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Senators attacking BCS.. again!

MrTitleist

Administrator
Staff member
Good, this farce needs to die. If 1-AA, D2, D3, and NAIA can make playoffs work, 1-A can do it too. It's not that difficult.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/10/19/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5397410.shtml
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said Monday that they are backing a federal political action committee "dedicated to discarding the Bowl Championship Series and instituting a competitive post-season championship for college football."

The people behind Playoff PAC – whose tagline is "Beat the BCS. Save College Football." – believe that the Bowl Championship Series is "inherently flawed," the group said in a press release.

"It crowns champions arbitrarily and stifles inter-conference competition," the group argued.

"Fans, players, schools, and corporate sponsors will be better served when the BCS is replaced with an accessible playoff system that recognizes and rewards on-the-field accomplishment. To that end, Playoff PAC helps elect pro-reform political candidates, mobilizes public support, and provides a centralized source of pro-reform news, thought, and scholarship."

Abercrombie said the release of BCS rankings on Sunday underscore the fact that "selecting a major college football national champion is still arbitrary and anti-competitive."

"The BCS process continues to operate like an exclusive country club rather than a true play-off system," he said. "I fully support Playoff PAC's efforts to bring change to college football."

Hatch echoed that sentiment, calling the BCS "fundamentally unfair."

"I've always hoped that the government would not have to get involved and that those with the power to reform the system would recognize the error of their ways," said Hatch, who hails from Utah. "But, even after hearing the complaints of millions of college football fans, not to mention government officials, they are apparently unwilling to make any significant changes. That being case, I'm supportive of all reasonable efforts to ensure that students and schools are treated fairly and a national playoff system being advocated by Playoff PAC seems like a reasonable way to accomplish that goal."

Incidentally, the University of Utah, a non-BCS school, went 13-0 in 2008, beating well-regarded teams like Oregon State, TCU, BYU and Alabama along the way. But the team was frozen out of contention for the national championship.

Bill Hancock, a BCS administrator, emailed a response to the lawmakers' comments.

"The BCS has brought more popularity, more resources and more fun to college football since it started delivering a national title game each year," he said. "It has also provided more opportunities for more players, teams and fans – in more conferences - to participate in the bowl atmosphere."

"With all due respect, we think college football decisions should be made by college football, not the politicians in Washington," said Hancock.

Barton called the BCS system "a farce." A Texan, Barton saw his state's strong team left out of the championship game last year as well.

"It arbitrarily selects champions and reduces competition between conferences," he said. "College football's post-season championship should be decided on the field, and that's why a playoff system is needed. I look forward to working with Playoff PAC in reforming college football."

Under the BCS, strong teams that don't play in major conferences -- like the University of Utah and Brigham Young University in Utah -- have little chance at the national championship, even if they go undefeated. Another team that falls into this category is the University of Hawaii, Abercrombie's home state.

In its release, Playoff PAC organizers said that until now there have only been a "small, dedicated group of federal officeholders" working on the issue.

"The BCS has wrongly dismissed them as political panderers and quickly diffused pressure that resulted from congressional hearings and legislation," they said. "The BCS could not successfully do this if the coalition of college football reformers were broader. This 'reform caucus' must be expanded so BCS officials understand that federal intervention is imminent if they refuse to answer the public's calls for change. Playoff PAC will therefore vigorously support pro-reform candidates and defend individuals who advance reform proposals."

"The BCS's days without daily, active, and organized opposition are over," they added.

The BCS rankings showed Florida in the top spot, followed by Alabama, Texas, Boise State and Cincinnati.

In an interview with "60 Minutes" last November, shortly after he was elected, President Obama said college football should have a playoff. (He had previously said something similar on "Monday Night Football.") The president even laid out specifics:

"Eight teams," he said. "That would be three rounds to determine a national champion. It would add three extra weeks to the season. You could trim back on the regular season. I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this. So, I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do."

In January, he restated his case and said that undefeated Utah had "a pretty good claim" to the national championship in an interview with the New York Times. (He restated the argument the next day as well.)

