Are you guys willing to start and support a movement with me?


Kenn Rashad

Person In Charge
Staff member
I ask, because I have a feeling what we witnessed at the end of last season, could possibly happen again at the end of this up coming season. You guys remember when this happened?

I see no reason why it couldn't happen again this year. There is a pretty good chance that both the MEAC and SWAC will have teams that should be given at-large bids into the FCS playoffs, but will not be giving one simply because the FCS committee will not think no team is worthy of a bid.

Just because the SWAC and MEAC will be sending its conference champions to the Celebration Bowl doesn't mean that other teams can be a part of the FCS playoffs.

I think the NCAA really showed its ass when the committee allowed a 6-5 Western Illinois team in playoffs; that resulted in the MVC to have five teams go to the FCS playoffs.

This argument should not be conflated with the argument on whether or not HBCUs should go to the playoffs because of the money or lack thereof. That is not the point. This should be all about fairness that the NCAA wants us to believe they are all about.

But time after time, we have seen how the NCAA will make exceptions for other schools and conferences. Just recently, they made an exception for the the Big 12 conference in giving it the OK to have a football conference championship game, despite not having the 12 team minimum that was previously required. The Big 12 was allowed to have its cake an eat it too.

The point that I am really trying to make here is that there is no reason why the MEAC and SWAC can't have its cake and eat it. There is no rational for us not to be able to send teams to the CB and to the FCS playoffs.

I am not one who believes in blatantly playing the race card, but I think it applies here. In reading the NCAA's published core values, not allowing the MEAC and SWAC to participate in the FCS playoffs, is a breech of those core values.

There is so much more I can say about this, but I am interested in reading your thoughts.

#LetHBCUsInFCSPlayoffs
 
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I'm in....

I also think more SWAC schools along with Duer Sharp could push this as well by encouraging more SWAC programs to play Top 25 FCS programs.

This is the big elephant in the room if you ask me. SWAC schools have a hard time filling schedules because Duer Sharp does not do a better job of designing (or assisting schools) a schedule far enough in advance so this problem would not occur. Case in point you have the defending west champion GSU playing some sorry school as their opening game instead of a ranked FCS program.

Now that we have the 7 game mandate the SWAC office should push to never allow a SWAC team to play a school that is not FCS or FBS.
 
Good argument except for the Western Illinois part. They likely would've been a 21 point favorite against any SWAC or MEAC team.
 
Good argument except for the Western Illinois part. They likely would've been a 21 point favorite against any SWAC or MEAC team.

It doesn't matter. And that is not the point. The MEAC and SWAC are member conferences of the NCAA. Both conferences (as well as the member schools) pay dues annually and are ENTITLED to all of the rights and privileges associated with being members. There is NO excuse to allow ONE conference to get 5 teams in the playoffs and not allow other conferences who have openly expressed an interest to participate in the playoffs not get 1 team in.

There is NO reason why the SWAC and MEAC shouldn't be allowed to have at least one team each in the playoffs.
 
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I ask, because I have a feeling what we witnessed at the end of last season, could possibly happen again at the end of this up coming season. You guys remember when this happened?

I see no reason why it couldn't happen again this year. There is a pretty good chance that both the MEAC and SWAC will have teams that should be given at-large bids into the FCS playoffs, but will not be giving one simply because the FCS committee will not think no team is worthy of a bid.

Just because the SWAC and MEAC will be sending its conference champions to the Celebration Bowl doesn't mean that other teams can be a part of the FCS playoffs.

I think the NCAA really showed its ass when the committee allowed a 6-5 Western Illinois team in playoffs; that resulted in the MVC to have five teams go to the FCS playoffs.

This argument should not be conflated with the argument on whether or not HBCUs should go to the playoffs because of the money or lack thereof. That is not the point. This should be all about fairness that the NCAA wants us to believe they are all about.

But time after time, we have seen now the NCAA will make exceptions for other schools and conferences. Just recently, they made an exception for the the Big 12 conference in giving it the OK to have a football conference championship game, despite not having the 12 team minimum that was previously required. The Big 12 was allowed to have its cake an eat it too.

The point that I am really trying to make here is that there is no reason why the MEAC and SWAC can't have its cake and eat it. There is no rational for us not to be able to send teams to the CB and to the FCS playoffs.

I am not one who believes in blatantly playing the race card, but I think it applies here. In reading the NCAA's published core values, not allowing the MEAC and SWAC to participate in the FCS playoffs, is a breech of those core values.

