Video: Should Division II Overhaul the Playoff System? - with Mike Racy

[Brandon]

I said if you don't like the way D2 is set up you can either suck it up and stay or move up.

Or vote to change the structure.

[Brandon]

Two divisions having the exact same playoff setup runs contrary to the purpose of distinct divisions.

Playoff structure is almost inconsequential in differentiating divisions. Funding levels are the biggest factor.

[Brandon]

About?

Neutral site semifinals.

[KleShreen]

Strawmen everywhere. Nowhere did I say that I want teams to move up so that my own school can succeed. I simply said that if a D2 program demands the exact playoff model that FCS provides, they should consider moving to FCS. Two divisions having the exact same playoff setup runs contrary to the purpose of distinct divisions.

I have no problem with certain teams investing more in football, and seeing success as a result. But apparently, this level of nuance is beyond you.

This statement makes zero sense. There's distinct divisions because schools are offering different amounts of scholarships. That's the entire difference between divisions. Not playoff format, or enrollment, or endowment. It's how many scholarships you want to fund. Who cares if the playoffs systems are the same?

[KleShreen]

You are literally saying they are fully funded.

Giving teams a playoff bid that didn't win their conference title is rewarding mediocrity as well.

This is who should have been in the playoffs this year......top seeded team gets the first week bye and that would have been either GV or Pitt State. These were your conference champions and shame on the Northern Sun for not having a title game. I only picked Minnesota State because they won the head to head with Bemidji.

Ashland - 9
Fake Notre Dame - 10
Assumption - 14
IUP -7
Fayetteville State - 15
West Florida -5
Newberry - 11
Benedict - 12
Ouachita Baptist - 8
Grand Valley - 1
Indianapolis -13
Pittsburg(h) State - 2
Angelo State - 4
Minnesota State - 6
Colorado Mines -3

First Round
Backet One
Pitt vs Fayetteville State
IUP vs Fake Notre Dame

Bracket Two
Colorado Mines vs Assumption
Minnesota State vs Newberry

Backet Three
Angelo State vs Indianpolis
West Florida vs Benedict

Bracket Four - Winner Plays Grand Valley
Ouachita Baptist
Ashland

Bracket one and two will face off and three and four will do the same until they get down to two teams. Easy peasy.

So I'm not fighting for the status quo. I'm just fighting against the Midwestern attempt to make sure they get the majority of bids in a "fixed" playoff system while discriminating against conferences for nothing more than not having as much money.

Of course you would want only conference champions to be in it, because you are aware that the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th place teams in the GLIAC, MIAA, and GSC are all better than the conference champion from any of the SR1 conferences. So you'd want to make sure they aren't in there.

Your suggested playoff wouldn't even include the reigning national champions lol.

[DawgUp]

No. That stopped 15 years ago when Mercyhurst and Gannon fled the GLIAC and joined the Pee Sack. Since they are private and are considered "fully funded" by printing coupons and voodoo economics...the cap was dropped. There is no barrier to any team in the Pee Sack from being fully funded in reality and not private school fake reality.

Right after that Mon Valley U (California) was up to 30 by being kind of shady with their money...which came out years later.

So in the Pee Sack...Gannon, Mercyhurst and Seton Hill are technically fully funded. Only Gannon was competitive this past season.

So if Gannon, Mercy and Seton Hill are technically fully funded, shouldn't they be competitive year in and year out with the that as an advantage over the other PSAC schools or is there something else holding them back? Not looking to pick an argument just trying to understand.

[IUPNation]

Or vote to change the structure.

To what?

[IUPNation]

Of course you would want only conference champions to be in it, because you are aware that the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th place teams in the GLIAC, MIAA, and GSC are all better than the conference champion from any of the SR1 conferences. So you'd want to make sure they aren't in there.

Your suggested playoff wouldn't even include the reigning national champions lol.

Those teams don't deserve playoff bids for failing in the regular season. So you are just admitted you want the playoffs to be rigged in favor of teams in conferences they never win based "on reputation".

[IUPNation]

So if Gannon, Mercy and Seton Hill are technically fully funded, shouldn't they be competitive year in and year out with the that as an advantage over the other PSAC schools or is there something else holding them back? Not looking to pick an argument just trying to understand.

They just aren't attractive programs for foosball. Mercyhurst did win the Pee Sack in 2010. Gannon was like 8-3 this year. They do well in other sports...just not foosball. IUP and Slimey Pebble are just more established programs in Western PA and both fund in the 20's...so they are going to get the better players than going to them and just getting discounted tuition.

Look at the list of schools who have played and or won the national title...not very many private schools.

D3 is the small private school level.

[KleShreen]

Those teams don't deserve playoff bids for failing in the regular season. So you are just admitted you want the playoffs to be rigged in favor of teams in conferences they never win based "on reputation".

Uh yea. If you want to call it reputation. Really, it is results based on conference strength that has been proven for decades in non-conference and postseason play.

[GorillaTeacher]

Conference championships are over rated. They give the kids something to hang their hats on, but at this level, they want national championships.

There isn’t a reality of conference champs making it more likely that you’re a title contender. They’re actually both caused by having a better than average team.

[Brandon]

To what?

To eliminate regionalized playoffs.

[Brandon]

Those teams don't deserve playoff bids for failing in the regular season. So you are just admitted you want the playoffs to be rigged in favor of teams in conferences they never win based "on reputation".

I know you're just being you, but a conference champions only playoffs is even worse than the system we have now.

It might make sense if all the conferences had equal levels of commitment or potential, but we're long past pretending that is the case.

[IUPNation]

Uh yea. If you want to call it reputation. Really, it is results based on conference strength that has been proven for decades in non-conference and postseason play.

But it has to be proven based on the current season....it's doesn't matter what happened the previous seasons.

Since a number of conferences are SILO...you can't measure it and why the regional format will most likely remain in place.

[IUPNation]

Conference championships are over rated. They give the kids something to hang their hats on, but at this level, they want national championships.

There isn’t a reality of conference champs making it more likely that you’re a title contender. They’re actually both caused by having a better than average team.

Then why have private conferences at all?

The NCAA should just create a league that assigns schools to certain divisions...given them a schedule and have a playoff format like the NFL.