NCAA Rewards Sub Par Play with 35 Bowl Games: Celebrating Mediocrity

Much mockery is made of the NBA’s playoff structure, which allows 16 of its 30 franchises into the postseason. Fifty-three percent of the entire NBA field “qualifies” for the playoffs, meaning that on many occasions teams below .500 earn the right to play for a World Championship.

Arguably, the NBA can be rightly accused of rewarding mediocrity.

The ongoing heartfelt debate regarding the current state of College Football includes the issues of a highly questionable BCS system, the lack of a playoff, and subsequently the dubious selection of two teams competing for a disputed and highly debatable (at best) “national championship.”

Adding to the swirling typhoon of discussion regarding the direction NCAA football is the recent announcement of the slate of 35 postseason bowl games for the 2010–2011 season. The number 35 reflects a two-game increase over last season’s bowling extravaganza with the addition of the “Pinstripe Bowl” in Yankee Stadium and the “Dallas Football Classic” in the Cotton Bowl.

As it stands now, 70 of the 120 Division I College Football teams will reach the “postseason” in the upcoming season. Therefore, 58 percent of teams will be rewarded with a bowl game. Previously, in a 12-game season teams have had to reach the .500 mark or win six games to become bowl eligible. The continuing addition of new bowl games means that ultimately the NCAA runs the risk of inviting sub .500 teams into its already meaningless postseason celebration.

Can the NCAA be accused of offering a prize for mediocrity in college football?

Absolutely.

At this point it would be feasible for the NCAA to send out a preseason memo to all 120 Division I teams stating, “Best wishes for a great season, and, just remember before you suit up and hit the field, if you can manage to win just half of your games (or less if you are lucky and everyone has a bad year) you will be rewarded with a bowl experience, money for your university, and accolades for your almost good football team. So men, go to work, strive for that celebrated 50 percent and we’ll be here to pat you on the back, give you a big golden ring and rake in the cash.”

In other words, “if you can manage a 'C' average we’ll not only let you graduate, but, you can put some fancy robes and colorful drapery on, and we’ll let you finish with honors.”

So, what’s the college bowl season all about anyway?

As you might have guessed, it would seem that it is all about money.

The winners: ESPN (slated to carry a mind boggling 30 of the 35 games scheduled for 2010-11,) the NCAA, the major conferences, the advertisers, the vendors, etc.

The losers: College Football Fans, the integrity of the game of College Football, College Football athletes, the host cities expecting a flood of fanatic fans, screen printers for the “Meineke Car Care” Bowl, etc.

No longer a reward for excellent play and a hard fought season upon the sacred turf of college football, the modern bowl system is a greedy cash grab fronted by the around the clock promotion of such tantalizing yet futile matchups as the sixth best/worst team in the Big 12 vs. the sixth best/worst team in the Big 10.

If the goal is to just make money and let the computer, media, and potential financial windfalls dictate the BCS and the entire bowl season, why not just let college football games end in a tie?

Why not just proudly proclaim that “We are Soccer!” and get on with it?

In a sport that would seem to embody all the characteristics and momentum to be the greatest team sport in the history of American athletics, College Football continues to find ways to disappoint its enormous fanbase, to compromise its glowing promise, and to self-inflict ugly wounds upon its otherwise stunning appearance.