Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long will serve as the first chairman of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, executive director Bill Hancock announced on Monday.
As chairman, Long will set the Selection Committee’s agenda and run the committee’s meetings. Long will also serve as spokesman for the committee alongside Hancock.
“Jeff has vast experience in college football,” said Hancock. “People in intercollegiate athletics hold him in high regard. He is known for his insight, intelligence, wisdom, wit, judgment and calm demeanor. He’ll make a great chairman.”
Before going to Arkansas in 2007, Long had been director of athletics at Eastern Kentucky and Pittsburgh.
“I’m very humbled and honored to serve as the first chairman of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee,” said Long. “There is no doubt our task will be challenging. However, I am confident in the committee members’ ability to determine the four best teams in college football. I look forward to getting to work.”
Long has a tough job ahead of him. After all, college football fans are next to impossible to satisfy, so whoever is on the committee will need to have thick skin. He’ll also need to build trust with with fans who think that politics governs the college football post-season process.
Good luck with that.
