Josh Pate
I think a solid committee needs coaches and former players. They bring a worthy perspective that must be a part of any conversation about which teams are the best in the nation.
I also think there is value in people who cover the sport and discuss the sport. I believe this for one main reason, and based on what I have seen on social media and heard on sports radio, I think a lot of fans agree with me.
To be a good judge of the best teams in the country, you need a solid background in watching lots and lots of football. If there is one criticism I hear often, it is fans wondering how much time the committee takes to watch as much football as possible.
Think about it: people who have spent the majority of their football careers as players or coaches watch a lot of game film on their opponents, but they don’t exactly have much experience just watching a lot of college football.
Even talking heads like Josh Pate can’t watch every game of college football (that requires an extreme which we will discuss later), but guys like Pate aren’t focusing their viewing time on one single opponent they are preparing for.
Pate is one of the better sports talk personalities that routinely engage in college football discussion across the landscape, not just one conference or team specifically. He hosts a podcast that is done almost daily. He isn’t afraid to call out teams or coaches.
Do I always agree with him? Not by a long shot, but he always has reasons to back up what he is saying, which means he isn’t a hot-take moron. He actually thinks it through before he says it and manages to put about six or seven hours of thoughtful commentary together per week.
I think we need that kind of dedication on the committee.
Next: Danny Ford