Anti-BCS resolution introduced

A resolution has been introduced at the Utah State Legislature in support of doing away with college football's Bowl Championship Series.

SJR11, a "Joint Resolution Urging Football Playoff," was introduced into the Senate on Thursday by Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City. The resolution calls on the National Collegiate Athletic Association to abandon the BCS in favor of a national playoff system.

"Whereas, the University of Utah football team finished the 2008 football season as the only undefeated football team in Division I-A, with a perfect 13-0 record," Jenkins' resolution begins, listing the U.'s victory over the University of Alabama at the Sugar Bowl and three teams from the Mountain West Conference in the top 25 before attacking the BCS system by saying that "although the BCS may be an improvement over past championship determinations, the system is still widely acknowledged as falling short of its goal of establishing a definitive college football champion."

The resolution seeks to have the full Utah State Legislature urge the NCAA to abandon the BCS in favor of a national playoff so that the "best college football team is the one crowned as national champion." Jenkins wants copies sent to the NCAA, the BCS, the University of Utah and Utah's congressional delegation.

The BCS has come under increased scrutiny since the U. went undefeated, yet was not crowned national champion. BCS officials have defended themselves, saying that the system in place for postseason football is one agreed upon by all 11 conferences.

Last month, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff announced that he was considering an antitrust probe of the BCS and met with antitrust attorneys and investigators about how to proceed with such an inquiry.

Shurtleff said the U.'s game against Alabama "proved that it's an unfair system."

Utah Attorney General spokesman Scott Troxel told the Deseret News on Thursday that the probe "is proceeding."

Some lawmakers — mostly from championship-spurned Utah — have sought to hold congressional hearings on the playoff system.

In a speech before the U.S. Senate last month, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch declared: "The BCS system is anti-competitive, unfair and, in my opinion, un-American."

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com