Wednesday, December 3, 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
'Corcoran Alliance' solves bowl problems
Ever since I was a child, I can remember hearing people complain that NCAA Division I-A needs a football playoff to determine a national champion. Split polls in 1900 and 1992, and Penn State's undefeated (but not national championship) team in 1994-1994 have served as fuel for the proponents of the playoff system.
I always was against the playoff system because I enjoyed the bowls too much and thought that more than a handful of teams deserved to play in the postseason. Several things in college football this fall have changed my mind.
First, I think it is ridiculous that UCLA is ahead of Washington State in both polls. Not only does Washington State have a better record, but the Cougars defeated the Bruins earlier this season. This illustrates a problem most voters have: Who deserves to be ranked higher, the team with the better record or the team that is playing better?
Second, I feel that voters place too much emphasis on when a game is played. A perfect example of this is the Florida State-Tennessee situation. Both teams are 10-1, and both lost at Florida. Florida State led most of the way before losing by only three, 32-29. Tennessee was beaten soundly by 12, 33-21.
It appears that the quality of the game is less important to the voters than when the game was played. Tennessee played at Florida in September, while Florida State faced the Gators in late November. However, Tennessee is one place ahead of Florida State in both polls. This slight by the voters could cost the Seminoles a shot at the national title unless either Nebraska or Tennessee loses this weekend.
These are just two glaring problems with the current system. The NCAA believes that the Super Alliance, which will begin next year, will solve these problems.
Sure, a single national championship game will work with two undefeated teams, but what happens if there are three undefeated teams or if there is only one undefeated team? Who will decide which teams get to play for the title?
hands of the pollsters again, which is exactly what the NCAA wants to get away from.
So what is the solution? I recently devised a system called the Corcoran Alliance that I think would produce a national champion
while maintaining the bowls system.
There are now 20 Division I A bowl games. My plan would be to take the 15 bowls with the largest payout and set up a 16-team tournament.
Corcoran
sports @kansan.com
The decision will rest in the
The SEC ACC. Big 12.
Big 10, Pac-10, WAC, Big East and Conference USA champions would gain automatic bids. The remaining eight spots would be awarded in a similar fashion to the way the NCAA basketball tournament committee awards at-large bids.
The tournament would work as follows: Two teams would face off in the Alamo Bowl, with the winner advancing to the Citrus Bowl. This process would continue until two teams square off for the national title. The bowls would rotate which round of the tournament is played at a particular bowl site to appease all of the bowls.
The remaining five bowls could continue to exist and be a one-game reward for teams ranked 17 through 26. This would be like the NIT in basketball.
The percentage of teams making the Corcoran Alliance would be close to the percentage of teams in the NCAA basketball tournament, and the percentage of teams in the other bowls would be close to the percentage of teams in the NIT.
Although this system might not be perfect, I think it would take some of the subjectivity out of deciding a national champion.
But then what would we have to complain about?
Corcoran is a Topeka senior in biology.
College football bowl games
WAC third vs. At-large, 5 p.m.
(ESPN2)
SATURDAY, DEC. 20
Las Vegas Bowl
At Las Vegas
THURSDAY, DEC. 25
Blue-Gray Classic
At Montgomery, Ala.
vs. Gray, 11 a.m. (ABC)
At Honolulu
Big 12 fifth vs. Pac-10 fourth, 2:30
p.m. (ABC)
Aloha Bowl
At Honolulu
FRIDAY, DEC. 26
Motor City Bowl
At Pontiac, Mich.
champion vs. At-large, 7 p.m.
MAC champion vs. At-large, 7 p.m.
(ESPN)
SATURDAY, DEC. 27
Heritage Bowl
At Atlanta
MEAC vs. SWAC, 1:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
Insight.com Bowl At Tucson, Ariz.
Big 12 sixth vs. WAC second, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
SUNDAY, DEC. 28
Independence Bowl
A Shreveport, La.
fivh vs. At-large. 7 p.m. (ESP)
MONDAY, DEC. 29
Sports Humanitarian Bowl
At Boise, Idaho
Big West champion vs. At-large,
2:30 p.m. (ESP2N)
Carquest Bowl At Miami
ACC four vs. Big East third, 6:30 p.m. (TBS)
Holiday Bowl At San Diego
Liberty Bowl At Memphis, Tenn.
Big 12 third vs. Pac-10 second or WAC champion, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
TUESDAY, DEC. 30
Alamo Bowl
At San Antonio
Big 12 fourth vs. Big Ten fourth, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Pac-10 third vs. Big Ten fifth, 2 p.m.
(CBS)
Fiesta Bowl At Tempe, Ariz
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31
Sun Bowl
At El Paso Texas
Big East fourth vs. CUSA champion, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Alliance No. 4 vs. Alliance No. 6, 6 p.m. (CBS)
THURSDAY, JAN. 1
Outback Bowl
At Tampa, Fla.
Big Ten third vs. SEC third, 10 a.m.
(ESPN)
Gator Bowl
At Jacksonville, Flo
At Jacksonville, Fla.
ACC second vs. Big East second,
11:30 a.m. (NBC)
Citrus Bowl At Orlando, Fla.
Big Ten second vs. SEC second, Noon (ABC)
Cotton Bowl At Dallas
B12 second vs. Pac 10 second or Big 12 champion, 12:30 p.m. (CBS)
Rose Bowl
At Pasadena Co
Rose bowl
At Pasadena, Calif.
Big Ten champion vs. Pac-10 champion, 4 p.m. (ABC)
Sugar Bowl
At New Orleans
Alliance No. 3 vs. Alliance No. 5, 7
m. (ABC)
FRIDAY, JAN. 2
Peach Bowl
At Atlanta
ACC third vs. SEC fourth, 2 p.m.
ESPNI
Orange Bowl At Miami
Alliance No. 1 vs. Alliance No. 2, 7 p.m. (CBS)
SATURDAY, JAN. 10
East-West Shrine Classic
At Stanford, Calif.
w. West. 35 (m. ESPN)
SATURDAY, JAN. 17
Senior Bowl
At Mobile, Ala.
South. 1:30 p.m. (TBS)
The Etc. Shop 928 Mass.Downtown
SUNDAY, JAN. 18
Hula Bowl
At Honolulu
ESPN
North vs. South, 1:30 p.m. (TBS)
South vs. North, 3 p.m. (ESPN)
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