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Hatch calls BCS 'biased' in SI article

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Anonymous | 11:33 a.m. July 1, 2009

Until you introduce and push legislation, it is all hot air and political posturing.

mhe | 11:35 a.m. July 1, 2009

great! Go after the "gedurdone" conferences.

USC Fan | 11:57 a.m. July 1, 2009

it is not hot air and posturing - it is a warning that allows the NCAA to get its house in order before the government forces them to do it right.

Comments continue below

politicians | 11:59 a.m. July 1, 2009

live for coverage like this, hopefully he actually does something more than yap about it, although I wouldn't hold my breath.

Hypocritical Hatch | 12:26 p.m. July 1, 2009

Hatch's own political party, the Republican Party, conspires with Democrats to keep the political game all to themselves and keep out competing parties and other potential challengers.

I can't take Hatch's complaint against the BCS seriously until he brings the same complaint against the two-headed, one party system from which he benefits.

Svoboda | 12:44 p.m. July 1, 2009

The BCS is biased. It is corrupt. Just ask Alabama if Utah deserved a shot at that national championship. The Mountain West Conference had three times in the top 25, and two in the top seven. The MWC should have had two teams in the BCS bowls, not one. What a stupid, rigged system. And to hear grown men "lie" and say there is nothing wrong with it, insults everyone with half a brain.

Anonymous | 12:47 p.m. July 1, 2009

Good for him. Corrupt is corrupt. Next I hope he focuses on bailouts for failed companies i.e. fannie mae etc.

lost in DC | 12:56 p.m. July 1, 2009

I fear all hatch may do is force college football back to the way it was before the BcS. the big money bowls would return to their conference tie ins and there would be no chance whatsoever for the Utahs and BSUs to get a chance at any of the money generated in those big bowls. bogus polls that don't look beyond 20-30 teams will still select their "champion", and said champion will never come from a conference outside the big six.

One argument the BcS conspirators put forth that has yet to be refuted is they are the ones generating the most revenue, it's socialistic to force them to share with those who are not generating the same level of revenue.

don't get me wrong, I'm not sticking up for the BcS, but unless they actually force some type of play-off system, the money generation, control, and crowning of some type of champion will still be in the same corrupt hands, if only under a different name.

Naruto | 1:16 p.m. July 1, 2009

He is just pandering to the masses of Utah so he can get re-elected. That's all he cares about. Everyone in Utah is dissapointed with the BCS, but I think there are some more pressing concerns at this moment. Maybe you should take some driving lessons in the meantime Hatch.

Common Sense | 3:22 p.m. July 1, 2009

Though I don't support most of Orin Hatches views, I do support this one, and have been waiting for someone to change the way a national champion in 1A college football is determined. It is Common Sense!

Every other level of any sport has a playoff system that includes conference, district, division etc, champions. BCS is unfair and college football sucks to watch, because only every once in a while does the BCS get it right. The last several years only 1 of the best two teams had a chance to play for the national championship.

Scoobie | 3:31 p.m. July 1, 2009

Hey...the ball will soon be back in the the BCS's court. They're going to soon have to do something. They won't be allowed to just sit on their hands and drag their feet. They'll be given one last oppurtunity to make their own corrections.

The NCAA is just as responsible for letting this get out of their hands as the Big Ten, the Major TV Networks and the Traditional former New Years Bowls are for creating this monster. Last week the MWC went in demanding an 8 team playoff. That might be something to possibly see further down the road. But there is a much bigger issue that needs attention and needs attention now. The issue of undefeated teams before the final BCS selections. It is obvious that some type of playoff must first start with addressing that key issue first. It can be done without changing the present BCS Bowl configuration and with only minimal changes to the selection criteria. However adding probably the Cotton Bowl to the The BCS stable would be a better way. In the article BCS blasts the MWC I outlined a 2 game scenario that would resolve the problem.

Tim is the Tebow | 3:40 p.m. July 1, 2009

Be careful I hear Tebow can turn water into Gatoraide and kill you with the power of his mind. Florida just need speak a single word and the power of Tebow will destroy us all.

jhe777 | 6:36 p.m. July 1, 2009

Doesn't he have any real work that needs to be done. He might want to do something for his country instead of worrying about an unfair football game and grabing headlines.

