Bobby Bowden Does Not Want On The College Football Playoff Committee, But Who Should?

September 3, 2011; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp (left) and former head coach Bobby Bowden prior to the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Yet another example of why Twitter is great: former Florida State Seminoles head coach and all-around college football legend Bobby Bowden fired a response in real-time to ESPN.com’s Joe Schad about serving on the College Football Playoff selection committee:

Bowden doesn’t owe the new postseason system anything, after giving so much for so many years. Rather, the committee would be fortunate to have the insight of such a well-respected and decorated sideline general. A Hall of Fame, former head coach is a must for the College Football Playoff selection process. So if not Bobby Bowden, who?

Nebraska’s longtime legend Tom Osborne championed a committee made exclusive of outstanding, former coaches a la the Legends Poll. ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg outlined the process, including the panel of voters. It’s a Who’s Who of football elite. Check out just a few of the names:

• John Robinson (1978 national champion at USC)

• Gene Stallings (1992 national champion at Alabama)

• LaVell Edwards (1984 national champion at BYU)

• R.C. Slocum

• Vince Dooley

• John Cooper

• Frank Broyles

Another name I would like to see considered include Howard Schnellenberger, architect of the Miami Hurricanes initial success, savior of the Louisville Cardinals and Founding Father of FAU football.

I have read suggestions that media could be included on the selection committee, but cannot endorse this idea. While some of the claims of media bias common among college football fans are not grounded in reality — the SEC is a media creation! — there are real, inherent biases that show up in media all too often.

Outlets’ partnerships with conferences and individual teams to power networks is one that comes to the mind. Another thing to consider when flirting with the possibility of putting media on the selection committee: Skip Bayless has a BCS vote, and Craig James did before embarking on his ill-fated Senate campaign.

Current head coaches (or more realistically, their sports information directors) contributing via the Coaches Poll as they do now in the BCS should be eliminated. They are too close to the situation to provide a fair assessment. Athletic directors handle duties for the NCAA tournament. Gripes about tournament seeding are usually pretty marginal, but that’s with a 68-team window.

How would you, dear SaturdayBlitz.com reader, like to see the College Football Playoff Committee formed? Sound off in the comments.