Deseret News | Congressional hearing puts BCS officials on defensive

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Congressional hearing puts BCS officials on defensive

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Chuckles55 | 5:08 p.m. May 1, 2009

The point here is that Congress would make it unlawful to call the BCS playoff system a National Championship without it actually providing a true playoff where teams had an equal shot at participating. If this legislation were to pass, no one is saying that the government would run the playoffs/bowls. They would just prohibit the BCS from calling their coronation process a "championship". As for losing some bowls, I am surprised that the smaller ones have lasted as long as they have, anyway. As I have watched some of the "toilet bowls" over the years, it's interesting to me that there are very few fans in the seats. I can't imagine that sponsors get much bang for their buck and probably won't miss the expense. If this becomes law, no one is saying that the government would take over running anything. They would just disallow the use of the term championship unless there were a true playoff system involved. I say, bring it on!

Me Likey | 5:12 p.m. May 1, 2009

I like the rep from Texas for what he said.

The ACC/BS commissioner is full of it. I will watch any college bowl game I can find the time and the channel it is on. Sponsers know that everyone (fotball fans) watches football that time of year soi they are going to support the bowl games.

They jsut want their money and the rest can kiss-off.

ACC didn't produce any good teams but they are getting the money.

Rich | 6:52 p.m. May 1, 2009

Why is the govt. involved? Let me help. We have a Bill of Rights that says all men are created equal. We have an economic system that used to be free enterprise, but has now been corrupted by huge corporations, that seek to ensure their own survival and profitbalilty. The BCS is dominated by these corporations. Thus, things like open competition are too risky for them. They don't care about sports fans or college athletes, or average Americans, only about selling their products. We do not subscribe to the notion of royalty. This is the only country in the world that gives the little guy a chance to claw his way to the top. Why is it that way for every other College sport except Division 1 football? Every sport worth its salt has a playoff system, and some of our fondest memories derive from legendary upsets like Texas Western over Kentucky. This should be about athletic competition, not about selling TV commercials. And if it was, think about how much more valuable advertising on a playoff game would be. Those kids at Utah and Boise State did not have a fair chance at winning the national championship.

Comments continue below

ACC Fan | 6:57 p.m. May 1, 2009

As a longtime ACC fan from the south I can tell you that John Swafford has ruined the ACC and is the wrong man to be on the point for the Bowls.

There is no excuse for BYU,Utah and Boise State not to be in the BCS. I think lawsuits will be the only way for change to happen. Swafford is used to the smoke filled rooms of the South not reasoning.

BYU Guy | 7:50 p.m. May 1, 2009

They need a playoff system in the BCS and make it fair for everyone. It was un fair to Utah to go undefeated last year and win a Bowl game and not be the National Chapms which they should have been BCS needs a playoff System NOW

rvalens2 | 8:17 p.m. May 1, 2009

An 8 team playoff won't work. It still leaves too many teams on the outside looking in.

My recommendation?

A 16 team playoff.

All conference champions (11 I believe) and 5 at large teams. That way no conference can say it was slighted and left out.

It is eminently fair to everyone. If you don't win your conference your chances of being selected as an at-large bid is small. But at least your conference is represented.

Seeding could be similar to what happens in the NCAA tournament. 1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, 3 vs 14, 4 vs 13, et cetera.

Imagine the national interest in such a system? It would dwarf the basketball tournament and would be just a whole lot of fun to watch.

Here's hoping it happens.

WSU Cougar | 8:40 p.m. May 1, 2009

Wake Forest
Stanley Arnoux New Orleans Saints LB
Chris Barclay Atlanta Falcons RB
Tyson Clabo (77) Atlanta Falcons G
Desmond Clark (88) Chicago Bears TE
Aaron Curry Seattle Seahawks LB
Steve Justice (53) Indianapolis Colts C
Steve Justice Indianapolis Colts C
Eric King Detroit Lions DB
Kenny Moore (81) Carolina Panthers WR
Ovie Mughelli (34) Atlanta Falcons FB
Calvin Pace (97) New York Jets DE
Fred Robbins (98) New York Giants DT
Alphonso Smith Denver Broncos DB
John Tereshinski Seattle Seahawks TE
Jeremy Thompson (99) Green Bay Packers DE
Jyles Tucker (94) San Diego Chargers LB
Steve Vallos (69) Seattle Seahawks T
Chip Vaughn New Orleans Saints DB
Joe Zelenka (88) Jacksonville Jaguars TE

