FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[ExTartanPlayer]

I would like to see a breakdown of some of the automatic bids over the years to see if any particular conferences keep getting blown out in the first round.  However, it probably would be next to impossible to withdraw automatic bids that are already on the books, but if a conference keeps getting throttled, maybe they should lose the automatic spot....

I only bring this up because there are a few conferences where second and third place teams are much more deserving, but it all goes back to changing the status quo and this is very difficult to do...

Frankly, while I think everyone knows that the second-place teams from strong conferences (WIAC, OAC, CCIW) are generally stronger than champions of lesser conferences (the NEFC and ECFC are most most-cited examples), I don't think that removing AQ's from weaker conferences to allow more second- and third-place teams from strong conferences into the dance is a good solution.

If that happens, we're starting to look more and more like the Division I mess that is the BCS, where Boise State isn't allowed a place at the big boys table just because the SEC teams don't believe that a team from a lesser conference could POSSIBLY compete with them (even as the evidence mounts that Boise, TCU, and Utah are capable of doing so).

Yes, there are some conferences that have been blown out repeatedly - but you never know when that conference will produce a quality team that DOES deserve a place in the dance (see Curry, 2007-08).  Furthermore, if you remove AQ access to the playoffs, those teams will NEVER be able to improve.  That's their one hope, their chance at getting into the playoffs.  How is a coach going to recruit kids to a school if their conference gets their AQ removed? 

I'm completely in favor of keeping the AQ's the way they are.  All conference champions deserve a place in the playoffs.  Beyond that, we can allow in a small number of conferece runners-up, but I've previously stated that no conference runner-up can truly stake a claim to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP when they did not win their conference.  Will that occasionally leave out a deserving conference runner-up such as B-W this year?  Certainly.  But if we start taking AQ's away from lesser conferences to allow more "power" teams into the playoffs, where does it stop?

Again, using a Division I parallel, look how silly the NCAA basketball tournament is now - teams from big conferences that had a LOSING record in conference play end up in the Dance.  Why, because someone really thinks that an 18-14 Florida State team that went 7-9 in conference play is a national-title contender?

[footballfan413]

I would like to see a breakdown of some of the automatic bids over the years to see if any particular conferences keep getting blown out in the first round.  However, it probably would be next to impossible to withdraw automatic bids that are already on the books, but if a conference keeps getting throttled, maybe they should lose the automatic spot....

I only bring this up because there are a few conferences where second and third place teams are much more deserving, but it all goes back to changing the status quo and this is very difficult to do...

Frankly, while I think everyone knows that the second-place teams from strong conferences (WIAC, OAC, CCIW) are generally stronger than champions of lesser conferences (the NEFC and ECFC are most most-cited examples), I don't think that removing AQ's from weaker conferences to allow more second- and third-place teams from strong conferences into the dance is a good solution.

If that happens, we're starting to look more and more like the Division I mess that is the BCS, where Boise State isn't allowed a place at the big boys table just because the SEC teams don't believe that a team from a lesser conference could POSSIBLY compete with them (even as the evidence mounts that Boise, TCU, and Utah are capable of doing so).

Yes, there are some conferences that have been blown out repeatedly - but you never know when that conference will produce a quality team that DOES deserve a place in the dance (see Curry, 2007-08).  Furthermore, if you remove AQ access to the playoffs, those teams will NEVER be able to improve.  That's their one hope, their chance at getting into the playoffs.  How is a coach going to recruit kids to a school if their conference gets their AQ removed? 

I'm completely in favor of keeping the AQ's the way they are.  All conference champions deserve a place in the playoffs.  Beyond that, we can allow in a small number of conferece runners-up, but I've previously stated that no conference runner-up can truly stake a claim to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP when they did not win their conference.  Will that occasionally leave out a deserving conference runner-up such as B-W this year?  Certainly.  But if we start taking AQ's away from lesser conferences to allow more "power" teams into the playoffs, where does it stop?

Again, using a Division I parallel, look how silly the NCAA basketball tournament is now - teams from big conferences that had a LOSING record in conference play end up in the Dance.  Why, because someone really thinks that an 18-14 Florida State team that went 7-9 in conference play is a national-title contender?

+ karma, ETP, this is really good and I totally agree. God forbid we ever do anything that moves us closer to the BCS crap.  They need to look to the lower levels to see how it should be done,  not the other way around. 

