[Sly Fox]

Wow, Chris is getting into this blogging deal.

Playoff expansion?
Filed under: flames, football — naclang @ 5:05 pm

– Chris Lang

When I spoke to Big South commissioner Kyle Kallander at the conference’s football media days in July, he was as confident as ever that expansion of the FCS playoffs was imminent. It wasn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when.
The NCAA’s Division I championship/competition committee is meeting on the subject in Indianapolis as I write this entry. They’ll vote on the matter sometime today, on whether it’s feasible to expand the current 16-team field. If it passes, it’ll move onto the Division I management council, which meets Oct. 21-23, for a final stamp of approval.
Kallander obviously has a huge stake in this matter, considering his conference is one of a few in Division I that does not have an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. Currently, eight conference champions receive automatic bids — Southern, CAA, Ohio Valley, Gateway, Big Sky, Southland, Patriot League and MEAC. The SWAC sends the champions of its two divisions to its league title game, and the Ivy League does not allow its teams to participate in the postseason.
That leaves the Big South, Northeast, Great West, Metro Atlantic and Pioneer Leagues out in the cold.

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The result of the vote could have significant implications for us as long as we stay at the I-AA/FCS level.

[Chris Lang]

I'm trying to prove to my bosses that I'm working, since I spend all of about five hours a week at the office.

[Ed Dantes]

I think this is a bad idea. As it is, 16 games right now mandates that you have to play an (maximum) 4 games a year. Good for revenue, I assume -- but you're talking about potentially playing a 15-game season! Shouldn't we take into consideration the academic reprecussions of expanding the season?

Or am I the only one here?

[WinthropEagleFan]

I think this is a bad idea. As it is, 16 games right now mandates that you have to play an (maximum) 4 games a year. Good for revenue, I assume -- but you're talking about potentially playing a 15-game season! Shouldn't we take into consideration the academic reprecussions of expanding the season?

Or am I the only one here?

Out of all intercollegiate athletes, football players miss the least amount of class time due to games since they generally play the fewest amount of games and 95% of their games are on the weekends...The 'but they'll miss more class time' argument against a playoff in I-A is the one I hate the most. Heck, high schools here in South Carolina play 15 games if they make it to the state championship game. So I can possibly see reasons to no expand the playoffs, but the class time argument doesn't fly with me...(and yes PAMedic, I realize Winthrop doesn't have a football team).

[thepostman]

I think this is a bad idea. As it is, 16 games right now mandates that you have to play an (maximum) 4 games a year. Good for revenue, I assume -- but you're talking about potentially playing a 15-game season! Shouldn't we take into consideration the academic reprecussions of expanding the season?

Or am I the only one here?

Out of all intercollegiate athletes, football players miss the least amount of class time due to games since they generally play the fewest amount of games and 95% of their games are on the weekends...The 'but they'll miss more class time' argument against a playoff in I-A is the one I hate the most. Heck, high schools here in South Carolina play 15 games if they make it to the state championship game. So I can possibly see reasons to no expand the playoffs, but the class time argument doesn't fly with me...(and yes PAMedic, I realize Winthrop doesn't have a football team).

I agree with you 100%!

[Sly Fox]

And generally speaking and extra week would be tacked on during Christmas break for just two teams. I don't see that as a particularly big deal.

[RagingTireFire]

The "academic" argument against expanding the playoff is the weakest argument out there. Nobody complains about the impact on academics when their basketball team makes the Big Dance.

Also, despite what Coulson says, the I-AA playoffs include easily the smallest percentage of its participants in postseason play of any NCAA sport. When they went to the 16-team format that currently exists, there were less than 100 I-AA teams in total. Next year, there will be more than 120. It's time to open things up a little.

[Sly Fox]

You actually wasted a second of your time reading Coulson's "work"? You need better use of your time.

[PAmedic]

...and yes PAMedic, I realize Winthrop doesn't have a football team).

I didn't say a word

nice to see you, as always

LANG- another good piece, esp liked the shot across the bow of those Wolverines.

[Knucklehead]

...and yes PAMedic, I realize Winthrop doesn't have a football team).

I didn't say a word

nice to see you, as always

LANG- another good piece, esp liked the shot across the bow of those Wolverines.

Everybody lay off of the poor Medic. Besides, I hear he has a very "Short" fuse!

[Cider Jim]

LANG- another good piece, esp liked the shot across the bow of those Wolverines.

Question: How many batteries does it take to stop the University of Michigan football team?

Answer: I-AA

[ToTheLeft]

LANG- another good piece, esp liked the shot across the bow of those Wolverines.

Question: How many batteries does it take to stop the University of Michigan football team?

Answer: I-AA

[PAmedic]

(Mr. C explains)

http://sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c= ... 104876.htm

Around FCS: Sweet 16 No More
By David Coulson, FCS Executive Director

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Since 1986, the number has always been the same. Sixteen teams qualify for the NCAA Division I Football Championships.

But Sweet 16 grew up this week as the Division I Championship Competition Cabinet recommended that the playoffs expand to 18 teams for the 2008 season.

Beginning next year, the Northeast Conference - a league that has never even earned an at-large bid - will receive an automatic berth into the playoff field and another team will be added as an at-large participant.

The cabinet approved a recommendation from the FCS competition committee that the playoff field be expanded and the NEC be given an automatic bid.

The new playoff format will cause an increase in the playoff budget by over $1 million and must be approved by the NCAA budget committee this winter. But that is the last hurdle to clear for an 18-team playoff field.

[El Scorcho]

So, why the NEC?

[ToTheLeft]

yeah, thats dumb.

[ATrain]

B/c they have schollies and meet the minimum requirements (6 teams together for 2+ years) to earn one. I have a feeling they'll expand again when the Big South becomes eligile.

[PAmedic]

So, why the NEC?

I believe its due to the fact that they are eligble NOW due to number of permanent members, and the SWAC and IVIES aren't interested.

only the BSOUTH and GWC are begging in- and we both have to wait until our 6th permanent members make us eligble.

EDIT: Posted as ATRAIN was answering

[ToTheLeft]

That's true. This proves that it doesn't take much to get an autobid.

[PAmedic]

That's true. This proves that it doesn't take much to get an autobid.

nope

just numbers

[SumItUp]

I didn't read the article. I am just looking for the Cliff Notes version. Does this create 2 play-in games to the field of 16 or how will it work?

[PAmedic]

for 2008- (1) more auto-bid (NEC) and (1) more at-large.

[playoff field must be split between "at large" and "auto-bids"]

this is all contingent on the NCAA giving final approval this fall- which is expected

[jcmanson]

Well, looks like we don't have to worry about the Big South being able to get an auto-bid. Just a matter of time now.

[SumItUp]

for 2008- (1) more auto-bid (NEC) and (1) more at-large.

[playoff field must be split between "at large" and "auto-bids"]

this is all contingent on the NCAA giving final approval this fall- which is expected

I understand that the addition of two more teams. I was just wondering how they will fit into the playoff. Generally, 16 teams play, 8 winners move on to the next round, In Round 2, 8 teams play, 4 winners move on to Round 3. In Round 3, 4 teams play and the winners meet in the Championship Game.

Without a play-in game, 18 teams play, 9 winners move onto the next round. In Round 2, 9 teams play and 4 1/2 winners.......

[Fumblerooskies]

12 teams play in week one, with 6 byes. That leaves 12 to play the next week. Nope...that doesn't work.

14 teams...still doesn't add up.

10 teams play in week one...5 winners plus the 8...DANG!

Someone better at Math than me figure this out.

OK....FOUR teams play in week one...14 do not. The two winners advance to make field of 16? That works.