by Dave Bohnen

Created on: December 13, 2006   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

It's natural for sports to have some sort of evolution. Whether it be a change in rules, expansion, or inclusion; sports as we know them now have evolved over time into what we know and love today. In the early years of every sport played on the pro levels and the college levels, rules were different from how we know them today. More teams have been added to every single sport across the world to give more cities a fair chance to see a winner of their very own. As well, every sport has expanded their playoff system to give more teams a fair chance at winning a national or world championship.

All professional sports leagues began with low numbers in franchises and some franchises began in cities that could not compete financially with "big name" cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston. In the early years of the National Basketball Association teams were located in places like Fort Wayne, Indiana and Tri-Cities, Virginia. At some point the NBA realized that they could not evolve in small cities and needed franchises in the proper cities as listed above.

The National Hockey League began with six teams and has grown over time into what we know today as being a thirty team league. The National Football League in 1960's merged with the American Football League to develop what has become the most influential sport in North America. Finally, Major League Baseball has developed rules over time which have made baseball games more competitive but more entertaining.

These four major sports have all gone through some sort of makeover to evolve into the sports millions love and pay hard earned money to attend. As well each sport has enhanced it's playoff system to allow more teams to have the opportunity to win a championship. As recently as 1995, MLB expanded it's playoff format to allow eight teams in the playoffs as apposed to four as it had been for many years, which was expanded from two in the early years of Major League Baseball.

NCAA Division 1 Basketball has also expanded its playoff system. Taking what used to be a one week sixteen team tournament and turning it into a three week sixty-four team tournament, which has grown into the most exciting month in sports, aptly named "March Madness".

It is time that NCAA Football learn from all other sports and develop a playoff system that allows more teams to have a chance at winning a national championship. If somehow on January 8th, the Florida Gators are able to beat the Ohio State Buck-Eyes and the Michigan

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