PIGSKINS IN DRESSES-PART 2

Welcome back. If you have not read my story “College Football Playoff—Why Are They Putting Pigskins in Dresses?” I encourage you to do so before you proceed with this story. You can find Part 1 in the College Sports Section in Football.

After Saturday’s Conference Championship Games, I sensed the sigh of relief from the College Football Selection Committee, here in Henderson, NV. They dodged, as they did last year, having to put two teams from the same conference in their ‘Final Four’.

For recap sake, let me break down each Conference Championship Game and the impact on the selection process. For those of you who missed the Iowa vs. Michigan State Game, it was a ‘Classic Duel of Two Titans’. More on that game later.

Game One—PAC 12 Championship—USC vs. Stanford

This game for the ‘Conference of Champions’ had very little impact on the selection process. It was also reflected in the crowd or the lack of a crowd. The players appeared to be vested and wanting to win, by the intensity of their play.

With my proposal, “TAKE 5” Plus One, as presented in Part 1, this ‘Conference of Champions’ Championship Game would have provided for better results. There would have been a sellout crowd, with a potential larger TV audience.

The players, coaches, alumni, and fans would have recognized the significance of this game. They would have played, coached, and cheered with the passion needed to win to advance to the next round of the CFP. (See Iowa vs. Michigan State Game.)

With the current selection process, those results were not and currently not possible.

Game Two—SEC Championship—Florida vs. Alabama

This game would be a sellout regardless of the opponents because of the ‘Religious’ fervor carried by the fans of the SEC.

Before, during, and after this Championship Game, many candles were burnt, and mystical hymns were chanted. With Florida being a ‘Heavy Dog’, all cards were played.

The Big Ten Officials needed an upset by Florida to get a second team in the ‘Final Four’, especially with Ohio State in the next slot up. This is how their scene looked:

Entering as a ‘Heavy Dog’, the Florida Gators knew the stakes. If they pulled off the upset, this would have been the results. An SEC Championship Title, but no invite to the ‘Final Four’.

By winning the Championship, the Gators would have knocked out their ‘Sugar Daddy’ out of the ‘Final Four’, resulting in no team from the SEC in the ‘Final Four’. This would have resulted in the SEC not sharing the ‘Final Four’ financial pie.Whether this affected the performance of the Florida Gators, I will let others debate that.

The one thing that I do know is that their performance may have been enhanced to a higher degree if the winner of the SEC Championship had an automatic invite to the ‘Final Four’. (See Iowa vs. Michigan State Game.)

With a chance of not having their ‘Sugar Daddy’ representing the SEC in the ‘Final Four’, this is what the scene of the SEC officials resembled.

Hoping not having to face the public with their current flawed system of placing two teams from the Big 10 or a PAC 12 Champion with two losses, this is the picture from the CFP Selection Committee room as they watched the SEC Championship Game.

The SEC and the CFP Selection Committee got the results they wanted, an Alabama victory and a berth in the ‘Final Four’.

Game Three—ACC Championship Game—North Carolina vs. #1 Clemson

This game was filled with intrigue. If Clemson wins, they would advance, along with the ACC into the ‘Final Four’. A win by North Carolina would open up the door, for other possibilities, for a slot in the ‘Final Four’.

The Selection Committee had already predetermined the ‘Final Four’ slot to Ohio State with a North Carolina victory with their pre-championship game rankings.

North Carolina players, coaches, alumni and fans saw it differently, including myself that with a win over #1 Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, plus, their overall season record of 11-1 prior to the game, and perhaps a 12 game win streak, should have qualified them for the ‘Final Four’.

This game had more meaning than the SEC and PAC 12 Championship Games. As in the SEC, it would not matter the opponents, or the stakes, this ACC Championship Game would sell out.

Having little time to recover from the SEC Championship Game outcome, the Big 10 Officials gathered again for the ACC Championship Game. They were more equipped, realizing that this was their last chance to garner two slots in the ‘Final Four’ and the financial windfall.

The ACC officials countered with their own ceremony. A Clemson win the ACC is in. With a North Carolina victory, the ACC has an argument.

The CFP Selection Committee after getting the SEC results they wanted, now moved their attention to the ACC Championship Game. They were faced with a similar dilemma. They were hoping not to face the public with their current flawed system. It was ‘Trick’ or ‘Treat’ time.

See Part 1 for the guidelines that are to be followed by the CFP Selection Committee. If Ohio State would have been chosen over a victorious North Carolina team that finished 12-1, the Selection Committee would have circumvented their own guidelines, resulting in placing two teams from the Big 10 Conference in the ‘Final Four’.

This was an extremely hard fought game. Each time you thought it was over, North Carolina would fight its way back into it. The only question I have is why did it have to end on a ‘tainted call’ by an official?

Officiating is a challenging endeavor. My opinion of officiating is this: “Call only what you see, not what you thought you saw. Make sure you see the action from the beginning of the play, before making a decision.

Unless my TV and the commentators were providing me with ‘Bizarro World’ coverage, I have to agree with them. There was no offside on the recovery of the onside kick by North Carolina.

