A 12th Game? How About a Playoff?
It's hardly a shocker that one of those megaconferences GaryC loves, the Big 12, is lobbying the NCAA for a permanent 12th football game:
Two years ago, when the NCAA allowed a 12th game in certain years, depending on the calendar, most people believed it was the camel's nose under the tent to get the 12th game for good.
On Tuesday, in his State of the Conference address, Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg announced the arrival of the rest of the camel. The conference has filed legislation with the NCAA that would allow I-A teams to expand their schedules to 12 games.
"We thought it would be useful to have a dialogue about a 12th football game on an annual basis," Weiberg said at the Big 12 Kickoff. "We're putting this into the [NCAA legislative] system because we want a dialogue on it."
[snip]
"We are cognizant that the timing might not be right," Weiberg said. "From the standpoint of flexibility in scheduling, for the schools struggling to build attendance, struggling to build financially, we believe the 12th game will be a benefit. From a health and safety standpoint, it has not been a problem. If you talk to the athletes, they would prefer to see a little more competition and a little less practice."
Here's a thought. Ditch the 12th game and ditch the 13th game (the Conference Championship round), throw in 2-3 weeks of bowl games, and you have plenty of time for a real playoff.
And since, "from a health and safety standpoint" it's not a problem, and the athletes would rather have "more competition and a little less practice" it sounds perfect!
But it won't line the pockets of the Big 12 or other megaconferences as well as adding that 12th game will, so don't get your hopes up, playoff advocates.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/20/04 23:14 | Big 12 Football | Technorati
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Comments
So you leaning in favor of a playoff system again?
I'm indifferent to a 12th game. I kind of like 11 better since odd numbers force a winning or losing season. It also makes winless seasons that much harder to obtain (12 in the season, playoff 13, bowl 14, and possible preseason classic or Hawaii game 15) On the other hand, the more the better*!
(sans a playoff)
Posted by R. Alex @ 23:21 on 07/20/04
I go back and forth, and am still not really a big fan of a playoff. But when the Big 12 Commissioner is going to shoot down reasons people often give not to have a playoff (extends the season too long, too hard on the athletes, etc) so his conference can make more cash, then I start to think that it might not be such a bad idea. It will invariably still freeze out deserving teams some years and I don't think it will be the panacea that proponents claim, but if we're going to lengthen the season, permanently, I'd rather we lengthen it for that reason.
Posted by Kevin @ 06:19 on 07/21/04
I was actually somewhat coming around on the idea of a playoff until I read a thread on Coogfans where they more-or-less agreed that no legitimate playoff could include less than 32 teams. Sometimes playoff boosters are theor own worst enemy in getting my (completely inconsequential) approval.
Posted by R. Alex @ 12:58 on 07/21/04
How about 8 teams, Alex? We've been through all this. A PO is imperfect, but it is so vastly superior to what we have now, it's staggering (to me).
Posted by TP @ 14:58 on 07/21/04
TP, If it were held to 8 teams and I felt confident that it wouldn't expand beyond that, I might be convinced. But ultimately I think that valid complaints would be brought forth that would make the obvious solution to bring it up to at least 16, or possibly 32 teams.
Posted by R. Alex @ 17:43 on 07/21/04
I don't see a playoff scenario coming along anytime soon.
Posted by Gary C. @ 20:43 on 07/21/04
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