JUSTIFICATION  -   It's what an eighty plus year old geezer, who's lived his whole life in close proximity to what arguably is the most widely known  football  university in the country (one that nurtured his love for the game); and, who currently believes he's a voice for the majority of blue collar college football fans, be they followers of  "underdogs" seeking success or admirers of all who've found it and currently reside.

                                                                    "HORN TOOTING TIME": 

     It's time to take a break from this dissertation in order that my readers might seek respite from the store of facts I've provided.  - Time for them to develop the questions that at some later date might be asked.  - Meanwhile, I will "toot my own horn" with comments made about my non-fiction work. It lends justification to both what I've already presented, plus insight into the structure of those who closely control FBS Division college football, as well as the future viewing enjoyment by a sports hungry American society.

    Following is an excerpt as taken from non-fiction - UNDERDOGS by Jim "Pops" Stack:

  "College football has become boring, boring, boring! Formerly enjoyed as a personification of the achievement of life's goals for millions of sports fans, it has fallen into the doldrums. Its championship campaign has become all too predictable. Beside that, it has become mired down in a mind-numbing and continuity killing excess of advertising commercials, time-outs for "official reviews", and play-by-play "expert analysis." It lacks the anticipation of the unexpected, sometimes the angst, that fans so thrive upon throughout the world of sports. That's particularly so in our own country where over the past few years we've witnessed incredibly exciting victories by teams who were either underdogs to begin with, or were past champions who unexpectedly came back to win the "big game." Namely, college basketball’s 2016 NCAA Champion Villanova; professional baseball’s World Series seventh game winner Chicago Cubs; NBA’s 2016 Championship final game winner Cleveland Cavaliers; and, the amazing 2017 NFL Super Bowl comeback win by the New England Patriots. More recently, the games winning last seconds shots made by a Notre Dame women's basketball team in successive 2018 NCAA Finals games   ----------- "

A REVIEW OF UNDERDOGS:

Post by José Cortez » 23 Jun 2022, 04:34 -an official OnlineBookClub.org review. 

3 out of 4 stars

     "Underdogs by Jim "Pops" Stack is a book that focuses on the challenges faced by underdogs in different spheres of life. Telling the story of underdogs, the book focuses on the challenges of being an underdog in America through three different but intertwined stories. It begins with the tale of underdogs in the College Football world of America. These underdogs are dealt harsh hands by the governing bodies whose main focus is on money. Also, the author tells his personal experience as an underdog in a court case against a rich insurance company. The third part depicts the struggles faced by President Donald Trump in a country where the affluent populace and the biased media sought every opportunity to remove him from office and tarnish his image.

     A true story, Underdogs, gives the reader unbiased information regarding events that occurred in America between 2019 and 2021. This is one of the positive aspects of the book. The information contained within this book is invaluable because many other sources that claim to carry the same information peddle a tainted version of the same story.

     Another positive aspect of this book is the order of the book. Every single aspect is well-indexed, with dates of events being stated. This depicts the timeline of events in a very clear fashion, making it easy for the reader to understand and follow the flow of events as they unfold.

     One negative aspect of this book is that it contains several terminologies, which the average person may find complex to understand. This is very common in part two of the book, where reference is made to several legal terms. Although an attempt is made to simplify these terminologies, the average person will still find them very difficult to understand.

     Another negative aspect of this book is the use of many football terms. Terms like "The Bowl," "Pacific 10," and "Playoff invitational" are very ambiguous words for a person with zero knowledge or understanding of the sport of American Football. This leaves the reader feeling confused due to the use of these terminologies.

     The book contains a low number of errors which clearly shows that it has been edited by an individual with a deep understanding of the English language. Although some terms like 'Errata sheets' and 'Redundancy,' among others, may be difficult for the average person to understand, this book makes use of relatively easy words which the reader can understand.

     I will rate this book three out of four stars. I did not give this book a higher rating due to the aforementioned negative aspects. I did not give it a lower rating because it is an invaluable and informative read. I will recommend this book to people interested in politics since the book explains some political actions in a way anybody can understand. I also recommend it to people who are interested in college sports." 

BACK PAGE REVIEW by Publisher 

     "In a nation controlled by a radical leftist agenda, it is clear that we live in a society mostly made up of underdogs—hardworking yet little known individuals hoping to strike a miraculous, unlikely victory from some over-hyped media favorite. If you consider yourself a free-thinking patriot, you probably identify as an "underdog" in a country that faces the profound challenge of preserving freedom in the face of progressive opposition.  Jim "Pops" Stack addresses this struggle in Underdogs, an emboldening look at how American underdogs can work together to protect the rights that make this nation great. Underdogs not only defines problems existing within today's society; it also offers potential solutions to these problems, providing practical ways in which you can take part in preserving the democracy of America.

