Oregon's Mullens tabbed as CFP selection committee chairman

A new chairman and six new members, including Ronnie Lott, were named to the committee that determines the four teams that will play for the college football national championship. Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens has been named the selection committee's new chairperson, the College Football Playoff announced Wednesday. Mullens will replace Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt, whose two-year term as chairman expires Feb. 1. "We are delighted that Rob will be stepping into this role," CFP executive director Bill Hancock said in a statement. "He is an experienced committee member, extremely passionate about college football, detail-oriented and brings a high level of energy that is perfectly suited to chairing the committee." Mullens' duties are to set the selection committee's agenda, run its meetings and serve as the spokesman for the committee, along with Hancock. "College football plays a vital role in intercollegiate athletics, and it is an honor to continue to serve on the CFP Selection Committee," Mullens said in a statement. "I look forward to partnering with the other committee members and the staff to build on the strong foundation which has been created in the first four years of the CFP." The College Football Playoff also announced six new committee members: College and NFL Hall of Famer Lott, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione, former journalist and current journalism professor Paola Boivin, former Rice, Clemson, Arkansas and Air Force head coach Ken Hatfield, Georgia Tech athletic director Todd Stansbury and Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin. They join six returning members as the committee will again be made up of 12 people. The five returning members aside from Mullens are Robert Morris president Christopher B. Howard, former Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, former Southern Miss head coach Jeff Bower and former Central Michigan head coach Herb Deromedi. The six members whose terms expire next month are Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long, former NCAA executive Tom Jernstedt, former Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington head coach Tyrone Willingham, former Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson and former journalist Steve Wieberg.