A Panther solution to Far East football tiebreaks
Published: October 22, 2012
Now that I've emptied half a bottle of aspirin and FINALLY figured out the possible tiebreak scenarios in the Far East Division I football chase for title-game space, here's a way we could avoid such mumbo-jumbo in the future.
The new Far East format will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion at the next Far East Athletic Council's video conference in May. Though it could mean a few people holding their noses at such a pair of notions, the following two scenarios can, will and must be looked at, if they wish to avoid the need for half-victories, half-losses and full-fledged headaches in the future:
Bring Guam High into the mix. For one game or for a whole season.
It is time that DODDS Pacific and DDESS Guam recognize that Guam High is actually brethren, not an outside entity, that deserves to have its moment in the Far East D-I playoff sun, instead of DODDS and the Interscholastic Football League playing gnip-gnop with the Panthers on an annual basis.
OK, so one side or both don't want that. Even so, Guam High can continue to honor its commitment to the IFL but still have a voice in which teams qualify for the D-I title game, rid the process of half-wins/half-losses for D-I teams playing in Japan and Okinawa and give Seoul American a fifth D-I regular-season game.
Here's how:
-- Should Guam High remain outside the DODDS playoff purview and inside its IFL commitment ... Have Seoul American play Guam High as a regular-season Division I game, instead of Okinawa. Direct flights to and from. Cost savings realised. That would give all five D-I teams five regular-season games. No need for half-games for Japan and Okinawa. No muss. No fuss.
Another, even better suggestion would be the following:
-- Bring Guam High into the D-I picture, lock, stock and every barrel. Work out a deal in which Guam High plays an all-DODDS football schedule, and in Guam's public-private-school cooperative in all other sports. Bringing Guam High in as a D-I partner would give all D-I teams five games. Again, no need for half-games for Japan and Okinawa. No muss. No fuss.
What rightfully should happen in a perfect world is the latter. It could only happen if two reasonable men who are more than reasonably good at their tasks and could speak with reasoned voices face-to-face at the table.
What DODDS Pacific's Far East athletics coordinator Don Hobbs and Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam chief Martin Boudreau can, should and must work out is a way for Guam High football to play a DODDS D-I football schedule, but be welcome to play in the IIAAG in all other sports.
The chances of either ever happening? ... I won't hold my breath.
