AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSorry, Mr. President. There will not be an eight-team playoff
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So President elect Barack Obama says he wants to “throw his weight around” for the purpose of getting an eight-team playoff to determine Division I-A football’s national championship. All I can say is: Good luck, Mr. President.
That’s because the President elect is getting ready to find out something many of us in the college football business have known for a long time: Finding solutions to a bad economy, health care, and war around the world will be a snap compared to getting the college football powers that be to move toward a playoff.
Let’s set aside the issue of whether or not this should be a concern for the future president of the United States. If the President elect thinks Congress is a tough bunch to deal with, wait until he comes head to head with the BCS commissioners.
Fans have long been clamoring for some kind of playoff to replace the current BCS system. But here is the reality:
The BCS commissioners met last April in South Florida and at that time SEC commissioner Mike Slive proposed a new “Plus-One” format. It was essentially a four-team playoff where the teams would be seeded 1-4. No. 1 would play No. 4 and No. 2 would play No. 3 in two designated bowls on or about Jan. 1. The two winners would advance to the BCS national championship about a week later. Slive and ACC commissioner John Swofford supported the idea. The other commissioners did not.
The current BCS contract with Fox Sports has two more years to run. The BCS is in the final stages of signing a deal with ESPN to broadcast the games through the 2013 regular season. That means the current format will stay in place for the next six years and the next serious discussion on changing it won’t take place until four years from now.
Here is what I believe will happen. ESPN is going to pay a pretty penny, about $125 million a year, to get the BCS back from FOX for 2010-2013. At the end of that contract everybody involved in the process, including the Rose Bowl, will be looking for a new deal. That’s when change could come. Several networks will be bidding for the rights and will throw an astronomical amount of money on the table in order to get a format change.
Understand that Slive put the Plus-One model on the table last April pretty much knowing that it would be shot down. The idea was to get the idea into the public domain so that we can talk about it. Slive was just setting the table for the big negotiations which will take place four years from now. ESPN has the clout to get the format changed. But the commissioners are going to make sure they pay for it with the biggest contract in the history of college sports.
Going from what we have now to an eight-team playoff would be a radical change with all kinds of unintended consequences. Would the fans like it? I’m sure they would. But here is another reality: While the fans are a very important component of college football, they are not the only component.
The powers that be are not going to do anything that would hurt the regular season. CBS and ESPN, for example, will invest $3 billion into SEC football over the next 15 years. They are not going to do anything to hurt that investment.
College football has the healthiest regular season of any sport except the NFL. Attendance is at an all time high. Television ratings are off the charts. Schools have invested billions in stadium and facility improvements. They are not going to put that at risk.
I came out of the April BCS meetings believing that a Plus-One model was possible in 2014. I still do. But an eight-team playoff? Sorry, Mr. President. Even if you serve two terms, it won’t happen under your watch.
Services »
Comments
By Tom, Resident Georgia Fan
November 18, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
Who gives a rats as* what Obama thinks.
By Sautee Dawg
November 18, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Sounds like a good plan Tony, the plus one. Still fans will continue to complain about who those 4 teams will be in that format. President Elect should be more concerned with spreading the wealth than the spread offense.
By kt
November 18, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
I find it interesting that you say the season shouldn’t be comprismised with a playoff yet in the same breath say the NFL is the healthiest sports league and going and huh…. they have a playoff. Ironically stadiums still sell out in week 16. Right now you have 5 maybe 6 teams with a shot at a NC yet with more teams involved in trying to get a playoff spot somehow the regular season would be comprimised… such an old and tired argument from commissioners wanted to cling to their dollars.
By Rusty Pecker
November 18, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
Hey Tony Jabroni.. did Cynthia Tucker make you write this? Obama is an as*hole.
By Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 18, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
The Plus One model would be worse than what we have now! Take for example Alabama, what if they end the season as the only unbeaten team and you have multiple 1 loss teams. Why should a unbeaten Alabama team have to play another game? The teams from conferences that play championships games are thus put at a further disadvantage in reaching that mythical plus one game.
If we cannot do the 8 team format then we unfortunately just need to leave the dang thing alone, outside of stripping the coaches vote. To many coaches do not pay enough attention to warrant the right to vote.
By baloney
November 18, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
Obama needs to make sure he has a plan to pay for my house and for a car for me to drive,and put food on my table. After that he can start worrying about increasing my gubmitt check.
By Atlanta Gator
November 18, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Tony——I did not vote for Barack Obama, I disagree philosophically with most of what he represents politically, and I would not endorse a “federalization” of college sports. Nevertheless, President-elect Obama is only expressing what upwards of 75% of all football fans, players and coaches want to see happen. You are wrong if you do not think that Obama’s expression of support for a FBS/Division I playoff does not carry any influence.
Anything that moves the powers-that-be closer to a 4 or 8-team playoff is better than where we are now, including a so-called plus-one formula. Once that happens, it’s only a matter of time until a 4 or 8-team playoff is implemented. The vested interests can delay it, but they can’t stop it forever. We will live to see it.
I, for one, have already stopped watching all of the meaningless “garbage” bowls. Half of the 34 authorized bowls could be eliminated tomorrow, and no one would object. As ratings and attendance continue to decline for most post-season bowl games, the sponsors will dry up. Nothing could make the regular football season more meaningful than eliminating half of the bowls. No more 7-5 and 6-6 teams qualifying for bids. The more focused fans become on the BCS title game and other BCS bowls, the more meaningless the rest become. The BCS will ultimately be a victim of its own success and the rising expectations that it has created.
