Reasons For and Against a Playoff and Who Wins Either Way!

Here you go...another fix for the defunct...yes defunct BCS? No...just more questions.

While I've been a long standing proponent of a playoff, a good young defensive back from Texas shined a tiny little light on a big issue. It's not there job!!!! This young man didn't say it wasn't his job, he simply said playing more football would weigh heavily on the professional students ability to do well academically and participate in collegiate athletics.

So why do we push so hard for or against a college football playoff?

Well...as fans we just won't to see our team awarded fairly for excellent play. But what is the argument really about? The Benjamin's, baby!

These numbers are a couple of years old, but as reported from the Equity in Athletics reports, here's a look at the top 10 football revenue schools (2003-2004):

1) Texas $47,556,281 2) Tennessee $46,704,719 3) Ohio State $46,242,355 4) Florida $42,710,967 5) Georgia $42,104,214 6) Alabama $39,848,836 7) Notre Dame $38,596,090 8) Michigan $38,547,937 9) LSU $38,381,625 10) Auburn $37,173,943

That's a lot of scratch...even for way back then before our economy dropped its pants. The problem is that these kids are STUDENTS. They are there to study, not make the NCAA and these schools, and their coaches, and AD's rich.

The percentage of college football players who make it to the NFL is 0.2%! Of the 9,000 players that make it to the college level, only 310 are invited to the NFL scouting combine. Last year there were 252 players drafted. A season extension through playoffs or otherwise would strain these future mainstream professional's ability to compete with non-athletes.

However... For college football's sake, I still agree with a playoff. However, logistically it would have to succumb to a complete GM style restructuring. Now here's the fix I said I wouldn't give. 12 ten-team, two division conferences (120 teams) playing eight (five in conference, three in division) regular season games.

Each conference playing a conference semi-final and final championship game with the winner going to a "bowl" game. You can even call the conference championship games "Bowl" games. Construct a 10 team playoff, with two byes using Coach's Poll from all 120 coaches to determine top two power ranking for byes.

The conference knuckleheads will never redistrict, but fairness for students and legitimacy for programs will require concessions on both ends. The stipulations must be to keep games under 15 total games and work season byes around mid-terms and finals.

We have to work on exponentially increasing graduation rates...not dollar signs. Increase red-shirt numbers, and preserve the future for these young men instead of riding them to 000,000,000's at the end of your own paychecks.

Staff more mentors for these guys and change the rules to allow all athletic revenues to get these athletes and non-athletes and their families out of situations that would lead them down Plexico-Pacman-Vick's path. Or here's a thought...lower TICKET PRICES so I can take my kids to a game!!

The crux of the argument is concentrate on something worthwhile...don't create more games to increase revenue...create more revenue per game...and create more professionals in every career. BTW—Tebow for Heisman