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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, April 14, 2005

Proposal contradicts game plan

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

When the idea of a national championship playoff for Division I-A football came up several years ago, it was quickly and loudly shouted down from the ivory tower rooftops.

It was decried by college presidents, who said a playoff would lengthen the season to near-NFL proportions. It will take players away from the classroom and put them behind academically, chancellors shrieked. It will result in more injuries, officials predicted.

So it will be interesting to observe what figures to be some furious backpedalling worthy of an all-America defensive back by the NCAA Board of Directors when the proposal to add a 12th game beginning in 2006 comes up for a vote April 28.

All indications are the measure will pass despite the reported behind-the-scenes lobbying of NCAA President Myles Brand. The Western Athletic Conference, of which the University of Hawai'i is a member, is unanimous in its approval of the 12th game concept, a conference official said.

An idea that presidents said didn't make sense before, given the academic mission of their universities, is now practically a slam-dunk because it will make dollars. Millions of them.

By adding a 12th game (13 for UH, which has an exemption), many schools anticipate reaping an additional home game payday. For schools like UH, that could, depending upon the attractiveness of the opponent, mean $500,000 — or more for a home game. At places such as Ohio State and Southern California, the take would be upwards of $1 million. The teams that travel will bank six-figure guarantee checks.

And the Bowl Championship Series schools can do it all without having to cut in other conferences, which wouldn't be the case if a true national championship playoff were held.

Throw in conference championships and other exempted contests and there is the possibility for some schools to play as many as 15 games. One fewer than an NFL regular-season schedule.

Although how many marquee games result will be interesting to see since tied into the measure is a provision to encourage more Division I-AA teams to play I-A opponents. Meaning you're likely to see a lot more Appalachian State-type opponents on schedules.

Few schools, however, are likely to follow the lead of Stanford which, when the 12th game was "experimented" with chose to stay at 11. "This isn't the NFL," the Cardinal had said.

Now, except for the Atlantic Coast Conference and a few schools, you're likely to see little opposition to the proposal. Only a rush to cash in, in light of the financial plight impacting most college athletic departments.

Where will most of the college presidents be when the ideals they held so lofty a few years ago come up for a vote later this month? Undoubtedly raising their hands in approval this time.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.