Whenever the University of Hawaii football team has a losing record we hear plenty of talk from some folks about how the Rainbow Warriors should go down to a lower division of competition.
The idea behind this is it would cost less money to fund a program that is in the FCS (what used to be known as Division I-AA), Division II or Division III.
While that would be true because of fewer scholarships, the savings in expenses with such a move would not make up for the decreased revenue that would come with it.
Attendance would continue to decline, and corporate sponsorship would take some big hits — even for a team with a winning record. Also, while Pay Per View does cut into the gate, it’s unlikely that UH would continue to enjoy the financial and exposure benefits of a multi-million dollar annual TV contract if football dropped to a lower division.
And many of the expenses would remain the same, or close to it. Assuming UH were to find an FCS conference in which to compete, its opponents would certainly demand travel subsidies.
>> If you’re like me you prefer your drama on the playing field, not off of it.
But drama — and not the kind that wins and loses games and championships during the games — is exactly what supporters of college football’s four-team playoff system cling to as a reason against the logical expansion to eight teams.
To them, debate about who the committee leaves out is supposedly more entertaining than having a system that includes teams with a legitimate cases as title contenders.
I guess we’re supposed to be grateful that there is a playoff at all, right? It seems crazy that just a few years ago there wasn’t even an actual championship game and the bragging rights were settled by a vote.
Things have evolved, but not as far as they should. Four teams get into the national playoff but there are five major conferences that crown champions. How does that make sense?
Then there’s what we used to call the midmajors, now known as the Group of Five conferences (as opposed to the above mentioned Power Five). UCF is one of just two remaining undefeated FBS teams; but even if the Golden Knights were to win their American Conference championship game against Memphis, there’s no way they make the final four. There would be room for an exceptional Group of Five team in an eight-team tournament.
Expansion should be coupled with players receiving more compensation, sharing in the financial bounty derived from the playoff. A significant chunk should be put aside for them when they graduate.
>> Following a legend is never easy. Regardless how it goes in the NCAA tournament, this should be viewed as a successful transition season for the UH women’s volleyball team as Robyn Ah Mow-Santos replaced the retired Dave Shoji as head coach.
A win in the first round Friday against Illinois would be great, and this program should always maintain its high standards. But even if the Wahine don’t advance, it should not diminish from their strong finish of five straight victories guaranteeing a 20-win season in Ah Mow-Santos’ first year at the helm.
>> I never thought much about Eli Manning until the 2008 Super Bowl, when he led the Giants over the previously undefeated Patriots with that crazy completed pass to David Tyree’s helmet. Before that, he was just Peyton’s little brother and Archie’s kid.
And then he won Super Bowl MVP a second time, as the Giants beat the Pats again in 2012.
It’s strange to hear of him being benched now after 210 consecutive regular-season starts (and for a low-caliber replacement like Geno Smith). But everybody’s time comes eventually, and Eli Manning is 36 years old.
Not every future Hall of Fame quarterback is Tom Brady, who, at age 40, has 26 touchdown passes and just three interceptions this year.
>> Use whatever term you like: bad karma, curse, bachi.
Tennessee’s blunder of firing national-championship-winning, Hall-of-Fame football coach Phillip Fulmer after the 2008 season looks worse all the time.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads Opens in a new tab.
