Stagg or Bust:
I can understand where you are coming from; you make some legit points. However, I doubt highly that will ever happen, trying to come up with some SOS evaluation system never really works (then again, what "anything" really ever works ideally anyway?!!
). IMO, I think the current system is the best and is just like the basketball tourneys as everyone has disussed in recent posts. I know what you are saying about having the best teams and the more powerful conferences wanting to get other teams in. However, as one other poster said, certainly one legit consideration is for a college that wants to get to that level to just "get better". I also realize that that will never be possible for some of our DIII colleges for a variety of non-football related and logistic reasons. But for many, if Mount Union can do it, anyone can. But, all that said, it is just the way it is for now and, again, I personally think the incentive for winning one's conference and getting the AQ is appropriate. I know that some people have presented the arguement that this isn't your "childhood, feel-good, having everyone get a certificate for participation" type of situation, but it really isn't and I'm not sure we can make that kind of comparison. Also, in a tangential aspect, look at the NESCAC - they don't even have that chance of participating in the playoffs, however,...that is their choice (I won't go there because we've had that extensive converstation many times on the various boards
- also it has never made sense to me that the Ivy League does not allow its football teams to participate in the playoffs, yet allows all its other sports to do so - that is the biggest hypocritical situation IMO, perhaps more than the controversay over the a DI playoff). And, speaking of the latter in relation to all this, IMO, the tentative proposed "idea" by the NCAA President in favor of a DI Playoff for only the top 4 rated teams is a stupid idea. That will never work - well, it may in the sense of being a reality only if they ever impliment it, however, we will see more howling and controversy over that then you see now with the polling situation and the BCS. I just keep going back to the same arguement that many people have been saying for a long time - at least for now, the best way of doing it is as is done in DIII, DII and FCS, although, as we've all been saying, there will always be some problems with that, but, so far it appears to be the best way in keeping those at a minimum. Of course, as everyone here is saying, we'll always be debating this issue I'm sure!
All that said, I do enjoy reading about everyone's opinions on this here.
Also, I, too, thank Pat for his clarification.