By BCS Sucks
November 18, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
I’m so sick of hearing how a playoff will hurt the regular season. You still need the regular season to QUALIFY for a spot in the playoffs. Personally, I think the top 8 teams (not necessarily just the conference champions) should play in a playoff. But forget using the bowls for this. Teams should play for home-field advantage. Have the top 4 teams earn that. This way, college towns will benefit from the extra revenue. Fans will show up to the games because it will be like an extension of the regular season. All the games in the season will count. You can start the season and give each team just ONE bye week so everyone could finish by the end of November. You could still have conference championship games (and make the Big Ten and Pac-10 step up). After the playoffs determine the top 2 teams, THEN have the bowl games make their selections…with the top 2 playing in the current bowl rotation. All playoff games could be completed by mid-December which would not affect finals, winter break, etc. TV would make millions on the playoff games, teams/conferences would make millions on the playoff games, fans get a true national champion….EVERYBODY WINS! Unfortunately, nothing short of a college football boycott will make any of this happen.
By Fanboy
November 18, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
If you look more closely at Obama’s plan, you’ll see that he just wants to take the championship away from the big, rich schools and give it to the small, poor schools.
By Good local restaurants
November 18, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
Here’s a suggestion: Conduct the official final polling at the end of a 10 game regular season. Cut the number of bowls in half, and ensure that only deserving teams get an invite. Then the teams and fans can relax and enjoy the bowl games.
Anything beats a playoff.
By ROLL TIDE
November 18, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
As long as the Crimson Tide stay number one and undefeated, it’s all good baby, all good! ROLL TIDE ROLL !!!!!
By Jim Mora
November 18, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
Playoffs…Playoffs ? Don’t talk to me about Playoffs !!
By Mikey
November 18, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
As long as they get the games away from Fox I will be good no matter how they format them. Fox has NO business doing College Football. Their TV crews are pathetic !!!
By Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 18, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
Fanboy,
Thats pretty damn funny!
By Will
November 18, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Great post Fanboy! Hilarious…..
By the way, that was the toughest question Obama was asked that night on 60 minutes.
Also, I think all of this money that Big Tone talked about is going to slow down. Your about to see a serious decline in bowl fan support and home season ticket sales. The economy is going to get worse, and extra perks like UGA games are going to be one of the first things to go from a family budget. That means not spending $3g taking the family to the Capitol One bowl to play Ohio State. Big changes ahead on all fronts my friends.
By BugKiller
November 18, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
An 8-Team Playoff WILL NOT hurt the regular season… this is a LIE and PROPAGANDA brought to us by the BCS!!!
How could it hurt the regular season if you ENSURE that the 8 team were only the Conference Champions?
Doesn’t that ensure that the regular season stays just as competative, Tony?
No second teams from conferences get into the 8-team playoff. Only the Champion.
You can’t argue with that.
You take the 6 BCS conference champions and then the next two highest ranked champions from non-BCS conferences, this year it would be Boise and Utah, one of whom will be left out this year, while the one who makes it in has no chance to play their way into the Championship.
AND you force Notre Lame to join a conference (most likely the Big East).
Everyone wins!!!
So stop lying. Stop telling people a playoff will ruin the regular season.
If it’s kept to Conference Champions only, the regular season is more important!!!
By Got 12?
November 18, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
In response to some of the previous posts:
Cut the number of regular season games back to 10. Never gonna happen. Why would 111 teams give up two games’ worth of revenue so 8 teams can play for the championship?
Cut the bowl games in half. Never gonna happen. Cities, sponsors, and networks will not give up revenue and marketing just for the sake of quality.
By Pi$$onaDawg
November 18, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Force all Conferences have 12 teams and all play each other for a True Conference Champion then 10 teams to work into a play-off. Then there can be some bowl games for the 2nd & 3rd place teams in each conference. Wait this is college and the season is long enough and don’t we complain about graduation rates and Student-Athelets. No playoff needed go to class. No more risking the health of these kids so they can go pro and make money for themselves not the F**G Schools. If you want to watch playoff games then watch Pro Football. Start thinking about the players. How many 4 year players do you think there will be with a 16-17 game season? If you play in the championship game for 3 years that would be 48-51 games played, but if you played in bowl games 4 yrs in a row that would be 56 games. These kids would not be able to play as pros with all the injuries that a long season brings. Look at the pros trying to cut back on the pre-season. So, we will have to cut back the regular season to 10 games no cupcakes & only 5 home games for the same amount of money you now get 7 home games. Maybe you are all so rich you can afford season tickets, travel to away games, then afford traveling to the play-offs, and still afford to go to basketball & baseball games too. Sorry I don’t have that kind of money and free time.
By Knuckle Sandwich
November 18, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Tony,
You take the champions from every “BCS” conference, with the addition of a wild card like Boise State, and play them off. All other “bowl eligible” schools can go to non-playoff bowls. This way, everyone is still playing for the conference championships during the regular season. How does this diminish the regular season in any way?
By Got 12?
November 18, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
Will,
While your statement about the economy makes sense, college football is not driven by logic. I’m sure there are hundreds (if not thousands) of UGA fans on the waiting list for season tickets. And as much as fans love college football, they are more likely to make the Capitol One Bowl double as the annual family vacation than to just not go.
Note: The economy is horrible but Bama is about to expand BDS from 92K to 101K.
By Miles
November 18, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
The natural progression of events will lead all the constituents (a word to which you have alluded in the past, Mr. Barnhart) to an eight team playoff via the BCS in 2014. Simple. Obama is simply telling us what will inevitably happen. Face the reality.
By Georgia Fan
November 18, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
I disagree Tony.
YES WE CAN!!! YES WE CAN!!! YES WE CAN!!!
