Florida to pitch football playoff

[crawfish]

With his school having just won a football national championship under the current BCS formula, you would think University of Florida President Bernie Machen would be happy with the status quo.

Actually, he’d rather see college football determine its national championship the way the Gators won in men’s basketball: with a playoff.

That’s the plan Machen is expected to pitch to his fellow presidents and chancellors Friday in Destin, Fla., and it’s sure to be the highlight of the annual Southeastern Conference Spring Meeting which begins there Tuesday.

Though SEC members aren’t exactly strapped for cash, Machen said he thinks the prospect of an even bigger payday with a football playoff will prove alluring.

“The big (unknown) is: ‘Is there a lot of money that’s not on the table?’” Machen told USA Today.

“It could be sizable. More than $100 million more than is on the table now.”

Still, Machen might have to prove quite persuasive. SEC and South Carolina President Andrew Sorensen said the conference will take no action on the matter at its spring meeting. Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany has reportedly already told Machen his conference has no desire to even discuss a playoff.

LSU senior associate athletic director Herb Vincent said the school has no official position on a playoff.

LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe said: “I look forward to hearing what the chancellors and presidents have to say about any proposal. I am still persuaded by the current SEC position” which supports the bowl system.

The current BCS contract is in place through the 2009 season. New Orleans will host the second annual BCS Championship Game on Jan. 7, 2008 in the Superdome.

Credit Source: SCOTT RABALAIS Advocate sportswriter

[thethird]

I wish we had more Bernie Machen like Presidents.

[PuddingTime]

It's all about the duckets sadly

[Sabanocchio]

Good. It's about time some university leader stood up and said this. How awesome would it be to have some sort of a playoff type system in College Football?

[thethrill]

It sure would help the SEC, and I think it would be great for college football overall. But it won't be an easy sell to conferences like the Big10 and Big12, it would actually force them to play at least 2 tough opponents in consecutive weeks.

[gatorunvrsty]

It sure would help the SEC, and I think it would be great for college football overall. But it won't be an easy sell to conferences like the Big10 and Big12, it would actually force them to play at least 2 tough opponents in consecutive weeks.

Exactly. Even though the fans are always screaming about wanting a playoff, those in the know of those other conferences realize an SEC team would win the majority of NC's if they were forced to participate in playoff games.

[PuddingTime]

Why don't we just start an SEC v the nation? :lol: SEC would be favored 9 times outta 10.

[UA0509]

i wouldn't mind having an 8 team playoff

the 6 BCS conference champions, and the best two conference champions outside of the BCS conferences, even if there are better teams in the BCS conferences. (no team that doesn't win their conference deserves to play for all the marbles)

then use some kind of formula with strength of schedule, wins, losses, and defensive and offensive ranks to determine seeds of teams.

just an example, this past year
and ill just use the pre-bowl rankings of last year to seed them, just to show what it would look like

acc: wake forest(7)
big10: ohio state(1)
big12: oklahoma(5)
big east: louisville(3)
pac10: southern cal(4)
sec: florida(2)
other #1: boise st. WAC champs(6)
other #2: BYU MWC champs(8)
_______

round 1 games, played at the higher seeds home field.
round 2 games, (higher seeds first based on distance to major bowls)
round 3 (BCS championship game, rotates between pasadena, new orleans, etc. **or a new location possibly in the rotation)
bracket as follows

http://www.sectalk.com/boards/attachment.php?attachmentid=861&stc=1&d=1180335712
image got resized a little
pairings are (down the list, read just like a normal bracket):
(1) Ohio state
(8) BYU

(4) Southern cal
(5) Oklahoma

(3) Louisville
(6) Boise state

(2) Florida
(7) Wake forest




btw, under my system, notre dame would be forced to join a conference if they want to play for the title ;)

[volimhtown]

It sure would help the SEC, and I think it would be great for college football overall. But it won't be an easy sell to conferences like the Big10 and Big12, it would actually force them to play at least 2 tough opponents in consecutive weeks.

