College playoffs a hot topic in 1966

With college football season fast approaching, it’ll soon be time to cuss and discuss your team’s chances of making the College Football Playoff.

Scott Adamson’s sports column appears pretty much whenever he feels like writing it.

First, though, I’d like to salute a trio of playoff visionaries – Bud Wilkinson, Duffy Daugherty and Walter Byers – who were way ahead of their time.

In fact, their vision dates all the way back to 1966.

While playoffs at college football’s highest level have existed only five years, the debate has gone on for as long as I’ve followed the game. But until doing some research, I didn’t realize there was a real push for it in the mid-1960s.

Wilkinson, the legendary Oklahoma coach who guided the Sooners from 1947-63 – wrote a syndicated column that appeared in newspapers across the country on Oct. 19, 1966.

Even though OU teams had claimed three “mythical” national championships under his guidance, he longed for a system where it was determined on the field.

“No single football playoff plan is being advocated now, but it would probably follow the pattern of the basketball championships,” Wilkinson wrote. “Some conference champions would qualify automatically for the playoffs. Other teams would be chosen by a selection committee.”

Wilkinson also quoted Byers – then the executive director of the NCAA ­– in his column.

“Organizing a national collegiate football championship, under NCAA supervision, would have to follow the principles which govern the conduct of other NCAA championships, and result in no appreciable dislocation of the current bowl games which are a colorful part of our American tradition” Byers said. “I believe both of these necessary prerequisites could be guaranteed.”

Wilkinson said the playoffs would “probably involve fewer than 16 teams,” and suggested the semifinals and title game be rotated among bowls.

In the mid-1960s the Rose, Orange, Sugar and Cotton were the traditional New Year’s Day bowl games, while secondary postseason contests for major colleges consisted of the Bluebonnet, Gator, Liberty, and Sun bowls.

A couple of weeks after Wilkinson’s piece – on Halloween – Michigan State coach Duffy Daugherty proposed an eight-team playoff that included the champions of the Big Ten, Big Eight, SEC, Southwest, Pacific Coast and Atlantic Coast conferences, plus two leading independents (there were 20 in 1966).

“The television revenue from an NCAA playoff would be tremendous,” Daugherty told the Associated Press. “I would cut in all 120 NCAA member schools on the television receipts and let each school do with the money what it wants.

“It’s the only way to determine a national champion.”

Texas coach Darrell Royal and Arkansas boss Frank Broyles were among the coaches who went on record in support of the idea.

What’s really interesting about Daugherty’s take is the timing of it. When he unveiled his plan, his Spartans were ranked No. 2 behind No. 1 Notre Dame, and three weeks removed from playing the Fighting Irish to a 10-10 tie in what was deemed the “Game of the Century.”

That was also the season Alabama finished undefeated but ranked third in the final poll, denying the Crimson Tide a third consecutive national crown.

In the pre-bowl Associated Press poll – which determined the unofficial national champ – Notre Dame was No. 1, followed by Michigan State, Alabama, Georgia, UCLA, Nebraska, Purdue and Georgia Tech.

Notre Dame Coach Ara Parseghian later defended the final ranking by pointing out that the Irish had played five Top 10 teams (finishing 4-0-1 against them) while the Tide’s only Top 10 foe was Nebraska, Alabama’s Sugar Bowl victim.

Had the “Daugherty Plan” been in effect, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech would’ve made the playoff as the top independents while Michigan State (Big Ten), Alabama (SEC), UCLA (Pacific Coast), and Nebraska (Big Eight) would’ve qualified for winning their conference titles.

Clemson won the ACC with a 6-4 record while 8-3 SMU was champion of the Southwest, so the Tigers and Mustangs would’ve snatched away berths from higher ranked Georgia and Purdue, thus completing the field.

Some coaches and university officials expressed their skepticism, but Byers remained bullish.

“We’re now playing postseason football from the first week in December through the first week of January,” he told the Associated Press. “I can’t see that a playoff would add greatly to extending the season if it could be worked into the bowl games.”

The NCAA initiated a feasibility study of an eight-team playoff in 1967 and it drug on for two years. Finally, NCAA President Harry Cross said the governing body had “discharged” the special committee studying the proposal.

“Which means the possibility of playoffs being presently developed is ended,” Cross told the Associated Press in 1969. “My guess would be there was some concern from the bowl game persons. I think any of us could expect there would be.