     Organized into three parts, this powerful book shares a truth-filled perspective of the events that transpired over the course of President Trump's term in office, revealing how a successful four-year reign of a business-savvy commander in chief was brought down by a dysfunctional election system. This in-depth look at Trump's presidency is paralleled by recollections from a personal struggle for justice, one that many patriotic Americans will identify with. Stack presents a solution that may dispel the effects of any proposed House of Representatives bill that might forever preclude a minority political party from again attaining power. - After having lived an enjoyable eighty-four years in the United States, a nation with freedoms unlike any other society, Stack understands that these freedoms are truly under siege --------

                                                               ------------

     I've no intention of allowing my personal viewpoints on the current state of domestic politics to overshadow my concern for the future of America's favorite amateur sport; therefore, I've briefly edited some of the more "enthusiastic comments" by my publisher which otherwise might take on the looks of a political platform. Let's proceed with what I believe to be "justification" for The CFCS Project.  I will say that:  "if ever I get another review for which I've paid, I will show it before continuing to the "Justification" element".

                                                               -------------

RETURN TO "JUSTIFICATION":    

      Nearly all amateur and professional sports, except for college football, have a logical means of "championship determination."  The common denominator for each of these is that they arrive at their championships via some sort of fair and reasonably equitable playoff system that availed itself to every member of their respective conference or divisional affiliation. Those playoff systems have eliminated much of the fan anxiety currently being suffered by college football fans in regard to poll and selection bias being a major criterion for their favorite teams' championship participation. Each year college football's meager playoff system languishes for a period of five to six weeks between regular season end and the "National Championship Game." This system pales in comparison to what the other more rationally administered sports accomplish toward filling the void in satisfying our needs for "anticipation" and the relief of our "angst."

      College Football, with few exceptions a regional sports favorite, has struggled over the past several years to induce a high level of interest at a national level. Looking back over the past nineteen years (2004-2019, 2021-2023) anywhere from one hundred and nineteen (119) teams in 2004 (the beginning of the CFCS Project) to the present one hundred and thirty-three (133) teams, depending on no NCAA or self-imposed suspensions, are eligible to compete for national honors. Of the one hundred and thirty-three teams, currently one hundred and thirty (130) are members of nine (9) football conferences with three (3) teams electing to remain "Independent." During the aforementioned period a total of fifty-six (56) teams have been "selected" to play for a National Championship. Fifty-five of the teams have come from five "elite" conferences, known as the "Power Five". The dominant conference has been The Southeastern Conference with its twelve (12) national titles and numerous runner-ups. - They are not to be disparaged for their remarkable success. However, it's a success largely brought about by being the beneficiaries of a dysfunctional method of "national championship" determination.

      College Football evolved into what it has today become from somewhere in 1998 when the Bowl Championship Series (The BCS) escaped the womb of the NCAA where it had gestated during a time when we fans were standing around our water coolers discussing the latest results given us from the tried and trusted A.P. and U.P. College Football Polls. The BCS blindsided us with a two team "selection" system that endured for fifteen seasons despite its tumultuous history. It was a history of turmoil that saw the dissolution of the Big East Conference (an original elite member of The BCS), and The Western Athletic Conference (an original non-elite "underdog" conference); a realignment of existing conferences involving no less than twenty-four teams seeking a bigger piece of the revenue pie; two Congressional Oversight Committee investigations into the inequality of opportunity for the financial benefits of championship; irregularities in the administration of major bowls contractually committed to the BCS; deals and decisions largely made in secrecy; and, reliance upon "expert computer polls" so lacking in comprehension and transparency that it befuddled even the most practiced football minds.

     The BCS finally expired in 2013. It's now survived by its twin sister, The College Football Playoff Company (CFP), offering promise of a "better way."- But a major problem! The name changed but the ghostly shadow of BCS top level administrative players remained the same. - Prior to final interment the BCS struck back swiftly via a "sale" designed to assure survival of its twin, who literally fits the description of a cartel, possibly until 2028. College Football bought the proverbial "Brooklyn Bridge" when in June of 2012, it was sold a truncated four team misrepresentation of a long awaited "College Football Playoff" beginning with the 2014 season. It was sold in a period of less than 36 hours by the former BCS 12- member Presidential Oversight Committee and their affiliated 11-member Conference Commissioners plus Notre Dame's Athletic Director. - (Major "Independent", Notre Dame had become a tag-along member to the elite conferences back in 1998. It presently enjoys a lucrative TV contract with NBC for telecast of its "home games", plus having an annual guarantee of approximately $3.2M from the CFP regardless of football record). - Thus, the dark reign over college football possibly would survive for 25-30 years! - Once the new CFP Co. was formed an eleven member "Board of Managers" consisting of college presidents was established "to oversee the CFP's business, property and affairs." Under the CFP several more schools have switched conferences, now making for a total of at least forty (40) affected by the "dark side", or a 30% turnover rate of the total Football Bowl Series (FBS) population.