Posts like this and the subsequent 2 following it make me want to :barf:
The SEC IS the best conference in the country top to bottom, but the gap certainly isn't worthy of idiotic posts like these. I promise you that you will find just as much support for a playoff system, if not more, in other parts of the country as you will in the south.

:offtopic:
Machen's not dumb or blind. Of course he's gonna support a playoff system. After seeing Auburn get shut out a few years ago AND, if not for UCLA upsetting USC, the Gators would have suffered the same fate. While the Gators made the best of their fortunate opportunity, Machen knows, along with ALL SEC Presidents, that it will be a VERY rare feet for an SEC team to finish undefeated and therefore will most likely be shut out of a potential NT.
That said, I don't think that Machen's comments should be taken at face value, however. I think you will see more and more school Presidents come out and publicly call for a playoff system in response to public demand. I think his comments were just as much about an advantageous time to build his image as a concerned "fan" as much as anything else. What Machen won't add publicly is the rest of his sentiments concerning a playoff system..... "as long as it is equally or more equitable." There in lies the dirty, but reality laden rub!! I don't mean this as any type of "slap" against Machen as ALL college Presidents are equally guilty of the same, but until somebody sells the sponsors and networks on the idea and convinces them to promise the same financial support, it will NEVER happen.
Unfortunately, a College Football Playoff System has NOTHING to do with football and EVERYTHING to do with $$$$$ :money: :thumbsdow

[KillerNut]

Exactly. Even though the fans are always screaming about wanting a playoff, those in the know of those other conferences realize an SEC team would win the majority of NC's if they were forced to participate in playoff games.

http://sidesalad.net/archives/LeeCorsoSombrero1.jpg
Not so fast my friend!

While the SEC would be well represented, so would the Big 10 and Big 12.

[AUChamps]

Count on support from Tommy Tuberville and every single Auburn Tiger alive.

End the BCS and SAVE JERICHO!

[GoVols1998]

All the Vol Fans support it. The NCAA is stupid for not going to a playoff system imagine how musch more money they would make, and another thing when we have teams like Wake Forest and Boise State and Rutgers going to good bowl games its time to have playoffs and let those teams get a dose of the SEC

[lacene]

I think you'll find most CFB fans will support it, because it's still the God-honest best way to determine the best team for any given year, without controversy. The format - or similar ones to it - UA0509 described above have been suggested many times in the past.


Unfortunately, the fans don't stand to lose out on the $$ that the BCS system brings the conferences, so their preferences mean little. The best way to get to the playoffs is to continue having seasons like Auburn's in '04, and hope they create a big enough stink to force corporate TV and the media into forcing the university presidents' hands....

[KillerNut]

I have always wondered why they don't use the lower tier bowl games ( capital one, citrus, outback, alamo, etc..) as first and second round games for a purposed playoff and the BCS bowl games as the final couple rounds. That way the corporate sponsors would not lose money and the ratings for the lower tier bowl games in a playoff would be greater than they are now without a playoff.

[gatorunvrsty]

Posts like this and the subsequent 2 following it make me want to :barf:
The SEC IS the best conference in the country top to bottom, but the gap certainly isn't worthy of idiotic posts like these. I promise you that you will find just as much support for a playoff system, if not more, in other parts of the country as you will in the south.

:offtopic:
Machen's not dumb or blind. Of course he's gonna support a playoff system. After seeing Auburn get shut out a few years ago AND, if not for UCLA upsetting USC, the Gators would have suffered the same fate. While the Gators made the best of their fortunate opportunity, Machen knows, along with ALL SEC Presidents, that it will be a VERY rare feet for an SEC team to finish undefeated and therefore will most likely be shut out of a potential NT.
That said, I don't think that Machen's comments should be taken at face value, however. I think you will see more and more school Presidents come out and publicly call for a playoff system in response to public demand. I think his comments were just as much about an advantageous time to build his image as a concerned "fan" as much as anything else. What Machen won't add publicly is the rest of his sentiments concerning a playoff system..... "as long as it is equally or more equitable." There in lies the dirty, but reality laden rub!! I don't mean this as any type of "slap" against Machen as ALL college Presidents are equally guilty of the same, but until somebody sells the sponsors and networks on the idea and convinces them to promise the same financial support, it will NEVER happen.
Unfortunately, a College Football Playoff System has NOTHING to do with football and EVERYTHING to do with $$$$$ :money: :thumbsdow