"I think USC, which had a great Rose Bowl, beat Penn State pretty badly," he continued. "They've got a pretty good claim to being number one. Florida and Oklahoma, I think, both have a claim. Texas, at this point, has got to feel like, 'Well, we did OK, too.' I think–I think a football playoff system makes sense. I've spoken about this quite a bit, and I think if you look at knowledgeable sports fans, they agree with me."
 
if tcu goes undefeated they should jump bsu. but tcu could lose in laramie, and bsu could slip up as well. we will see what happens.
 
I agree that the farce of the BCS needs to be done away with, but is this really the most important thing for our senators and congressional representatives to be working on? Just seems to me that there are much bigger issues out there than football.

And really, what can Congress do? The only way the BCS goes away is if 1) the public decides they're not going to watch or buy tickets to BCS bowl games, or 2) the schools that are invited refuse to go. We all know that neither of those will happen anytime soon because there's too much money involved.

Yes, a playoff system makes sense, to all those who don't get paid by the BCS. And those who do get paid aren't going to give up their cash cow easily.

GO POKES!
 
The BCS and college football are multi-billion dollar industries the same as no other business. I don't see why Congress shouldn't act on it if it is considered an illegal monopoly. Granted, there are more important issues facing the country right now than football, but of all the BS Congress handles anyway, why not throw the BCS in there too?
 
wellpoke said:
I agree that the farce of the BCS needs to be done away with, but is this really the most important thing for our senators and congressional representatives to be working on? Just seems to me that there are much bigger issues out there than football.

True enough, but when has that ever stopped them before.

wellpoke said:
And really, what can Congress do?

They can make laws outlawing the BCS and requiring the NCAA to have a playoff.

wellpoke said:
The only way the BCS goes away is if 1) the public decides they're not going to watch or buy tickets to BCS bowl games, or 2) the schools that are invited refuse to go. We all know that neither of those will happen anytime soon because there's too much money involved.

Yes, a playoff system makes sense, to all those who don't get paid by the BCS. And those who do get paid aren't going to give up their cash cow easily.

GO POKES!

Which is exactly why Congress needs to step in. This is a monopoly. It is unfair to Non-AQ schools, and even to AQ schools (ask a Texas fan). Monopolies don't get broken up because "the Rich" get tired of getting richer. They get broken up because the government steps in to protect those who are being taken advantage of.
 
I think COS has lost his mind. I see nothing wrong with the BCS system. Its no different that having a good friend go on and on about a huge party, with lots of beer and topless women, and give you an invitation to the party, but make sure the party is just hours after you could possibly be in attendance. This is the BCS saying "but you could have made the championship game if you'd been #1 or #2" when they know all along the system won't allow it. The BCS is just like that bastard that texts you photos of the party as you are driving through the middle of nowhere just to make sure you know what you are missing. Sends texts like "They are warming up the stripper pole...oh no....my phone is about to die" and you don't hear from them again, left driving alone, in the middle of nowhere, bored. No SIR! I SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY OF THIS! GODAM YOU BCS YOU BASTARDS!
 
I think anyone would be hardpressed to prove, by the legal definitions, that the BCS is a monopoly. Who's out there to compete with the BCS? There is no other college football system at the same level. And I believe that's why nothing's been done about it in the past. Plus, Major League baseball has been exempted from antitrust laws, which sets a precedent for the BCS to be as well.

Look guys, I completely agree with you that the BCS has got to go. And that there needs to be a fair playoff system that any team could get into. All of the excuses the BCS uses to stay around are bunk, and everyone knows it.

All I'm saying is that Congress can't really do much about it. Antitrust legistlation already exists, so it would be up to the court system to determine if those apply to the BCS. Which means someone needs to bring a case against the BCS. Anybody know a good lawyer with a few extra mil laying around?

GO POKES!
 
It would be very difficult to get the BCS changed...but if they REALLY wanted to (some kind of congressional mandate mandating playoff championships for all ncaa sports, etc. etc.), I'm sure there is a way. I doubt it comes to that though.