    The 12 members of the Oversight Committee certainly did not have tenure. Since the "sale" and as of the start of 2017 there remained but three seated members of the original twelve; the President of Notre Dame currently remains. - (It appears as if he, Fr. John Jenkins, will ultimately head up yet another "committee", charged by retiring CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock, with finding a new Executive Director). - The summer of 2018 brought us a newly established "committee." It featured a composition of "Division 1 Football Oversight Committee" members. Structured so as to have fifteen (15) voting members of the twenty (20) total members, we at last saw a CFP era related committee with a balance of five "Power 5 Voters" to the five underdog conference "Group of 5 Voters". This balance had been lacking from the other governance committees, usually displaying a six to five member margin of "Power Five" members. The remaining Division 1 Oversight Committee members are either "non-voters", "non FBS related", or Subdivision I representatives. -Although I've yet to figure out the complete picture, who they are, and how the remaining five "voters" fit in, I don't understand why such a labyrinth of committees to deal with before change can be considered? - It's complicated. I can only relate to you that which is available on The Internet. 

     Between 2012 and 2017 the attrition rate of Conference Commissioners had not been so great. Of greatest significance is the amount of influence that certain commissioners have within the "Power Five", and their relationships with one another. The ACC, Big Ten, and Pac 12 Conferences formed an alliance in 2021 which has resulted in the delay of major change to the CFP playoff system, - i.e. number of teams and method of selection.  - Ultimately, it may have resulted in the probable dissolution of the Pac-12. The more powerful of the former Pac-12 teams appear to be migrating to The Big Ten. The ACC have shown interest in a couple of others while it appears that The Big-12 Conference will pick up several. Scant information flows from the commissioners of the underdog "Group of Five" conferences. Little effort has been put forward by them to seek greater influence in the decision- making process either through legal process, membership influence with the Board of Managers, or their own "Management Committee." Their management committee is primarily composed of Conference Commissioners.  While it would seem to be closer to the problems, the "Committee" must get the approval of The Board of Managers for any decisions made by them. 

    All of which brings this question to mind, "If the Commissioners of both 'elite and non-elite' conferences lack the authority to make positive change resulting from the unlikely prospect of bargaining amongst themselves, and their decisions are subject to veto by the heads of the universities whom they represent, why even have 'conference commissioners'? - It would seem to make more sense to "cut to the chase" by bringing the one hundred and thirty-three university heads together yearly to decide the fate of college football playoffs. That this would be done under the roof of the NCAA. - Ah, but lest we forget, that organization abandoned the administration of that subject back in '98! Meanwhile, redundancy runs rampant within the various committees. A completely effective means whereby decision making, possibly beneficial to College Football, can be "committee roadblocked" while on the highway to improvement. - A certainty is that Bill Hancock, the former Executive Director of The BCS and current Executive Director of The CFP, remains in place, through at least half of 2024. He seems to reign in order to either ignore or ward off future onslaughts coming from the outside that might question the bureaucracy of the cartel.

      Regarding the formation of the new CFP Company, a Political Action Committee created during the BCS realm opposing that former cartel was elated. Exclaiming, "At last we have a playoff", it quickly withdrew from the scene. A relieved sports media also withdrew. The sports media retreated to the security of reporting professional sports and what is currently in vogue with college football writers and prognosticators such as projecting recruiting success, game outcomes, and predicting Heisman Trophy winners for the coming season. - In their defense it should be said that, with all the chaos within the present system of FBS college football administration,"it's difficult to hit a moving target". They've simply made a platform for "name calling" and illogical argumentation within their fan bases. It sells, right?  Especially on social networks!

     College Football national championship is determined by selection. "Selection" is made via a thirteen (13) member "CFP Selection Committee" within 24 hours following the last game of the Final Poll week.  Most of the current committee membership is made up of both active and inactive athletic directors, coaches, CFP chosen sports figures and media notables. What they have in common is term limits to their memberships. - The CFCS Project is unaware of anyone yet uncovering a definitive explanation as to the committee's criteria for national championship selection eligibility, nor aware of the credentials necessary for someone other than "the good old boys" to serve on the Selection Committee. The natural assumption is that they are compensated for their "expert" services. 

