For the third time in less than two years, health concerns have cost the College Football Playoff Committee a voting member.
With the new season less than two weeks away from kicking off, CFP executive director Bill Hancock announced Friday that Lloyd Carr has decided to step down from the committee that selects the four playoff teams. According to Carr, unspecified “health issues” triggered his decision.
This year would’ve been Carr’s first on the committee.
“This is a difficult decision because I have enjoyed my preparations and I have the greatest respect for the other committee members and the playoff itself,” said Carr in a statement. “I regret that health issues will prevent me from executing the responsibilities expected of a committee member.”
The committee now has 12 members, and will remain there through the 2016 season as a new member will not be added.
“Lloyd will be missed,” Hancock said. “He knows and loves college football, but we all understand.”
In January of this year, Carr, the former Michigan head coach, was announced as one of four new committee members. With Carr’s departure, the makeup of the committee looks as such:
Kirby Hocutt, Texas Tech AD, chairperson
Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin AD
Jeff Bower, former Southern Miss head coach
Herb Deromedi, winningest head coach in MAC history
Tom Jernstedt, former NCAA executive vice president
Bobby Johnson, former Vanderbilt head coach
Jeff Long, Arkansas AD
Rob Mullens, Oregon AD
Dan Radakovich, Clemson AD
Condoleezza Rice, former United States Secretary of State
Steve Wieberg, former sportswriter
Tyrone Willingham, former Notre Dame/Stanford/Washington head coach
In October of 2014, Archie Manning was forced to take a leave of absence because he needed additional surgery and wanted to concentrate on his health. One year later, and based in part on doctor’s advice, Pat Haden stepped down from his post on the committee.