By like the current
November 18, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
I like the current format.. every game.. EVERY point matters in the big picture.. every out of conference game matters.. every in conference game matters.. it makes the regular season more interesting than any other sport.. if you have an 8 team playoff.. what incentive would UF have to beat FSU this next week? none.. they would likely sit all their starters like pro teams do in the last week.. it would be lackluster..
keep it the way it is it is selling seats and keeping ratings high.. why screw up something that is obviously working great
By CMS
November 18, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
I can’t believe I still read this site…AJC.com has some of the most a* backwards readers in the country.
By JIM DELANY & TOM HANSEN
November 18, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
As long as Jim Delany & Tom Hansen are in control of their respective conferences (Big 10 & PAC 10), there will never be any playoff. Nor will those conferences have a ‘championship game’.
Credit Tom Hansen for at least making every PAC 10 team play each other in the regular season for a defacto, round robin champion. What can you say about Delany? Big 10 went out & scheduled patsy’s when the 12 game sked came back a few years ago. He’s the most abusive, political, money hungry cretin running a conference. Oh by the way, he took it from a powerful conference to one of the weakest, but they are one of the richest. Congratulations Jim.
By Got 12?
November 18, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
The “playoff with conference champions” idea WOULD hurt the regular season.
For example, Bama and Florida wrapped up their division titles a couple of weeks ago. Under the “conference champions proposal”, there would be no incentive to win the remaining regular season games. Just like the NFL, Bama and Florida would sit out their starters and wait for the SECCG. That’s why the NFL is not as exciting as college football.
In my opinion, Plus-One (based on a revised BCS formula) makes the most since.
By Matt
November 18, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
This blog is proof positive that even ignorant rednecks can operate a computer and navigate a blog. Unbelievable.
By Spanky
November 18, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
How does a playoff hurt the regular season? If all teams are jockeying for spots 1-8, do you really expect to see more LSU-Va Tech or OSU-USC matchups? Teams will pad their schedules even more with 1-AA and low ranked cupcakes.
Ironically, a single loss in conference may not matter, as a team like USC this year would still have a shot.
By saint nick
November 18, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Obama got elected because he mentioned a college playoff system on MNF. Obama couldn’t tell you 3 of the top ten teams. Obama save your breath, it will never happen. Now you will see the ESPN bias 100 fold!!!!!!!!!!
By Hairy Dawg
November 18, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
FOX ought to trot out O’Reilly and Hannity during the BCS games this year to convince us that the talk of an eight-team college football playoff is pure evil socialist propaganda.
By quaildawg
November 18, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Dear Tony, One thing we don’t need…The Federal Gov. dictating the CBF.
Here is a tip for better subjects to write on. How about some insight on how Tim Tebow, for all his glory, has NEVER rallied his team for a come from behind win!!!! The only game that UF trailed in this year (see Ole’Miss) they lost!!!! It could be interesting if UF gets smacked in the mouth by Bama and how they will respond. Until Tebow does it he needs to be asked the question of why he hasn’t rallied his team.
By PantherFan
November 18, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Division III has a playoff system that works well. And by the way,
Congratulations LaGrange College Panthers on winning the conference championship and a bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
By The BCS Sucks
November 18, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
The only reason I would not take just the conference champions in a playoff is because not all conference champions deserve a shot. Look at this year. Say Florida and Alabama win out and play a close game in the SEC Championship game. For arguments sake, say Florida wins. This leaves Alabama at 12-1. Are you telling me that a 3-loss Oregon State Pac-10 champ would deserve a slot in the playoffs over Alabama? What about an ACC or Big East Champion not even ranked in the Top 15??? There are going to be years when some conferences will have more than one great team (SEC and Big 12 this year). Winning a weak conference or being a low ranking conference champion should not be considered an automatic bid. True, this system would make it possible for two teams from the same conference to play each other in the NC game, but, if they’ve proven to be the two best teams, who cares?
By dale
November 18, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
College football has the most compelling regular season.
Lets rephrase that:
No sport in America has a worse post-season than college football. It is the worst.
By saint nick
November 18, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Tebow is a good player, but I am sure most of his teamates get tired of the “Tebow infactuation”.Rainey, Demps, Harvin make Tebow good, not the other way around. I hope T. Cody rips Tebow’s spine out!!!
By Rusty Pecker
November 18, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
Hey Matt - go post on the american idol blogs you left wing, wine sipping fruitcake.
By THRASHYOU
November 18, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
I-AA HAS THE PLAYOFF SYSTEM AND LAST YEAR #5 APP ST. PLAYED #8 DELAWARE FOR A TRUE NATIONAL CHAMPION ONE THAT WAS PLAYED ON THE FIELD, NOT IN THE POLLS. THE I-AA PLAYOFF SYSTEM WORKS SO WELL THAT THEY ARE EXPANDING IT TO 20 TEAMS!!!!
By THRASHYOU
November 18, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
HERE IS A QUIZ: NAME THE ONLY SPORT IN THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT CROWN ITS CHAMPION WITH A PLAYOFF????
By azcat225
November 18, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
Have to agree with Mikey regarding ESPN coverage versus Fox coverage, or what Fox tries to foist off on the viewers as coverage. Silver lining in every cloud—-once ESPN has the games back, the viewing enjoyment factor will increase geometrically. A high school journalism class could do a better job of broadcasting games than Fox does.
By IM4BAMA
November 18, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
First of all, I like that Obama cares about a playoff, but he should have bigger things to worry about and stick to national affairs, not sports.
An eight team playoff is not the way to go and unnecessary. What first needs to happen is for the Big-10 and Pac-10 to have a conference championship game to raise their difficulty level and for them to have an extra game like everyone else to help level the playing field.
