Hatch leads hearings on BCS fairness

Published: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 12:56 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

University of Utah President Michael K. Young and Mountain West Conference antitrust attorney Barry Brett fired plenty of salvos to undermine the Bowl Championship Series during Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee conducted by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

It was a trap play, orchestrated by Hatch. It sort of worked.

Although Hatch fairly and respectfully elicited testimony, he made it clear on the record how he viewed those who control college football championships.

"I have trouble with the BCS," said Hatch in closing the hearing. "There's a kind of arrogance there that should not be there, and you know who I'm talking about."

Nodding to Nebraska's Harvey S. Perlman, Hatch concluded, "Go back to these people and tell them we're sick of them, to be honest with you."

Although it could have used a few more fireworks, the hearing did fire a solid shot at the BSC controversy and posted a notice — however mild — that the Justice Department or Federal Trade Commission should investigate what is alleged to be an illegal cartel.

If Young was the star of the hearing, consistently keeping on task in articulately describing the unfairness of the BCS in determining a national championship, Hatch should have given Brett more time to devour pro-BCS attorney William Monts.

The best parts of the hearing were exchanges between the two lawyers.

Here's a rundown:

Story continues below

Monts: The BCS is the best thing going and if a court stops it, what will we do but go back to every conference grabbing its own bowl. Nobody else can do this.

Brett: The NCAA can do it but won't; make the NCAA administer a championship like it does in every other college sport. Like every monopoly and cartel, their main claim is that they've done nothing wrong and nobody can do it better.

Monts: There is no antitrust but an agreement among conferences. The history of college football has led the game to the doorstep of what is the BCS, a fair, open opportunity for all.

Brett: What a load of bull. The BCS is an unfair monopoly, a self-administered money train of exclusion and profiteering for self-gain, a classic illegal cartel that absolutely violates both provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Monts: But the BCS knows how to place everything so it all works toward the best, most profitable and competitive national championship.

Brett: No, what you have here is people creating a mechanism to hog everything — the money, the glory and the game. And then call it fair.

Recent comments

The BCS is accused, fairly, of at least two things:

1. Keeping the...

Enesto de Bajo | July 10, 2009 at 9:49 p.m.

College Football is an American Tradition.....not A BCS Tradition.....

Anonymous | July 10, 2009 at 7:15 a.m.


Sorry --I don't believe you're BYU fan. Common sense and BYU fan...

Re: Dear BYU | July 10, 2009 at 7:01 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Utah Jazz: Wolves get past Jazz

THERE BACK....

Down people . The worst offenders are people in 4 wheel drive trucks . Hey...

He can't do anything without consent of th congress. And bills that are...

Great game Weber. Session 6'2" 18 rebounds WoW. Nice to see Hansen finally...

Nowhere does this article discuss the impact on city funds and taxpayers....

As usual environmentalists are more interested in frogs than in people. The...

Utahns want health care reform bills

As a right wing radical (for the free enterprise system monitored by govt) I...

Utah Jazz: Wolves get past Jazz

been reading the blogs all year about dont play memo and boz at the same...

Snow wins bowl game

PG loves you!!

CJ Miles is another Chucker. 19mins and what 10 jumpshot. He simply escapes...

Advertisements