Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has added his name to the list of ex-coaches in favor of a BCS selection committee to determine the participants in a four-team playoff. In fact, Bowden believes that former coaches would be the best to serve on that committee."This Legends group is about as real a group as you can have," Bowden told ESPN.com's Joe Schad. "I voted for years as an active coach. But what you're really doing then is putting yourself and your conference in position. I used to have an idea of what was going on around me. But now I really have an idea of what's going on around the country. When we're retired, we all have a better view."
The "Legends group" is the Legends Poll, made up of legendary ex-coaches who watch game footage from across the country and participate in regular discussions and voting. Bowden also told ESPN.com that he would be willing to serve on the committee.
"I think ex-coaches have a lot of wisdom," Bowden said. "I watch the games. And I watch the game films on my iPad."
Bowden's statements add him to a long list of legendary coaches who have shared similar sentiments. Former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, former Ohio State coach John Cooper, former BYU coach LaVell Edwards, and former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer all stated their willingness to help in the process.
There is some serious concern about the current BCS formula, including the use of The Coaches Poll. While the former coaches may argue that they are distanced enough to be unbiased, there will still be plenty of concern when it comes to favoritism towards former employers.
Regardless of who makes up the potential committee, the public will call for transparency in the decision-making process. The 10-person collection of conference commissioners and athletic directors may get to keep the basketball bracketing process private, but choosing only four teams to compete for a national championship is different than 68. With transparency necessary, the panel members would need to be able to handle a good deal of pressure and public scrutiny.
"No person is better equipped to handle the pressure that would go with being on that committee than an ex-coach," former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum told ESPN.com. "We've seen a lot more pressure than being on a poll."
The idea of a committee to select the participants in a four-team playoff has picked up momentum with the present stalemate on the conference champion requirement. SEC commissioner Mike Slive was very clear at the spring meetings last week that the league wants the top four teams -- regardless of conference finish -- competing for the national title.
The conference commissioners are scheduled to meet June 13 and June 20, both in Chicago. CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd reported that the playoff system could be announced at the third meeting this month -- June 26 in Washington, D.C.. Until then, we can probably expect plenty more former coaches to offer their services in the process.
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