YES YES and YES...

[1gtfan]

Utah takes down Alabama and socks the sec in the mouth. How bout letting them play UF. ;)

 

[The Jacket]

This win was super impressive and I think Utah is that good. But I think Florida would beat the brakes off of Utah. Alabama's defensive coverage was absolute garbage - Florida is way too good on defense for that.

 

[Rodzilla]

I'm so glad Utah won. The SEC's mighty Alabama got destroyed on national television and Utah went undefeated to give the BCS the big middle finger.

 

[hiveredtech]

I was thrilled with this last night. I have felt Alabama was overrated all year. They are a Top 15 team....not Top 10.

Heck...I think LSU would beat them right now!...they should have earlier in the year.

 

[cajunjacket]

The sad thing is that we will never know how good Utah is because we don't have playoffs. Having a ton of 1v1 games (oh, I'm sorry, "bowls") that lead to nothing but a trophy is pointless. It tells us nothing about how good a team is; not to mention the fact that teams aren't the same in bowl games as they are in the regular season (reference any bowl upsets such as our game and the handful of other upsets). Some coach/player was talking about this on ESPN saying that since they have 3 weeks off before playing a football game, the team is not the same as in the regular season. This is just another proponent for the playoff system in my opinion, because you can't have teams preparing for a month to play one measly football game (adding new elements to offenses/defenses, implementing trick plays, etc.). Since we don't have playoffs, all I can do is continue bitching. Go Utes ... down with the SEC.

 

[ramblinwise1]

I'm so glad Utah won. The SEC's mighty Alabama got destroyed on national television and Utah went undefeated to give the BCS the big middle finger.

My sentiments as well. I was rootin hard for the Utes.

 

[midatlantech]

The sad thing is that we will never know how good Utah is because we don't have playoffs. Having a ton of 1v1 games (oh, I'm sorry, "bowls") that lead to nothing but a trophy is pointless. It tells us nothing about how good a team is; not to mention the fact that teams aren't the same in bowl games as they are in the regular season (reference any bowl upsets such as our game and the handful of other upsets). Some coach/player was talking about this on ESPN saying that since they have 3 weeks off before playing a football game, the team is not the same as in the regular season. This is just another proponent for the playoff system in my opinion, because you can't have teams preparing for a month to play one measly football game (adding new elements to offenses/defenses, implementing trick plays, etc.). Since we don't have playoffs, all I can do is continue bitching. Go Utes ... down with the SEC.

I'm just curious, do you propose that playoffs occur right after the regular season? Do you believe that all the other secondary bowl games will go away?

 

[BEEFENSE]

Bottom Line--We need some sort of Play Off system!

 

[gt7282c@prism]

I'm just curious, do you propose that playoffs occur right after the regular season? Do you believe that all the other secondary bowl games will go away?

That's my biggest concern.

If we go to a playoff system, it has to be broad enough to prevent all the 10-2 teams from bitching that they didn't get a fair shot (see '07 UGAg as an example). By the time you factor them in, you may be taking the top 3 (or even 4) from BCS conferences, and we'd be looking at a 32-team bracket. That's 31 additional games in 5 rounds.

31 playoff games will be the kiss of death for the current bowl structure. While some people may think that's all well and good, these same people are also clueless on the purpose of bowl games.

It ain't just about final ranking, folk. Let's talk recruiting & scouts. If 9-3, 8-4, 7-5 team don't get invited to post season play, they don't get additional exposure on a "national" stage. Recruitment is primarily why I don't like us bowling in the CFA, Smurf, or Nut bowl. We don't need additional recognition in Atlanta, and we're unlikely to draw many players from the West Coast.

And with NFL scouts shifting focus to playoff games, the seniors stuck on those crappy 9-3 teams could be further disadvantaged in the draft. That would certainly effect recruiting as well.

Next, consider the 5 extra rounds. Read back on this thread and you'll see excuses for 'Bama about their key losses due to injury. If a team can't get it's players back healthy for one game after a month off, how in the hell will they sustain up to 5 extra games immediately after a 12-game season?

And if Tech ever makes it... are you going to shell out the cash to attend 5 extra games (don't forget travel & lodging, of course.)

 

[gth816f]

And if Tech ever makes it... are you going to shell out the cash to attend 5 extra games (don't forget travel & lodging, of course.)

Of course not. No one is. A playoff can't be neutral field, except for the final and MAYBE the semifinals. But probably just the finals.

I don't see why you have to stop all the 10-2 teams from bitching. Let them bitch away. You don't see the NFL playoff system collapsing because the Pats didn't get in this year and the Cardinals did. The NCAA tournament still works in basketball even though a couple teams get screwed every year.

The goal is to find the happy medium among screwing less people, having good logistics, and making things good for fans. Pretty much every sport except college football has done that. In college football, they do none of those things: they screw a ton of teams, they have bad logistics(1.5 month layoff between conference championship games and national title game? Does anyone realize how dumb this is?), and (almost) none of the fans are happy.

 

[Yaller Jacket]

There are probably some problems with this, but...

...the little schools take the 16 highest ranked teams and start a weekly playoff like the Sweet 16 in basketball. Couldn't a system be set up where the bowls host this, and the last game rotated? Could the teams that didn't make the 16 still be invited to a bowl not in the playoff system?

 

[gth816f]

Re: There are probably some problems with this, but...

...the little schools take the 16 highest ranked teams and start a weekly playoff like the Sweet 16 in basketball. Couldn't a system be set up where the bowls host this, and the last game rotated? Could the teams that didn't make the 16 still be invited to a bowl not in the playoff system?

