The next time the College Football Selection Committee meets in Grapevine, TX, Gus Malzahn will be in attendance as a new committee member. The meetings are held at the high-end Gaylord Texas Resort and Convention Center. The resort features "4.5 acres of lush indoor gardens and winding waterways, (and) stunning accommodations."
No doubt a reserved parking space will be held for the 'Gus Bus'. Actually, 'Gus Bus' attached to Malzahn's name had nothing to do with a vehicle. It was used to describe how fast he turned around the fortunes of the teams he coached. Fine dining is part of the Gaylord Resort experience, and Gus should also be able to find a Waffle House close by.
Kidding aside, Malzahn had an accomplished head coaching career at Arkansas State, Auburn, and UCF. He is worthy of being chosen for the Selection Committee.
Malzahn biased against the Alabama Crimson Tide?
What Alabama football fans are quickly asking is how prejudiced Malzahn might be against the Alabama Crimson Tide. One tweet said, "A cold chill was just sent down the spines of Alabama fans everywhere knowing once again that the person standing between them and the playoffs is...Gus Malzahn."
As a former head coach, Malzahn will have to recuse himself from discussions about Auburn and UCF. Such recusals do not include the rivals of those schools. Alabama message boards quickly lit up with warnings that a biased Malzahn will not treat the Crimson Tide fairly.
In a small effort to defend Gus, I confess to having written more than once that Auburn should give him a lifetime contract. Those urgings might have carried selfish motivation.
Seriously, Malzahn knows football. Maybe he is somewhat of an oddball, but every profession has them. The selection process does not allow any individual to trick other members into a decision. Malzahn may overvalue college football head coach tricksters and zany offensive schemes, but that does not mean his team rankings will be affected.
A possible irony of the next Playoff selection cycle would be Auburn, as a bubble team not making the 2026-27 Playoff field, and all the heat Malzahn would take from the Aubies. They have turned on him before and would not hesitate to do so again.
Former Cal and Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford was also added to the committee. Tedford is highly respected by his peers.