Was it just a coincidence or was it more? It is not I to judge, for others are more equipped. Just when, as a fan watching this fantastic finish, you are left to wonder.

The ACC Officials and the CFP Selection got the results they wanted.

Game Four—Big 10 Championship Game—Iowa vs. Michigan StateBoth teams, alumni, and fan base knew prior to the game, you win you move on. You lose, you go home. This is what epitomizes a ‘Championship Game’. This was not the SEC or PAC 12 farce.

The ACC Championship Game was almost there, but not quite at the level of the Big 10. Not all Championship Games live up to expectations. This 2015 Big 10 Championship Game set the standards that all future Championships Games should follow or exceed.

One of the key components that made it so is that all knew of the results that a victory would bring. This component is essential to bring out the best in ‘Championship Games’.

As I watched from my home base in Henderson, NV, I imagined as the game progressed, I was witnessing two ‘Titans’ in action. Both teams were playing with unmatched intensity, realizing this current play could be the play of the game.

I could almost sense my floor being vibrated by the collisions of these ‘Titans’, as the battle ensued. It was a display of guile, strategy, and the will to display your own will on another opponent in the game of football.

It was beautiful Football. A Champion would be crowned and move on.

The scene in the room of the Big 10 Officials had a different look. They were celebrating like it was New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.And rightly so. The Big 10 will have one team in the ‘Final Four’ and two more teams playing on New Year’s Day. To the Victors go the spoils.

In another part of our country, the CFP Selection Committee gave us this impression.They were extremely thankful that the flaws in their selection process were not exposed.

Time will eventually expose the flaws of the current CFP selection process, which were described in my story. College Football Playoff—“Pigskins in Dresses”—Part One.

The publicity and interest that surrounds this event is tarnished by the current selection process. Remaining true to my dream the following is my email to Bill Hancock, who over sees, the CFP Selection Committee:

George Feher
Oct 22, 2015

to Bill

Bill,
Hope all is going as well as expected for you. Since a non-response from you after my last email dated February 2, 2015, I did not know if you receive it, and read it. I also sent you two messages in regards to my new website.

Media tells me that the Selection Committee will have openings after this year. With your guidance and permission, I would like to formally apply for a vacancy if one should occur. If there is a special format or vetting process, I would like to be given an opportunity.

In the meantime, I invite you, if you have not done so, to visit my website. I know you time is valuable, but please read and share with others my story, “WHY ARE THEY PUTTING PIGSKINS IN DRESSES? Go to playinyourdreams.com

If time permits, please feel free to share your and the other Committee members thoughts on the subject, and pass on any directions that may assist me to become a member of the Selection Committee.

Thank you,
George Feher

Hopefully by next year, Bill and his new gang will get things sorted out. I leave you, and Bill and his gang my CFP Proposal:

“TAKE 5” plus ONE
College Football Champion Guidelines
1. All eligible teams will be invited to participate with a fair opportunity that will be decided on the playing field.
2. The role of the selection committee will be limited to: select the best team outside the “Power 5” conferences, seed the teams for the playoffs.
3. This will be a 6-team playoff.
4. Each “Power 5” conference will use their own method to determine their champion and representative for the playoffs.
5. Only one qualifier from each “Power 5” conference is permitted. All will share equally the financial pie.
6. All other conferences and Independents, will vie for the “beauty spot”, as selected by the committee. Hopefully, this might spurn more regional, regular season games between the “Power 5” and the others. For instance, the PAC-12 vs. the Mountain West. These matchups would then provide more information when seeding the teams. Also, they would add to the drama of the college football season.
7. The top two seeded teams will receive a quarterfinal bye and will be seeded in the semi-finals as #1 and #2.
8. The quarterfinals will be played the Saturday after the conference championship games. This is an extremely slow day for football viewing. Seed #3 will host Seed #6. Seed #4 will host Seed #5. All teams will have the same time to prepare. A neutral site can be considered. Logistics can be worked out. Just think of the financial windfall that can be generated for a local community, for hosting such an event. Share the financial pie.
9. The losers of the quarterfinals, would be guaranteed a spot in one of the Major Bowl Games on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
10. The quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinals. Seed #1 would play the lowest remaining seed. The #2 seed would play the other seeded team in the semi-finals.
11. The winner of the semi-finals would meet in the Championship Game to determine the “True National Champion”.

If anyone can come up with a better plan, that involves one team per ‘Power 5’ Conference, and a ‘Sleeping Beauty’, I say draw it up and submit it.

Fox-Feather will be taking the next two Fridays off. Consider it my Christmas Break. Old habits die-hard.

Remember to bookmark us and tell others where to find us. Our next topic January 1, 2016 will be: Wellness—“Take 5” Game-Plan for Life/Sports—Lesson #2.

For some the start of a new year may spurn new motivation. For others, only you will decide. If you do not have a ‘Wellness Game-Plan’, it is not too late to start.

Until our paths cross again, Fox-Feather wishes for you to get the results you seek this Christmas/Holiday Season. With a New Calendar Year on the the Horizon, may you PLAYIN YOUR DREAMS.