No. No one would go to the games. Bowls cannot be used for anything beyond (maybe) a four team playoff. Just give up the idea.

 

[JWE37]

The best way (IMO) for a playoff.

8 teams (use the BCS formula except add points for winning conference and bring back schedule strength)

First round is played weekend before Xmas. That way exams are not missed and layoff is shorter.

Semifinals are played on New years Day. Gotta keep the NYD tradition.

Championship game is played on Jan 8. If Jan 8 is a saturday or sunday, then play it on Monday so it doesnt interfere with the NFL playoffs.

Rotate the Orange, Sugar, Chick-fil-a, Rose, Fiesta, and Cotton as the first and second round games. If the Rose Bowl (or any other bowl committee) is too good for that, then screw them and let them not be a part of it. They can keep their Big1011 vs Pac10 matchup.

Keep the other 20 something bowls. I will still watch and gamble on them.

The pros are we get a TRUE CHAMPION, no missed classes, Bowls are still intact, no NFL playoff interference, NYD tradition still alive, winning conference is still important for seeding, strength of schedule encourages good regular season matchups, and lastly more $$$$ for schools, conferences, bowls, and TV.

The cons are 4 teams will have more than 1"bowl/playoff" games which is a high travel expense. The traditional BCS bowls will be on different dates each year (not always NYD). Second tier bowls will probably have less interest and ticket sales.

I think the pros by far outweigh the cons.

Thoughts???

 

[JWE37]

Re: There are probably some problems with this, but...

No. No one would go to the games. Bowls cannot be used for anything beyond (maybe) a four team playoff. Just give up the idea.

I think with pairity like it is now, there has to be atleast 8 teams. For instance, USC and Utah would have been left out this year with Alabama in as a 4 seed.

 

[gth816f]

Re: There are probably some problems with this, but...

I think with pairity like it is now, there has to be atleast 8 teams. For instance, USC and Utah would have been left out this year with Alabama in as a 4 seed.

I agree wholeheartedly. You just can't use the bowls to do it. In my opinion eight is the perfect number. I could even go as high as 12, like the NFL playoffs, which are widely regarded as impeccable. 16 I think is a little too high.

 

[floridajacket]

If we go to a playoff system, it has to be broad enough to prevent all the 10-2 teams from bitching that they didn't get a fair shot (see '07 UGAg as an example).

I would rather have 10-2 teams bitch than 13-0 teams.

 

[77GTFan]

I have said before, and believe the most workable plan is, a twelve team playoff. The twelve highest ranked BCS teams make the playoff. The only exception would be a BCS "Big 6" Conference Champion not in top 12 gets in - this year that would be Va. Tech, and would have eliminated #12 TCU.

I would play round 1 the first weekend of December and start the season one week earlier. Round 1 would be at the home field of the higher seed. This rewards the top 4 with byes and the next four with home games. This would fill stadiums without requiring travel. Give traveling teams 10,000 tickets to sell through Wednesday. Week one would have been very interesting - Boise State at Penn State, Va Tech at USC, Ohis State at Texas Tech, and Cinncinnati at Utah.

The losers could be invited to bowl games. Bowls could continue as they do now. They would be meaningless with regard to the championship, but they are now.

Quarterfinals would be January 1 and 2 at Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, and Orange. Seeds could choose their venue - this year #1 Oklahoma might choose Fiesta, #2 Florida Miami, #3 Texas New Orleans, which might have sent #4 Bama to Rose.

If home teams won first week, we'd have Penn State vs. Oklahoma, USC versus Alabama, Texas Tech or Ohio State versus Florida, and Utah at Texas.

Play semifinals the next week and the championship two weeks after. You could play semifinals on Sunday night and Monday night to not interfere with NFL. Your championship would be the off weekend for NFL before Super Bowl.

Play semis at warm weather or indoor sits on a rotating basis. Play finals at a rotation of Fiesta, Rose, Sugar, and Orange.

This works and makes money. It lengthens the season for only four teams. This would be fun.

 

[gth816f]

77, that would work except you'd be playing the quarterfinals in front of half empty stadiums. It's just not financially feasible for fans.

 

[gt7282c@prism]

I don't see why you have to stop all the 10-2 teams from bitching. Let them bitch away.

I would rather have 10-2 teams bitch than 13-0 teams.

Consider when last year UGAg was 10-2, yet ranked No. 4, IIRC. Do they go, despite the fact that they didn't get a shot at the SECCG?

What about this year's Big XII situation when OU, TT & UT all finished 11-1. Take all three? If so, who get's snubbed in the process? 10-3 ACCCG winner VPI? 10-2 Big East winner Cincinatti? Politically is the BCS going to be capable of snubbing "BCS teams" that outright win their conference, despite rankings and records?

Possibly do it this way:
16 teams
11 Div 1A conference winners (yes, even from Sun Belt, Mt. W, C USA, Mid-America, etc.)
+5 "at large" spots based on polls.
But this very well could mean that a conference like Big XII sends as many as 4 in a given year (they would have this year).

 

[gth816f]

Consider when last year UGAg was 10-2, yet ranked No. 4, IIRC. Do they go, despite the fact that they didn't get a shot at the SECCG?

Depends on how you choose the rules; you can do conference championships or rankings. Just do it and go with it. There is no perfect system; it's just a fact. That doesn't mean you can't make a good system though. Again, I refer you to the NFL this season.