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The College Football Playoff Selection Committee is getting four new members this year.
The incoming quartet consists of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, ex-Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower, former Central Michigan athletics director Herb Deromedi and Oregon AD Rob Mullens, who will serve on the 13-person panel. Each of the new members will begin a three-year term this spring.
The fresh faces replace the following original members: former superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy Mike Gould, ex-Nebraska coach and AD Tom Osborne, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese and USC athletic director Pat Haden, who resigned last fall for health reasons.
“We are delighted that Jeff, Lloyd, Herb and Rob are joining the committee,” said Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff. “Throughout the selection process, it was essential that the four new members have an in-depth knowledge and passion for college football. Each of these four fit that description perfectly. They will continue the high integrity of the committee.”
Carr, 70, was head coach at Michigan from 1995-2007, leading the Wolverines to a national championship in 1997, which they shared with the Osborne-coached Cornhuskers. Carr’s Michigan teams also won five Big Ten championships, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Bower, 62, started his playing career at Georgia before transferring to Southern Miss, where he played quarterback from 1972-1975. As head coach of the Golden Eagles, he led his alma mater to 14 consecutive winning seasons, four Conference USA championships and six bowl victories.
Deromedi, 76, a two-time MAC coach of the year, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. He served as Central Michigan’s AD from 1994 to 2006 after coaching the Chippewas to a 110-55-10 record from 1978 through 1993.
Mullens, 46, who has been Oregon’s AD since 2010, had previously been Kentucky’s deputy director of athletics. Since Mullens’ arrival in Eugene, the Ducks have won three Pac-12 championships and played in the inaugural CFP Championship Game, which they lost to Ohio State to conclude the 2014 season.
Returning committee members for next season include new chairman and Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt, Arkansas AD and former chairman Jeff Long, former Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson, Wisconsin AD and former coach Barry Alvarez, ex-NCAA executive vice-president Tom Jernstedt, Clemson AD Dan Radakovich, former U.S. Secretary of State and Stanford provost Condoleezza Rice, ex-Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington head coach Tyrone Willingham and former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