I think I just read the idiotic post of this thread. Of course the motive is money. The article says as much. It also says, despite your assessment that there is as much support for a playoff in the big 10 and 12, that their presidents OPPOSE such a plan. Additionally, my post stated that the fans want a playoff, in the first place. You're trying to contradict something by agreeing with it. I said those in the know, i.e., the presidents, don't want one. And, my opinion is that they don't, because I think they will be exposed as overrated and overhyped; as many of us think has long been the case.

[shanksta13]

And, my opinion is that they don't, because I think they will be exposed as overrated and overhyped; as many of us think has long been the case.

I agree that the presidents don't want it, but not for that reason.

[gatorunvrsty]

http://sidesalad.net/archives/LeeCorsoSombrero1.jpg
Not so fast my friend!

While the SEC would be well represented, so would the Big 10 and Big 12.

I don't mean to suggest that they wouldn't be well represented. I'm simply rehashing ideas previously discussed, concerning conference strength. It's tough to listen to the talk about, and to watch, teams from those conferences steadily rise in the rankings by beating up the pansies of their conference; while our top teams struggle with all but a few of the teams in our conference. There may only be 2 or 3 teams with little or no chance of upsetting the big boys. The SEC is made up of a real big 10 teams. The big 10 is made up of 4 or 5 similarly strong teams.

UF, LSU, UT, AU, and UGA could be the class of CFB in most years; with Bama and Arky having recent 10-win seasons. SC will be tough from this year on; and UK and Vandy both upset UGA last year. Ole Miss lost by 5 to UGA, by 6 to AU, by 3 to Bama in OT, and by 3 to LSU in OT. The only real weak link in our conference is MSU.

In the big 10, tOSU and UM are the only teams that could be considered the class of CFB most years. Penn State and UW have had good seasons recently, and MSU or Iowa can pull off an occasional big win and decent season. The rest are pretty pathetic.

Top Tier-SEC in no particular order:

1. UF
2. LSU
3. UT
4. AU
5. UGA

Second Tier-SEC

1. Arky
2. Bama (who may be moving up now with a decent coach)
3. Carolina

Third Tier-SEC

1. Ole Miss
2. UK
3. Vandy

Bottom Dweller-SEC

1. MSU



Top Tier-Big 10 in no particular order:

1. tOSU
2. UM

Second Tier-Big 10

1. PSU
2. UW

Third Tier-Big 10

1. MSU
2. Iowa
3. Purdue
4. Minnesoooota

Bottom Dwellers-Big 10

1. Indiana
2. Illinois
3. Northwestern

So, basically, I'm just saying that, depending on scheduling, it's a helluva lot easier to go through a season undefeated or with a single loss in the 10 than the SEC. Yet, all we ever hear about is how great teams from the 10 must be for going undefeated. SEC fans are like, "Big f*cking deal! Look at who they defeated." That's all I meant. In a playoff, those supposedly great teams would have to prove it against other great teams. And, I don't think any of the Big 10 presidents like the idea of possibly being exposed for not being as great as they're already perceived. There's nothing to gain, and everything to lose. If the media is already calling you the greatest, you don't want to jeopardize it, if you don't have to. Even tOSU, arguably the best of the 10, is 0-8 against the SEC in bowl games; including 2 losses to Carolina for the 2 years preceding their last NC. That Carolina team that beat y'all was 5-3 in the SEC both years. Just a thought. I bet it's a thought for the Big 10 presidents, too.

