March 26, 2009
The BCS Heads To Washington
Back on January 7 I wrote a post about who the real National Champion was, based on some inconsistencies I’ve noticed in the BCS system, the computer-based ranking program that structures the college football bowl games and decides who plays for the National Championship, based on a number of factors, including record, strength of schedule, etc. But what has seemed to be prevalent is that most of the bowl positions go to the teams in the ‘more popoular’ conferences and exceptional teams that come from ‘lesser’ conferences have no chance of playing for the national championship. Utah was a case in point this past year, having an undefeated season but not being invited to the National Championship Game.
Well, now Washington D.C. is getting in on the debate. According to ESPN, Congress is about to hold hearing, probing the antitrust issues of the BCS. In a statement on Wednesday, the Senate subcommittee said the current system “leaves nearly half of all the teams in college football at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for the millions of dollars paid out every year”. Can you guess which state the driving force behind this investigation, Sen. Orinn Hatch, represents? That’s right fans: Utah.
Hatch has told the media that the BCS, “has proven itself to be inadequate, not only for those of us who are fans of college football, but for anyone who believes that competition and fair play should have a role in collegiate sports.”
The subcommittee is even considering proposing legislation that “would prevent the NCAA from calling a football game a “national championship” unless the game culminates from a playoff system.”
While I think the BCS does not closer scrutiny and some sort of balancing system, my postmodern culture and upbringing tells me still to always question the motives of our government. Do they really want to improve the system or just spread the money around? Maybe Sen. Hatch needs to score a few more points with his constituents. Perhaps I’m being cynical and it will all work out in the end. Whatever happens, I am quite confident it will be a debate that will last for some time.
What are your thoughts on the current BCS situation and the proposed legislation? Let us know in the comments section.
Comments on The BCS Heads To Washington »
I like that they are taking a hard look at the ranking system, but to act like it’s a new problem is silly. Also why is it the governments job to tell the BCS how to run their bowl games? It just seems silly to me. With all the crap going on in the world is this that important? I’d prefer if Utah and the others teamed up and fought the system without the government. It would be a testament to college football if it was the teams that fixed the system.
There obviously needs to be a playoff, but will the powers that be quit being stubborn and allow their beloved BCS to be eliminated as it is? Then, there’s the debate on how many teams to include in the playoff. 4? 8? 12? Then, whoever is No. 5, No. 9 or No. 13 will complain about being left out. Same with whatever other number you go with. I just don’t see it happening because of logistics to change and stubbornness, but mainly stubbornness.
If it was my call, the top 8 teams in the BCS rankings make the playoffs. No. 1 plays No. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5. Then the national champion has to earn the trophy by winning three games.
Let the debate continue…