Keeping the bowl
Written by Frank Kurtz, Jan 25, 2012, 0 Comments
The rematch of our generation’s “Game of the Century” was not as exiting as it was hyped to be. The Crimson Tide of Alabama rolled over Louisiana State in the Bowl Championship Series’ Title Game played in LSU’s backyard the Louisiana Superdome, on Jan. 9, to a score of 21 to nil. The sixth quarter in the French Quarter was a replay; however, the outcome—as well as the participants—was more desirable than a playoff.
A playoff to determine the Champion of Division I-A football would only further destroy the game that has entertained countless millions of college football fans since the 1870s. The top flight of intercollegiate football has been under siege since the early 1990s. Since then such “reforms” have all diminished the game, like the elimination of ties (we’d be looking at a 12-0-1 LSU playing an 11-0-1 Alabama in New Orleans, instead of 13-0 vs. 11-1), the explosion of the amount of bowl games, and the institution of instant replay of calls made by referees on the field. And now it seems that a playoff to determine the champion is unfortunately immanent.
Are there too many bowl games? Yes. This year’s count is over thirty. This saturation of bowl games—and lack of excitement in the final contest—is no reason to abandon the only post season format that has been found at highest level of competition in college football.
Why would anyone want to change the current system? Why would anybody want to take the politics out of choosing who plays who for the championship, by determining it on the field? For those who advocate that position: how was that Sam Houston State vs. North Dakota game?
The method in which the highest level of intercollegiate football determines its champion is unique. “But they don’t play it out on the field” is the common slight at the current system. They do, it is a compromise called a two-team playoff: the BCS Title Game. Stop trying to make the game conform to the rest of what the American sports world does: having a playoff.
In the top flight of college football, the goal of one team is to be as perfect as can be throughout the regular season in order to play in a post season game which pays out millions of dollars. Inevitably a playoff system would produce more games therefore more revenue via television contracts than the current system, however hopefully the stewards of the game in the years to come will protect the bowl tradition of collegiate football.
Email: fkurtz@mail.usf.edu
