Executive Board approves DII bracket expansion

[IUPNation]

I have no problem with autobids either (I have long discussed that regarding the newly expanded FBS tournament). If you want to clearly present that you have a "path" to win a championship, you can justify the statement if "all conference champions" are included." If the reward for winning your conference is a seat at the table, then every team legitimately has the same available path to get there. I prefer that methodology.

I hear you on the premise of a lesser team stealing a bid. But we often see that in march with regularity from mid-major leagues. A team totally deserving of reaching the tournament gets left out because they were upset in the conference tournament of an otherwise one-bid league. I see the harshness of that, but I can also respect and appreciate that's the uniqueness of the setup of the sport. I wouldn't mind if those mid-major leagues actually scrapped their conference tournaments altogether and awarded the NCAA bid to the regular season champ (but that's an entirely different topic and conversation).

There's two premises... There's the "just get the best helmets and most talented rosters in" vantage point (which you hear loudly at the FBS level). And then there's the "utilize actual qualifiers for paths of entry for a large chunk of the bids." I prefer the 2nd option because I value the process of the season, and believe winning your championship should matter. But I also understand why people don't prefer that approach.

I’m with you.

I wonder how the seeding will work. Will conference champions all get first round home games?

[Tdobson]

I like the idea. All you need is a lower seeded team to get hot at the right time. I know this was years ago, but think IUP in 1999. It was a miracle that we made it, but we had the chance to go to the national championship that year. It was awesome.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I like the idea. All you need is a lower seeded team to get hot at the right time. I know this was years ago, but think IUP in 1999. It was a miracle that we made it, but we had the chance to go to the national championship that year. It was awesome.

As a whole, that was probably my favorite season in (my) IUP history. It had it all. Incredible highs and incredible lows. The Rock Dance. The Homecoming Massacre.

The team dealt with an uncanny number of injuries early in the season. By mid-September, Frank was starting a true freshman QB. As you said, by November that was a great team.

If there was one season that would make an interesting book, it would be that one. That was a wild bunch.

[SRU 88]

Not a big fan of eliminating the byes, what is the reward for being the top seed? I think ROCK/IUP would be wise not to try fill their late season open dates(Hurst Departure)

[IUPNation]

Not a big fan of eliminating the byes, what is the reward for being the top seed? I think ROCK/IUP would be wise not to try fill their late season open dates(Hurst Departure)

You get to stay home.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Not a big fan of eliminating the byes, what is the reward for being the top seed? I think ROCK/IUP would be wise not to try fill their late season open dates(Hurst Departure)

While there could always be an upset, I doubt the top seed vs bottom seed game will be close all that often.

Unless you have a swarm of nagging injuries, I'd guess most coaches would prefer to play. Too many things can go wrong during a bye week (aside from the team often coming out flat). It also gets the school an additional home gate (you'd hope a home playoff game would draw well).

[TheBigCat2192]

The regional format never bothered me. I prefer it. I don't even think a national format in D2 is viable because teams don't play each other during the regular season so there would be a lot of guesswork and that would ultimately go against the NE region because nobody respects us. It would be a very political process.

PSAC teams may not be playing full non-conference slates but a lot of teams in other leagues are playing 2-3 games like that every year. The biggest obstacle to having enough data for national seeding is us.

[Tdobson]

IUPBigIndians, were you a student at that time?mi attended 1998-2003. I have to agree the 99 team was my favorite.

[Redwing]

While there could always be an upset, I doubt the top seed vs bottom seed game will be close all that often.

Unless you have a swarm of nagging injuries, I'd guess most coaches would prefer to play. Too many things can go wrong during a bye week (aside from the team often coming out flat). It also gets the school an additional home gate (you'd hope a home playoff game would draw well).

That's likely pretty true. BUT, unless it's a low ranked conf. winner, I thought teams 5-8 aren't seeded but just matched up for mostly travel reasons or conf match ups. So it's not all that unlikely that a one seed could actually play the 5th ranked opponent.

[GregD]

As a whole, that was probably my favorite season in (my) IUP history. It had it all. Incredible highs and incredible lows. The Rock Dance. The Homecoming Massacre.

The team dealt with an uncanny number of injuries early in the season. By mid-September, Frank was starting a true freshman QB. As you said, by November that was a great team.

If there was one season that would make an interesting book, it would be that one. That was a wild bunch.

And as you might remember we did not get to the championship game due to a wind blown kickoff -

[Inkblot]

That's likely pretty true. BUT, unless it's a low ranked conf. winner, I thought teams 5-8 aren't seeded but just matched up for mostly travel reasons or conf match ups. So it's not all that unlikely that a one seed could actually play the 5th ranked opponent.

Hopefully the new region alignment will reduce that... no reason to have #1 Ferris State host #5 GVSU if #8 Tiffin is available and in the same super region.

[WarriorVoice]

Not a big fan of eliminating the byes, what is the reward for being the top seed? I think ROCK/IUP would be wise not to try fill their late season open dates(Hurst Departure)

Why does the #1 seed need a reward? Isn't getting to play a lesser seeded team a reward in itself?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Not a big fan of eliminating the byes, what is the reward for being the top seed? I think ROCK/IUP would be wise not to try fill their late season open dates(Hurst Departure)

The reward, my opinion, is an extra home game/gate, and what should be a fairly easy playoff win.

Regarding your last comment, I can 100% tell you there's not a chance in hell IUP is filling that spot. Absolutely zero chance. There's no point.

The bye lines up perfectly for them (right before SRU/Cal back-to-back). Plus, they open with Ashland, so they don't need to worry about SOS or any of the other b.s.

The scariest game on the schedule every year, my opinion, is the game after SRU/Cal. This year it is against Gannon. Regardless of all the hyperbolic coach speak nonsense these coaches spew out, you aren't getting a team 'up' every week. After back to back wars, IUP often looks horrendous in the game following SRU/Cal. They are physically and emotionally drained after those two games. The following week is the perfect time to draw them on the schedule.

[Ram040506]

Hopefully the new region alignment will reduce that... no reason to have #1 Ferris State host #5 GVSU if #8 Tiffin is available and in the same super region.

Do the conference champs as AQ's get automatic home games in round 1? Or is that still going by some formula/committee to decide?

[Iupgh]

The reward, my opinion, is an extra home game/gate, and what should be a fairly easy playoff win.

Regarding your last comment, I can 100% tell you there's not a chance in hell IUP is filling that spot. Absolutely zero chance. There's no point.

The bye lines up perfectly for them (right before SRU/Cal back-to-back). Plus, they open with Ashland, so they don't need to worry about SOS or any of the other b.s.

The scariest game on the schedule every year, my opinion, is the game after SRU/Cal. This year it is against Gannon. Regardless of all the hyperbolic coach speak nonsense these coaches spew out, you aren't getting a team 'up' every week. After back to back wars, IUP often looks horrendous in the game following SRU/Cal. They are physically and emotionally drained after those two games. The following week is the perfect time to draw them on the schedule.

Is this the season the GMAC is out of Region 1 and CIAA is back in?