Grip on Sports: What’s the big deal with late nights when we could be talking about a playoff?

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Why do folks complain about late-night football games? Last night’s baseball playoff game between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks didn’t get over until nearly 11 p.m. and no one seemed to mind. Read on.

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• Well, the Arizona fans minded quite a bit actually. But that was because their team lost and was eliminated from the postseason. Dodger fans around the country were probably just fine with the ending time.

Mike Leach probably is one of the folks you can put in the “didn’t care” category.

He spoke about late kickoffs yesterday in his media availability session and expressed no problem having games start after 10 a.m. and before 8 p.m.

Though I’m wondering if that’s his way of saying he’s not completely OK with the Colorado game Oct. 21 starting at 7:45 p.m., something announced yesterday.

If Leach is a proponent of “Lombardi Time,” a time-warping idea athletes of Leach’s age were indoctrinated in as a youth, he might be saying 7:45 is too late.

(If you don’t know, legendary Green Bay Packer coach Vince Lombardi felt you weren’t at least 15 minutes early for something, you were late. So an 8 p.m. practice would translate into 7:45 under Lombardi Time. It was a thing in the 1960s, believe me. And the ingrained nature of Lombardi Time has caused numerous battles throughout the course of many baby boomer marriages.)

But no matter. What Leach really wanted to talk about was expanding the college football playoff. Not just expansion, but cutting down the regular season, with a couple caveats, to accommodate a 64-team playoff.

It’s a Leach campaign plank he revisits as often as he can.

He doesn’t understand why the top level of college football, of all places, can’t have a true playoff. Not four chosen teams, not eight teams, not a dozen, but at least 16, all of which probably have a chance to win the whole enchilada.

It’s a mystery all right. Wonder if it has anything to do with money and those entities that are currently receiving the largesse, e.g., the bowls and their television partners?

• Speaking of those television partners, Washington and ESPN seemed to be a bit mad at each other over the weekend. Almost like a spat between an old married couple.

Some folks even believe if ESPN is ticked off enough, it could cost Washington a spot in the four-team playoffs – if the Huskies are on the bubble.

I’m pretty sure that would only happen if Chris Petersen got on Twitter and explained to UW fans the only way to get ESPN’s attention was to boycott its advertisers, but what do I know?

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WSU: The Cougars will have back-to-back (at least) late-night starts, beginning Friday night at California. Theo Lawson has his first look at the Bears as well Leach’s thoughts on late-night games. … Theo also passes along the news kicker Erik Powell was Pac-12 special teams player of the week again. Punter Erik Powell, though, wasn’t nominated. … Don’t forget, Theo will hold a live chat today as well. … The Times’ Stefanie Loh also covers Leach’s thoughts on late games, the postseason and rankings before taking a look at California. … The Bears didn’t fare well last week.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12, the biggest news yesterday came out of Corvallis, where head coach Gary Andersen walked away from the Beavers and $12 million. Andersen didn’t explain why, but there are a few people close to the program that think they know why he would quit mid-season. Whatever the reason, his action was out-of-the-blue and out-of-the-ordinary. And it surprised his players. … The Beavers have to get ready for a visit from Colorado with an interim coach in charge. … Despite the ESPN spat, Washington does have a game this week with Arizona State. … Utah heads into its South Division showdown with USC still trying to determine who to use at quarterback. That’s not good. … After a bye, UCLA is well rested. The Bruins should be ready for the newest Arizona running quarterback. … Stanford and Oregon meet this week, though that’s not the big story in the Ducks’ home state. …  The Andersen news throws a bit of a wrench into the conference this week, taking the focus away from the games just when everyone seemed to be getting over the basketball scandal.

Gonzaga: The Bulldogs took over the Kennel on Saturday, showing off for their fans. Jim Meehan was there to watch and has some thoughts on where the team stands heading into the season. … BYU has a new assistant coach, a loud voice harping on the Cougars’ defense.

EWU: Each week in conference play brings a different challenge. As Jim Allen points out, this week that challenge is Montana State’s dual-threat quarterback Chris Murray. … The Bobcat defense isn’t happy with its turnover numbers. … Around the Big Sky, the spat between Montana and Idaho State continued to fester yesterday. … Northern Arizona’s big upset brought national attention to Flagstaff.

Chiefs: Portland hosts Spokane today with something to prove.

Seahawks: The bye week will be dominated by injury news, with offensive lineman Luke Joeckel expected to have surgery and Michael Bennett dealing with a foot issue.

Mariners: Outfielder Guillermo Heredia had shoulder surgery this week.

Sounders: Water, water everywhere and nary a place to play a World Cup qualifying match.

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• The idea of a large college playoff has been around forever. At least since the 1970s. But people with a lot of money invested in the status quo don’t want it to change. Just like everything. Until later …