What SEC Coaches Think of New National Playoff Format

Even though the 2012 season is just around the corner, the 2014 season is gaining a lot of early steam because of the addition of a playoffs system that will come to college football. The SEC players, coaches and commissioner have all been onboard with the system and think the national playoff format will benefit college football, not hurt it. 

There is a difference in opinion on how the format should be laid out, but everyone appears to be onboard with the new system. It just feels like the right move for college football.

The SEC Media Days are the unofficial start of the college football season, and the answers that come from the players and coaches are sifted through more carefully than the sand on the Gulf of Mexico has been after the BP oil disaster. 

So what do the coaches and players think of the new playoff system? 

Steve Spurrier: South Carolina Head Coach

Steve Spurrier handed the media a number of great quotes today, but his most interesting remarks came when asked about the new playoff system for college football. 

Spurrier said, “Well, if I was calling the shots, I would have eight teams go play.” He went on to advocate for the playoff system, but said tweaks would be involved if he was running the show. 

He went on to mention other programs in other sports and how they have had the opportunity that is not currently afforded to every member institution in the highest levels of college football. Spurrier stated:

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“We all know in college baseball, Stony Brook was at the World Series.  If they would have got hot, they could have won the national championship of college baseball.  Butler College or Butler University now, they could have won the national championship in basketball a few years back, twice I guess. But in college football, there's about 10, 12 teams realistically that have a shot at winning it.  So I don't know.  That way you could almost open it up if you had eight teams, take all of the conference champs, at least you could say, We had a shot, it didn't work out.”  

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College football is changing—Spurrier has always been a playoff proponent—and Spurrier is on board. His comments are what makes the new playoff system come into focus. It isn’t about the bigger conferences as much as it is about the teams that have no shot currently. 

This change is a good one and Spurrier made his best statements of the day in regards to the coming change. 

Mike Slive: SEC Commissioner

Mike Slive has consistently been a leader in the discussion when it comes to college football playoffs in the past, and today was no different.

Slive stated in his opening remarks that, “In terms of post-season football, it's no secret the SEC has supported a 14-seeded playoff, the four best teams, for several years starting in 2004, when an undefeated Auburn, the SEC champion, was left out of the national championship hunt.”

Being a part of the cutting edge of the sport has always been the way of the SEC and Mike Slive kept the conference in the conversation with his words. Helping make the right decisions for the sport helps grow the brand and makes the conference look like it wants more competition—I would contend the conference just believes it is that much better.

Slive openly supported the new system—as he always has—and did it without being asked. 

Gary Pinkel: Missouri Head Coach

Gary Pinkel wasn’t asked about the playoffs today—being the new guy has a lot of other concerns and questions—but he has mentioned them in the past.

According to Bill Pollock with missourinet.com, Pinkel has never “really come out and fully endorsed a playoff, but rather hold back on his opinions and support the current system that has been in place.”

Pinkel hasn’t been against the change, but has always laid low with the situation surrounding the looming changes. At this point, I would put Pinkel in the go-with-the-flow category when it comes to the new system. 

Gene Chizik: Auburn Head Coach

Gene Chizik has yet to make his appearance at SEC Media Days, but before the final playoffs system was ironed out, the Auburn head coach chimed in on the situation.

According to WAKA Montgomery, Chizik said “I think you can look at different years and feel different ways. There's been a lot of years that I think the formula that's been in place has worked…then there's been some years where people would question whether that's the best way to do it or not.”

Chizik’s stance is now one that is supportive of the system, but when asked he obviously was open to the move. Careful coaches speak dances throughout the quote by the Auburn head man, but it appears evident he supports the playoffs system. 

Auburn was burned in 2004 by the current BCS system, but it was the system of the day. Chizik was a part of that team, so he understands why the change is needed. I would put Chizik in the Pinkel “whatever happens I support it” category. 

Update: 7.19.12

Gene Chizik came out with the most confusing answer regarding his support of the new playoffs system. Chizik literally filled two minutes of air discussing all the options to why it could be good and why it could be bad. He said he expects changes to come even to the new system. I agree with that, but less confusion and more clarity next time please Gene. 

Read Chizik's comments here.

Mark Richt: Georgia Head Coach

Mark Richt took to the stage for the final day of SEC Media Days as the final coach of the event. Within the first few questions that Richt took, playoffs were mentioned. 

Richt responded with "I think the four-team playoff is going to be outstanding." If that isn't a ringing endorsement I don't know what is. 

Richt went on to say that he liked the system because it didn't destroy the bowl system and the experience that players and families get from the bowl events. He closed the comment by saying that "I just hate to see a day where we might play Florida, and whether you win or lose, you still go to the playoffs."

The playoffs are here, but Richt has it right. The four team playoff is by far the best fit for college football right now. 

Hugh Freeze: Ole Miss Head Coach

Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze was new to SEC Media Days but didn't shy away from chiming in on the new playoffs system when he was asked by the media on Thursday. 

Freeze had this to say:

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I think it's a good thing for our sport. Obviously there's no total fixes to where there's someone that's not going to complain. There will be a fifth or sixth team that gets left out of it that will complain. I do believe it's going to get it right 90% of the time. In those four teams you're going to find probably the best team that's playing the best at that point in the year. I was a big proponent that we keep the bowl system in place. I think the experience that families and kids, student-athletes, have in those, and the city's experience, the benefit that comes to those cities, I think is very important.  Certainly didn't want to do away with that.  

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The 90 percent comment has to raise some eyebrows, but outside of that I think Freeze got it right. Even with the 90 percent comment he may have gotten it right, but that is definitely not the company line. 

Freeze did a great job answering a tough question at his first SEC Media Days podium presentation.

Nick Saban: Alabama Head Coach

Nick Saban has been one of the most successful coaches in the SEC since his arrival at Alabama. Two national titles tend to give a resume a bit of clout—Saban has a fine resume. 

Saban also believes in the playoffs system. According to al.com, Saban stated that “In 1997, I said we should have a plus-one or a four-team playoff because most of the years there are issues, it's when there are three (qualified) teams, people can't agree on who should be 1 and 2 and should play, and who gets left out. It happened when I was at LSU in 2003 and Southern Cal got left out.”

Saban openly supports the new system and is very confident that his team will excel in the new system. Embracing the change makes his team and the conference appear on the right side of the argument.

I would expect a continued wave of support from Saban, and a very good Alabama squad to continue to contend for championships no matter the system. 

Update: 7.19.12

Nick Saban was able to field questions about the new playoffs format at SEC Media Days and coach Saban had this to say in regard to the selection process:

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Well, I think what the fans want to see in the four-team playoff is the best teams, the four best teams in the country, get in the playoff.  You don't have to win your conference championship to get in the basketball Final Four.

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Well placed point by Saban considering the ruckus that followed the Steve Spurrier comments earlier in the week. Saban reiterated his support for the new system. 

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