This is an article I originally wrote for Florida A&M University's campus paper. It appears in the 10/27/03 edition of The FAMUAN
Today marks the second week of the 2003 Bowl Championship Series rankings. The BCS has taken a load of criticism over the years, and while some is deserved, the much maligned system is not all bad.
Yes, it would be nice to see a playoff added to Division 1-A football, but that isn't going to happen anytime soon. The BCS conferences have all the power and like the bowl system and its financial benefits the way it is.Each team in last year's Orange, Rose, Sugar and Fiesta Bowls made $14.3 million. The most any non-BCS conference school saw was the $1.37 million Liberty Bowl payout.
The BCS was created for one reason - to see the best two teams in the nation play for the national championship. It has accomplished just that.
Last year's Ohio State - Miami contest would have been impossible without the BCS in place because as Big Ten champions, Ohio State would have been obligated to play Washington State in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes and Hurricanes could have both easily remained undefeated and split the national championship.
Split championships are un-American.
Not having a playoff and letting a computer pick title contenders is also un-American but not as reprehensible as a split title. I will not pretend the BCS hasn't produced some laughable results like Nebraska's entry into the 2001 title game against Miami, but everyone ahead of Nebraska in the polls lost late in the season.
The bottom line is this - win all of your games and you will play for the national championship . unless you play in a non-BCS conference. That is inherently unfair, and the smaller schools have taken the battle to Congress and the courts.
The conference shuffleboard that started with Miami, Virginia Tech, and now Boston College leaving the Big East and more recently saw Utah State and New Mexico State leave the Sun Belt for the Western Athletic Conference could end up leveling the competitive landscape.
As the major conferences consolidate, teams will need to look outside of the BCS to schedule opponents. There are only so many Sun Belt teams to play, so the stronger mid-major conferences like the Mid-American Conference and Conference-USA will get more chances at the big powerhouse teams that were able to avoid them before.
I suspect we will be seeing a lot more teams perform the way Northern Illinois has in the near future.
Monday, October 27, 2003
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Cubs and Red Sox To The Rescue
This is an article I originally wrote for Florida A&M University's campus paper. It appears in the 10/15/03 edition of The FAMUAN
America loves a winner. So what's going on during this year's Major League Baseball playoffs is nothing short of amazing.
The Chicago Cubs, the original Lovable Losers, have awaken a nation of hibernating fans through the sheer possibility of making their first World Series since 1945. It's not just longtime fans either - the Cubs are now "America's Team."
So now that "Cubs Fever" has swept the nation, is the national pastime back?
I wouldn't be so sure.
Whether or not the Cubs win it all and end "The Curse of the Billy Goat," or if the Red Sox can beat the New York Yankees and remove "The Curse of the Bambino," the most important thing is what MLB does next. Yes, people are paying attention, attending games, and ratings are up, but we have seen all of this before.
Pure greed poisoned professional baseball from within and caused the 1994 strike and World Series cancellation. Fans have given baseball several opportunities to make amends, and MLB just keeps on spoiling the fun.
Cal Ripken, Jr.'s quest to break the consecutive games played streak, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa - and later Barry Bonds - going after the single-season home run record provided a spark to fan interest, but MLB leadership failed to capitalize on any of that momentum.
Many ideas circulate about what can help baseball recapture its old glory.
Some propose an end to the designated hitter, the Questec umpire evaluation system and salary arbitration. Others call for revenue sharing, a salary cap, reformed draft, and shorter games.
In truth, it really comes down to money. The haves (Yankees, Atlanta Braves) are light years ahead of the have-nots (Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays) who cannot field a competitive team for any sustained period of time. Instead of providing a feasible financial structure for small market and big market teams to compete, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called for contraction of the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins. This was properly ridiculed by fans and media, considering Washington, DC and Portland, OR have actively sought teams for years.
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has shown that getting everyone (players union, owners, league office, referees, broadcasting networks) on the same page to promote true competition results in a huge national following, and lots of revenue from attendance, merchandise and big TV contracts.
Today, football is America's passion.
Perhaps Mr. Selig should call Mr. Tagliabue and ask for an internship.
America loves a winner. So what's going on during this year's Major League Baseball playoffs is nothing short of amazing.
The Chicago Cubs, the original Lovable Losers, have awaken a nation of hibernating fans through the sheer possibility of making their first World Series since 1945. It's not just longtime fans either - the Cubs are now "America's Team."
So now that "Cubs Fever" has swept the nation, is the national pastime back?
I wouldn't be so sure.
Whether or not the Cubs win it all and end "The Curse of the Billy Goat," or if the Red Sox can beat the New York Yankees and remove "The Curse of the Bambino," the most important thing is what MLB does next. Yes, people are paying attention, attending games, and ratings are up, but we have seen all of this before.
Pure greed poisoned professional baseball from within and caused the 1994 strike and World Series cancellation. Fans have given baseball several opportunities to make amends, and MLB just keeps on spoiling the fun.
Cal Ripken, Jr.'s quest to break the consecutive games played streak, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa - and later Barry Bonds - going after the single-season home run record provided a spark to fan interest, but MLB leadership failed to capitalize on any of that momentum.
Many ideas circulate about what can help baseball recapture its old glory.
Some propose an end to the designated hitter, the Questec umpire evaluation system and salary arbitration. Others call for revenue sharing, a salary cap, reformed draft, and shorter games.
In truth, it really comes down to money. The haves (Yankees, Atlanta Braves) are light years ahead of the have-nots (Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays) who cannot field a competitive team for any sustained period of time. Instead of providing a feasible financial structure for small market and big market teams to compete, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called for contraction of the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins. This was properly ridiculed by fans and media, considering Washington, DC and Portland, OR have actively sought teams for years.
