16, 24 or 32
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 8:41 am
16 or 32?
I always said that Div I-AA was best because the champion was decided on the field and before Christmas. That is only possible with a 16 team field. With now 11 and 12 if Ivy decides to join us, a 16 team field with AQ's is not feasible. We could eliminate AQ's and keep to 16. But we would not have a Div I-AA playoff. We would have a playoff of selected teams from 4 conferences: BSC, CAA, MVFC & SoCon. Some say that is better, a team shouldn't be in the playoffs if they've no chance to be champion. If that were true, there is no reason to include BigSouth, MEAC, NEC, OVC, Patriot, Pioneer and most years SLC teams. But sports is the realm of dreams and possibilities. Try as they might, no computer program has been able to measure the size of an athlete's heart. To tell a team they are not allowed a chance goes counter to the whole idea of sports, where occasionally David does kill Goliath. Someday when you've time I'll tell you the story of the '83/'84 MSU Bobcats.
NCAA thinks that expanding to 3 more at-large will solve the problem. I think not. In 2012 it would allow room for Lehigh (10 wins), Albany (9) and UR(8). But there are still a number of 8 win and 7/with a FBS win teams left. Even expanding to 32 would not accommodate everyone who proved themselves worthy. Yes, most of them haven't a snowball's chance in hell. But tell that to the '69 Mets. In 2012 we slammed the door on teams like Lehigh and Albany, although we left it open for SHSU, Wofford and Stony Brook. To do so leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. In 2012 we left over 10 teams with 7 or more Div I wins on the outside. Perhaps 2012 is unusual, I think not.
I say we move to a 32 team field ASAP. Some years we may have to dip into 6 win teams to fill the 32. If we do, we do. Or we could cut it off at 7 Div I wins and give byes as needed. Either is better than slamming the door on a 10 win Lehigh. What I suggest will not add a week to the playoffs. It will only utilize the slots that are available. Byes would be the only thing eliminated.
I always said that Div I-AA was best because the champion was decided on the field and before Christmas. That is only possible with a 16 team field. With now 11 and 12 if Ivy decides to join us, a 16 team field with AQ's is not feasible. We could eliminate AQ's and keep to 16. But we would not have a Div I-AA playoff. We would have a playoff of selected teams from 4 conferences: BSC, CAA, MVFC & SoCon. Some say that is better, a team shouldn't be in the playoffs if they've no chance to be champion. If that were true, there is no reason to include BigSouth, MEAC, NEC, OVC, Patriot, Pioneer and most years SLC teams. But sports is the realm of dreams and possibilities. Try as they might, no computer program has been able to measure the size of an athlete's heart. To tell a team they are not allowed a chance goes counter to the whole idea of sports, where occasionally David does kill Goliath. Someday when you've time I'll tell you the story of the '83/'84 MSU Bobcats.
NCAA thinks that expanding to 3 more at-large will solve the problem. I think not. In 2012 it would allow room for Lehigh (10 wins), Albany (9) and UR(8). But there are still a number of 8 win and 7/with a FBS win teams left. Even expanding to 32 would not accommodate everyone who proved themselves worthy. Yes, most of them haven't a snowball's chance in hell. But tell that to the '69 Mets. In 2012 we slammed the door on teams like Lehigh and Albany, although we left it open for SHSU, Wofford and Stony Brook. To do so leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. In 2012 we left over 10 teams with 7 or more Div I wins on the outside. Perhaps 2012 is unusual, I think not.
I say we move to a 32 team field ASAP. Some years we may have to dip into 6 win teams to fill the 32. If we do, we do. Or we could cut it off at 7 Div I wins and give byes as needed. Either is better than slamming the door on a 10 win Lehigh. What I suggest will not add a week to the playoffs. It will only utilize the slots that are available. Byes would be the only thing eliminated.