Brian Piccalo - Bears 1965-1970

Bowl Cash Series | 9:50 p.m. May 1, 2009

They should implement a playoff system and pool all the proceeds. The pool would then be divided up by percentage based on how the teams finished on the field. #1 would get the largest %, then #2 and on down through the system. Not only would there be an incentive to win, for the sake of winning, but also to bring the biggest payout to your school. Let the Utes, Cougers and Broncos go after the money the Big conferences usually get. The football would be more competative and the best teams would be rewarded. Then we could call it the BOWL CASH SYSTEM, becasue that is really what it is! Wouldn't it be great for the Utah to be spending Bama's money right now!!!

Hypocritical | 10:34 p.m. May 1, 2009

Why do we call it a "World Series" if we don't involve top teams from around the world? Japan, Cuba, Dominican Republic and the Dutch would all give us a run for our money!!

The arguments against a playoff in college football all fall apart when you consider Div 3 does it successfully. Give every playoff a bowl. Solved.

HDC | 10:35 p.m. May 1, 2009

If you people out in Utah keep crying you will turn the west's drought into a flood.

HDC | 12:16 a.m. May 2, 2009

Utah just happens to be a good example of a common problem faced by all non BCS schools, players and fans. Frankly, I agree that Utah is going to get a bad name just because a few political types are trying to make a big deal for their own political benefit. Most Utah fans are just looking for the new season to begin and get on with the future.

Re: Wouldn't work | 12:20 a.m. May 2, 2009

Why not? It works in Basketball. Does it mean the basketball teams are in better shape than the Football players? Why can't you use a neutral field. Alabama had more people at the game than the Utes did.
RE: HDC it is also people in Boise, Idaho and others did you not read the story????
All we are asking is fairness. The system does NOT create a National Champion neither did it back in BYU's (1984) day. It is still mythical!

Dont Forget About the NCAA | 6:15 a.m. May 2, 2009

When the BCS is sued, please don't forget to include the NCAA. They are silent, which means they are in on the deal.

Spell checker, anyone? | 8:02 a.m. May 2, 2009

While I would like to believe that a professional news agency such as Deseret News uses spell checker, I just can't get over the grammatical errors and misspellings that are so pervasive in their articles! Perhaps it's time for Deseret News to upgrade to Microsoft Office 2007...or at least use some other spell checking program.

Kill the whole thing off | 8:50 a.m. May 2, 2009

Why do colleges and universities even have football programs? What educational purpose is served?

Kill college sports and put the money into academics. Let professional sports fund their minor league on their own. Then they can have any kind of championship that they want.

Anonymous | 9:25 a.m. May 2, 2009

There is not much that I hate more in sports than the BCS system. One exception to that is Congress meddling in sports. You're telling me this is the most important thing they could be discussing yesterday?

Congress | 10:47 a.m. May 2, 2009

Any monopoly needs government oversight. The BCS monopoly has become too self-serving and needs congressional regulation. Would the BCS schools agree to share the money equally with all NCAA school involved in Div. 1 football? No they prefer the money over a legitimate national champion.

Swofford | 11:04 a.m. May 2, 2009

Can you say guardian of the pigs. There is no good justification for the "strangle hold" that the B.C.S. has on college football. It'ts just the power "boys" using their power unwisely. I have always disliked congress getting involved in sports. But, if sports won't clean itself up, then somebody has too. The current examples would be the B.C.S. and users of steriods.

Anonymous | 11:16 a.m. May 2, 2009

We have Utahans for nanny government and control of a market. Utahans don't believe, in a capitalist America that the market should be a factor. We need a new government agency with programs to ensure fairness.

Please show me the federal law requiring a football program in colleges and universities. Prove Utah was force to become a member of the BCS. Are there laws stopping the establishment of another conference? You're free to leave anytime.

This sure shows you have no core values or beliefs. What you believe or value is based on your greed and desires.

Sports Fan | 12:05 p.m. May 2, 2009

We thank byu's 1984 team, were it not for that year there would not be a bcs. David should never have killed the giant. Now the giant has all the money and looks at ALL non bcs leagues the same, without any real value. The bcs puts the MWC the WAC & Sun Belt it the same pot and wonder what's the big deal? When this is all over the rich will get richer and the poor will still be poor, but will have put up a good fight.

