Plus None Format

As faithful readers know, from time to time we have a guest columnist stop by and contribute some quality content.  This is a win-win.  I do not have to contribute to my carpal tunnel and you do not have to read another hackneyed piece.  

Today, Jason stopped by and gave us a piece about the BCS's latest non-move.  Jason has a deep reservoir of football knowledge, so for once you may learn something.  He is a graduate of Kansas University, lives in Kansas City, and is a season ticket holder for the Chiefs.  As you can tell, he is having  a good sports year (aside from the Chiefs).  Enjoy.  

The BCS and the conference commissioners have officially rejected a proposal to expand the current BCS format to include an “and one” championship game. The proposal was to have provided the top 4 teams be seeded in a mini-playoff format. The winners would meet in the championship game. I have long been perplexed at college football’s unwillingness to shift to a true post-season playoff format. All of the common reasons given lack even an indicia of factual support or logic. Today the BCS and commissioners stated reasons to reject the “and one” format was allegedly because of the concern it would make football a two-semester sport and would lessen the importance of a regular season that now has a do-or-die feel to it from week to week. Both arguments are ridiculous.

It is hard for me to believe anyone associated with college football could with a straight face state a concern about college football becoming a two-semester sport without breaking down in laughter. Last I checked football became a two-semester sport about the time John Wayne was shooting indians in Westerns and Bear Bryant was at Texas A&M. College football player’s seasons officially end when bowl season is over. But the unofficial season begins almost immediately with offseason conditioning, player-run seven on seven practices, lifting, rehabbing from injuries, and other training. Spring practice begins only a couple of months after the first of the year. Summer time is more of the same. In fact, football is year round in virtually every high school in America, let alone BCS conference universities. It’s even more absurd in the face of the continuing expansion of regular season and conference championship games. Not more than a decade ago teams played 11 regular season games plus one bowl game. Now 12 regular season games are the norm, potentially another in a conference championship plus the bowl game. Not long ago BYU played 14 or 15 games in a single season. I would also like to point out the obvious fact the BCS “and one” format would extend the season by a single game for only two teams. Read More...