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ACC commish says BCS complies with law

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TBaggins | 1:25 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
It's quite laughable how these BCS supporters keep trying to excuse the worst model for determining a champion in the history of sports. Everyone knows it's an absolute joke, so just come out and say the only reason you won't change is because it's lining your pockets with cash. We all know the truth.
more BcS BS | 1:27 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
The BcS is legal and smoking is good for you. Next they'll be telling us that the winner of the Oklahoma/Florida is the legitimate national champion.
The great BS that is the BCS | 1:31 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
"The BCS provided a platform for Utah to show the nation what a terrific football they had this year." Swofford said. "Preceding the BCS, I don't know if that platform would have been there."

In other words, "Utah (and every other non-BCS school) you better be happy with the little piece of the pie we are so graciously, allowing you to taste." (All the while said while basking in the glow of the multi-million dollar pay-out each and every year to nearly every BCS school whether appearing in a bowl game or not.)

Gee thank you so very, very much BCS. We'll go back in our room now and be good little kids.
Comments continue below
Translation?? | 1:36 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Swofford says "we are getting all of the BIG football MONEY with the current scam we have set up and we won't be changing it any time soon unless we are legally forced to but we checked into that as well".

I am not sure why anyone talks/ARGUES about fairness or competition or anything else in an effort to get thing changed. There is nothing besides MONEY that controls the BCS.

MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!

They get it all--why would they want a system that causes them to lose money that they have already schemed to collect?

The answer is to build a competing system that draws money away by diluting their product. Then the two sides would have to come together to compromise.
Who is the ACC? | 1:35 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
So an ACC conference with no-one in the top 10 right now, gets how much money to go to a big game that they don't even get close to deserving. I wonder how this fat cat Swofford would feel if the BCS booted the ACC for under performance and put the MWC in place of the ACC because the MWC is a better conference? How would all the Automatic bid conferences feel about a performance based system each year that awards the top conferences- that year- automatic bids and not under-achieving "has been" conferences?

How many top 25 ACC teams are there this year as opposed to top 25 MWC and WAC?

Now what seems fair.

Lame, Unfair system based on Money and greed...

page | 1:37 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
plus one wouldn't work in this case either who would go the winner of the national championship and who else Texas, USC, or Utah.They have to go 12 deep atleast
Anonymous | 1:39 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
You may want to check your final score on the Sugar Bowl. I remember it being 31-17 rather than your stated 28-17...It wasn't that long ago.
wrong score | 1:39 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
aaa ... um ... the score was 31-17 ...
... glad to see the AP knows it's facts ?!
Anonymous | 1:39 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
The BCS needs to make the Cotton Bowl a BCS game and give the MWC and the WAC champions automatic berths. They have proven that they deserve a shot at the championship game. The winner of the ACC of Big East couldnt beat the second or third place team in the WAC of MWC. cinccinati had to come back in the forth quarter to beat Hawaii, a team that got dominated by Utah State. The BCS needs to get their heads out of whatever they are in and stop overlooking mid-majors.
byu has one | 1:42 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
a national championship that is and utah will never have one so utah fans please quit crying its getting old you will always be little brother with no national championship
Jimmy | 1:43 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Even if he is correct and the BCS does comply with the law there is no doubt that the system as it currently exists is not ethical. It represents the same good old boy type arrangements that have plagued this country for years.
disgusted | 1:44 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
So what Swofford is telling us all is be happy that we even invite you to the party??? What an arrogant SOB. And the score was 31-17 by the way.
Still Isn't.... | 1:46 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
It still isn't good enough! Go get em Mark Shurtleff!
BSBowl tonight | 1:50 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Let it be .... Let the winning BCS Bowl winner be the BCS Champion and the Non BCS winner play them for a National Championship. How many BCS wins would occur? We might be surprised how many superior teams are out there waiting to KB at a championship game. Put the BCS where they belong. Let them earn the title like everyone else. The "Rich Kids" on the block are no better than many others who live there. They deserve to be humbled. Utah could do it this year given a chance.

I guess I will settle for a couple of small BCS bucks when I know there is a larger one lurking out there in Utah wishing he could take them on.
re:anonymous | 1:51 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
you keep talking about fairness and competition like it matters to the BCS. Why would they want to add two more conferences to divide up their money with? They do not care if other teams are as good or better.

