Friday, August 04, 2006
What's In a Name? The College Football Edition
Bye bye, D1-A and D1-AA football designations. Hello "Football Bowl Subdivision" and "Football Championship Subdivision."
In any case, the powers that be can call the 1-AA schools whatever they like. Unless the absolute level of competition in D1-AA gets closer to that of D1-A, fan perceptions aren't likely to change, regardless of what titles NCAA officials give the divisions. Until then, a mid-major by any other name... .
The word "championship" sounds much better than "bowl." Rather than merely naming the divisions after their postseason formats, could this be an attempt to marginally levitate the mid-major/directional/non big-time/minor/modest programs towards the status of the big schools in the minds of fans? What if the "Bowl Division" goes to a playoff format?The NCAA is doing a little re-labeling, eliminating the Division I-A and I-AA tags that officially separate college football's major and more modest programs.Acknowledging frustration that the classification often brands an entire university as big-time or non-big-time, the association's Division I Board of Directors moved Thursday to rename the subdivisions. Beginning in December, they'll be known by their respective postseason formats.
What now are I-A programs — the Texases, Notre Dames and others vying for bowls — will play in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Georgia Southerns, Montanas and others now known as I-AA will play in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, alluding to the 16-team playoff that settles its national title.
In any case, the powers that be can call the 1-AA schools whatever they like. Unless the absolute level of competition in D1-AA gets closer to that of D1-A, fan perceptions aren't likely to change, regardless of what titles NCAA officials give the divisions. Until then, a mid-major by any other name... .
