Here's who should be on college football's playoff selection panel (Hicks)

Those who always hated the polls and their place in determining the teams in the BCS national championship game will be happy to know their days are numbered.

With the official movement to a four-team playoff in 2014, the polls no longer will play a part in deciding the matchup.

Now the bad news: A selection committee will make that call. Look on the bright side: At least when you're not happy, you can cuss out the committee or its members and might actually be heard. That wasn't possible with a poll or those wacky, number-crunching computers.

So who should be on the committee? And how many should be on it?

I would select one former coach from each of the 11 conferences and a representative of the independents. Then, I would add five who are not coaches but have a strong association with college football. A 17-person committee would ensure several viewpoints, and the odd number would prevent tie votes.

It's one man's opinion, but consider these candidates: For the five open positions, candidates should have done more than just played the game, but also enjoyed success off the field. For those reasons and others, my choices for those slots would be Archie Manning, Keith Jackson, Grant Teaff, Gene Washington and Roger Staubach.

Manning continues to play a part in the game. Jackson is someone who has a great history in the game and knows its history. Teaff, as a former executive director of the College Football Coaches Association, would be a good fit. Washington, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2011, is also a successful (yet retired) businessman. Staubach offers positives on several fronts.

So what of the former-coach candidates? Here are some suggestions:

SEC: Vince Dooley. As a long-time coach and former athletics director, the Mobile native would bring a lot to the table.

ACC: Bobby Bowden seems an obvious choice. One of the all-time winningest coaches, the recently retired Bowden knows the game and what it means to play for titles.

Big 12: May get some argument here, but Gene Stallings, who attended and coached at Texas A&M, would be a good pick.

Big East: Dick MacPherson, the former Syracuse coach, has a long career at a high level of success.

Big Ten: There are a few possibilities here, but former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr might be the right pick.

Pac 12: Former USC coach John Robinson seems an obvious selection.

Mountain West: Former Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry would bring a strong voice to the group.

Mid-American: How about Don Nehlen, who coached and played at Bowling Green?

Sun Belt: Former FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger, who spent time at other schools across the country and who won a national title, would be a strong selection.

Western Athletic: Let's go with former Fresno State coach Jim Sweeney.

Conference USA: Let's go with former Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower, who also played at USM.

Independents: Nope, not a former Notre Dame coach. I'd pick former BYU coach LaVell Edwards instead.

It's a good group with strong voices and as good a list to start with as any.

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Contact Tommy Hicks at thicks@press-register.com and follow him on Twitter @TommyHicksPR.

His column appears Mondays and Fridays in the Press-Register.

Source: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/06/heres_who_should_be_on_college.html

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