CFP Exec Dir Bill Hancock yesterday said officials are "exploring whether there is a better way" for the semifinals to be played, adding his group is "thinking about whether New Year’s Eve is the right way to go," according to George Schroeder of USA TODAY. Hancock's comments were a "significant shift," as last season, TV ratings for the semifinals "dropped 40% from the year before." But Hancock repeatedly in recent months said that the CFP "remained committed to playing on New Year’s Eve, as they’re scheduled to do in seven of the next 10 years." Any change "wouldn’t happen" before the '18 season. Although Hancock said that there "hadn’t been an attitude shift, he noted for the first time that the [10 FBS conference] commissioners are exploring alternatives." And he "backed completely away from the hubristic idea of creating a new holiday tradition" (USA TODAY, 7/14). CBSSPORTS.com's Dennis Dodd noted the CFP continually said that it "wanted to establish a 'new tradition' on New Year's Eve." But Hancock said, "I probably mischaracterized that back in January. What I intended to say (was), 'We have to look at it ... Find the best day when the most people can watch the games" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/13).
PLACE TO BE: Hancock also praised Tampa as a "great site" for next year's championship game. He said that preparations "are going well" for game at Raymond James Stadium. In Tampa, Matt Baker notes the stadium "recently tweeted photos showing construction of its new video boards." Hancock said, "Hotels are in good shape. Stadium's good. Stadium's doing some renovation, irrespective of us being there, but they're making progress on it" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 7/14).