EDIT: If everybody that matters is already calling you the best, you let them. They're the ones helping decide who plays for NC's. Who, in their right mind, would risk that?

[KillerNut]

I don't mean to suggest that they wouldn't be well represented. I'm simply rehashing ideas previously discussed, concerning conference strength. It's tough to listen to the talk about, and to watch, teams from those conferences steadily rise in the rankings by beating up the pansies of their conference; while our top teams struggle with all but a few of the teams in our conference. There may only be 2 or 3 teams with little or no chance of upsetting the big boys. The SEC is made up of a real big 10 teams. The big 10 is made up of 4 or 5 similarly strong teams.

UF, LSU, UT, AU, and UGA could be the class of CFB in most years; with Bama and Arky having recent 10-win seasons. SC will be tough from this year on; and UK and Vandy both upset UGA last year. Ole Miss lost by 5 to UGA, by 6 to AU, by 3 to Bama in OT, and by 3 to LSU in OT. The only real weak link in our conference is MSU.

In the big 10, tOSU and UM are the only teams that could be considered the class of CFB most years. Penn State and UW have had good seasons recently, and MSU or Iowa can pull off an occasional big win and decent season. The rest are pretty pathetic.

Top Tier-SEC in no particular order:

1. UF
2. LSU
3. UT
4. AU
5. UGA

Second Tier-SEC

1. Arky
2. Bama (who may be moving up now with a decent coach)
3. Carolina

Third Tier-SEC

1. Ole Miss
2. UK
3. Vandy

Bottom Dweller-SEC

1. MSU



Top Tier-Big 10 in no particular order:

1. tOSU
2. UM

Second Tier-Big 10

1. PSU
2. UW

Third Tier-Big 10

1. MSU
2. Iowa
3. Purdue
4. Minnesoooota

Bottom Dwellers-Big 10

1. Indiana
2. Illinois
3. Northwestern

So, basically, I'm just saying that, depending on scheduling, it's a helluva lot easier to go through a season undefeated or with a single loss in the 10 than the SEC. Yet, all we ever hear about is how great teams from the 10 must be for going undefeated. SEC fans are like, "Big f*cking deal! Look at who they defeated." That's all I meant. In a playoff, those supposedly great teams would have to prove it against other great teams. And, I don't think any of the Big 10 presidents like the idea of possibly being exposed for not being as great as they're already perceived. There's nothing to gain, and everything to lose. If the media is already calling you the greatest, you don't want to jeopardize it, if you don't have to. Even tOSU, arguably the best of the 10, is 0-8 against the SEC in bowl games; including 2 losses to Carolina for the 2 years preceding their last NC. That Carolina team that beat y'all was 5-3 in the SEC both years. Just a thought. I bet it's a thought for the Big 10 presidents, too.

EDIT: If everybody that matters is already calling you the best, you let them. They're the ones helping decide who plays for NC's. Who, in their right mind, would risk that?

That Carolina team that beat us two consecutive years beat one of the worst tOSU teams in recent history. 2000, we had a FS who was playing QB and that was also John Cooper's last year as HC whom was known for blowing big games againist Michigan and bowl games. 2001 we had a unexperienced QB and that was also Tressel's first year. I don't think that the Big 10 or Big 12 would be exposed. Other than our blow out, I believe the Big 10 was 2-1 againist the SEC this year in bowl games againist your top tier teams. Yes, we might have a few more cheesey teams than the SEC but I still believe that the better teams in our conference could hold their own or win againist any team in the SEC. Didn't you guys lose to a few Big 10 teams in bowl games a few years ago? The whole 1-9 record was largely at fault of the forementioned coach John Cooper whom lost most of those games.

Edit: North vs. South

Football is football, we run similar plays, have the same size players with similar speed, we both have 11 people on the field at one time, and athletes in the south are just as human as the athletes up north. Just because a player is born in the south, doesn't mean that he or she is far superior than someone born elsewhere.