“I don’t know of any person or group that intends to recommend it again.”

After that postseason playoff plans ran hot and cold through the years, from “maybe” to “absolutely not,” until the CFP was implemented in 2014.

So in just a few weeks, 64 members of the Power Five conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC) plus Notre Dame will begin a new football season they hope culminates in a playoff berth.

The 65 programs comprising the Group of Five conferences (American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt) have no chance to make the playoffs under the current format, and must hope for a New Year’s Six bowl as a consolation prize. (Technically all 130 schools are eligible for the playoffs, but you might want to ask Central Florida how realistic it is).

Yet as lucrative as the CFP has become, the logical next step is to take a cue from ol’ Duffy and expand the field to eight teams (the current four-team contract runs through 2026).

Once that’s done, all Power Five conference champions will get in, plus three wildcards. And in the CFP executive committee’s benevolence, every now and again they might even let the highest ranked Group of Five team join the party.

I personally prefer an inclusive 16-team playoff (all 10 conference champions and six wildcards), but that’s a big ask and nobody asked me. The next best thing is doubling the current field, and that would be a major step forward.

And should it happen, that step can be traced back to 1966.

Major League Rugby builds for the future

The Seattle Seawolves celebrate their second straight Major League Rugby championship. (David Frerker photo)

When the San Diego Legion scored in the waning seconds to defeat Rugby United New York, 24-22, back in June, I felt a real sense of disappointment.

Scott Adamson’s sports column appears pretty much whenever he feels like writing it.

A win would’ve put New York in the Major League Rugby championship game, while a loss meant their season was over. I was hoping the Orange and Blue would pull it out, because they’ve become my favorite team in a sport I’m growing increasingly fond of.

Developing that kind of attachment is significant considering that a couple of years ago my knowledge (and interest) in rugby was mostly confined to the movie “Invictus.”

Yet a little over a month after Major League Rugby closed out Year Two (with the Seattle Seawolves claiming their second consecutive MLR crown), I’m already looking forward to its “new and improved” 2020 version.

I got curious about North America’s pro rugby league during its inaugural season in 2018, giving it what you might call a loose follow.

The organization featured the Austin Elite, Glendale Raptors, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle and the Utah Warriors.

This year, though, it added New York and the Toronto Arrows, and I became a legitimate fan. I watched as many matches as I could and kept track of player performances across the league.

New York became my team of choice because – although I’m a Birmingham, Alabama, native – the Big Apple is always my default sports city.

And as someone who has spent many a spring hoping upstart football leagues would take hold, now I’m more concerned with pro rugby sticking its landing.

And so far, it seems to be on the right track.

When Major League Rugby gets back in action next February, there will be 12 teams thanks to the addition of the New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC and Rugby ATL. Expansion goes against the trend of upstart leagues that tend to sputter at launch and then crash and burn.

“It was our sophomore year and we grew a little bit, and that’s an atypical thing in the world of sports,” MLR commissioner Dean Howes told Martin Pegelly of The Guardian. “Your second year is usually kind of a tough year, and I think we grew and I think we’re poised to build.”

Unlike spring football circuits that will always live under the shadow of the NFL, MLR has the potential to cast its own shadow.

PRO Rugby was the first pro league to set up shop in America, but lasted only one season (2016).

MLR, on the other hand, has lured some of the United States’ best amateur rugby stars as well as respected international players.

“We want to build up our domestic teams, our players, and our national team,” Howes told The Guardian. “But at the same time we feel one of the important things is that we have some international players to try to teach our players.”

MLR also has a formal “strategic agreement” with USA Rugby, the governing body for the sport in America.

“The advent of professional rugby is such a substantial step in advancement of the game, so we’re happy to have built a robust partnership to best find mutual support in each other,” USA Rugby CEO Ross Young said.

So how far does MLR have to go before becoming a stable league?

By comparison the Premiership (the top-tier of rugby union competition in England), draws an average of 14,500 fans per match. In 2019 the MLR averaged 1,900 paying customers per contest, with the biggest crowd (6,000) showing up for Seattle’s win over San Diego in the championship match.

That might seem like a big gap, but attendance was trending upward as the season progressed, and the playoffs were a hit at the box office.

Some teams are still trying to find suitable stadiums, and I imagine if you could look five years into the future you’d see some MLR teams relocate or simply close up shop.

But, the fact that I can look five years into the future and see Major League Rugby a part of it is pretty exciting.

