Shurtleff considers probe of the BCS

Not enough has been done in Shurtleff's mind, prompting him to reconsider an antitrust action when he was in New Orleans celebrating with the team. Fans have sounded off in support.

"The current system is set up by the powerful for the powerful," a fan wrote at deseretnews.com. "In business we call it a monopoly, it violates the antitrust laws currently on the books and until the law gets involved there will be no changes."

"The BCS system needs to be thrown out. It's garbage," another posted.

A Web site, bcswatchdog.com, has created a legal fund to generate money to sue the BCS under federal antitrust laws. With a $3 million goal, approximately 184 people have contributed a little more than $8,400.

Shurtleff is gathering supporters. He said he has talked with Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, whose Boise State Broncos were shut out of a national championship title in 2007. Other attorneys general will no doubt be less-than-supportive, particularly those with BCS schools.

Three lawmakers, including Congressman Jim Matheson, D-Utah; and Reps. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii; and Mike Simpson, R-Idaho; wrote a letter to President-elect Barack Obama in November seeking support for a resolution to establish a football playoff. Obama himself said he supported a playoff in an interview on "Monday Night Football."

"The current BCS process is fundamentally unfair," the congressmen wrote. "Non-BCS schools are at a competitive and financial disadvantage prior to the first kickoff of the season."

They also ask for a U.S. Justice Department investigation and action against the BCS. Shurtleff said if the U.S. Justice Department won't investigate, states can bring antitrust actions on their own.

"We'll be looking into it for the next several months," the attorney general said.

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com