The BCS standings debuted this week with three unbeaten traditional powers at the top: 1. Texas, 2. Alabama and 3. Penn State.
ACC commissioner John Swofford, who's the coordinator of the Bowl Championship Series, isn't worried about having to put out the fires of a potential controversy come Dec. 7, the day the final standings will be announced.
"There's always the possibility and maybe even probability of controversy in the end but I don't think there is a doomsday," Swofford said. "It never seems to play out how we all anticipate.
"I guess that's part of the beauty and appeal of it."
This is Swofford's second go-around as the BCS coordinator. His experience in 2000 and 2001 has prepared him for the upcoming arguments. If anything, Swofford said, the second time around has been easier.
"We haven't meddled with the formula for a few seasons so people understand it better," Swofford said.
Understand, but not embrace. There's still an overwhelming majority of fans who'd like to see a playoff system implemented.
Swofford and the BCS leaders discussed a "Plus One" model, or four-team playoff, in the spring but the idea never got off the table.
Swofford likes the value the BCS places on the regular season.
"There's a formula to determine the top two teams based on the full body of work from the regular season," Swofford said. "It's what we've all agreed upon."
Comments
Swofford
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 20:17 — gvillegatr"It's what we've all agreed upon."
to any of you guys who thought "we've all agreed" included the fans needs to go back to the drawing board!! lol.
Anything that causes ....
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 19:42 — FloydTurboAnything that causes "the message board monkeys" heads to explode is an asset to society and humanity. If enough "Internuts" throw themselves over cliffs arguing about "a playoff" the average IQ of mankind will go up 50 points.
Go Joihnny Go .....
no wonder the ACC has stunk under his "leadership"...
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 16:51 — izzykareemWith this comment: "There's always the possibility and maybe even probability of controversy in the end but I don't think there is a doomsday," Swofford said. "It never seems to play out how we all anticipate. "I guess that's part of the beauty and appeal of it."
Uhh, what is beautiful or appealing about controversy? I know how these guys must think: they love to go on the internets (have their executive assistants go on the internets (have their mistresses go on the internets)) and see all of us fans saying: "SEC is the best"; "No, Big12 is the best, PAC10 sucks" and then of course that filters down between school rivalries. As if they are watching a cock-fight from the VIP section and think that is the beauty of college football. Throw in sportswriters who (you are just as complicit in all of this JPG) literally control the fate of schools based on what they THINK about a particular school and the college football postseason is the more illogical thing on the planet. The whole point of sports is that there are foul lines, a shot clock, the game clock, a goal, a net, an endzone; i know there will always be a human element as long as there are officials who have to often judge between right and wrong etc. but the point is that we determine a winner based on what happens on the court or field of play. We don't leave it up to judges.
It's also a bogus argument to say that the regular season is like the playoffs. Let the commissioners take away March Madness or the College World Series then; can't u tell at the end of the bball season who is clearly #1? Of course not, so with all these other sports that play far more games, you obviously can't tell who is #1 based on 12-13 games.
I've never seen people so hell-bent on preserving something as illogical as the bowl system. It was at least respectable when it was called Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, but now you've got the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Tire Bowl; just cheapens it. So we all know that this is all about money, just don't insult me and tell me that the Div1A regular season is really a playoff system.
fans agree?
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 16:23 — george32nice of you to speak for all fans. a lot of us who have been financially supporting programs for over 30 years are happy with the current setup. of course we fuss about "arbitrary" decisions including seeding in march madness and the bcs, but there is no magic panacea including a playoff to end controversy. incidentally, don't blame the government for pick a payment ken of wachovia's decision to make a terrible purchase and take 27 million dollars before the stock collapses because of his decision.
The fans have not agreed to it!!!
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 10:57 — SoPinesHeel (not verified)Its what YOU have all agreed upon!!!! Not us...
The fans have spoken loudly about wanting a playoff. To say that everyone is agreed upon the BCS and its silly formula, is just not true.
Fans would love an 8 team playoff through the month of december. It would be a ratings bonanza and could be played within the bowl context...too bad the people in charge are too stuborn to realize it.
Its like our current government in Washington. They think they know better than the rest of us and look at the messes they get us into...