It is MONEY and schemeing a way to break the money monopoly they have is the only way to combat the BCS.
Anonymous | 1:53 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
um the bcs is legal? are you kidding me? then why on earth wont they let a team that was undefeated like utah play for the national title!?!? seriously its the mob! all they are out to do is gain big buku bucks$$$$$$! they wont ever let a team win who is not part of the bcs or as i like to call it the "mob"
Wrong score??? | 1:53 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Are you surprised?

By next season, Utah will have pulled out a come-from-behind squeaker because of a blown call by the officials.
Mike | 1:56 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Not true. Simply not true in my book. They may win legal battles now, but the Utah and Boise State wins have truly exposed the BCS for the LOAD OF CRAP IT REALLY IS!!!!

Let's hope that the end of the BCS comes sooner instead of later.
Anonymous | 2:00 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
This is easy, then. Let the ACC lose their at large bid, and give it to the MWC. If it's so well structured and so fair, just let them lose their at large bid. If an ACC team goes undefeated, "The BCS provided a platform for ACC team X to show the nation what a terrific football they had this year." Swofford said. "Preceding the BCS, I don't know if that platform would have been there."

Works for me.
Utah 28 | 2:01 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
The anti-trust laws regarding this matter need to be challenged regardless of who or how many choose to challenge it. In view of how slowly the wheels of progress move, maybe the non'BCS D-1 schools should form their own alliance and create their own national championship, similar to what the AFL did many years ago to force the hand of the NFL. It's obviously not quite the same thing but the theory still applies. This way there would be a true challenge to who the National Champion really was. Example; say Utah in the non-BCS polls advanced to the championship game and won and ended the season ranked #1 in the non-BCS D-1 polls. How long would it be before the BCS champion would have to play them to determine who the real champion was. It might cause a complete reconstruction of the bowl system where non-BCS schools are playing BCS schools in a variety of post season bowl games as well. I'm sure there are many holes in this idea but changes need to be made and non-BCS schools need to do something to control their own destiny. Any thoughts on this?
Bill | 2:04 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Legal or not, anything short of a playoff system is a total SHAM!
RE: byu has one | 2:05 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
You are why most other schools hate BYU!! Yeah, so what, BYU has a national title from a quarter century ago! That's great, but realize that the Utes have won two BCS bowls in the last five years and two top 5 finishes in that same time frame! AND no, I'm not a Utah Ute fan... I'm one of the most die-hard BYU Cougar fans there is and I for one think the Utes deserve a share of the National Title. I can't stand UTE and COUGAR fans that are so disrespectful to one another! Congratulations Utes of Utah-- you had and awesome season!

Sincerely signed,
Brigham Cougar fan.
hey little brother | 2:07 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
I think BYU already has one, ah! So too bad utes keeping paying off our AG to do your stupid worthless work. When BYU wins the conf. again. We will not hear BYU fans telling ute fans "What do you think of us now!" in your callin shows. Don't try to get out of our shadow.
Or Else | 2:09 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Why not BIG12 get rid of Iowa State and Baylor and put in BYU and Utah. Big East get rid of South Florida and put in Ball State. Big10 get rid of Northwestern and put in Bo Didley Tech!
Cut it out "byu has one" - yes we won the NC which I am gratefull we Cougars got it but I believe Utah should too (disgruntle).
Go Cougars!
re: byu has one | 1:42 p.m. | 2:13 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
but 12-year-olds like you obviously aren't old enough to have been a part of that exciting year and you disgrace those of us who were with such asinine comments.

When you grow up, maybe you'll learn to respect the accomplishments of others.

