Reports in the past day or so have circulated that Mark Cuban is doing some groundwork in an attempt to bring about a playoff system for the highest level of college football (currently called the Football Bowl Subdivision), and this afternoon he's shared his thoughts on the process on his blog in a post called "Starting The Process - College Football Playoffs."
As usual he's quite candid, and he shares some of the obstacles involved. A few highlights:
Here is the "meat" of his email:
You should also consider that the playoffs are already owned by someone, as in, the patent for resolving the FBS championship by way of a playoff was issued long ago. It's called a method patent, so be careful not to infringe it.
Anyway, if you want to know who owns assets in this field, let me know. I can put you in touch with one of my attorneys who can let you know what you're in for. It's much more complex that it's commonly understood to be.
Maybe this effort to create a playoff system for college football can also solve a huge problem that is hampering the economy and adding to the unemployment rate as companies keep money in the bank to fight patent trolls and pay ever increasing insurance rates instead of hiring people. Am I sure this is happening ? Absolutely because we are facing the same issue in two of my companies. We continuously get sued by various patent trolls and spend money on lawyers and insurance rather than hiring new people or giving raises. And I hate it.
The challenge is what are the parameters or incentives that would make each conference and/or school gladly become part of a playoff system.
The best one I have heard so far ? A Student Experience Fund for the Southeastern Conference. Not a scholarship fund, but a Student Experience Fund. Someone suggested that I put up $50mm dollars to be made available to current SEC students in the amount of up to $3,000 for them to use on unique projects sponsored and endorsed by a professor.