By the time you play a full season and then all major powers have a conference championship game. I think that four teams should be clearly the front runners as the best teams.(This means, the FOUR BEST TEAMS, not necessarily conference champions and the door should still be open for two teams out of the same conference if they are deserving). Play the bowls seeding the top four and then have a real Championsip game.
By baloney
November 18, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
If #1 plays #4 and #2 plays #3….the next argument will be “we shouldn’t be the #4 team” It ain’t fair WE had to play the #1 team. Everybody will never be happy.Just big babies.
By saint nick
November 18, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
The other conferences will not approve a playoff because someone from the SEC would win it every year!!!!
By Redneck Idiot Sportsfan
November 18, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
Man, that there Obama ought to realize that colleges don’t need no federal infuense. I mean, its not like the feds send the Univ. of Georgia a ton of money soes they can focus that college football revenue on stadiums and weightrooms and what-not. I mean I spose he’s just a moron like I thought he was. I mean public universities don’t need no federal influence at all. At least I hope it never happens.
(Or maybe I should say it this way: I hope the world is the way my misinformed dumbazz thinks it is and that it never changes and that no one ever tells me the truth cause I don’t want to hear it ‘cause I am comfortable in my own little world of stupidity. And if anyone tells me that Reagan, the hero of small government, enforced a 21 year-old drinking age by withholding federal funding for roads from states who did not comply, I might cr*p myself as it would shatter my life of ignorant blissfulness. Besides one might then conclude that the Prez and Congress threatening to cut off federal funding to public universities might get the College Presidents attention and I would then have to crank Rush Limbaugh up real loud soes I could get the lies back in my head where they belong.)
BTW: Like a good Uh-mer-can I voted for George Bush twict cause he’s done such a great job. Uh-mer-ca is in better shape than ever thanks to his conservative Uh-mer-can principals and values. I just wish we could have 4 more years of Bush. Me, bankruptcy lawyers and repo men will miss him so.
By ...BCS is a MESS
November 18, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
FICTIONAL National Championship created by cartoonish greed, it’s all about the money,not the players and not the fans.
By m
November 18, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
We need a playoff so that complete TOOLS like Tony Barnhart have no influence on who makes the championship game. Tony is wrong so often that it is laughable that he is now calling Florida unbeatable…when he earlier said that USC was unbeatable…and then Texas was unbeatable…and on and on. I have never seen someone wrong as often as Tony is. We NEED an 8 or 16 team playoff so that idiotic voters have no say but only what happens on the field matters. Tony, you are definitely the Chan Gailey of sportswriters..and thank God and Greyhound that he is gone…he should have taken you with him
By You Ain't Played Nobody
November 18, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
As you SEC Homers love to say, You ain’t played nobody. Wins against the Mighty Suckeyes, now thats impressive (NOT).The OU team LSU beat lost it’s Conference Championship to Kansas State, and the NC was split.
What a joke, beat somebody and than you can talk.
By Whats even funny
November 18, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Is that most of you ignorant hicks believe the crap you spit out your mouth. Even funnier is that for the past two years i’ve read blogs where most you good fellas have been crying up a storm about the BS…I mean BCS and begging for a playoff system. Honestly I think our president elect was joking about throwing his weight around about the playoff system and is basically making the same argument that just about everybody makes about the BCS - if you’re ranked #3 like we were last year when we were clearly one of the top 2 teams in the nation then you have no shot at winning the national championship.
I would personally just have a 5 team playoff if it was me. The number one team gets a bye week while the other 4 play their games. The next round would see the lowest seed getting the number 1 seed with the other two teams playing each other for a spot in the national championship.
By Will
November 18, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Hey Redneck, George Bush is NO conservative! Just because he has a republican nametag on means nothing! Liberal idiots such as yourself should love him, just as much as you do Jimmy Carter.
By Bamafan
November 18, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Obama is just saying this to get people and the media to like him and make him look good in the tv and radio print. Fox News will have a story about Obama getting the idea from some Big Ten power broker and will kill the story and idea in a week!! Obama needs to worry about the jobs people are losing and the stock markets before some football playoffs!! I WISH RONALD REAGAN WAS STILL ALIVE AND PRESIDENT!! THIS COUNTRY IS GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL!! ROLL TIDE FOLKS!!
By GHOST OF ERK RUSSELL
November 18, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
SAINT NICK I AGREE-I DONT SEE A REASON WE CANT GO TO A PLUS ONE IN 2010.TO DO A TRUE PLAYOFF YOU WOULD HAVE TO TRIM REG SEASON BACK TO 11 GAMES.THE BCS IS AT LEAST BETTER THAN THE 1950S AND 1960S WHERE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS WOULD BE AWARDED BEFORE THE BOWL SEASON.THAT IS WHY ALABAMA SAYS THEY HAVE 12 NC WHEN THE TRUE NUMBER IS 6 AND THE SEC CHAMP GAME VS FLA COULD GET UGLY,WE HAVE PLAYED BOTH- FLA IS A MUCH BETTER TEAM,FLA CAN SCORE 2 TDS IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES.DONT CARE WHO WINS JUST SHARING A COACHES PERSPECTIVE.GO DAWGS
By Huh BCS Sucks?
November 18, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
By The BCS Sucks
November 18, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
.. Are you telling me that a 3-loss Oregon State Pac-10 champ would deserve a slot in the playoffs over Alabama?…
OK, so you don’t understand the PAC 10 rules. If USC and Oregon State both win out, they are Co-Champions. Oregon State will get the Rose Bowl berth by means of the tie-breaker (head to head win).The Championship is shared.
Now if the Pac 10 had a playoff I would assume it would mean a rematch between Oregon State and USC at a NUTRAL SETTING. USC is ranked #6 and easy beat Stanford who defeated Oregon State. They would defeat Oregon State in championship game. Do you think Ole Miss would beat Florida in a rematch? What would a playoff prove?
