It was announced Friday that USC AD Pat Haden "has stepped down" from the CFP committee "because of health issues." A USC spokesperson said that Haden did "not attend Saturday's game" at Cal because doctors "have recommended that he reduce his travel." Haden "was serving the second year of a two-year term" on the committee, which "will continue with its 12 remaining members for the rest of the season." Its first rankings "are set to come out" tomorrow (LATIMES.com, 10/30). CFP Exec Dir Bill Hancock said, "We learned last year that we can function with 12. This is an unusual circumstance in that Pat's doctors advised him to reduce his travel. We haven't -- and I don't think we will think about increasing the committee." ESPN.com's Heather Dinich noted Haden had been "assigned to monitor the ACC" along with Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez. Hancock said that another committee member "would be assigned to cover the ACC, but he wasn't sure yet whom it would be." A source said that Haden "was clinging to hope he could remain on the committee, but it became apparent this week that he couldn't because of doctors' orders." USC said that Haden "had a doctor's appointment earlier this week" (ESPN.com, 10/30). In L.A., Chris Dufresne wrote Haden "was confronted with so many issues and conflicts the only surprise was that his resignation didn't come sooner." Haden "is now a cautionary tale," as he was "confronted with the nightmare scenario of having to fire a coach, then conduct a search for a new one, all while making weekly trips to Dallas in November as a member of the committee." Haden also "is battling serious health issues, and he serves on the boards of several companies while also negotiating a multimillion dollar Coliseum renovation deal." Dufresne: "This was about an overworked, embattled athletic director whose credibility on the selection committee had become, at least, a distraction" (ESPN.com, 10/30).
