Friday, November 21, 2008

College Football Playoff

Should college football have a playoff? It seems like the majority of fans and coaches want it to happen, but there are a few powerful players that are averse to the idea. The playoff idea gets thrown out there every year, only to be ignored while the BCS crowns another controversial champion. So why bring it up now? What is different? The difference is the new, vocal, support of President-Elect Barack Obama. Having a popular President get behind this issue gives it more life and possibility than it has ever had before. Obama is pitching an 8 team playoff, arguing that it would only add 3 weeks to the season and that it would eliminate the ambiguity of the championship. If school presidents are concerned about student-athletes missing class, then the regular season could be shortened by a game or two, offsetting the postseason. I think Obama isn't going far enough. Why not make it 16 teams--10 conference champions, 6 at large bids--adding 4 weeks to the season. It makes it more like March Madness, and it eliminates the arbitrariness of the current system. The field tells no lies. The field eliminates politics and bias. The field would determine an undisputed National Champion. College football fans should unite and with President Obama, put unignorable pressure on college presidents. Boycott games, sign petitions, write tons of letters, .....do whatever it takes to change the current, broken, system.  Put pressure on ESPN; threaten to stop watching their station if they don't support a playoff. Write them letters, call their talk shows, email their people, and let them know we are sick of their bogus support of the current system. I am hopeful that the backing of President Obama can be the difference, giving us a college football playoff.

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