SEC's Mike Slive issues statement on inaugural College Football Playoff
Outgoing SEC commissioner Mike Slive issued a statement Saturday congratulating Oregon and Ohio State for advancing to the championship game of the inaugural College Football Playoff, and noting his conference's unusual absence from the season's final contest.
Some of Slive's remarks are below (h/t ProFootballTalk):
“I’ve been pleased to see the anticipation and excitement surrounding the first year of the College Football Playoff,” Slive said in a statement. “The success of the semifinals was evidenced not only by the attendance at the games but also the high television ratings they registered.
“My congratulations go to Oregon and Ohio State for reaching the championship game. The SEC had a remarkable and unprecedented run of eight straight years in the title game and I look forward to seeing SEC teams compete in the CFP for many years to come.”
• VIDEO: Mike Slive talks with Andy Staples about the evolution of the SEC
Slive was instrumental in developing the playoff, introducing a proposal for the current system as long ago as 2008. But the first year of his idea's realization will also be the first year since 2005 that one of his conference's own teams won't participate in the national championship.
An SEC team has played in each of the eight most recent BCS National Championship games, seven of which were won by a member of the conference.
Slive will step down from his role as commissioner on July 31.
- Will Green
