Conference Champs wrote:
Then I would suggest scrapping regionals and adopting a hybrid approach combining standards with auto entries for N (TBD) top conference winners.
Ding ding ding. We have a winner!
I suppose debating the current system has its place, but the coaches association has already been informed that it will change in 2011 due to their discontent with the current system. The association body was charged with coming up with ideas for a new system that met the NCAA criteria (ie, deference to top athletes, access to championships for all teams, and finances) and they have put forth their system to the NCAA for approval. This system would be a straight NCAA final (no regionals), filling 75% of the field off the descending order list (similar to indoors) with the remaining spots going to the fastest (seasons best) conference winners.
I looked at how the fields would have been decided this year in that system, and the descending order qualifiers would be 3:42, 8:48, 13:49 and 29:00. Of course, most of the major conference champions were included in those top qualifiers, so your conference champ qualifiers only had to run season bests of 3:46, 14:12 and 29:30.
The NCAA has also suggested a 2 weekend same-site option. This would basically be a regionals and nationals combination at the same site on two consecutive weekends. In this option, all 31 conference champions would be invited to compete, along with the top 17 off the descending order list. This system would be good for the worst conferences, but hurts athletes that would be ranked between 18-24 from major conferences since their conference champion would probably be higher. If that system were in place this year, guys like Mac Fleet, Brad Miller, Andrew Bumbalough would be left home while 4:00 1500 guys from bad conferences would get in.
There is no easy solution. The NCAA wants to address the problems many on this board have pointed out: that the big time programs have more access to time-trial type meets than the little guys. I believe they also want a broader representation than just a bunch of Pac-10 and Big-12 schools. Underdogs are part of the allure of sports, even if they don't win.