Even champions need a breather or two. Or three. Everybody does it, so what’s the harm?
Don’t even ask me about NCAA basketball. The big schools offer so many excuses for playing home games against patsies, I always have to run to the drug store to buy more tissues.
How about using conference championships as first-round playoff games for football, adding those in the Big Ten and Pac-10 and other places? Winners continue on through December. Championship on New Year’s Day. Season tidy. No additional class time lost. Money still rolling in. If you don’t have enough teams, throw in a bye or two.
Consider the same formula in basketball. Allow league championships to act as early-round NCAA games. Hold back 32 teams if you must for byes.
Let’s be inclusive. Let’s give everyone a chance. Let’s beef up regular-season schedules so the big boys don’t feel they have to win every game, but can give the fans something more than Texas vs. Louisiana-Monroe.
One game shouldn’t make a champion.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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