      How did the now fifty-six "selects" arrive? The defunct Bowl Championship Series (BCS 2004-2013) selected twenty (20) teams for us. The current NCAA "womb escapee", The CFP Co. (2014 thru present) established a miserly four-team playoff and has selected for us thirty-six (36) teams. Fifty-five of the teams (including "Independent elite" Notre Dame, in 2012 and 2018), are from the above referenced "elite" Power Five Conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC).  Never has a team from the American Athletic (with the exception of Cincinnati in 2021), Conference-USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, or Sun Belt "Group of Five Conferences" been selected by either the BCS or the CFP for National Championship participation.  - I've nick-named them my "Underdog Five."  - Under the current system, members of the Underdog Five have pretty much been mutually excluded from other than handout CFP playoff pool dollars, and from National Championship possibility. - Little improvement is foreseen with the coming of a "12 team playoff in 2024.

      College Football is a money-making machine despite its mysterious administrative ways. How ironic it is that the sport supports minor sports programs at many of our universities with nearly all of them having some form of logical season ending tournament or "playoff." Including the estimated amounts for the 2023 season, the past nineteen years (no figures for COVID 2020) have yielded total bowl and playoff pool revenue in excess of $14 billion. - Remember, over the years this is eclipsed by what TV and conference owned networks have contributed. -The CFP Co., with its "playoff pool" and included major bowl contracts, have contributed nearly $5.6 billion in playoff pool dollars over its initial nine seasons. Somewhere between 83-85% to a 17-15% split occurs each year with the Power Five and elite Independent Notre Dame receiving the lion's share. - Wherein it looks as though there is some improvement over the BCS's "big bowl" days, the "Underdog Five" who make up nearly half of the 133 FBS schools, are being pathetically short changed.

      College Football lacks the moral and full financial support of the NCAA, especially when one compares it to the multi million-dollar revenue generated by a NCAA sponsored annual basketball tournament. Interesting, as we approach each year's Thanksgiving Day, and as the national championship participant selection boils down to five or six teams, we already see College Basketball stealing sports headlines. - Are bored college football fans looking for other sources of entertainment as their own football teams fall so early by the wayside? - The NCAA turned stewardship of its Division 1-A Football Championship over to The BCS after failures in 1976, 1988, and again in 1994 to obtain a football playoff through its normal legislative process. A letter received from the NCAA by the CFCS Project in January of 2004 stated, "It should be noted that the competitions created by the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) are not considered a part of the NCAA championship program, nor are they administered by an NCAA committee or national office staff.  Division 1-A postseason football is administered by the BCS, with members from the Atlantic Coast, Big East (now defunct), Big 12, Big Ten, Pacific-10 and Southeastern Conferences and the University of Notre Dame.  --- The current BCS agreement is scheduled to conclude after the 2004-2005 football season. College presidents are engaged in periodical discussions, facilitated by NCAA President Myles Brand about the future BCS agreement and possible format changes."

     So, a logical conclusion which might've been drawn from that letter of 2004? - It would appear as if the NCAA, at a targeted near future date, - didn't happen - with aggressive leadership - never got it -, armed with a better method of Division 1-A football championship determination - to date totally ignored - which to present to its university Chancellors and Presidents, would be able to cut a new deal with the CFP.  Better yet, by re-introducing itself as a true paternal parent and protector of collegiate athletics it might've eliminated The BCS and its reproduced CFP "twin sister" entirely, thereby bringing its snatched away college football child back home.

     NCAA, yours has truly been an incestuous relationship with so many of your own members.  - As to the Chancellors and Presidents, shame on you for so long ignoring the hypocrisy of your being so conservative as to the fair treatment, equal rights, and equal opportunity of the "Underdog Five". Meanwhile, you continue to espouse liberalism when it comes to encouraging your own students to aggressively pursue protesting their perceived lack of moral character our society has relating to these same issues. - The "hypocrisy"? That so many billions have been spent by corporate entities, media "Oligarchs", lobbying unions, and investor "magnates" toward control in the world of politics, yet so little is spent by them in solving the problem of achieving a fair competitive system in the world of college football. - College football, a sport which its athletes are highly dependent upon as a pathway to some related future career success; a sport upon which many colleges' minor sports are dependent for survival.  Adding to the hypocrisy, are those elitist universities who cooperate so closely with each other to control the NCAA.

