College Footballs Playoff System;Step in Right Direction

With the new top four-team playoff system being introduced to college football in 2014, there is a lot of buzz of unhappiness lately. Really? This is what college football fans, alumni, boosters, coaches and university presidents have wanted for a long period of time. Now they have it and they are bickering amongst each other. This is by far the best result in college football in years. As a college football fan you can’t be upset about the fact you are going to receive additional football. Can you?

Bowl games will still exist along with the top four teams going head-to-head on the field. Not to mention, the possible scenario of two teams who have never met on the football field just increased. If you’re a SEC fan you have to be jumping up and down about the fact this essentially could be four teams from the SEC. The big suits will undoubtedly try and find a way for this not to happen i.e. voting for another conference, weighing the toughness of schedule and a mile long of other ways.

The unwarranted criticism of teams outside the top five won’t have a chance to get inside the top four is obnoxious. How is this scenario even possible? A four team bracket is a small enough to keep constant pressure on teams inside the top five to win every game more than ever. The cliché of “Lose early, win late” will be obsolete. One loss will have a more significant impact now because teams with one-loss will make their race for a playoff spot. Now instead of a team being reduced to an irrelevant bowl a team with one-loss will now be given the chance to go against an undefeated team and prove their team’s worth. Given the BCS and its past history, this scenario has only happened a handful of time. Those who are stating the regular season will be diminished, clearly have no clue what college football is truly about. You have all heard my rant about why college football is the best, if not here you go.

The atmosphere of college football offers another world, one away from the stress of real life. A world where you can root for your favorite team to beat your arch rivals. You’re able to carry on conversations with a person you have never met but are able because he or she is a fellow fan. The benefits of tailgating and cooking outside makes food appear to taste better than restaurant gourmets. Students line up at the stadium gates as early as 8 a.m. to secure the best seats at their desired stadium. Fans stretch for miles eating, drinking and singing their schools fight song. While you wait in your stadium seat, the place begins to become absolutely nuts because your team is getting ready to come onto the field. The noise starts to become bone-rattling. Adding to the noise is you yelling at the top of your voice about a bad call on the field with no consequences for it. Say what you want about the NFL or any other sport, but nothing comes close to being at a college football stadium in the fall and the world it offers.

Do you really think the playoff system is going to take away from the regular season and the atmosphere it brings? No, it will only add to the excitement and give college football fans more opportunities to experience it. The only criticism thus far which is warranted is the fact the playoff system is only four. It has to be extended to at least eight, but give it time. The demand of the “let us in” from the proverbial outside team (Boise State) will eventually be heard loud and clear. The same expansion was demanded in NCAA college basketball bracket. College basketball fans saw this double in size from 32 to 64 and now there is talk of it expanding to additional teams (Please don’t). The only other criticism is fans have to wait till 2014 to receive the benefit of the playoff. Understand this; the playoff system is still in its infant stages which allows for it to grow and make improvements; there are still a lot decisions and signatures to be made. This is a step in a long needed right-direction.