[shanksta13]

KillerNut, I have to agree with you. The gap between the SEC and the rest of the country is not nearly as pronounced as some of the posters on this site make it out to be. If it was the SEC would win every bowl game that we played in. Top to bottom I would have to say we are the best conference, but again, not by as much as some here would have you believe. I don't buy into the South is faster or more athletic than teams from the North, that's just BS.

[KillerNut]

KillerNut, I have to agree with you. The gap between the SEC and the rest of the country is not nearly as pronounced as some of the posters on this site make it out to be. If it was the SEC would win every bowl game that we played in. Top to bottom I would have to say we are the best conference, but again, not by as much as some here would have you believe. I don't buy into the South is faster or more athletic than teams from the North, that's just BS.

Thank God! Someone whom has established touch with reality. That is a very good post and I agree with you 100%.

[blues_cap]

KillerNut, I have to agree with you. The gap between the SEC and the rest of the country is not nearly as pronounced as some of the posters on this site make it out to be. If it was the SEC would win every bowl game that we played in. Top to bottom I would have to say we are the best conference, but again, not by as much as some here would have you believe. I don't buy into the South is faster or more athletic than teams from the North, that's just BS.

i agree with the fact that the difference in overall teams isnt that pronounced but i do disagree with the speed factor. football in the sec is a different style than that of the big 10. both stlyes can be effective but they are definitely different. if anyone saw the bcs championship game and dont think the sec's(or florida's) speed was superior, i wasnt watching the same game.

[shanksta13]

i agree with the fact that the difference in overall teams isnt that pronounced but i do disagree with the speed factor. football in the sec is a different style than that of the big 10. both stlyes can be effective but they are definitely different. if anyone saw the bcs championship game and dont think the sec's(or florida's) speed was superior, i wasnt watching the same game.

Definitely a different style of play. I think teams recruit differently in that respect. Big 10 teams slug it out more with big, strong guys. The SEC teams generally go for the faster athletes. Urban Meyer straight up told everyone he wanted to have the fastest team in the nation. The Big 10 is more pound it out than the SEC is.

[KillerNut]

Definitely a different style of play. I think teams recruit differently in that respect. Big 10 teams slug it out more with big, strong guys. The SEC teams generally go for the faster athletes. Urban Meyer straight up told everyone he wanted to have the fastest team in the nation. The Big 10 is more pound it out than the SEC is.

I agree that the play style is different but can both be used effectively againist another if coached properly. Obviously, Jim Tressel did not have the best game plan for the NCG. The Big 10 moto has always been "three yards and a cloud of dust" going back to the good ol'days. 6 of our 7 heisman trophies have been won by a runningback. The Big 10 has also had some fast defenses but not as consistantly like the SEC.

[blues_cap]

I agree that the play style is different but can both be used effectively againist another if coached properly. Obviously, Jim Tressel did not have the best game plan for the NCG. The Big 10 moto has always been "three yards and a cloud of dust" going back to the good ol'days. 6 of our 7 heisman trophies have been won by a runningback. The Big 10 has also had some fast defenses but not as consistantly like the SEC.

i think that the defensive side of the ball is the most pronouunced difference in speed. everybody has fast skill players but the speed of the front 7 in the sec is second to none, imo.

[KillerNut]

i think that the defensive side of the ball is the most pronouunced difference in speed. everybody has fast skill players but the speed of the front 7 in the sec is second to none, imo.

I would agree with that whole heartedly. The SEC makes it a point to recruit fast defensive linemen where as the Big 10 schools recruit bigger stronger defensive linemen to go up againist our typically huge offensive linemen. Occasionally the Big 10 will have some fast defensive players. AJ Hawk whom was one of the best linebackers to play at tOSU was extremely fast. He ran a 4.38 40 yd dash at the combine last year.

[azamugg]

Posts like this and the subsequent 2 following it make me want to :barf:
The SEC IS the best conference in the country top to bottom, but the gap certainly isn't worthy of idiotic posts like these. I promise you that you will find just as much support for a playoff system, if not more, in other parts of the country as you will in the south.