[02 Warhawk]

BW jacket, you definitely had a playoff quality team, and one loss would have put you in the dance.  I would like to see a breakdown of some of the automatic bids over the years to see if any particular conferences keep getting blown out in the first round.  However, it probably would be next to impossible to withdraw automatic bids that are already on the books, but if a conference keeps getting throttled, maybe they should lose the automatic spot....
I only bring this up because there are a few conferences where second and third place teams are much more deserving, but it all goes back to changing the status quo and this is very difficult to do...

I don't think that'll work. Then the schools in those conferences will have nothing to play for then, if they don't get an automatic bid.

At least this way they get a SHOT at the national championship. Even though, more than likely, they'll lose in the first round.

[ExTartanPlayer]

I don't think that'll work. Then the schools in those conferences will have nothing to play for then, if they don't get an automatic bid.

At least this way they get a SHOT at the national championship. Even though, more than likely, they'll lose in the first round.

I agree.  In a previous discussion, someone proposed a scenario where a conference would "lose" its AQ status if they didn't win a playoff game for X seasons, and that they could only get it back by winning a playoff game.  My issue with that suggestion is that once the conference has lost its AQ, it will be very difficult for them to get a team back into the playoffs to win that AQ back - even when they have a deserving team, people will argue "Come on, we took away their conference AQ, why are we even letting those jokers into the playoffs?"  Suppose that we take away the NEFC's automatic bid because of their poor playoff record in recent years.  How will we ever know when they produce a conference champion like Curry's 07-08 teams, which DID win a playoff game in both seasons?

And, frankly, whether a team wins a first-round playoff game is highly dependent on whom they draw; if they get a low seed and get stuck with a Purple, of course they'll lose.  If they get a middling seed they might draw a fairly winnable first-round game.  Example: my 2006 CMU team  beat Millsaps in the first round, then was soundly thrashed by Wesley in the second round.  Millsaps was one of perhaps 10 teams in the field that we had a realistic chance to beat.  If we had played Wesley, Mount, UWW, we'd have been run off the field in the first round, and would have been dismissed as a team that surely didn't belong.

[raiderpa]

thanks for the points on the AQ's//I do not disagree..just wanted to hear what some folks thought.

[ExTartanPlayer]

thanks for the points on the AQ's//I do not disagree..just wanted to hear what some folks thought.

I know you were just putting it out there - I came off pretty strong in my reply because, well, it's just a topic that I feel particularly strongly about, and I debated it previously with some folks in the East Region that wanted to take away the NEFC's autobid (even though an NEFC team did win playoff games in consecutive years just recently) or the ECFC's autobid (even though the ECFC is a new conference).

[footballfan413]

thanks for the points on the AQ's//I do not disagree..just wanted to hear what some folks thought.

I know you were just putting it out there - I came off pretty strong in my reply because, well, it's just a topic that I feel particularly strongly about, and I debated it previously with some folks in the East Region that wanted to take away the NEFC's autobid (even though an NEFC team did win playoff games in consecutive years just recently) or the ECFC's autobid (even though the ECFC is a new conference).

Besides, I don't know how you can ask a team to do any more than to win their conference.     Win the conference title, you're in.  Period! 

[joelmama]

One of the issues with auto bids for conferences is the sheer number of conferences.  With new teams being added in a couple of years there will be 244 teams playing.  If you had all 7 team conferences that would be 34 bids.  If all were 8 team conferences that would be 30 bids.  That would only allow for two bids for 2nd place teams and the four independents (240/8=30 leaving 4 independents).  The numbers could cause some problems in a couple years depending on how the leagues fill out.

[rscl70]

Salem Weather according to NOAA

Friday Night - 50% chance of rain, low 38
Saturday - Mostly Sunny, high 48

Thanks so much ESPN!

[formerd3db]

Salem Weather according to NOAA

Friday Night - 50% chance of rain, low 38
Saturday - Mostly Sunny, high 48

Thanks so much ESPN!

I guess they don't believe in and/or hold any credibility in "The Farmer's Almanac".

[runk]

not thrilled at a friday night game either, but I am glad ESPN is there to cover the game!  ROLL RAIDERS!!!

[HScoach]

The Friday night kickoff is keeping me from going too.  Can't get out of work.  Missing only my 2nd Stagg (2003).  Hopefully the outcome is better.

[HURFMUC]

I am feeling your pain hscoach

[reality check]

I will be missing the Stagg for the 30th straight year.

[formerd3db]

Yes, I think I would have made a return trip to the Stagg Bowl had the date not been changed to Friday evening.  Like many of you (and even though I have further to drive/travel), I couldn't make it down that earlier either.  Had it been left on Saturday - different story.  I've always enjoyed my times/trips down there.  For those of you who are going, I hope you all have a great time.  The rest of us will have to enjoy it and be content by watching in our own living rooms.