College Football Playoff: Proposed Code of Conduct for Selection Committee

Now that we know that it’s a selection committee that will decide who plays in the new college football playoff scheme, it’s crucial that they get it right.

Yes, it’s important who is on the committee, but once that is established it will be vital that the members act appropriately in order to properly construct the mini bracket that will decide the national champion.

The following slideshow steps up to the plate and boldly establishes a code of conduct for the gentlemen who will shoulder the burden of identifying the four best teams in the land.

The laws set forth here are far from complete, but they go a long way in laying the foundation upon which the edifice of college football playoffs will stand heretofore.

Notre Dame Shall Not Be Treated Specially

Though the Irish more than likely won’t have the special consideration in the four-team playoff that they did in the BCS format, it’s still important for the selection committee to keep their heads when considering Notre Dame.

No program should be given the edge in fielding the playoff, and that includes the squad that absolutely glitters with media coverage, history and nationwide interest.

The bottom line is, the Irish’s case to make a playoff should be as strong as say Michigan State’s and the selection committee should not show any partiality to Notre Dame, no matter how bad they or the TV people want them included.

The Playoff Shall Not Be a Popularity Contest

It’s no secret that Michigan is a more attractive playoff participant than is Kansas State, but that doesn’t mean that the Wolverines are a better football team than the Wildcats in a given season.

Committee members should remember that this is a not a junior high school vote for the Most Popular kid in 8^th Grade, but instead is a search for the four best football teams on the collegiate level.

USC is far more popular nationwide than is Cal or Oregon State, but that should never be a consideration when the electorate is casting their votes.

 

 

 

Louisville Shall Be Treated the Same as Oklahoma

If the FBS truly offers an even playing field to the 124 schools who participate for a national title, then the selection committee will absolutely have to provide an equal opportunity to each and every school.

Sure, strength of schedule should be a major concern but beyond that all teams should be treated totally equally.

The wisest approach may be to have teams vying for a playoff spot being presented to the committee in a blind fashion, basically providing nameless resumes.

If the new scheme is really to solve the inherent problems in college football, Louisville should be given the same consideration as Oklahoma.

Fanbases That Travel Better Shall Not Be Favored

The committee should give zero credence to how well fanbases travel when deciding which four teams ascend to the playoff.

Potential ticket sales, hotel bookings and projected bar and restaurant income should have no place in deciding who makes the football final four.

This issue is one that the BCS blatantly failed at and therefore is a major opportunity for the new format to fix.

Yes, Arkansas and Oregon fans travel better than those from NC State and Baylor, but that shouldn’t be a factor in the committee’s decision.

TV Income Will Increase By Inviting the Best Four Teams

If the committee is even slightly concerned with how much TV dollars will be generated by the new scheme, then they need only to select the four best teams to max out cash potential.

At the end of the day, picking squads who are well known, travel well or traditionally draw viewers will under draw TV money vs.  teams that truly have earned the right to play for the big cheesy enchilada.

Though it might defy common media perceptions, bringing the people a real playoff with real championship contenders will out draw bringing together four teams who are supposed to, or used to be dominant.

Don’t think so?

Refer to the 2011-12 Gator Bowl pitting 6-6 Ohio State vs. 6-6 Florida.

“Remember the 2012 Gator Bowl!” should be a rallying cry for the college football playoff selection committee.

Conference Affiliation Shall Not Matter

Another important policy for what would truly be a fair and equitable selection process is remembering that a team’s body of work stands separate from their conference affiliation.

The real meat of league membership in terms of championship consideration is all about strength of schedule, beyond that who cares?

Is the team from SEC, the Pac-12, the ACC or the Big 12? It shouldn’t matter as so long as they meet the criteria, relative to the rest of the field, to compete for the national title.

Again, a blind, nameless review of credentials would go a long way in fostering fairness in the selection process.

The Four Best Teams Could Be From Two Conferences

A directive to the committee that takes our last point a step further, the selectors should not be limited to selecting four teams from four separate conferences.

Indeed, if the four best teams in college football come from the Big Ten and Pac-12 then so be it, they should be in the final four.

Though this somewhat dishonors the committee’s proposed commitment to conference champions, the bottom line is that winning your league doesn’t automatically make you one of the four best teams in the land.

 

Thou Shalt Act Anonymous—This Has Nothing to Do with You

Selection committee members should take a nameless approach to their task and operate in the shadowy, unspecified shadow of mystery.

The task of elector and selector should be solely about singling out the best teams in college football and so it should have nothing to do with personality, individuality or the furthering of one’s own agenda.

The time for selfless acts of valor are necessary to save our great sport, the time is now.

 

Thou Shall Vote With Your Mind, Not Your Heart

One of the most difficult tasks ahead in terms of the mini-playoff is putting together the committee of responsible individuals who will pencil in the four-spot bracket that leads to the Promised Land.

College football is so passion-driven that identifying un-biased individuals who have full knowledge of the game, may prove trickier than fielding the playoff itself.

Once chosen, committee members should live by the maxim that voting should be devoid of all feeling, prejudice or predisposition.

Those who are called to duty should be fully prepared to throw their own beloved school, conference or region under the bus if they are not completely qualified to make the playoff.

The reverse of this means that electors must stand ready to wholeheartedly  support the nomination of their most hated rival, or the league they are the most disgusted with if they truly deserve to play in the final four.

A Real National Champion is Better than a Big Wad of Money

Though this directive is somewhat repetitive, it is utterly imperative.

When faced with the choice between obscene financial gain (whether personally or for the playoff organizing party) and equality and fairness, committee members should opt for the latter each and every time.

Selectors should be committed to the idea of providing the greatest team sport in the nation with a real national champion as opposed to a tidy profit.

Anything less is unacceptable.

 

 

 

You Don’t Work For ESPN

Regardless of the power of any media outlet, committee members should remember that their allegiance is to the sport of college football and not those that proudly bring it to our HD TV's.

Influence is a necessary evil but it need not win the day.

 

Games Played Against FCS Teams Shall Cost Dearly

If strength of schedule really is to be the backbone of the selection committee approach to the playoff, the question of FBS teams playing FCS teams desperately needs to be addressed.

If the committee is to be true to the spirit of finding the best teams, games scheduled vs. FCS opponents should not be counted as full wins regardless of previous rulings to the contrary.

FBS teams should play FBS teams, especially since there are 123 foes available.

Yet another opportunity right to the wrongs spawned from the BCS system would be for the selection committee to make FCS games cost programs to the degree that they are no longer scheduled.

 

Patty Cake Schedules Shall Not Be Rewarded

The opportunity presented to the selection committee in terms of strength of schedule could end, once and for all, teams devising an easy schedule in order to reach double digit wins.

While it’s true that program’s can’t control their conference slate, teams should be rewarded or penalized for their selection of non-conference opponents.

Selection committee members need to take this business seriously, their decisions and votes can shape the future scheduling trends in major college football.