:offtopic:
Machen's not dumb or blind. Of course he's gonna support a playoff system. After seeing Auburn get shut out a few years ago AND, if not for UCLA upsetting USC, the Gators would have suffered the same fate. While the Gators made the best of their fortunate opportunity, Machen knows, along with ALL SEC Presidents, that it will be a VERY rare feet for an SEC team to finish undefeated and therefore will most likely be shut out of a potential NT.
That said, I don't think that Machen's comments should be taken at face value, however. I think you will see more and more school Presidents come out and publicly call for a playoff system in response to public demand. I think his comments were just as much about an advantageous time to build his image as a concerned "fan" as much as anything else. What Machen won't add publicly is the rest of his sentiments concerning a playoff system..... "as long as it is equally or more equitable." There in lies the dirty, but reality laden rub!! I don't mean this as any type of "slap" against Machen as ALL college Presidents are equally guilty of the same, but until somebody sells the sponsors and networks on the idea and convinces them to promise the same financial support, it will NEVER happen.
Unfortunately, a College Football Playoff System has NOTHING to do with football and EVERYTHING to do with $$$$$ :money: :thumbsdow

cant give you more rep but a very insightful post

[The Ramp]

hat's off to flor

i wish my school had more balls

[The Ramp]

AJ Hawk whom was one of the best linebackers to play at tOSU was extremely fast. He ran a 4.38 40 yd dash at the combine last year.


i hate to be a stickler...but i follow the combine pretty studiusly and i remember hawk running a 4.59 combined time. that's still good for a LB of his size

[KillerNut]

i hate to be a stickler...but i follow the combine pretty studiusly and i remember hawk running a 4.59 combined time. that's still good for a LB of his size

Sorry, I meant tOSU proday. He did run a little slow the first couple times at the combine but I think that he did put down a time in the 4.45 range. tOSU has a very fast indoor track where the pro day took place. I'll try and find proof for you.

[The Ramp]

Sorry, I meant tOSU proday. He did run a little slow the first couple times at the combine but I think that he did put down a time in the 4.45 range. tOSU has a very fast indoor track where the pro day took place. I'll try and find proof for you.

that's cool. i know he improved his time at the OSU proday but so does every athlete. i only trust combine times. school times can be outrageous i.e. dewayne bowe and reggie nelson.

[shanksta13]

that's cool. i know he improved his time at the OSU proday but so does every athlete. i only trust combine times. school times can be outrageous i.e. dewayne bowe and reggie nelson.

Nope, Reggie Nelson really can run a 4.27 :laugh:

[The Ramp]

Nope, Reggie Nelson really can run a 4.27 :laugh:

yep...and chris leak can throw the ball 80 yards from his knees:laugh:

[shanksta13]

yep...and chris leak can throw the ball 80 yards from his knees:laugh:

Somehow, I don't think Urban Meyer knew that... :laugh:

[KillerNut]

Nope, Reggie Nelson really can run a 4.27 :laugh:

But there is still no way he could have caught Ted Ginn Jr. on that return at the begining of that NC game.:laugh:

[shanksta13]

But there is still no way he could have caught Ted Ginn Jr. on that return at the begining of that NC game.:laugh:

Touche' *cough* shirt grab *cough* :laugh:

[KillerNut]

Touche' *cough* shirt grab *cough* :laugh:

:laugh: What grab? :laugh:

[UA0509]

YouTube - Ted Ginn Kickoff Return - National Championship Game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MuX24Iy7XU)

grab is somewhere in there im guessing, but there are so many of those crazy ohio state fans going crazy in the stands, you can't tell for sure.

Its a good thing they got in all their yelling in at the beginning of the game , the other 59:43 or so wasn't very fun :laugh:

[SavageOrangeJug]

Machen backed down. (http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=AhhqcsesTre_WhmoWgvAljccvrYF?slug=ap-sec-playoffplan&prov=ap&type=lgns) :sad: