From: johndoe@crispus.inmet (johndoe)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Re: Bowl Games vs. Playoff System
Date: 10 Nov 92 05:37:46 GMT
Article-I.D.: crispus.JOHNDOE92Nov10.013747
Reply-To: johndoe@inmet.com (Bus error - core dumped)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Intermetrics, Inc.

In article <1992Nov10.054223.29323@oz.plymouth.edu> j_hardin@oz.plymouth.edu (James J. Hardin) writes:
>   Every football season the dispute continues over the #1 team in the country.
>   With this dispute, the cry goes out for some type of play-off system.
>   Undoubtely, a play-off system will determine a clear-cut national championship.
>   I have always liked the bowl games.  There is nothing better than
>   huddling around the TV on New Year's Day nursing a hangover with your
>   friends and trying to watch as much football as possible.  But this
>   season has made me think that a play-off system wouldn't be a bad
>   idea.  Why?  Because I want to know who the best team in the country
>   is and I want to see it decided on the field.  I'm tired of seeing the
>   national championship decided by a group of sport writers who seem to
>   know  nothing about football.  These guys change their minds over #1
>   more than I change my underwear.  Just because these guys may write
>   and follow college football for a living doesn't make them experts.  I
>   probably watch as many games as they and nobody is asking me for my vote.
>
>...
>
>   *****Just some rumos that I hear and read.  Please, tell me what you
>   think about this whole dilemna.
>

i like the current ncaa system just fine.  

first off, a national playoff might answer most of the critics questions,
but you'll always have the occaisions when a team that gets into a playoff
is considered 'not the best team', and sneaks away with a victory because of
a ref's call or weather conditions.

but, on top of that, i find that the current system is so unique, and it
provides a heightened interest and intrigue to the game all year long, and a
team can be considered to have a good (or not so good, depending on the
annual reputation of the team) year just by making or not making the top 10
or top 20.  this year, kansas would probably consider itself to have had an
excellent year if it stays in the top 20, and they will certainly get to
play in a bowl game someplace.  yet finishing 17th (or even 9th in some
schemes) would leave them out of the bowl picture, probably a pretty great
disappointment.  the same can be said of the team having a bad season which
knocks of a "top10" or "top20" opponent.  knocking off a "playoff bound"
opponent just doesn't have the same romantic ring.

it's uniqueness also gives it a great deal of history that finds a
comparison basis only in an event like the world series, final four, or
super bowl.  teams are often listed in these events by '... appearances'.
teams in college football are known by their bowl appearances and top10
finishes.  in so many other sports, including pro football, basketball, and
hockey, so many teams are playoff teams that some of the luster of being a
playoff team has worn off.

and, unlike so many other playoff systems, the season ends dramatically when
the championship game is over.  for so many seasons in college football, the
season lives on as various pundits argue the merits of one team versus
another and how they're ranked in the polls.

keep the bowls, their tradition, and the uniqueness it provides in the
sporting world.

-johndoe
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college