The BCS has mentioned the possibility of adding a 7th conference, presumably the MWC at the end of the next evaluation period in 2011 I think. If the MWC were to meet the BCS criteria in the evaluation period from 2008-2011 I think there's a decent chance the MWC gets in. If they then don't allow the MWC in, after it hypothetically meets the criteria, then there is a more real possibility of litigation.
 
Dread_Pirate_Cowboy said:
I think COS has lost his mind. I see nothing wrong with the BCS system. Its no different that having a good friend go on and on about a huge party, with lots of beer and topless women, and give you an invitation to the party, but make sure the party is just hours after you could possibly be in attendance. This is the BCS saying "but you could have made the championship game if you'd been #1 or #2" when they know all along the system won't allow it. The BCS is just like that bastard that texts you photos of the party as you are driving through the middle of nowhere just to make sure you know what you are missing. Sends texts like "They are warming up the stripper pole...oh no....my phone is about to die" and you don't hear from them again, left driving alone, in the middle of nowhere, bored. No SIR! I SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY OF THIS! GODAM YOU BCS YOU BASTARDS!

I don't know what you're talking about. :whistle:
 
wellpoke said:
I think anyone would be hardpressed to prove, by the legal definitions, that the BCS is a monopoly. Who's out there to compete with the BCS? There is no other college football system at the same level. And I believe that's why nothing's been done about it in the past. Plus, Major League baseball has been exempted from antitrust laws, which sets a precedent for the BCS to be as well.

And who made up those legal definitions? Oh yeah, Congress! Major League baseball doesn't have a system in place that leaves teams out of the World Series even if they win enough games. Even the Cubs could make it.

wellpoke said:
Look guys, I completely agree with you that the BCS has got to go. And that there needs to be a fair playoff system that any team could get into. All of the excuses the BCS uses to stay around are bunk, and everyone knows it.

All I'm saying is that Congress can't really do much about it. Antitrust legistlation already exists, so it would be up to the court system to determine if those apply to the BCS. Which means someone needs to bring a case against the BCS. Anybody know a good lawyer with a few extra mil laying around?

GO POKES!

If the anti-trust laws don't apply, congress can make new laws that do apply. They're the ones that are supposed to make new laws, not the courts. It's not a constitutional amendment we're talking about here, and it's not like we're talking about an unenforceable law.
 
After a bit more research, I've discovered that the MLB exemption would probably be overturned in court if there was a case against it. And the BCS probably does violate antitrust legislation, as long as it can be proved there's a legitimate competitor. But there isn't, which is why antitrust legislation probably doesn't apply.

And I'm not suggesting that the court system do any legislation. Just apply the current laws, and any new legislation that Congress deems necessary. But that still requires that a case be brought against the BCS, which I doubt anyone is really willing to do, since it would be very difficult to prove. I'm not a lawyer, it's just the way I see it.

Bottom line, I don't see the BCS going away unless we the people decide to stop supporting the BCS games, BCS teams, and advertisers that pay for time during the games. That's not likely, and so the system continues the way it is.
 
wellpoke said:
After a bit more research, I've discovered that the MLB exemption would probably be overturned in court if there was a case against it. And the BCS probably does violate antitrust legislation, as long as it can be proved there's a legitimate competitor. But there isn't, which is why antitrust legislation probably doesn't apply.

And I'm not suggesting that the court system do any legislation. Just apply the current laws, and any new legislation that Congress deems necessary. But that still requires that a case be brought against the BCS, which I doubt anyone is really willing to do, since it would be very difficult to prove. I'm not a lawyer, it's just the way I see it.

Bottom line, I don't see the BCS going away unless we the people decide to stop supporting the BCS games, BCS teams, and advertisers that pay for time during the games. That's not likely, and so the system continues the way it is.

Well anti-trust laws could apply because there is not a fair and equal chance to access the market for non-AQ teams, not because of the lack of a competitor.

But you're right, until people stop supporting it, its not going away. The best we can hope for is that they add a 7th conference in 2011.
 
I think the BCS wall will come crashing down, but not without a large amount of kicking and screaming. It's the schools in the BCS that will lose the money - not the bowls, and it will be the schools and their media partners that fight it. The bowls will still be there for the playoffs.
 

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