There is so much more I can say about this, but I am interested in reading your thoughts.

#LetHBCUsInFCSPlayoffs

I
I believe
I believe that
I believe that we
I believe that we will win
I believe that we will win
I believe that we will win
I believe that we will win
 
if the bracket remains the same then you this issue in 2016:

GSU, SU, Bama State and Hampton all have games that week, you add the MEAC Champ and if other SWAC West teams are waiting in limbo for the BC to determine who goes to the SCG and that's 5-6 teams already eliminated

it aligned perfectly this year where GSU clinched early but it could be a 2008 situation where a coin toss was going to determine the fact of the SCG if GSU lost to Southern as PV was waiting also
 
We should start one of those hell raising petitions with the signatures included. Play their game with paperwork then get that paperwork sent to multiple media outlets as well as the NCAA office. Cause enough hell and something may change. But we got to go all in.
 
if the bracket remains the same then you this issue in 2016:

GSU, SU, Bama State and Hampton all have games that week, you add the MEAC Champ and if other SWAC West teams are waiting in limbo for the BC to determine who goes to the SCG and that's 5-6 teams already eliminated

it aligned perfectly this year where GSU clinched early but it could be a 2008 situation where a coin toss was going to determine the fact of the SCG if GSU lost to Southern as PV was waiting also

I get all of that. That is one scenario. But we have no idea what might happen this season. There is always the possibility where any team whose regular season ends on December 19, may not be able to play in the SCG, but might have a strong case to play in the playoffs (if they are willing to do so). The same could be said - and is more likely - with the MEAC considering the fact that they do not have a championship game. The fact of the matter is, again, if there is a chance for either a MEAC or SWAC school to play in the playoffs, let them play. It's that simple. After all of the auto bids are determined, there is no excuse not to offer at least 2 of the remaining 14 at-large bids to the SWAC or MEAC if a team is eligible.
 
I ask, because I have a feeling what we witnessed at the end of last season, could possibly happen again at the end of this up coming season. You guys remember when this happened?

I see no reason why it couldn't happen again this year. There is a pretty good chance that both the MEAC and SWAC will have teams that should be given at-large bids into the FCS playoffs, but will not be giving one simply because the FCS committee will not think no team is worthy of a bid.

Just because the SWAC and MEAC will be sending its conference champions to the Celebration Bowl doesn't mean that other teams can be a part of the FCS playoffs.

I think the NCAA really showed its ass when the committee allowed a 6-5 Western Illinois team in playoffs; that resulted in the MVC to have five teams go to the FCS playoffs.

This argument should not be conflated with the argument on whether or not HBCUs should go to the playoffs because of the money or lack thereof. That is not the point. This should be all about fairness that the NCAA wants us to believe they are all about.

But time after time, we have seen how the NCAA will make exceptions for other schools and conferences. Just recently, they made an exception for the the Big 12 conference in giving it the OK to have a football conference championship game, despite not having the 12 team minimum that was previously required. The Big 12 was allowed to have its cake an eat it too.

The point that I am really trying to make here is that there is no reason why the MEAC and SWAC can't have its cake and eat it. There is no rational for us not to be able to send teams to the CB and to the FCS playoffs.

I am not one who believes in blatantly playing the race card, but I think it applies here. In reading the NCAA's published core values, not allowing the MEAC and SWAC to participate in the FCS playoffs, is a breech of those core values.

There is so much more I can say about this, but I am interested in reading your thoughts.

#LetHBCUsInFCSPlayoffs

They barley want to give a playoff birth to the conference winner, so why do you think they will give a berth to the conference runner up.
 



I am in for the SWAC
But, If we were AAC forum members would we do the same for that conference because Houston was left out of the cfb division playoffs? It is subjective as to who is better UNKNOWN 1 brings up a good point.
 
Enlighten me on both issues. Where do you stand and who was behind this?

I started the hashtag on Twitter. PV got behind it (which led to the FCS (Facebook and Twitter) and Fox) picking up on it and it trended in Houston and took off after they beat JSU. .
 
I'm feeling it.

But we all know what other member FCS conferences and playoff die-hards will say, "you chose your own beds now lay in it".

I liken it to the BLM movement; some whites refuse to believe there is an issue.
 
