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November 17th, 2007, 04:59 PM
MASSACHUSETTS NAMED CAA FOOTBALL'S AUTOMATIC QUALIFIER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Meyer
RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 17, 2007) - On Thursday, Nov. 15, the CAA Football athletic directors held a conference call to determine how the CAA should determine its automatic qualifier to the NCAA Football Championship; should both Massachusetts and Richmond finish the season as co-champions with identical 7-1 records, without having played each other. Under the conference tie-breaking procedures their records against common opponents and their strength of non-conference opponents were identical. The final step in the process was a vote by the uninvolved athletic directors.
The athletic directors discussed and evaluated a number of items, including, but not limited to: point differential versus common opponents and various computer and human ranking services. The directors also noted that regardless of their decision, both Massachusetts and Richmond will be recognized identically as CAA co-champions; both teams are nationally ranked virtually assuring selection for the NCAA Championship and are likely first round host teams. In light of these factors, the directors concluded that the designation of the conference's automatic qualifier merely will designate either team as the automatic qualifier or at-large team, but will not impact the evaluation of either champion by the NCAA Football Committee.
Under these circumstances, the athletic directors concluded that the teams were indistinguishable and therefore the conference automatic qualifier should be determined by a coin-flip conducted by the Commissioner.
The coin-flip was conducted by CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager following the conclusion of both games. Massachusetts won the coin toss and will be the CAA's automatic qualifier to the 2007 NCAA Football Championship.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Meyer
RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 17, 2007) - On Thursday, Nov. 15, the CAA Football athletic directors held a conference call to determine how the CAA should determine its automatic qualifier to the NCAA Football Championship; should both Massachusetts and Richmond finish the season as co-champions with identical 7-1 records, without having played each other. Under the conference tie-breaking procedures their records against common opponents and their strength of non-conference opponents were identical. The final step in the process was a vote by the uninvolved athletic directors.
The athletic directors discussed and evaluated a number of items, including, but not limited to: point differential versus common opponents and various computer and human ranking services. The directors also noted that regardless of their decision, both Massachusetts and Richmond will be recognized identically as CAA co-champions; both teams are nationally ranked virtually assuring selection for the NCAA Championship and are likely first round host teams. In light of these factors, the directors concluded that the designation of the conference's automatic qualifier merely will designate either team as the automatic qualifier or at-large team, but will not impact the evaluation of either champion by the NCAA Football Committee.
Under these circumstances, the athletic directors concluded that the teams were indistinguishable and therefore the conference automatic qualifier should be determined by a coin-flip conducted by the Commissioner.
The coin-flip was conducted by CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager following the conclusion of both games. Massachusetts won the coin toss and will be the CAA's automatic qualifier to the 2007 NCAA Football Championship.