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has shown that getting everyone (players union, owners, league office, referees, broadcasting networks) on the same page to promote true competition results in a huge national following, and lots of revenue from attendance, merchandise and big TV contracts.
Today, football is America's passion.
Perhaps Mr. Selig should call Mr. Tagliabue and ask for an internship.
Monday, October 6, 2003
FAMU Should Go With C-USA
This is an article I originally wrote for Florida A&M University's campus paper. It appears in the 10/6/03 edition of The FAMUAN
No Time To Wait
-By Hakimu Davidson
The shakeup of college football conferences has produced a domino effect that could help FAMU in a big way. That is, if we act quickly enough.
A big decision in our move to Division 1-A involves conference affiliation. Conference USA, the Sun Belt Conference and football independence are the three main options.
While considering this decision, it is important not to sell ourselves short. FAMU brings to the table a football program with strong tradition, a recruiting presence in Florida, our own television contract and a proven attendance draw in the Marching 100.
Conference USA is the best choice. It fits us geographically, has five financially lucrative bowl game bids and competitive teams.
It could also use our help.
C-USA may be losing Louisville and Cincinnati to the Big East. Army is also leaving the conference. Thus, C-USA will need to replace these football programs for its own survival.
FAMU will have to make a move soon.
According to ESPN.com, C-USA is already in negotiations to bring in Southern Methodist, Rice and Tulsa. Assuming all three join, FAMU's addition would give C-USA 12 teams in 2005 and the ability to host a revenue generating conference championship game.
FAMU already exceeds the attendance requirements of 1-A, but to fill the soon-to-be expanded Bragg Stadium, it would be wise to play regional rivals. Both University of Southern Florida in Tampa and University of Alabama-Birmingham are in Conference USA.
It's conceivable that it will not work and we will be looking for other options. In that case, we must play as an independent because it must be said: FAMU is too good for the Sun Belt.
Joining them would clearly defeat the purpose of moving to 1-A. We can schedule four home games on our own. The Sun Belt desperately needs FAMU. However, we would get next-to-nothing in return.
NCAA attendance figures show Sun Belt teams averaged 13,126 fans for home games in 2002.
FAMU attracts 20,000 to home games and 70,000 to Atlanta and Orlando classics.
Furthermore, the Sun Belt is a bad fit for us geographically with teams like New Mexico State and Utah State. Competitively, they only get one bowl bid.
Conference USA actually sends its fifth place team to play the Sun Belt champion. That clearly shows the difference in level of play.
FAMU could join the Sun Belt and dominate immediately, but we'd be better off scheduling them as homecoming opponents and playing Troy State annually as a regional rival.
In my own perfect world, FAMU would be in an eight team conference with the other black schools that could conceivably make the jump to 1-A: Southern, Grambling, Jackson State, Tennessee State, North Carolina A&T, Hampton, and Alabama State.
I'd call it the Big League Athletic Conference.
But as always, FAMU is the leader among HBCUs, and it is up to us to show them the way. Until that day, it's Conference USA all the way.
No Time To Wait
-By Hakimu Davidson
The shakeup of college football conferences has produced a domino effect that could help FAMU in a big way. That is, if we act quickly enough.
A big decision in our move to Division 1-A involves conference affiliation. Conference USA, the Sun Belt Conference and football independence are the three main options.
While considering this decision, it is important not to sell ourselves short. FAMU brings to the table a football program with strong tradition, a recruiting presence in Florida, our own television contract and a proven attendance draw in the Marching 100.
Conference USA is the best choice. It fits us geographically, has five financially lucrative bowl game bids and competitive teams.
It could also use our help.
C-USA may be losing Louisville and Cincinnati to the Big East. Army is also leaving the conference. Thus, C-USA will need to replace these football programs for its own survival.
FAMU will have to make a move soon.
According to ESPN.com, C-USA is already in negotiations to bring in Southern Methodist, Rice and Tulsa. Assuming all three join, FAMU's addition would give C-USA 12 teams in 2005 and the ability to host a revenue generating conference championship game.
FAMU already exceeds the attendance requirements of 1-A, but to fill the soon-to-be expanded Bragg Stadium, it would be wise to play regional rivals. Both University of Southern Florida in Tampa and University of Alabama-Birmingham are in Conference USA.
It's conceivable that it will not work and we will be looking for other options. In that case, we must play as an independent because it must be said: FAMU is too good for the Sun Belt.
Joining them would clearly defeat the purpose of moving to 1-A. We can schedule four home games on our own. The Sun Belt desperately needs FAMU. However, we would get next-to-nothing in return.
NCAA attendance figures show Sun Belt teams averaged 13,126 fans for home games in 2002.
FAMU attracts 20,000 to home games and 70,000 to Atlanta and Orlando classics.
Furthermore, the Sun Belt is a bad fit for us geographically with teams like New Mexico State and Utah State. Competitively, they only get one bowl bid.
Conference USA actually sends its fifth place team to play the Sun Belt champion. That clearly shows the difference in level of play.
FAMU could join the Sun Belt and dominate immediately, but we'd be better off scheduling them as homecoming opponents and playing Troy State annually as a regional rival.
In my own perfect world, FAMU would be in an eight team conference with the other black schools that could conceivably make the jump to 1-A: Southern, Grambling, Jackson State, Tennessee State, North Carolina A&T, Hampton, and Alabama State.
I'd call it the Big League Athletic Conference.
But as always, FAMU is the leader among HBCUs, and it is up to us to show them the way. Until that day, it's Conference USA all the way.
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