Archie Manning’s seat on the College Football Playoff selection committee was filled this week.
Bobby Johnson, former coach at Vanderbilt and Furman, succeeds Manning on the team that chooses who plays in the playoff and who doesn’t.
Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP, announced Friday afternoon that Manning decided against rejoining the committee. He stepped aside in October after a recent surgery.
“It’s a great group of people and they did a wonderful job last year,” Manning said in a news release from the CFP. “But as I look ahead to the various commitments I have – to my family, numerous time obligations around the country and to other conflicting demands – I have concluded that I won’t be able to return to the committee. I particularly want to watch Peyton and Eli play, in person when I can, and it’s hard to do that when weekends are devoted to watching college games.”
According to the CFP release, Johnson was chosen unanimously by the CFP management committee in a conference call Wednesday.
“I have tremendous respect for the selection committee and I am honored to join the group,” said Johnson. “As a former player and coach, I’m particularly happy about the opportunity to continue to serve the game.”
At Furman, Johnson was a three-time recipient of the American Football Coaches Association Region II Coach of the Year Award and was also the organization’s National Coach of the Year in 2001. In 2008, Johnson was named SEC coach of the year after guiding Vandy to a victory in the Music City Bowl, the school’s first bowl victory in 53 years.
Former Ole Miss star Archie Manning won’t return to his role in helping select the teams for the College Football Playoff. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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