I-AA has best plan

Call columnist John Blanchette lots of things (most aren’t printable), but loyal isn’t one of them.

Spokane’s newest BCS apologist wrote an article on EWU’s selection into the 2004 I-AA playoffs last year, “It beats Pork Rind Bowl” (Nov. 24, 2004) ridiculing the BCS, lower-echelon bowl games, and lack of a playoff in I-A football.

Now John has decided the BCS isn’t so bad, because it wouldn’t allow a (shudder) five-loss team into the national title hunt.

In I-AA’s Top 25 poll, the potential playoff teams (21) are: undefeated (one), one loss (two), two losses (seven), three losses (eight) and four losses (three). After nine of 11 games, there are more losses out there.

Blanchette should’ve consulted this poll (printed weekly in this paper) before bashing I-AA. I-AA is a division in which there’s (gasp!) parity. A 6-5 conference champ can get in the bracket, and leave an 8-3 team home. I’ll take a 10-5 national champion over No. 1 and No. 2 in the GPI (I-AA version of BCS) playing a “championship” game and closing out the season.

I’d prefer a flawed champion, because they won it where it was supposed to be won – on the field.

Jeff Emery

Spokane Valley