Kirby Hocutt named new chair of College Football Playoff Committee

The leader of the Texas Tech athletic department, athletics director Kirby Hocutt has been giving one of the most prestigious jobs in all of sports. On Thursday, it was announced that the 45-year-old native of Sherman, TX has been appointed the chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee.

This news comes after it was learned that previous chairman Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long, would no longer lead the group of 12 members tasked with picking the four participants in the College Football Playoff. Long has been the only chairperson the committee has known in its two years of existence.

Hocutt has been at Texas Tech as athletics director since 2011 but last year was his first on the selection committee. He must have made quite the impression to be elevated to chairman so quickly.

College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock spoke highly of Hocutt during Thursday’s announcement.

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"“Kirby has established himself as a natural leader,” Hancock said. “His personality, his background as a Football Bowl Subdivision student-athlete and his experience make him a perfect fit to chair the committee. Jeff Long set a high bar for excellence and we know Kirby will also be a terrific chairman.” Link"

As a former Big 8 linebacker at Kansas State in the mid 1990’s, Hocutt brings a unique perspective to his position as chairman. With an understanding of what life is like for college football players, Hocutt can guide the committee as it analyzes the ups and downs of the college football season giving insight about life as a student athlete.

In addition, no one on the committee of 12 knows the game more thoroughly than the former all–conference linebacker who was tutored by Bill Snyder, one of the greatest coaches in college football history. It simply makes sense to have a former football player leading a committee charged with selecting the top four football teams in the nation and that is what we now have with Hocutt at the helm.

For a program continually striving to earn respect and build its reputation on a national level, as is the case with Texas Tech, Hocutt’s appointment is quite the feather in the Red Raiders 10-gallon-hat. However, some fans of the scarlet and black are paranoid of Hocutt’s success.

Unfortunately, many Texas Tech supporters have been raised with the mindset that our university is destined to be nothing but a stepping-stone from which successful and talented people like Hocutt can climb to a more prestigious position. For example, Hocutt spent time as the assistant athletics director at Oklahoma from 1999-2005 under OU AD Joe Castiglione before leaving to head Ohio’s athletics department.

With the speculation that the incumbent Oklahoma AD might be nearing retirement, some Texas Tech fans feel that the Sooners would swoop in and steal a successful Kirby Hocutt away from Lubbock. However, fans must not fear Hocutt’s success.

For a program like Texas Tech to reach the status of being a destination job and not simply a stepping-stone, someone at the university must have success in order to prove that those with talent and drive can elevate themselves while working at 4^th and University. Hocutt’s ascension is proof that Red Raider athletics is relevant and respected around the nation despite the lack of a top-10 budget or national title trophies in its display case.

Hocutt brings more credibility to the Texas Tech athletics department while adding a fresh perspective to his new role on the CFP committee.

One criticism that has been leveled against the committee is that it has been ruled by elderly former Big 10 coaches in Nebraska legend Tom Osborne and ex Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez. Hocutt brings a younger person’s approach to the committee and his presence at the top should bring balance to the proceedings if indeed the reports of Osborne and Alvarez being bully-esque are in fact true.

What Texas Tech fans should not expect is unfair treatment on behalf of the Red Raiders. With 12 members on the panel, Hocutt’s vote counts no more than any other member’s. Furthermore, the Big 12 will receive no special favoritism now that a current Big 12 athletics director is leading the group.

Hocutt will be asked to set the agenda for each meeting and ensure that the proceedings are balanced, fair and appropriate. His job is not to help the Big 12 but ensure that the four best teams in the country are invited into the college football playoff.

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No one expects anything but complete professionalism from the Texas Tech athletics director. He is a bright, personable and dynamic man who is a fantastic fit for this position.

Wreck ‘Em Red congratulates Hocutt on this honor as he continues to bear the banners of Texas Tech far and wide.

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