By Urban Myer
November 18, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
What’s so bad about the BCS?
I like to play dominos.
I like how things fall in to place.
It would be great to beat Texas Tech by 20 in the title game.
I bet the BCS will leave out USC in the end.
The BCS rocks!
By Huh Spanky?
November 18, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
By Spanky
November 18, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
…Ironically, a single loss in conference may not matter, as a team like USC this year would still have a shot…
O’ and of course so would Florida, let’s not forget they got served at HOME by Ole Miss, you f@#king SEC Homer. What hypocrites. You inbred morons.
By KR
November 18, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
It’s good that Senator Obama has an opinion, but the federal government should stay out of this one. I think they have a few, more pressing issues to tackle.
However, I’m not sure I agree with Tony’s belief that every game matters now.
For example, what really mattered about the Auburn vs. UGA game of this past weekend? Both teams were out of contention for SEC championship game and the BCS trophy game.
If UGA had lost, would it really affect their eventual bowl destination THAT much? And if it did, who cares?
Even if, through some miracle, Auburn manages to beat Alabama in the last game of the regular season it won’t keep ‘Bama from the SEC championship game. It might not even have an effect on their BCS trophy game aspirations.
Also, should such a miracle occur and Auburn becomes bowl eligible, I won’t go out of my way to make time to watch whatever bowl game they play. In my opinion, 6-6 teams do not deserve to be “rewarded” with a post-season bowl game.
By SEC Homers
November 18, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
You friggin SEC Homers go on and on about beating the Suckeyes, WTF, they are the Suckeyes. USC put a much worse beating on them than you. When you beat a decent team for a championship CALL ME, and I’ll alert the press.
By Charlie
November 18, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
* A COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF WILL NOT DIMINISH THE REGULAR SEASON *
A playoff will change the regular season. Change is not always bad.
Instead of having 5 teams with a shot at the National Title, there will be 16-20 teams with a shot at the national title. During the regular season, there will be MORE excitement than there is now.
And, get the damn writers and pollsters out of the process.
By bhamwreck
November 18, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
To thrashyou: The most popular sport in the world does not use a playoff in most of the important leagues to determine a champion (soccer). I like the +1 format for that very reason - it will still keep the regular season meaningful but will avoid 99% of the total shafts (ala Auburn 2004) It will also encourage strong out-of-conference matchups. Frankly I was glad Auburn got shafted in 2004 because they had a weak weak OOC schedule. It was sort of karma because one of the first things Tuberville did when he got the Auburn job was to cancel a game with FSU - remember the “war chicken”?
By vhhsawb
November 18, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Only if they begin to pay the players and abandon all pretence of them being student/athletes. This whole thing is beginning to make me ill.
By EB
November 18, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
Here’s a radical suggestion to determine the Division 1 football champion. “A 16-TEAM PLAYOFF”. A playoff system seems to works very well to determine championships for other division levels for every sanctioned sport. Stop picking the champion according to the opinions of sportswriters and coaches. Make them earn it on the field. Non-playoff supporters should not be worried whether the ultra-priviledged and pampered players can compete in December and jeopardize their cash cow system.
By The BCS Sucks
November 18, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Let me clear up a few things for those with questions.
First, I used the Oregon State example to illustrate that a conference champion may have 3 losses. Let’s say they did play USC in a conference title game and by some miracle, they beat them again. I pose the same question, would you still put a 3-loss champion in a playoff spot above a team like Alabama which had its only loss in their own conference championship game?
Second, having a playoff with 8 spots would not result in teams scheduling a bunch of crappy teams. The system I’m supporting would still use the poll system to determine the top 8 teams. If you pad your schedule with a bunch of weak teams, you probably won’t get ranked that high. Maybe strength of schedule should carry more weight than it does now in a new system.
Which leads me to the third clarification. The regular season would still be just as important because you need to win to stay ranked in the top 8. What moron thinks Florida would sit out its starters for the FSU game to save them for the SECCG???? If Florida loses to FSU, there’s a big risk of being ranked outside the top 8! Not only that, but in my system, they would also risk losing home field advantage. Ask Florida what they would prefer, play say Penn State in sunny Florida or in the snow at State College??
My system would work. The BCS people just need to use that lump located three feet above their a$$
By WTF: Clay Aiken's #1
November 18, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
I love President Obamo. I voted for him because Kanye West said to. Kayne is the voice of my generation! Goooooooooo sawwwgs sick em! woo woof
By bama12titles
November 18, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
8 team playoff will never happen. Just too much money between the various bowls. It will never happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A plus one would have worked virtually every time but there are circumstances where a plus one is simply not necessary. In 2005 it was obvious that Texas and USC, the 2 lone bcs unbeatens, were to meet for the title. No need for a plus one in this scenario. In the 2004 scenario with 3 unbeatens a plus one would have been perfect, especially for Auburn. But is it really fair if one team finishes unbeaten to have them play 2 more games. If for example either Texas Tech or Bama finishes as the only unbeaten would it be fair for that team to have to play 2 games to win it all? In the circumstances where there are not 2 clear cut unbeaten teams then a plus one format should be introduced for that season. If you go back and look at history a plus one would have been perfect for all seasons where there are not 2 clear cut contenders.
By Whoshon for Heisman
November 18, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
IS THERE GOING TO BE A BLACKOUT FOR THE TECH GAME? GOOOOOOO DAWGS!
By barack obama
November 18, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
Not only will I deliver the country from the clutches of the second great depression and the evil BCS, I will balance the budget, create peace in the middle east, cure aids, cure cancer, end poverty, make peace with the islamic nations, and give everyone a tax break.
