Playoff hurt the Regular Season?

You have no idea.

• UGA vs. GaTech, pffttt ... what's the point? Has no effect on the ACC or SEC championship, does it?
• USC vs. UCLA, pfffttt ... USC 1000-0 and in the Pac10 clubhouse, UCLA is Oh-for-the-league, why risk getting SanchezTain hurt when winning or losing the game means NOTHING toward the almighty playoffs?

I could go on, but if you think after years of "the playoff is the only important thing" mentality that these rivalries won't lose value, then ...

Name one real rivalry in the NFL ...

Are you seriously asking that question?  If so, let me see, hmmmmmmmmm..........

Packers and Bears, Redskins and Cowboys, Vikings and Packers, I have only thought about 15 seconds and already came up with three.  If I thought really hard about it, I could probably come up with several others.

Are they the same kind of rivalries that college football is, the answer is no.  But I don't think that we can keep comparing the NFL system of playoffs/rivalries to the college game.  I for one have not made that comparison, and will not make it.

The NFL is about making money.  College football is about "student-athletes" (cough/ choke), but money plays a role whether we like it to or not.  The BCS is about money also.  There is about a bajillion dollars out there for this kind of 8 team playoff for college. 

I don't recall seeing any "scientific" polls about college fans having a preference as to the BCS as is, adding a plus one, or going to a full-fledge playoff system.  I for one would be anxious to see how that poll would turn out.

VolsNShoes, I think you got my drift re: NFL rivalries vs. CFB rivalries. And certainly, it's largely about making money. These people (in the NFL and big-time CFB) are not gonna do anything to turn off the spiggot. But I think the money is secondary because, like you said, a CFB playoff could make even more money.

To me, the main reason not to go to a playoff or at worst do a plus-one is protecting the worth of regular season games -- individual games like old-time rivalries, etc.

I guess it all depends on what kind of playoff is put in place. My tOSU-Michigan example upstream here goes according to one scheme I've heard that puts conf champs in the playoff. Then there's the one you're describing, which would use the polls/BCS to determine playoff participants. 

Just off the top of my head, suppose you have an undefeated top-ranked USC going against a bad UCLA in the last game of the season. Think USC might sit Little Joe McKnight to let him rest up for the playoffs? Got a whole stable of RBs there, right? Even a loss in that game, making an 11-1 USC, ain't gonna keep them out of the top 8. But in the BCS, Troy's got to play its best to ensure they end up in the top TWO.

Anyway, I understand the desire for a playoff. I just think the 2007 NYGiants proved that even a playoff "champ" can put a bad taste in people's mouths. There's no perfect system, and I think CFB, as is, gives more worth to individual regular season games than TWO Giants losses to "rival" Dallas which can be "avenged" later in the playoffs.

Anyway, I understand the desire for a playoff. I just think the 2007 NYGiants proved that even a playoff "champ" can put a bad taste in people's mouths. There's no perfect system, and I think CFB, as is, gives more worth to individual regular season games than TWO Giants losses to "rival" Dallas which can be "avenged" later in the playoffs.

Cajun, I am not a huge NFL fan.  I find it kind of anti climatic after Saturday, but it is also a different sport.  A 32 team league is very suited to a playoff.  If it has no more teams than it does now I have no problem.  As far as the Giants go, I could not be happier.  I don't think too many folks outside of New England had a bad taste in their mouth and I generally, usually, almost always never pull for New York teams.  I enjoyed watching Eli make people look like idiots....especially one each Tiki Barber.  I love the underdog beating the bully....most of the time. 

Dawgs,

I need a favor. Head over to the PSU football board and check out the "hottest avatar" thread. Vote for my 'tar -- Paz Vega.

The rest of you guys check it out, too, but if you're not going to vote for Paz, . . .

Thanks!

84

I owe you, man!

Good point re UGA VI, but the competition was supposed to be amongst female avatars. I don't know how to ask this delicately, but I don't think UGA VI qualifies, does he/she/it?