If you have to have played an actual down of football to be on the committee, then 99% of the sports writers and talking heads that we listen to all season are not qualified.
I think she would do a helluva job. She is a student of the game, and a brilliant person. For Pat Dye or anyone else to say you have to have personally owned a sweaty jock strap to understand what it takes to be a champion, then they are full of shit.
I 100% agree, which means I would not advocate any sports writers or talking heads from being on the committee.
She can have a valid opinion to espouse on ESPN's College Gameday all she wants. Any man, woman, or child can go on a radio show and discuss what they think about college football.
But this is like picking Bill Gates to be a gymnastics judge in the Olympics. He's a high profile guy. Very successful. Very smart. Surely he can offer a valid and innovative opinion on which athlete performed the best tumbling routine.
I played high school football. I worked in the Auburn athletic department and sat in on a few meetings between the coaches and players. I watched the break down game film. I attended practices. I read message boards and watch ESPN. I talk to my friends about football. I give my opinion all the time about Auburn games and games going on around the country. I critique play calls and question decisions made by the coaches. I analyze talent and state who will be a good NFL player and who won't be. I do all of the things a football fanatic does, and I would never consider myself qualified to choose who should be in the playoff and who should not be.
I watched a video not too long ago of Nick Saban breaking down the Rip/Liz defense, and I could barely keep up with the jargon. I sure as hell wouldn't be able to identify that defense on the field. I can tell if I'm watching closely enough if the secondary is in man or zone. I can tell if someone blitzes. I can tell if the d-line runs a stunt. But I can't pick up on proper technique as the plays are happening. If I watched game film in slow motion, I may be able to guess at what players are doing right and wrong.
But guys playing D-1 football see all of that instantly. When I was at Auburn practices, I loved watching Coach Dunn. They'd run a play, and he would instantly start roaring at players to fix this and that about their technique and fundamentals. He could just see it at live speed.
Former players and coaches can and have seen things on the football field that I don't have the experience to understand. And because of that, those are the type of people who should choosing who gets into the playoff. Not someone who would be a great spokesperson or one who can handle the politics.
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