I am announcing today that I am appointing Tony Barnhart as my first secretary of college football. Tony will fix the BCS system and then go forth to spread peace and sunshine throughout the world!!
Do not worry, my minions. Change is coming……..
By Sam Houston
November 18, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
It is a shame when a team can break even with a 6 and 6 record and be rewarded with a bowl. Seems to me a team that loses as many as they win should stay home. Under our current system mediocure teams go to these bowls and sometimes lose money. It is an embarrasement to show these games on tv when the stands are half empty. When half of the major college football teams can go to a bowl only needing a 6-6 record we have way too many bowls. Why not cut out some of these meaningless games and work on a four or eight team playoff. Every year we vote on our national champion, why not let them decide it on the field? Seems to work for the smaller colleges, but maybe their athletes are not quite as fragile as the big boys.
By Good local restaurants
November 18, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
There is nothing, and I mean nothing, better than reading comments from a bunch of yahoo crackers about a silly college football playoffs.
By Gen Neyland
November 18, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
Let’s travel ahead to the 57th president of the United Socialist States of America, and an odd acronym for today’s modern times, the new and improved USSA… President William Barak Reid-Rodham, III petitions the Supreme Court’s 18 judge panel to delve into 91st Amendment of the Constitution regarding a possible presidential order requiring the 108 Senators to pass a resolution to raise the current college playoff system of an eight team playoff to sixteen teams. All D-1 schools will share all revenues collected after the 75% federal tax check is recieved at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Senator Piper Palin-Kennedy I-AK, now in her 80’s, wants the University of Alyaska’s domed facility in Fairbanks, Yukon Field, to host the Final Four event scheduled for early April…
By CrimsonRedScarlett
November 18, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
By WTF??
November 18, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
coloreds not welcome to post here “Good local restaurants”
By Redneck Idiot Sportsfan
November 18, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
Gen. Neyland,
Man, you are so wrong about the future. In the future all Presidents will be Palins. In 2012 we gonna elect Sarah. Then we gonna elect Todd in 2020, then we gonna elect each one of Sarah’s five kid’s from 2028 on. We even gonna elect the little Down Syndrome baby. Hell, they say he’s already as smart as Bush.
I knew we was in trouble when we started lettin those people go to schools with OUR kids and THIS is the result. George Wallace and Strom Thurmond was right!!!!
Hey that reminds me: when we susseeedin from the Union agin? Where’s tonite “political meetin?” I gots my Diddy’s shotgun ready to go!
By pomogeek
November 18, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Um, I think the 60 Minutes conversation was intended to be light-hearted - - not government policy.
By addicted
November 18, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
I bet most of the people who are cursing Obama are the same ones who were telling Bush critics that they should “support their commander-in-chief”.
That being said, it was quite obvious the “throw my weight around” was a joke. Unfortunately, it seems people don’t understand subtle humor anymore.
By David S.
November 18, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
To tell the truth. Usually the best team usually does not belong to the BCS. Who says that teams like Boise State, Ball State or Utah could not be the best team in the country? Look at what Boise State did to Oklahoma? How would they do if they played Ohio State for the two undefeated team facing each other for the National Championship? I say Boise State would have blown Ohio State away big time in that bowl game. The current BCS system is a joke because the big name schools does not want the smaller colleges to steal their parade. The current system is bogus and very boring, and a lot of fans would rather see Boise State, Utah and Ball State in these BCS bowl games than very sorry teams from the Big East and the ACC with losing records.
By G8R GRAD
November 18, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Bamafan:
What is it with you people?
Stop living in the past!
Bryant and Reagan are both dead!
By Nachos
November 18, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
G8R GRAD - bama fans are living in 2008 buddy…. 11-0! and YES we beat Ole Miss, how did Florida do against them??
By David S.
November 18, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
One other thing. We need to do away of the BCS who is really in control by ADs of the big schools like Oklahoma, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Penn. State, Ohio State and other big schools. Face it, they want to bore us fans to death with these dumb bowl setups with lousy teams in the big bowl games. They need to face it for them to get the money, they need to do away the rules and allow the teams like Boise State, Utah and Ball State vying for the National Championship when they go undefeated.
Last year, I would have rather watched an undefeated Hawaii versus Ohio State for the National Championship than watching a two lost team of LSU against Ohio State.
I would watch the Ohio State against Boise State for the National Championship than the Ohio State versus Florida. I saw those two national championship games as jokes, and I refuse to watch them because they always leave out the best teams who went undefeated that are not in any BCS conferences. I know a lot of people stop watching the championship games because of the joke that the BCS have become.
I consider Tulane, Utah and Boise State as National Championship when all three of them went undefeated the years they got shafted by the BCS.
By Got 12?
November 18, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
David S.,
The current BCS stystem (specifically the Computers) punish teams for playing weak schedules. It affects non-BCS teams and sometimes BCS teams (Auburn 2004, USC this year).
Since you can’t help who you play in-conference, the solution is to schedule non-conference games against big name BCS schools—not Miss St., NC St, and other BCS cans. Call the big boys. Sure, it will take a few years to get on the their schedules but it would solve the strength-of-schedule and national perception problems.
By Hey G8R
November 18, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
Hey G8R:
Natchos got a point. Tell us again why losing AT HOME to a bottom feeder is ok.
Your playing great now, but there is that pesky loss to a Cellar dweller.
OU, Texas, USC; they all lost 1 game, to teams currently ranked in the top 25 teams, on the road. Why should your loss to an unranked team at home not put you below all of them?
Keep drinking the SEC Kool-Aid.
By Hey Got 12
November 18, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
I couldn’t agree more Got 12. Schedule top tier OOC games.
