COTTRELL COLUMN: College football ... Yes you Can!

The word “change” seems to keep popping up these days.

From the financial sector to environmentalism to, in a few weeks, the Oval Office, everyone seems to want change.

The world of college football is no different.

And since president-elect Barack Obama is on record as being in support of a college football playoff, maybe change can finally come.

But how?

As much as we hate to admit it, there are more important matters out there than the BCS, and the President should spend his time worrying about that.

So what’s the best solution?

Delegating.

Appoint a college football czar.

While President Obama is dealing with the economy, health care, the War on Terror and the like, the college football czar could go about the business of fixing the sport.

And I know the best candidate for the job.

Me.

That’s right, Mr. Obama, if you’re reading this column I submit it as my formal application for the new Cabinet position.

Here is a sampling of my platform:

No. 1: Let’s Get a Playoff Already
This one’s pretty obvious.

In an era of unparalleled parity, it’s getting pretty hard to find two teams who without question are better than the rest.

So let’s play it off on the field.

My solution: A 16-team playoff, with automatic bids for the six BCS conferences and the highest-finishing non-BCS conference champion.

That’s seven spots right there, and the remaining nine would be at-large spots, chosen using the BCS formula, similarly to the way the RPI formula is used in selecting NCAA basketball tournament teams.

The first round would be played at home sites, and the remaining three rounds would go to the four current BCS bowls and the three highest bidders of the other bowls.

Anyone opposed to that (other than bowl commissioners and Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney?)? Didn’t think so.

No. 2: Spread the TV Wealth
This is something I’m passionate about, but seems to bore most folks.

On a given Saturday, CBS has its SEC game of the week, while the other five major conferences are all on ABC.

ESPN, of course, gets in the picture as well, but on most Saturdays people in one or two segments of the country can’t see a fantastic game because of ABC’s regional package.

I’m sure most readers of the Opelika-Auburn News can recall missing out on good Big 12 or Pac-10 matchups while being stuck with an ACC game over the past few years.

My solution? Divvy up the TV contracts.

This would, of course, require the other networks to be interested in broadcasting college football (I can’t say with any certainty whether this is the case). But bringing NBC and Fox into the fold could
only be good for college football, allowing viewers the option to see the best game of the week no matter what.

No. 3: No More Cupcakes
That might be a bit harsh, as it’s OK by me if teams want to schedule an automatic win or two, but in recent years there just have not been very many good non-conference matchups.

Just having the playoff should take care of that a bit, making it OK to trip up a time or two.

But I’d take it a step further.

Every team would have to leave a date open on their schedule each year (let’s say, the third week of September).

The college football czar (read: me) would then choose prior to the season who each team would play on that day, and where.

Imagine the matchups that could be created!

So there you have it.

Those are just a few of the steps I would take to improve college football.

So you worry about the free world, President-elect Obama. I’ll take care of college football.

Yes we can!

Tim Cottrell is sports designer of the Opelika-Auburn News. He will write a weekly column on college football during the season. You can also read him on the O-A Sports Blog at oanow.com. He can be reached at 737-2511 or .