May 6—***
The American Football Coaches Association just came out with a set of recommendations to help improve college football.
Specifically, the group led by former Wyoming coach Craig Bohl wants the elimination of conference title games.
Yes, it would mess up the first weekend in December, when we all sit around and watch game after game after game.
But the matchups are basically money-makers for the leagues and don’t have much value for the game. Plus, it puts an extra physical strain on the players.
So, yes to the idea of no league title games. Well done, Coaches.
But they missed on one of their other requests: the reduction of open weeks from two to one each season. That is a horrible idea. The weeklong breaks give the players well-timed chances to rest their bodies and their minds.
The reduction of open weeks seems to have been done to make the sure the season ends by the second Monday in January. Why?
The coaches want to have the season complete before the transfer portal opens. Well, then it should push the start of the season to earlier in August, which would allow for some flexibility at the end.
I’m impressed that the coaches were able to come up with a format that satisfies most of the members. I will be very surprised to hear that Illinois coach Bret Bielema favors just one open week after hearing him talk about the value of two during his Illinois tenure.
All of these proposals are just that, ideas. Other factors will decide what sticks and what doesn’t, including money.