BCS creator says keep playoff at four teams

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- BCS creator Roy Kramer made a strident plea Monday to not allow outside pressures to expand the coming playoff beyond four teams.

“My greatest concern,” Kramer said to a group of faculty athletics representatives, “is not to allow that to drive call-in shows and the media of the world to expand where we are right at this minute. I believe that would be a significant, damaging issue for all of college athletics.”

Kramer, then SEC commissioner, spent 2 ½ years creating the BCS which debuted in 1998. Speaking during the Division I-A faculty athletics representatives annual meeting, Kramer said he is not “totally opposed,” to the new playoff, “if it works.”

“It will not reduce the controversy,” he added, “try picking between No. 4 and No. 5.”

Immediately after the four-team playoff was announced in June, there was speculation how long it would take to get to eight and 16 teams. After making his statement before an audience of about 100, Kramer received rousing applause. Kramer spoke during a 90-minute playoff discussion before the FARs.

Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman agreed, saying of the BCS, “there was no defending the current system.”

“The biggest critic was always the president of the school that finished third [in the BCS],” Perlman told the group. “If there isn't strong support for a four-team playoff among intercollegiate athletic community, you will see more playoffs than less.”