Who would you suggest? Maybe former BCS champions, teams with 10 or 11 wins a season, teams that play for championships every year or so; like say, Ohio State. Then if you beat those teams by O’ maybe 35 points or so, and they are ranked #10 in the BSC; that should mean something, ya think?
By Hey David S.
November 18, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
You wrote:
…”I consider Tulane, Utah and Boise State as National Championship when all three of them went undefeated”…
I think you may want to consider therapy. Your delusional, you moron.
By Got 12?
November 18, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
Hey,
In case you were referring to SC, SC has played and will only play two ranked teams all year—10.Ohio State and 21.Oregon State. You punished Ohio State. Good for you. But you lost to an Oregon State (7-3) team that lost to Stanford, Utah, and Penn State (by 31 points).
Let’s be serious, you guys are lucky to be no. 6. The teams ahead of you have played and beaten a lot better competition.
In case you weren’t referring to SC, I apologize.
By Anonymous
November 18, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
“Hey G8R” and “Nachos”:
$uck my Florida.
By BravesFan79
November 18, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Let me be the first to say that Kanye West is one overhyped piece of crap that needs a good btchslapping. “Man… me iz so important i should b in da bible or sum sht”
Now exclusively…… is Kanyes mention in the Bible: “And Abraham saw a figure come from the bushes, that did jump around like a monkey and talk alot without making sense. Unfortunatly Kanye was yelling outside a Lions den….Abraham tried to warn him but couldnt get a word in over Kanyes pointless rambling….Kanyes last words were “wha dat” before he was torn limb from limb.”
By BravesFan79
November 18, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
True College Fans….dosent matter who your favorite team is. If your team isnt among the final 2 in the title game…. DONT GO TO THE GAME! And DONT WATCH ALL THE POINTLESS GAMES ON TV!!!!
Your sport will always SUCK compared to NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and College Hoops. Thank God im not from alabama where theres nothing BUT college football… sucks for yall!
GO Braves, Falcons, and Jets!!
By Spanky
November 18, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
I take exception to being called an SEC Homer (much worse than being called inbred).
Using USC as an example of a 1-loss team this year that is on the outside looking in (but would have a shot in a playoff) and not Florida is because Florida is ranked in a position where if they win their remaining games, they will go to the NC game. USC can’t say the same thing. They could still go with a lot of help. Same with Penn State, Texas, Oklahoma, and possibly Utah.
By dawgthabootyhunter
November 18, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
There is nothing, and I mean nothing, better than reading comments from a bunch of yahoo coloreds about racism this and racism that, and oh yeah college football playoffs!! Thanks “Got good racism”, I mean, “Got good restaurants” for your opinion. Your opinion means squat!! Now get back to shining my shoes!
By Got 12?
November 18, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
BravesFan,
This a college football blog. This is no place for you, but since you’re here:
College football is not as good as a sport where 9-7 (NFL) is a successful season? Or sports where teams without winning records make the playoffs (MLB, NHL, NBA)? Or a sport where 65 teams (college hoops) make the post season?
College football needs some form of playoff but your examples stink.
Now go back to the Braves blog and wait for it to be reactivated next March.
By Huh Got 12?
November 18, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
OK, so let me make sure I have your SEC logic (what a oxymoron) right. Losing a road game to #21 (7-3) Oregon State is worse than losing at home to an unranked (6-4) Ole Miss.
” The teams ahead of you have played and beaten a lot better competition”
By Ed
November 18, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Keep in mind that Obama is the same guy who, while campaigning in Pennsylvania, referenced the “Nitally” Lions. I don’t think he knows much about college football if he can’t correctly identify the mascot of one of the top-20 programs of all time. He’s just doing the populist thing.
By Got 12?
November 18, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
My post (and thank you for quoting me) says:
” The teams ahead of you have played AND beaten a lot better competition”
You have beaten Ohio State. That’s it.
Oklahoma has played AND beaten 16. TCU and 19. Cincinnati (and will play 2. Texas Tech and 12. Ok St.).
Florida has played AND beaten 23. Miami, 18. LSU, and 11. Georgia (and will play 1. Alabama).
Texas has played AND beaten 5. Oklahoma, 13. Missouri, and 12 Ok St.
Bama and Texas Tech are undefeated, so you have no argument there.
By BravesFan79
November 18, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
Got12: In the NFL teams never face such inferior competition like the cupcakes that College Football teams play. College Football is the ONLY sport i can think of where u NEVER hear of a “cinderella team” win it all.
For example Boise State in 06.
If Hockey was set up like CF… the USA would of NEVER of won it all in 1980. And the Boston Celtics would of not been in the finals last year because they sucked the year before.
In college football… if your not ranked in the top 15 or so at the START of the season… you might as well not even play the games. Whats the point when your biggest aspiration is a trophy of some Cow? (the chic fillet bowl)
Any sport where a team can go UNDEFEATED and still have NO SHOT at a title… is NOT A SPORT…its a PAGENT!!! Sooo keep parading your little girls pagent Got 12….i enjoy a MANS sport…. NFL!!
Aparrently the little girls in your sport will cry and turn into dust if forced to play a few more games.
Owait… i forgot about football players being such “book worms” that it would take away from their study time.
Perhaps the BCS is right…. football players are just 2 dumb naturally compared to other athletes…and therefore cant afford to miss anymore classes.
Tebow and Stafford being a few exceptions.
By BravesFan79
November 18, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
If the BCS controlled the NFL… the Falcons would of never been “voted” into the Super Bowl in 98, and the Giants wouldn’t of made it last year.
