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YES: A STEP
CLOSER
Let's give the NCAA points for
trying.
While the "Super Alliance" isn't a playoff
system, it will bring college football closer than ever
before to a true national
champ.
The system ends the isolation of the Big Ten and Pac-10,
assuring that No. 1 and No. 2 will meet. And it brings the
rankings out of the dark ages of agenda-driven media and
uninformed coaches, by adding the statistical solidity of
computer-generated
standings, and also taking into account teams' strength of
schedule.
While not perfect, the Super Alliance is a big improvement
over the old
system.
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NO: A SUPER
DALLIANCE
The new "Super Alliance" doesn't solve the
system's original
problem.
Three undefeated teams tilt the system like a pinball
machine: The top two teams are selected for the
"championship game" through a process that still
involves the grossly subjective, politically charged media
and coaches' polls. The third team is
unfairly spurned—and justifiably ticked. The national
champion will still be mythical. And once again, the NCAA
denies fans a champion properly decided on the field,
rather than on
paper.
Unfortunately, the new Alliance comes off more like a
dalliance, flirting with a championship but not going all
the
way.
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