I-AA playoffs an intriguing possibility for Toreros
By: TOM SHANAHAN - For the North County Times | ∞
The University of San Diego football team is enjoying unprecedented success and coach Jim Harbaugh's team is now pondering the once improbable prospect of earning an at-large entry into the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs that begin Nov. 25.
But here's the problem: USD is scheduled to play a nonconference game on Nov. 25 at UC Davis.
"We're in communication with all the athletic directors and conference commissioners involved," USD athletic director Ky Snyder said. "It's a little early, and we have to see how this all plays out, so I don't want to jinx us. But we believe there are enough options available.
"Everybody has said, 'If you get in, you're going to play.' That's the way I would feel about it if another school were in this situation with us."
But that's not the only possible scheduling conflict. The Pioneer Football League and Northeast Conference entered into an agreement for 2006 to have their conference champions meet on Nov. 18 in a bowl game, the Gridiron Classic. Playing a postseason game before the playoffs begin ---- the selections are announced on Nov. 19 ---- is another conflict that needs to be clarified by officials from the NCAA and the conferences.
"We created this situation to provide more opportunities for our student-athletes," Snyder said. "That's what it's all about. I wouldn't really say it's a problem. Everybody I've talked to is excited about this."
USD (4-0), which plays Butler (2-3) in a PFL game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Torero Stadium, jumped into the Top 25 for the first time in school history after routing Davidson on Saturday 50-21 in its PFL opener.
But there is good reason USD disregarded the potential scheduling conflict.
The chances of USD, as a nonscholarship Division I-AA program, advancing to the playoffs are akin to a non-Bowl Championship Series conference school in Division I-A being invited to a BCS game. Several undefeated non-BCS schools were snubbed over the years until Utah's 2004 team broke through the glass ceiling.
The Division I-AA playoff bracket is a 16-team field filled by eight automatic berths and eight at-large entries.
In the Gridiron Power Index (GPI), a rating of I-AA schools, USD is ranked No. 22.
It's an unofficial guide, with the NCAA debuting its official power ratings for the selection committee later in the season. But Harbaugh and his players have their eye on climbing into the top 16 of the GPI as a measuring stick.
"We're No. 22 now, and it's early enough we can climb higher," Harbaugh said.
"I feel good about getting into the top 16."
This is the kind of company USD has joined:
+ UC Davis, which beat Stanford last year, is ranked No. 14 in the GPI.
+ Cal Poly, which plays at San Diego State Oct. 28, is ranked No. 11 in the GPI.
UC Davis is ineligible for the Division I-AA playoffs as a program making the transition from Division II to Division I-AA, so the Nov. 25 date with USD isn't a conflict for the Aggies. Cal Poly lost earlier this year 17-10 to San Jose State, a team that later beat San Diego State 31-10.
"We're proud of being in the Top 25," said USD junior center Jordan Paopao, an El Camino High alumnus. "It's uncharted water, but it's a tangible goal. We have to take it one game at a time, but we know what we can do and we're focused on what's ahead of us."
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