USC, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech and Auburn. Then add two at-large selections: Cal and Utah. The eight team tourney would require three weeks to finish (ideally having a Jan. 1 title game) and would still maintain the "every game counts" mentality of the regular season. The BCS rankings still could be used to determine who gets in and the minor bowls not included as tournament sites could take all the teams left out.
Round 1: USC-Pitt, Oklahoma-Virginia Tech, Auburn-Cal, Michigan-Utah
Round 2 (in my world): USC-Auburn, Virginia Tech-Utah
National Championship (because I hate the BCS rankings): Auburn-Utah
Can you imagine the revenue generated by an USC-Auburn or Oklahoma-Michigan matchup in the second round? If they played it in Jacksonville or Houston (both NFL stadiums) the university presidents could make some serious money, not to mention placate football fans around the world.
Plus the problem presented this year (three undefeated teams from major conferences) would be solved. If Auburn can't get to the title game, then at least they proved it on the field.
The beauty of the system is it can be completed before the NFL playoffs begin. Most pro-sports want an entire month strictly devoted to their playoffs: baseball-October, NFL-January. College football could have December. This year, Christmas Day would feature the Final 4 matchups. How about that as a present under the tree...
The playoff calendar is too long because it has too many teams. The format for the NCAA basketball tournament works because you can play two games in three days. Because football requires a week in between each round, having that many teams would take too long.
I propose starting with the BCS conference champions: Pitt, Michigan, USC, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech and Auburn. Then add two at-large selections: Cal and Utah. The eight team tourney would require three weeks to finish (ideally having a Jan. 1 title game) and would still maintain the "every game counts" mentality of the regular season. The BCS rankings still could be used to determine who gets in and the minor bowls not included as tournament sites could take all the teams left out.
Round 1: USC-Pitt, Oklahoma-Virginia Tech, Auburn-Cal, Michigan-Utah
Round 2 (in my world): USC-Auburn, Virginia Tech-Utah
National Championship (because I hate the BCS rankings): Auburn-Utah
Can you imagine the revenue generated by an USC-Auburn or Oklahoma-Michigan matchup in the second round? If they played it in Jacksonville or Houston (both NFL stadiums) the university presidents could make some serious money, not to mention placate football fans around the world.
Plus the problem presented this year (three undefeated teams from major conferences) would be solved. If Auburn can't get to the title game, then at least they proved it on the field.
The beauty of the system is it can be completed before the NFL playoffs begin. Most pro-sports want an entire month strictly devoted to their playoffs: baseball-October, NFL-January. College football could have December. This year, Christmas Day would feature the Final 4 matchups. How about that as a present under the tree...
Comments:
The only reason I'd go with 24 teams is that it allows more schools an opportunity to "go to the dance." If you mandated the regular season to end the week before Thanksgiving, you could pull it off.
The bowls would lose one thing, Derrick. They wouldn't have the university president and the coaches in town all week attending the amusement parks, etc., until they make it to the final round.
I just don't think the NCAA would sign off on a playoff that excludes the MAC conference champ or the WAC conference champ. You need to include them and placate the small schools. Plus, North Texas creates a "veritable bye" for the team that draws them. In my scenario, Iowa wins that sweepstakes.
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The bowls would lose one thing, Derrick. They wouldn't have the university president and the coaches in town all week attending the amusement parks, etc., until they make it to the final round.
I just don't think the NCAA would sign off on a playoff that excludes the MAC conference champ or the WAC conference champ. You need to include them and placate the small schools. Plus, North Texas creates a "veritable bye" for the team that draws them. In my scenario, Iowa wins that sweepstakes.