Fox | 2:19 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
So the fox in the hen house says he is not a fox and is not in hte hen house
BCS is a crock | 2:23 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
there are 119 teams in division 1 football. but the way these jokers have it set up, only 66 teams are truly eligible for a national title. Mountain west and wac teams can go undefeated all year long, and it won't matter one bit. They can beat all the ranked teams in the world, and they won't set foot in the title game. No way. This system is the worst thing thats happened to american sports. Thats why NCaa basketball is so loved by the nation. because even the little guy (if good enough) has a shot.
Thanks to BCS | 2:24 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Thank you BCS, for drawing attention away from polygamy, the only other issue that gets the attention of our Attorney General. Oops, there is legalizing all immigration crimes that he likes too.
Spoken Like A true BYU Fan | 2:26 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
I can't even believe that A BYU fan is making comments like "byu has one" just made. Get a life dude! Unlike all BYU fans, A true Ute fan would be saying the same things they are right now if BYU was in this position. Anyway Dork.... Who had the better record?
Dean | 2:27 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
The simple fact that Swofford has to defend it should say something.
Rick | 2:28 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Utah just doesn't play that tough a schedule.
BCS Conferences | 2:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
First off, the ACC is only a BCS conference because of the strength of the basketball programs in the conference. Why that has any impact on being a Football BCS conference is beyond my comprehension. Secondly, of course the BCS is legal, if you are the ACC. Your conference is automatically guaranteed 16 million dollars EVERY year, no matter how pathetic your conference champion is. If I was in the ACC or Big East I would be backing the BCS all of the way as well. If those two conferences weren't in the BCS Virginia Tech and Cincinnati would have played in nothing bowls and TCU and Boise State would have been a BCS game rather than the Poinsettia Bowl.
byu??? | 2:31 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
SO BYU REMEMBER HOW THIS YEAR YOUR LOGO WAS THE QUEST...YA YOU DO, KINDA WENT DOWN THE POOPER HUH, ITS OKAY US UTAH PEOPLE DONT TALK ABOUT A QUEST WE DO IT. THATS RIGHT 2 BCS TITTLE, 2 UNDEAFETED SEASONS IN 5 YEARS, WHAT HAS BYU DONE LATELY...CHOKE AGAINTS UTAH AND ARIZONA(OH AND THANKS FOR SHOWING UP FOR THAT GAME MAX HALL, NICE JOB MAKING OUR CONFRENCE LOOK BAD)SO YOU CAN LIVE WITH YOU 1984 TITTLE THATS FINE, I MEAN YOU DID ONLY BEAT A CRAPPY MICHIGAN WHO WAS 6-4, SO THATS FINE, WILL BEAT THE REAL TEAMS LIKE A 12-1 NOW A 12-2 ALABAMA TEAM, SO WE ALL KNOW UTAH SHOULD BE AP CHAMPS AND IF BYU WHERE SMART THEY WOULD WANT IT TOO, CAUSE A YEAR YOU GUYS DECIED TO COPY US, WITCH WONT HAPPEN SINCE THAT MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE TO BEAT US, YOU'LL GET THE SAME SCREW JOB WE GOT. SO GO UTES, AND BYU QUIT LIVING IN THE PASS. THAT WAS 28 YEARS AGO.
RE: BYU has one | 2:33 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
And BYU would never ever have a remote chance of getting one under the BCS setup either. Welcome to being nothing.
Rick | 2:34 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
I know you Utah fans like to look at statistics,so lets look, Utah just doesn't play that tough a schedule. I like Utah but they don't deserve the national title, come on, who do they play?
Surprised | 2:42 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Gosh, I thought the BCS conspirators would fess up if someone challenged them! Of course, Swofford denies any problem. That's what experienced criminals do when they are accused: Plead not guilty! Oh, and "byu has one," you are living in the past like Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite, and your truly questionable "national championship" [by vote instead of competition] is what got us the idiotic BCS anyway. Congratulations.
uncannygunman | 2:50 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
So if there had been a four-team BCS playoff this year, wouldn't those four teams necessarily have been the top 4 BCS-ranked schools, i.e., Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, and Alabama?

It might be better than what we have now, but Utah would have been left out (and indeed, would have been matched with a "lesser" bowl opponent) just the same as in the current system.
ACC fraud | 3:08 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
the ACC is 2-9 in BCS bowls

the MWC is 2-0 in BCS bowls

as long as teams from the "chosen" conferences keep collecting their paychecks, the BSC teams will continue to be as happy with the BCS as pigs in mud.

But, watch out; if one of the current BCS conferences (ACC or Big East) ever gets booted in favor of the MWC or WAC, they'll be squealing like stuck pigs and you can bet your last nickle they'll be lining up their lawyers and congressman to sue the BcS before the ink on the new BCS agreement is dry.
ACC BCS as league ATM | 3:13 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Wow the commisioner of the ACC (Absense of Competition Conference) want to keep his conferences Free Money Machine pumping out the dollars. I wonder what will happen when the ACC gets replaced in hte BCS by the MWC. Bet he'll sing a real different tune.
News Dawg | 3:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Yes, and as we all know if some is legal there is absolutely no possible way it could unethical (hope y'all catch the sarcasm here). Hate to draw the comparison, but slavery and segregation used to be considered legal.
ACC commish... | 3:56 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
says BCS complies with law...

of course it does; is their anyone on the planet who believes he would have said that it doesn't...

as long as the ACC is one of the conferences on the inside looking out at the beggars on the street?
Funny logic, BCS | 4:04 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
I don't follow the logic of BCS supporters. BYU won a national champion without the BCS. Utah is excluded from even being considered for the national championship because of the BCS. Therefore, the BCS does not give the best platform for all conferences. Any team in division 1 should have equal opportunity to play for a championship before the year starts, and they don't--bottomline.