Hopefully, it’ll keep getting bigger and better.

Once friendly confines now hostile territory for QB

Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly (13) throws against BC during a game last season. Friday, Reilly will be behind center  throwing for the Lions at Commonwealth Stadium. (CFL photo/Jimmy Jeong)

For six years, quarterback Mike Reilly was a hero in Edmonton, guiding the Eskimos to a 2015 championship and racking up impressive numbers through the air and on the ground.

Scott Adamson writes about alternative pro football leagues because it makes him happy, Follow him on Twitter @adamsonsl

Now behind center for the BC Lions – his second stint with the Vancouver-based Canadian Football League team – Reilly gets to go from “baby face” to “heel” on Friday when he visits Commonwealth Stadium.

“I spent six great years in Edmonton and enjoyed every minute I was there, through ups and downs and a lot of life-changing experiences both on and off the field,” Reilly said during a conference call on Wednesday. “Obviously on the football field, winning a Grey Cup and a (Most Outstanding Player award) and being part of six different teams, because it truly is a different team every single year.

“Then the off the field changes, being married prior to the 2015 season and then having both my daughters born in Edmonton during the 2016 and 2018 seasons.”

If you follow the Canadian Football League as I do, you know that many of its top-tier quarterbacks – not just journeymen –tend to get around.

For example, Damon Allen, who had an incredible 23-year run in the CFL, threw for 72,381 yards and 394 touchdowns while rushing for 11,920 yards and 93 scores. He played for six different teams (he had two tours of duty with Edmonton and was also behind center for the Ottawa Rough Riders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Memphis Mad Dogs, BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts).

Anthony Calvillo recorded league bests in passing yards (79,816), touchdowns (455), completions (5,892) and 300-yard games (125) in a 20-year CFL career that saw him play for the Las Vegas Posse, Hamilton and Montreal Alouettes.

I actually saw him live when he quarterbacked against Matt Dunigan and the Birmingham Barracudas at Legion Field back in 1995, obviously having no idea he’d become a legend north of the border.

And Doug Flutie racked up more than 41,000 passing yards and 270 touchdowns while playing for BC, the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto over eight seasons.

Shoot, Kevin Glenn had his rights held by every CFL team before retiring on June 12 with 52,867 passing yards and 294 scores.

There are many more examples, of course; the list of accomplished quarterbacks is a long one that includes several guys who have changed uniforms while setting records at every stop. Now it’s Reilly’s turn.

The 6-3, 230-pound quarterback started his CFL career with BC in 2011 before spending 2013-18 with Edmonton. A free agent at the end of the 2018 campaign, he chose to return to his original club thanks in large part to a four-year, $2.9 million contract.

“It’s more of doing what’s right for you and your family,” Reilly said. “I didn’t feel like there were negatives with either team on the football side of things.”

In six seasons with the Eskimos – including one that ended with a Grey Cup title – Reilly threw for 26,929 yards and 143 TDs and added 3,040 rushing yards and 45 more touchdowns in 94 starts.

“I do feel like I became the player I am now because of my time in Edmonton,” Reilly said.

Going into Friday’s game against his old team, the former Central Washington player has passed for 27,949 yards and 149 touchdowns in Canada.

At age 34 and just two seasons removed from a MOP Award, the Kennewick, Washington, native has already secured his CFL legacy. But last week he was 22 of 39 for 324 yards and a touchdown in BC’s 33-23 loss to Winnipeg, and wants his homecoming to be much happier for him and BC than the hosts.

Edmonton opened its season with a 32-25 victory over Montreal.

“I’m excited to go back again,” he said. “There’s a lot of great memories as a home field starter at Commonwealth Stadium and hopefully as a visiting player now. I still have a lot of great close friends on the coaching staff and on the roster.”

But like the outstanding QBs who came before him, Reilly will now try to continue his success at the expense of fans who once cheered him on.

It’s nothing personal – just business. And if a player hangs around long enough in the CFL, he’ll experience both sides of the baby face/heel coin.

“I’m sure (the reception) will be mixed in the sense that a lot of the fan base knows it was a great opportunity for me to come here, but at the same time there’s always going to be that animosity for leaving a team,” Reilly said. “And I get that … I totally understand it. They have a great fan base there and I had the privilege of playing there more than 100 games. I expect them to support their team and that always makes it tough on the opposing team.

“Once the ball’s kicked off, I’m the enemy at that point.”