College Football Playoff- GOOD, BAD, UGLY

I am not going to hide my opinion. I don't like this playoff plan, as is. I am happy that there will be one. However, I think there is a long way to go for this to be a guaranteed improvement over the BCS. Because on the surface, this proposal seems like it even makes it more impossible for "non-AQ" conference schools like Boise State, BYU, and Hawaii (not to mention the 'left overs' of the Big-East conference like South Florida, Connecticut, Louisville, Cincinnati, etc.) to play for a national championship. There needs to be some provision that these schools be given equal consideration for inclusion in the playoffs. Maybe this is why I think having an 8 or 16-team playoff makes more sense then trying to have a committee pick just 4 teams. Some years I would agree it would be possible, but in recent memory picking just 4 teams would seem ridiculous.

Now, my immediate reaction aside, here is what I think in a good, bad, and ugly fashion.

THE GOOD
1. We may now have an actual champion in college football. (Assuming the four teams in the playoffs are definitively the best four teams in the nation, without leaving any one, two, or three teams of equal value achievement out).
2. Meaningful bowl/playoff games will be played again on New Year's Day or New Year's Eve, as that is when the semi-final games are scheduled to be played.
3. Traditional bowl game sites like the Holiday Bowl in San Diego; Cotton Bowl in Arlington, TX; Citrus Bowl in Orlando; and the Peach Bowl (I mean "Chick Filet" Bowl) in Atlanta may again be hosts to actual big meaningful games.

THE BAD
1. This may actually make it even harder for non-AQ schools to compete for a championship then was the case in the much maligned BCS.
2. For all the animosity about sponsored bowl games and how that is commercialism run wild, imagine the sponsorship and commercial opportunities that will come from a college football playoff? The new championship game will likely easily be the second most expensive 3-hours of the year to buy a 30-second commercial behind only the Super Bowl.

THE UGLY
1. What happens when in 2 years we realize that this "playoff" only continues the same problem of not having a definitive champion that has been the case throughout the BCS? We will go back to square one.
2. Or, what happens when the conference commissioners and school presidents realize the $$$ involved in a playoff and decide to move to 8 or 16 teams? (I mean I would think that would finally widen the door enough to provide a way in for the non-AQ schools. However, the motivation for such a move would be shallow at best, and only about the potential increased revenues and sponsor-ships. Such a move would clearly be the death bell of college bowl games as we know them.)

I think the only clear answer we have now is that there is a "playoff" coming. We'll see what that really means in 3-years.
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And because you might be wondering what I would suggest if I ran the world here is what I would do if we are indeed stuck with the 4-team playoff model.
1) Combine the ACC and Big-East into one conference for football.
2) Require all teams to play a 9-game conference schedule in football. The SEC should no longer be allowed to have "cupcakes" on their schedules in November.
3) The Big-12 should indeed become 12 teams again.
4) Boise State, BYU, and Notre Dame should enter into a long-term agreement to play each other every year. This would likely help each's strength of schedule, and increase the potential of making it into the 4-team pool or discussion at the very least. [If I were Boise State and BYU I would be pounding down the door of the Big 12 to try and entice them to invite them in.]
5) The National Championship and Semi-Finals should be broadcast on Network TV (ABC) and not on a cable network (ESPN). If they want this championship to be like the Super Bowl and NFL playoffs, then it only makes sense that it be given the respect of major network TV.

**Admittedly none of these suggestions will likely come to pass because of the money involved obviously. But, here was my two cents anyway.

The Return of the Blog

For those of you who have missed my blogging, well, I have missed it too. So, let this serve as an intentional return to activity here on the blog. My guess is that there will be an average of 2-3 posts per week from now on, but we'll see how that goes. 

For today's blog entry, I just want to say its nice to be back and I hope you enjoy my thoughts and reflections on a whole host of topics- from theology to leadership, from baseball to choral music, and every thing in between.

For your enjoyment, I am providing a return of a few links with today's initial post of things I have been reading and following.

This Week's Links
Theology, Ministry and the Church
1. Lutheran Women Scholars have come to the defense of their Catholic Sister; including a number of my favorite professors from PLU and Luther Seminary, as well as a host of others who I have met and/or cited in a number of projects including my thesis.
2. Dr. Lose from Luther Seminary offers some reflections on denominationalism.
3. My roommate Tyler from PLU offers a wonderful reflection on the change he sees in what it means to follow the "American dream." With our "generation" its not necessarily about making the most money, but rather about living a fulfilling life and living into one's vocation(s).

Sports
1. The Pac-12 Network continues to take shape.
2. Is it time to bring up the annual question for the Mariners about whether or not to think about trading King Felix?
3. I would be remiss with this return to blog activity to not offer a huge shout-out to the Lutes Softball team! PLU's softball team won the Division III National Championship in May!! Congrats and Attaway Lutes!

Thanks for taking the time to read and follow me, and for welcoming me back to the blogging world. May God's peace and blessings be unto you this day!