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A college football playoff? Count me in THE VOICE MATT LEPAY • VOICE OF THE BADGERS S ome random thoughts from someone who is thrilled that Travis Beckum will get a Su- per Bowl ring, but is disappointed for him that the price to pay in- cludes a torn ACL: We're talking about playoffs Is college football one step closer to a four-team playoff? Earlier this week the Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein reported Big Ten officials are tossing around the thoughts of taking the top four teams in the final BCS poll and hav- ing them meet in semifinal games, with the higher-ranked squads earning home field advantage. The winners would meet for the national championship at a site determined through a bid process. Last month, BCS Executive Di- rector Bill Hancock said schools are looking at 50 to 60 different post- season plans, but this latest nugget sounds plenty intriguing to me. The current BCS postseason agreement runs through the 2014 season, but perhaps the Big Ten, which as a conference has been anti-playoff, is ready to change its tune. To some, it might not include enough teams, but count me in as being in favor of this step. I like the possibility of an SEC team travelling north to play a big game. Now, let us just wait and see whether it happens. Leuer making an impact I don't know about you, but I find myself trying to watch a little 12 » VARSITY FEBRUARY 9, 2012 more of the Milwaukee Bucks this season. The reason is Jon Leuer. Yes, the Bucks have been wildly inconsistent. It also is true that here in Madison, interest in the NBA, and specifically the Bucks, appears to be choppy at best. But it is fun for me to watch a former Badger standout who has put together some pretty good games in his rookie season. To some, it might not include enough teams, but count me in favor. I like the possibility of an SEC team travelling north to play a big game. While doing a little channel surf- ing last Saturday night, I caught some of their game with the Bulls. It was a long night for the Bucks, but I appreciated hearing Bulls color analyst and former player Sta- cey King praise Leuer, calling him a very good addition to the team. Maturi will be missed Sticking with hoops, on Thurs- day night the Badgers will play the Gophers at Williams Arena, AKA, "The Barn." It will be good to see Joel Maturi, who this summer will retire as the University of Minne- sota's athletics director. Maturi has been the target of some harsh criticism in the Twin Cities, but it is clear he walked into a difficult environment. Perhaps the crown jewel of Maturi's 10 years as Minnesota's AD is TCF Bank Stadium, the football home for the Gophers. Above all else, Joel Maturi simply is one of the good guys in college athletics. In the late 1990s, when he was the AD at the Uni- versity of Denver, Maturi wanted to hire someone named Bo Ryan. Apparently, university officials had other ideas, so the move never hap- pened. Interesting how things work out sometimes, right? Eddie earned his return Finally, welcome back Eddie Faulkner. Football coach Bret Bielema hired the former Badgers tailback to be the team's tight ends coach. In his playing days, Faulkner would step in for Ron Dayne and Michael Bennett, and the team recognized his value. For me, the first memory that jumps out is Faulkner's game-win- ning touchdown in overtime to beat Cincinnati in 2000. It was a clutch performance by a player who understood and ac- cepted his role. It is good to see Eddie Faulkner establish himself as a respected coach. It is even better that he gets to return to his alma mater.