Legality is just a matter of who is interpreting the law. The BCS is illegal simply because it doesn't accomplish anything it was set up to do, but no matter what, you know the money ends up with the BCS supporters each year. If that is not illegal, than mob rule is the law of the day.

Go Cougars, Go Utes, Go Tulsa, Go Boise State, Go TCU, and Go real fans, but don't any of you expect fair treatment or fair payout because you're not in charge. Big business is in charge. It is one of the biggest exclusionary oligopoly's that has ever flaunted itself so well in the public eye. But if the game played on the field can't bust this system, I guess I'm rooting for lawyers and attorneys now. Go justice!
Strength of Schedule | 4:08 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Utah had a pretty tough schedule against other ranked teams.

BYU

TCU.

another tid bit | 4:36 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
since 1993 there have been 8 teams (nine if Utah gets hosed again) that have gone undefeated but DID NOT WIN OR SHARE in a national championship.

1993--Auburn 11-0
1994--Texas A&M 10-0
1995--Toledo 11-0-1
1998--Tulane 12-0
1999--Marshall 13-0
2004--Auburn 13-0
2004--Utah 13-0
2006--Boise State 13-0
2008--Utah 13-0

Looks like Utah will join Auburn at getting hosed twice.
Top 4 BCS Playoff | 5:14 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
A Top 4 BCS Playoff is another joke. The BCS controls the "formula" for determining the top 4. Notice that Utah, the only undefeated in the NCAA football to go undefeated and beat 3 top 20 teams in the process, was the highest non-BCS school and it was ranked 7th. The BCS is a bunch of smoke and mirrors, with the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain. The BCS powers that be chooses who they want, not who is the best.
Greg @ | 5:47 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
It's antitrust because you are giving some conferences 'automatic' access to $M's of dollars vs. non-BCS schools not given equal access. Thus you are discriminating against the schools, students, taxpayers and the financial impact it has on all 3. It is antitrust and Shurtleff should go after them. We'll see if they are abiding with anti-trust law.
TO RICK: | 6:04 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Dude. Please do some research before spouting the "strength of schedule or lack thereof" card (see: ACC & BIG EAST conference winners). The topic of this discussion is the inherent unfairness of the BCS as it currently works. For example: Let's say Boise State and Utah (or pick any two non-BCS schools) both load up thier schedules to match that of Oklahoma or Florida; both go undefeated and end the season ranked #1 and #2; both WOULD NOT be playing in a championship game. (Not that the voters would ever let that happen no matter how difficult the SofS might be for either school.)

This is about a level playing field, a level opportunity based upon performance (not perception), and a level opportunity of the monetary pay-offs which go toward better recruiting, better facilities, better TV contracts...and translates into better competition. Too bad it's not really about that to the BCS.
BYU deserves credit | 6:09 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
The history matters. If BYU was in utah's shoes they would have gotten more pub nationally because of there history. In 1982 true college football fans, not band wagoners, remember how good the University of Georgia was with the Hershel Walker train running things and how BYU went in and almost upset the power house at that time between the hedges and held the Heisman Trophy winner to under 100 yrds. Steve Young even threw 6 ints in that game. That history is helping BYU even today, morons. And that was a "down" year between two glorious years. So the argument go's the the Y again. utes earn your history. NUFF SAID!
Svoboda | 6:25 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
What a bunch of crock. Of course it is anti-trust. Geez, and they all know it. And I hope that the Utah Attorney General brings a lawsuit. It's about time. How dishonest. And they lie about it also.
re: byu??? | 6:45 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Check your facts - Michigan had lost 5 that year (ended up with 6 losses), not just 4. 6-4 makes them look better than they were. Try searching google for "byu national championship 1984" and clicking on the wikipedia link (surprisingly this article has been tagged as not being very neutral - great job BYU fans, hold onto that one you have. I'm so glad that anyone can update wikipedia).

Here's what's interesting: BYU is credited with being the cause of the BCS mess, and Utah may very well be its undoing.

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