A Message to All Media Members in Favor of a College Football Playoff: Shut Up!

Zach Dirlam by Correspondent Written on January 08, 2009
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Expanding a playoff field to any more than eight teams would cut into the bowl games, which are a big tradition. These games are a great reward for teams at the end of a season and should be left alone.

However, if you only have eight teams, then how do you explain to the team ranked ninth or tenth that they don't deserve to play in the playoff? Well that leaves us in the same situation we're in right now, because somebody still gets left out.

Oh and the reason Texas got left out of their conference championship game was because of their conference's choice of tiebreakers.

If they had the same tiebreaker as most of the major conferences, then it would have come down to the head-to-head game, which means Texas would have been playing for the Big 12 championship.

This was not the BCS's fault; it is the Big 12's fault for having that tiebreaker. The Big 12 has been looking into changing their tiebreaker since this took place.

So now I will ask you all a question. What would a playoff really fix? The answer is absolutely nothing.

Now, Mr. Russakoff, it's your turn. In your article you say, "Season upon season of corruption, tyranny, and illegitimate champions." Just which champions are not deserving?

LSU played one of the toughest schedules in the country last year just like Florida the year before and Texas before them.

Just because USC beats up on pretty much no one in the Pac 10 and wins one big non conference game doesn't mean they should play in the national championship game every year.

This system was designed to make teams stop scheduling weak non-conference opponents. If you play the highest level of competition, and you have the same number of wins and losses as everyone else, then you're probably going to play for a national title.

So until USC stops stubbing their toes against unranked Pac 10 opponents like Stanford and Oregon State, they probably won't be playing for a national title. However, if they would just win the games they're supposed to, then we wouldn't have this conversation.

Also, you said, "If the BCS Championship Game consistently fails to give us the AP champion, how much longer will it really matter?"

Ok, why should their even be an AP champion? Who really cares who wins the AP championship? The real national championship is decided on the field in the championship game. If you don't like it, then stop watching college football.

In all reality, what does the AP poll really mean, Mr. Russakoff? The answer is absolutely nothing. It doesn't factor into the BCS formula and doesn't decide who gets to play for that big trophy with the diamond football on top of it.

So why don't we get rid of it? Well, if we did that then, the people on ESPN couldn't complain about the team that is ranked third and should win this stupid AP championship.

I have just one last thing to say to you, Mr. Russakoff. It is true college football  "crowns its champion with voters and computers." It is also true no other major sport does.

However, this is what makes college football so great. It's why people tune in every Saturday to watch their favorite teams.

This system isn't perfect, but a playoff is nowhere close to perfect either. So all of you sportswriters and analysts quit complaining YOU can't decide who gets to play for the national championship.

Sincerely,

Zach Dirlam

Vote Now! - Author Poll

Which system would you like to see in college football?

  • Keep the BCS
  • 8 team playoff
  • 16 team playoff
  • Other form of playoff
vote to see results
Results - Author Poll

Which system would you like to see in college football?

  • Keep the BCS

    10.7%
  • 8 team playoff

    37.3%
  • 16 team playoff

    44.0%
  • Other form of playoff

    8.0%
  • Total votes: 75
(3)
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written on January 08, 2009 Opinion

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