When the latest College Football Rankings were released on Tuesday, the University of South Carolina found itself on the outside looking in, with the Gamecocks ranked No. 14. That’s just short of what will eventually be a 12-team playoff field. That apparently didn’t sit well with Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. Rickenmann, who is in his first term as mayor after a long run on Columbia City Council, said on social media Thursday afternoon that he plans to offer a city resolution expressing displeasure with the recent rankings that project the Gamecocks just outside the playoff field, despite a six-game winning streak and victories against high-profile opponents such as Clemson and Texas A&M.
“The Gamecocks should be in the college football playoffs,” Rickenmann wrote on Facebook. “The CFP committee’s recent ranking is a mistake. For this reason, I’m introducing a resolution of disapproval at the next city council meeting. The Gamecocks deserve a spot in the playoffs and we’ve been excited because of their hard work this entire season.”
Such a resolution, if approved, would be non-binding as it relates to the College Football Playoff committee, which has been tasked with selecting the field for this year’s inaugural 12-team playoff in college football’s highest division. Still, it would put on record the capital city’s feelings of the recent rankings.
“Columbia is proud of our flagship university and its positive impact on our state,” Rickenmann wrote. “This team deserves recognition and the committee made its decision behind closed doors without a clear process. Throughout the season, the Gamecocks have consistently exceeded expectations and fought through adversity.
“Clearly strength of schedule, losses to unranked teams, and margin of victory were not taken into account. The committee’s decision will result in lost benefit to our community which will be detrimental to Columbia.” Rickenmann, who went to USC, has long been quick to support the school’s athletics programs. The city has hosted championship parades for the Gamecocks women’s basketball teams after they have won national titles. The mayor also gave ESPN’s Lee Corso a key to the city of Columbia when the network’s College GameDay show was in town for the USC-LSU game in September.
“The Gamecocks should be in the college football playoffs,” Rickenmann wrote on Facebook. “The CFP committee’s recent ranking is a mistake. For this reason, I’m introducing a resolution of disapproval at the next city council meeting. The Gamecocks deserve a spot in the playoffs and we’ve been excited because of their hard work this entire season.”
Such a resolution, if approved, would be non-binding as it relates to the College Football Playoff committee, which has been tasked with selecting the field for this year’s inaugural 12-team playoff in college football’s highest division. Still, it would put on record the capital city’s feelings of the recent rankings.
“Columbia is proud of our flagship university and its positive impact on our state,” Rickenmann wrote. “This team deserves recognition and the committee made its decision behind closed doors without a clear process. Throughout the season, the Gamecocks have consistently exceeded expectations and fought through adversity.
“Clearly strength of schedule, losses to unranked teams, and margin of victory were not taken into account. The committee’s decision will result in lost benefit to our community which will be detrimental to Columbia.” Rickenmann, who went to USC, has long been quick to support the school’s athletics programs. The city has hosted championship parades for the Gamecocks women’s basketball teams after they have won national titles. The mayor also gave ESPN’s Lee Corso a key to the city of Columbia when the network’s College GameDay show was in town for the USC-LSU game in September.