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It needs to be understood that this push would likely benefit the MEAC more than the SWAC. There are just too many moving parts in the SWAC. But in the case of the MEAC, as long as it continues to operate without a championship game, the conference will likely always be in a position where a second place team (or co-champion) can make a strong argument to get in the playoffs...provided that said team can complete its regular season before the start of the playoffs.
 
I'm feeling it.

But we all know what other member FCS conferences and playoff die-hards will say, "you chose your own beds now lay in it".

I liken it to the BLM movement; some whites refuse to believe there is an issue.


And just like the BLM they are simply playing ignorant because it doesn't affect them
 
Kenn -


With no automatic bid for the MEAC and SWAC, I think the SWAC did themselves a favor for this year and future years by making a case for Prairie View A&M last year, albeit a late one.

Last year, I had no clue that Prairie View A&M was in the running for an at-large until the day before the brackets were announced when I read something in the Houston Chronicle. Wonder if the committee was in the same boat? Does the SWAC have someone that is a 'regional advisor' to the NCAA football selection committee that could've brought this to their attention? Perhaps the group you have/are assembling can target the regional advisor person whether it be a SWAC, Southland or maybe - OVC (???) athletic director? That'd definitely work in your favor.

Is this the year the seven-game SWAC schedule goes into effect or is that still in the future? Either way, between Prairie View A&M's effort last year and the extra out of conference opportunities to give the SWAC a better 'measuring stick' to prove themselves against FCS competition, there should be a significant uptick in the SWAC window of opportunity to break through the playoffs.

And the Western Illinois argument reminds me of the bowl games picking and choosing, which in some years has left some of the G5 schools on the sidelines despite piling up 8 or 9 wins in comparison to fellow FBS schools sitting at 6-6 (or if they played Hawaii, 6-7). Do you take a .500 mediocre SEC team (which for all intensive purposes, the MVFC is when it comes to football) or do you take a 9-3 Sun Belt team?

Good luck to all in forcing the issue. With 24 teams in the playoffs, there's certainly more at-large seats at the table and hopefully, a better chance for the SWAC to build off Prairie View's momentum and gain a spot.
 
I want Duer Sharpe to press our better fielded teams to play and BEAT more ranked FCS programs. I think this would make the most noise.
 
Kenn -


With no automatic bid for the MEAC and SWAC, I think the SWAC did themselves a favor for this year and future years by making a case for Prairie View A&M last year, albeit a late one.

Last year, I had no clue that Prairie View A&M was in the running for an at-large until the day before the brackets were announced when I read something in the Houston Chronicle. Wonder if the committee was in the same boat? Does the SWAC have someone that is a 'regional advisor' to the NCAA football selection committee that could've brought this to their attention? Perhaps the group you have/are assembling can target the regional advisor person whether it be a SWAC, Southland or maybe - OVC (???) athletic director? That'd definitely work in your favor.

Is this the year the seven-game SWAC schedule goes into effect or is that still in the future? Either way, between Prairie View A&M's effort last year and the extra out of conference opportunities to give the SWAC a better 'measuring stick' to prove themselves against FCS competition, there should be a significant uptick in the SWAC window of opportunity to break through the playoffs.

And the Western Illinois argument reminds me of the bowl games picking and choosing, which in some years has left some of the G5 schools on the sidelines despite piling up 8 or 9 wins in comparison to fellow FBS schools sitting at 6-6 (or if they played Hawaii, 6-7). Do you take a .500 mediocre SEC team (which for all intensive purposes, the MVFC is when it comes to football) or do you take a 9-3 Sun Belt team?

Good luck to all in forcing the issue. With 24 teams in the playoffs, there's certainly more at-large seats at the table and hopefully, a better chance for the SWAC to build off Prairie View's momentum and gain a spot.

I want to make it clear that this is not just about the SWAC. The MEAC is part of this push as well. The three HBCU teams in the running for at-large bids were PV, North Carolina Central and Bethune-Cookman. NCCU and BCU both had very strong cases, both had strong schedules. NCCU lost to BCU, who lost to NCA&T, who eventually went to the Celebration Bowl. PV had a good case, and while I don't want to be nit-picky, I think the fact that they only played a 10-game schedule was held against them.

But again, as you've indicated, when you have a football tournament that allows for more at-large bids than auto-bids, and ignore the request of 3 HBCUs that have expressed interest in participating in said tournament, only to refuse those schools entry into the tournament, something is wrong.
 
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