Yesterday, the Georgia House, the legislative branch of the state of Georgia, voted 151-9 in favor of a resolution in favor of the NCAA to create a college playoff for FBS college football, formerly known as Division I-A.What an embarrassment.
In what some are calling the most relevant political year since 1968...
In a year in which the state of Georgia is in the midst of a drought of biblical proportions...
In a year in which the country is at war, the housing market is crashing, recession looms around every corner, and the first election since the 20s taking place in which a former President or Vice President is not running for the most prestigious, powerful position in the world...
The Georgia House has struck upon the most important issue of our times.Yes, a college football playoff.
It is all nice and fun arguing the logistics of a college football playoff when you do so as a fan, as a coach, as a player, even as a athletic director. Much like beating a dead horse.
Those are parties, however, who we except to make arguments for and against a playoff. Those are parties who logistically should even be making those arguments.
Undoubtedly, many members of the Georgia House, like many members of politics in general, are huge college football fans. I can't blame them. It's a great sport.
But perhaps they should reevaluate why they were elected to their positions.
Much like Michael Adams, President of UGA, before them, these members of the Georgia House are an embarrassment.
Instead of taking the brief time the House is in session to discuss relevant issues that they can do something about, such as water management or traffic congestion, they have chosen to waste time and taxpayer money on a vote for a resolution of a college football playoff.
Do they honestly believe this action is going to do anything?
The NCAA already knows people don't like the BCS.
News flash. They don't care.
If the President came out tomorrow against the BCS, do you honestly think that the NCAA will do anything?
Politicians sometimes get too full of themselves. They believe because they are in office their voices are more important than the voices of others. Yes, they have a grander stage to make a point, as evidenced even by this action, but perhaps they should use this stage to fight for things that they can have a direct impact upon.
A college football playoff is not one of those things.
So, in conclusion, to Michael Adams, your job as the President of UGA is not to whine about a playoff so you can appeal to alumni who you have alienated time and time again. Your job as President of UGA is to ensure the education of the students of the University. It is to make sure good research gets done. It is to make sure the University stays financially stable.
To the Georgia House, how about we make some positive strides in traffic congestion and water management? Perhaps try to figure out why you and your bonehead predecessors thought it wise to build a stadium a decade ago and not expand rail service to within three miles of it. Try that if you want to dabble in sports.
At least that has something to do with something you can control and make positive changes to.
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5 months ago
Shoot, if Lester Maddox was still around UGA would visit the NCAA headquarters with axe handles, and we'd have a playoff.
Seriously you make a very good point.
from 5 months ago
Haha. Good point.
Thanks for posting.
5 months ago
Rusi I get the point, but the paper said they only spent 10 minutes on the matter. I read your bio and diden't see where you are from, but I can tell you most of the people in GA dont think it was a waste of time, College not pro football is like a Religion in the whole State of GA, most UGA fans wouldent keep up with GA basketball ect, if they were reaked in the top five. I think it's about time someone with a voice Michael Adams, the ST senate of GA and anybody else with a voice goes public and puts some pressure on these power hungry nimrods BCS, ESPN, Rose Bowl, Pac 10, Big 10. You can say well GA maby got left out and that's why these people are making noise but these sentimats have been building up for a while now. Most SEC fans felt that UGA got shafted in 02, 13-1. no NCG. Auburn definatly got screwed, 13-0. I a UGA fan was just as mad about Aub as I am about UGA. A few years from now when we, all as College football fans finaly get to enjoy a real playoff and NCG, I hope you will remember who started the ball rolling. I think it intersting you don't hear people up North or out West talking much about a playoff. Well they haven't got screwed lately. When we watch Ohio St sit idle with no chance to lose while two SEC teams take a chance in SEC Championship game and OS gets rewarded it shows one thing, this field aint level. I hope we see more people voice their displeasure with this Political Monopoly. I am proud the GA senate voiced there's.
from 5 months ago
Thanks for posting Mark.
I am from Georgia and got three degrees from UGA, probably why I write a lot of articles about UGA. I am a die-hard Dawg fan, but the whining has got to stop.
I don't know if you went to UGA but most people who have been around Michael Adams saw his recent actions for what they were, especially in light of him being against a college playoff as recently as last season. Adams was just trying to appease to the masses.