Facts are…. sometimes the best teams DO loose…by a fluke fumble or fieldgoal…ect… and sometimes they loose a game because their best player is out… (DJ against Florida)
I believe that UGA team led by DJ Shockley and their dominant defense could of beat ANYONE on a given day…. just like i believe GT led by Joe Hamilton could of competed for the title in the late 90’s.
Both teams…if put in a 8 or 16 team playoff, would of done well.
Im tired of seeing all the great Cinderella stories get squashed just because they werent great 2 years in a row and didnt start the season in the top 10.
Got 12: You see… im a fan of sports and competition. I like Baseball, NFL (real football), UFC and Boxing, while you probably perfer dog shows and bodybuilding competitions where they rub oil all over each other and do posedowns Face it cat… your sports a joke.
By Passing Observation
November 18, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
It appears that there are a lot of frustrated rednecks out there since the election. Funny that they also appear to be fans of a sport dominated by African-American athletes by about 10 to 1. Of course, no one ever gave these sorts of people credit for having logic.
I suggest that you morons watch men’s figure skating instead. I think that the white guys will be dominating that sport for a while. Besides you rednecks know that you think that Brian Boitano is even cuter than your goat.
By BravesFan79
November 18, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
Passing Observation: the #’s you pointed out is exactly why we all know College Football players are dumber than other athletes. There was a study done in the 70’s by scientist studying IQ’s and nationality…and heres the results.
Average IQ of Asians 105 Average IQ of European whites 102 Average IQ of African blacks 70 Average IQ of American blacks 85 (improved from mixing with other races)
So you see….. yall need us… ALOT more than we need yall! And sorry but all the fat dumb white chics yall get …….with IQ’s of around 80 dont do anything to help yall out.
Funny how blacks like to say there more athletic… ect… yet the top Fighter in the WORLD is a white guy (Fedor) and the top Boxers in the world currently are white and latino.
As a poor white person i actually support Obamas ideas, but dont like how every black person went from calling him a “uncle tom” when he said blacks needed to step up and be men instead of deadbeat dads…… to him being their savior.
I for one… know the difference bt a no good chimp……….and a quality person of color.
Sadly… yall have alot more chimps than quality among your men under 35.
By BravesFan79
November 18, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UIcqGln6lI
what happens when a ex football player thinks he can fight just because hes black…… haha… FEDOR BABY!! The baddest man on the planet!
By NEXT#13
November 18, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
Ghost of erk russell,SHUT THE HELL UP!!!YOU ARE DEAD!!! YOU DON’T KNOW SQUAT…FOOL!!!LOOK THIS UP(IT’S IN THERE)!!! The NCAA record book credits THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA with 17,that’s right,count’em 17 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP’S!!! The university says 12(when you have soooooo many why squabble)!!!It’s doesn’t matter what you, espn(sux),or anybody else says(whats it to you anyway,I suspect ENVY)!!!IT IS WHAT IT IS.GET OVER IT!!!FOOL!!!
By Tony don't know BCS
November 18, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
Hey Tony, the plus one is crap. Most college coaches WANT a playoff system. Any knowledgable CFB fan WANTS a playoff system. Your talking about a couple presidents from Pac Ten & Big Ten being against. Those two dominos can be pushed around with Obama’s power & intellect. Yopu media types say the same BS every time there is a push for playoff…OH WAIT TILL THE NEXT TV CONTRACT……it will happen…BS!!! So we have a few Andy Rooney types against a realistic 16 team playoff. I hope Obama shoves this playoff deal thru and FORCES them to have a playoff.
By No one-loss teams allowed
November 18, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
Undefeated Texas Tech v.s Undefeated Alabama would be the best scenario.
By Zeb
November 18, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this
Tony…..you’re a smart columnist. You pit the 2 biggest things important to a lot of people against each other…………the presidential election…..and anything to do with college football. While I’m a huge college fan…………..I’m more a worried American taxpayer than anything. Now you guys that say this is a sports blog…..Tony brought this up……so STFU…….If he can bring about a playoff then he’ll be better than gawd……..The SEC would be better off endorsing the Fair Tax than a dam playoff system……….now..any of you guys that understand the Fair Tax…….please disagree…..and of the morons that don’t agree with the Fair Tax…………all you have to is ask…………and we’ll change your mind.
By Big 12 Commish
November 19, 2008 7:22 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately, Tony is probably right about the possibility of a playoff system. I think the evidence is in this blog that people can’t agree on this and don’t have enough power to change it if they wanted to change it.
So, welcome to enjoying the BCS for the rest of your lives. Besides, if you wanted to change it you won’t change it by posting your opinion on this blog. You have to actually have some influence with those that are in the decision making position.
I don’t think that Tony or his readers are decision makers as far as the BCS is concerned.
Besides, I have already decided to award Texas Tech the national championship anyway. :-)
By Nachos
November 19, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Anonymous: Ole Miss 31 - Florida 30; Alabama 24 - Ole Miss 20. See ya at the dome douche rocket!
By Fleischman
November 19, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
THE BIG 12 CANT PLAY DEFENSE! DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS! (ask Georgia fans, they would know).
By SB
November 23, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
Prez elect Obama said as a fan, and in line with the vast majority of fans, that a playoff is desired. That was factual. So, you might of written your piece in the context that it was meant to be in, rather than disrespecting Mr Barack who was speaking on behalf of fans. What Journalsim school did you go to? The south….OMG!!!
By twhaleye
November 23, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
It will change when the fans unite and say with a collective voice, “No more”. When the jersey. tshirt. hats, and all other things football sales don’t come off the shelves. When ticket sales spiral down and sponsors products don’t sell, that is when you will see the change so many of us want to see. Unfortunately, I don’t see this happening. Ever! Hope I’m wrong.