BCSPN | 7:49 p.m. May 2, 2009

The "mid-major" conferences should just stop scheduling any school from a BCS conference. Let them play each other and they can all enjoy 8-4, 9-3, 10-2 records because they won't have any "cupcakes" on their schedules. If they don't want to share the wealth then they can't have those "easy" games. The mid-majors can start their own Division of College football and have a play off. Let the big boys play in their own sandbox with all the cats.

wow... | 1:13 p.m. May 3, 2009

The arrogance of the BCS is amazing. Time to put the NCAA back in charge.

re: Rich | 6:52 p.m. | 8:35 a.m. May 4, 2009

"Why is the govt. involved?"

Hadn't you heard, this nation is turning socialist.

Obama won the election in that he and the rest of the democrats wants to control ALL aspects of our lives. Get ready for more take-overs when 60 senators (Specter and Franken) get involved.

Are you serious? | 7:39 a.m. May 5, 2009

Who is it that said they like the idea that a team has to just get the record of 6-6 to get into a bowl game? A system like that just breed mediocrity in certain programs. A playoff system, where only the teams with the top records get in will create more competition and better games.

The funniest part of this... | 11:18 a.m. May 5, 2009

while thing is that some people actually believe that our joke-worthy chamber of legislators are going to DOO anything beyond holding hearings. That's laughable. They are the most gutless wonders on the planet. They give billions to banks to spend it in foreign countries, investing in lower cost jobs while sending thousandsof Americans to the streets jobless. I can think of dozens of topics for which they held hearings over the past 10 years and NOTHING ever happened on any of them. The BCS system is a crock and this congressional forum for airing the garbage is equally a gaggle of crock. Sue the NCAA and the BCS.

Who cares... | 8:57 p.m. May 5, 2009

if some bowls go away? You can have a losing record and still go to a bowl game, kind of like the eastern conference of the NBA. If you only took 8 teams and played them in the playoff, and kept other major bowl games, it would actually be better. Nobody wants to watch two teams with losing records play. BCS is about money, and not fair chances.

Me, Myself and I | 9:13 a.m. May 7, 2009

The bottom line is the big conferences aren't so sure that year in and year out they will be superior and don't want to share the money they see as rightfully theirs. The idea that bowl games would disappear and take away the opportunity for teams not making a playoff to have a post season is a weak argument. Not only would they not disappear they could actually be better. The same sponsors who sponsor the five BCS bowls would still sponsor each round of the playoffs. In an eight team playoff you would actually add two more big money games. The big crowds that follow their teams to the BSC games would follow their schools throughout the playoffs. Even in tough economic times people find ways to follow their team to the "big game". Teams not making the playoffs would still be able to play in the lesser bowl games out there. If anything a playoff would not only provide us with a undisputable champion it would provide more schools post season games and bigger paydays for those schools who went deep into the playoffs. Back up your superiority complex BSC teams and support a playoff!!!

re: Lou | 2:22 p.m. May 7, 2009

why do you think going undefeated makes you National Champs? If that's the rule, then the big conferences would disband, play nobodies each week, and you'd have 10-15 undefeated powerhouses every year! The big boys come close every season playing tough games week-in and week-out! Utah won three 'big' games, four if you count BYU (a team ute fans always put down as sorry). The rest were average at best. Get over it!

BCS gets it Right | 6:43 p.m. May 12, 2009

For the most part the smaller conferences don't have any business whining about the NC. With the pasty schedule of the U most of the SEC and Big 12 would also finish the regular season undefeated.

Tyler | 6:44 p.m. May 14, 2009

They need to kick out all the schools that get less than 25000 average home attendence.

That would help.

No reason some schools are I-A.

They should be I-AA

Good Example... IDAHO!

Tyler

Me, Myself and I | 1:52 p.m. May 18, 2009

Tyler good idea, only two problems. There is no 1-A, 1-AA anymore. They are now classified as Football Bowl Series (FBS) Football Championship Series (FCS). Another problem is the fact that some of the competitive "mid-major" schools have fewer attend on a weekly basis than non-competitive teams. Strength of schedule and the old Win Lose columns should dictate classification.

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Susan Walsh, Associated Press

ACC Commissioner and BCS coordinator John Swofford, left, testifies before the House Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee hearing on the football Bowl Championship Series on Capitol Hill in Washington Friday. Also testifying on the panel are, from left, MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson, President and CEO of Valero Alamo Bowl Derrick Fox and Boise State Athletic Director Gene Bleymaier.

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