I don't believe that there are any SEC fans that felt UGA got jobbed in 2002. UGA was 13-1 that season and both Ohio State and Miami were undefeated. UGA lost to an inferior Florida team that season. Everyone I knew was happy UGA won the SEC....and blamed Terence Edwards for the dropped pass at Florida (even though that was not the only reason UGA lost).
The only team in the BCS era that has had a serious gripe about being left out of the title game is that Auburn team. They were undefeated. I don't know if you are old enough to remember pre-BCS bowl games, but it had gotten to the point that it was near every year that there was a team that was getting hosed out of a national title shot and they had a legitimate gripe.
Even if the Georgia House spent only ten minutes on the matter, that is ten minutes they would have better spent on something more important.
As for people up North and out West talking about a playoff, I believe they are talking about it, it's just that SEC fans are way more vocal about their displeasures. As you said, that is because football is religion down here.
But, to get back to my original point, the Georgia House needs to not dabble in things that they were not elected for. Personally, I would rather see them do something positive with those ten minutes than waste their time and my money on something as irrelevant as a resolution to the NCAA for a college playoff. I don't even know if they know this, but the BCS is not a NCAA event. Their resolution wouldn't have an effect because the bowls are not NCAA governed.
5 months ago
Uhhhhhh, FBS was formerly known as Division I-A, not Division I. Since 1978 Division I has had 2 subdivisions and they are now FCS (plays for the NCAA championship) and FBS (plays for bowl games).
from 5 months ago
Good Call. Let that one slip.
Thanks for posting.
5 months ago
Why, if you are for a playoff, would you want the whining to stop. The only way that things will ever change is if people on a "grander stage" keep whining and putting the pressure on those who have the power. People like me have not power and therefor no voice. These guys have a voice, so I think its great to that they are using it. I think that if all 50 states had this vote that there would be some action taken. If people like you keep harrasing them for doing the work "of the people" then they will become discouraged and confused about what "we" really want. How about a little encouragement for them since they finally listened to "the people"!!
from 5 months ago
"The people" want a lot of things that the legislature has no power to change. No state assembly is going to be able to make there suddenly be a playoff. Congress cannot do it. The President cannot do it. Placing pressure....well, if the NCAA is like what I think it is, this does nothing but waste time.
The NCAA already knows people are clamoring for a playoff. They do not take heed in who is clamoring. They just know people are clamoring.
For the record, and it has led to bashing before, I am against a playoff. I have yet to see a playoff format that is both pragmatic and would provide a legit champion. Many people have ideas of what would be a great playoff format, and many of them look great on paper....until you look at the logistics, involving money, sponsors, and academics.
The problem is creating a playoff for four, eight, or even sixteen teams is often at the expense of many other schools, and is definitely at the expense of academics.
A legislature using their voice, even for or against a playoff is ridiculous. That is not their job and it is not something they have power over. If they were truly doing work "of the people" they would be doing something to make the lives "of the people" better.
Whining about a playoff is not going to make anyone's life better.
Thanks for posting.
5 months ago
first i do want to agree with you that the issue of a college playoff system is definitely not an issue for the legislature of Georgia or any other state, for that matter. but, it most definitely is a issue for college presidents (though it probably shouldn't be on top), for they are the one that run the NCAA, not athletic directors, so i will not profess to know anything (or even care) about the issues that are important on the campus in Athens, but this is an issue that should matter on all campuses (and again it shouldn't be that high on the list) but as long as college football means as much to america as it does it matters to everyone (except politicians).
but still sensationalism doesn't do anything but overstate issues. lets face it they only spent ten minutes on an issue they absolutely can't change...instead of on issues that they can't change in ten years with constant voting, so thanks for being such a hypocrite by whining about them whining. so please remember before you write another article that sensationalisms don't really do anything but distract from the real issues and waste everyones time.
5 months ago
As for Michael Adams I will never forgive him for the power play against Dooley. I think all UGA fans will agree but maby just maby the man has seen the light, and is trying to do something right, either way I feel it is in the best interest of the University of GA and the SEC. we should back the man when he's right and it's in the best interst of UGA..
It is obvious you are ok with the BCS. And I have to say almost any College foot ball fan would find many more teams than just Aub who would have benifited from a playoff.
We that are for a playoff are glad the House made the vote If you are for a playoff you have to say it's about time someone stood up on the record against an unjust system that is run to a standard that is on par with a Miss Universe beauty pagent. Any playoff of at least Eight teams will be a much needed improvement.
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