    They're so favorably acknowledged by sports media monopolies far more interested in prognostication results, and flavored with their thoughts on Heisman and recruiting potential. Unfortunately, these entities are more concerned with their personal financial welfare on a level far above the concern shown for the future welfare of our country's young athletes.

     For shame that the current liberal worship of the dollar being demonstrated within the powerful of American sports has resulted in the abandonment of the conservation of the principle of "rooting for the underdog".  It's cheated the American sports public from what the beloved amateur sport of college football truly could offer, particularly at a time when aspiring college athletes should be seeking role model heroes and learning of their historical career successes. The past nineteen seasons have shown us what is possible when "underdog teams" believe in themselves rather than in what "expert" pollsters and prognosticators expect and predict them to be. As for what could be in the offing for what society currently deems to be "underdogs" due to being born of various color, male or female, or national origin?

     A possible $5,000-$7500 per year, per school, stipend for 300 male or female, white, black, brown, yellow, or red college athletes (so many of them being minorities or of foreign origin).  All made possible by a $750 million-$900 million 16 team, 15 game playoff, having the ten conference champs plus six at-large teams with equal opportunity in sharing per game from $45 million ($30M each "conference champion", $15M each "at large") to $60 million ($30M each team) regardless of conference affiliation, Power Five or Group of Five.) That's over $2 million each (more if any conference has more than one team participating) for a fourteen-team conference member with $600,000 to $900,000 dollars left over per school, after paying off their 300 athletes, for related academic and insurance benefits. - (Benefits which might include mandatory college courses in understanding contracts, budgets, legal and social responsibility, sports history, and investments for retirement). - Most of all, for having sacrificed their bodies to fatten their schools' coffers.  - And where is the NCAA regarding all of this? It continues to "wash its hands" of the subject. - Meanwhile, the NCAA sponsored "March Madness" draws in at least $900 million per year.  College football, now relegated to a "minor sport status"? - God forbid!

     College football, particularly for an older generation of its fans, had been a marvelous diversion from life's sometime demanding routines. It offered us the opportunity to relax after completing the weekend "honey-dos", possibly with a cold beer - or great Bloody Mary "tailgate favorite"- in hand to watch or listen to our favorite team perform. It was still in its youth, with an innocence that allowed us to self-identify with its traditions and individual triumphs. Unburdened with the concerns of how much wealth might be brought in by network TV contracts, furtive deals with greedy cartels, whether this years crop of yet untested recruits would stay past two years and/or whether there was a Heisman Trophy candidate among them, we just sat back and we enjoyed.  - This old fan now has to endure his own private hypocrisy. It's the hypocrisy of having to abandon his comfortable chair to seemingly capitulate to the money monster currently hovering over the world of college football. Yet I tell myself, "It's far better to fight to remove the 'dys' from what could become a 'functional' system, thereby taming the monster to the benefit of all of college football, its athletes, and its yet loyal fans."

     The sport of college football will probably survive for many years despite the turmoil from within, but it will ultimately succumb to a far more dangerous enemy - "fan apathy." - I've spoken with far too many people who wave a hand saying, "It's far too complicated anymore to figure out, besides it's all about money anyway."  Time to stifle your yawns, the same yawns by itself the CFCS Project has attempted to stifle over the past nineteen years as it patiently awaits some sort of response to its yearly pleas for a "better way." - To date the arrogant silence has been deafening. - I hear only the echoes of my annual written offerings as they hit the bottom of some well- paid CFP assistant's circular container.

     Short of anticipating a third House of Representatives Oversight Committee investigation, and you're interested in saving college football before that "extreme", try contacting the "cast of characters" who've represented the cartels over the past years (Executive Director Bill Hancock, yet unknown eventual CFP Executive Director who will succeed him, The CFP Board of Managers, The CFP Management Committee, and The CFP Selection Committee. - You can obtain most of their names and locations via The Internet. - Urge them to respond.  -They're the ones who currently control the destiny of college football. They're "the tail that wags the NCAA dog". - As for contacting the NCAA directly - Forget it! - As evidenced, via a letter received by me on Feb. 13,2018 from then NCAA President Mark Emmert, you will likely evoke a response of, "The CFP determines who plays for a national championship." - That bit of "hand washing" has been going on for years and is exactly why this piece is written. 

     The number of both "Elite" and "Underdog" voices needs to be loud and many in number. Only with the combined voices of millions of college football fans, plus a supporting sports media that sincerely believes in the spirit of fair play, and with reasonable opportunity for all, will that change ever come.