Throw Hatch OUT! | 7:12 p.m. July 1, 2009

Hatch will jump on any hot button issue just to get his mug in front of the camera or his name in the paper.

It's NOT the government's place to regulate sporting events... Hatch is part of the soft tyranny governing group of despots that currently occupy D.C.

Anonymous | 12:43 a.m. July 2, 2009

Focus on something important.

Doing the job | 1:11 a.m. July 2, 2009

To Naruto: Of course "He is just pandering to the masses of Utah." That's who elected him. He's supposed to do that.

Az Dave | 1:22 a.m. July 2, 2009

Waa Waa Waa

Eugene | 4:28 a.m. July 2, 2009

Unbelievable postings!!! Give Senator Hatch some credit. He is finally taking on something that people care about!

BCS stands for power and money, pure and simple. If you are a BCS team you have it made no matter if you lose every game. If not, you have to grovel to participate even if you win every game.

Power and money has prostituted a great game into a business monopoly reserved for the collegiate elitists. It is now time to get something done and bring fairness back into the game.

Now, Senator Hatch, juggle a few more things like fighting Obamanomics, out of control federal spending and stemming our slide into europeanistic socialism!

NY | 6:28 a.m. July 2, 2009

Hatch is right. This is a blatant anti-trust violation and if it was any other industry, government would be severely criticized for looking the other way.

mike | 6:45 a.m. July 2, 2009

I love Orrin Hatch. When he knows he's right, he's not afraid to take on anyone, including the entrenched, well-funded interests of the BCS.

The BCS is nothing more than an exclusive club designed to perpetuate a competitive and financial monopoly on college football.

If there was ever a trust to be busted, this is it.

Go Senator Hatch.

Cats | 7:03 a.m. July 2, 2009

Hatch is doing EXACTLY what he's supposed to be doing as an elected official. That is representing the interests of his constituents. There are at least TWO schools in his state that are being cut out of the big money by the BCS. That affects a lot of people in Utah.

The BCS is clearly in violation of anti-trust laws and it needs to be reformed. It's time someone in Washington held their feet to the fire. There is A LOT of money at stake and it ripples through the system.

Good for you Senator Hatch. Keep it up.

Swiftouch | 7:14 a.m. July 2, 2009

Dude. It's about the money. NOT about the sport. When you look at it from that angle it makes PERFECT sense for the BCS to do what it's doing.

They are maximizing profits by keeping BIG BCS BOWLS in max profit areas. Because Utah, Idaho, etc do not have as many people, they don't want to have bowl games played in low populated areas such as Utah.

Even with that said, I still think there needs to be a national playoff. It's really the only fair way of giving every school a chance. And the NCAA should be forced in this respect to dismantle the BCS in favor of a national playoff.

Oh please | 7:22 a.m. July 2, 2009

Hatch wants to be reelected. He is an old, ineffectual old man. He hasn't had an original idea for the last 16 years. No one takes him seriously anymore. The BCS is a mess. Everyone agrees but the conferences agreed to this arrangement when the BCS was set up. Everyone forgets that. Step down, Hatch. Retire with all your millions. You can buy and sell the State of Utah.

brad | 7:27 a.m. July 2, 2009

if this is such a horrible system why dont we just take away some of he tax exempt status of those in the GCS conferences leveling the overall monatary playing field for everyone. Because we all know that if the MWC gets invited into the BCS we are all going to keep complaining until the WAC get its shot. Because that would be unfair if they get left out and we get invited.....right?

Amazing | 7:35 a.m. July 2, 2009

This is more than a college football issue, folks. Higher education is in a financial crisis. Colleges and Universities are looking at what programs to cut or reduce due to our conditions. These schools rely on the extra money from the bowl games to keep programs going. The BCS conferences don't want to share that money, and they are afraid of fair competition.

The argument that the BCS teams are the only ones generating revenue is suspect at best. The outside teams really have never had an equal chance to prove that they could generate an equal amount of revenue. They are not allowed to play on the same national stage as the "elite" teams.

Better system?? | 8:06 a.m. July 2, 2009

I love that the BCS has come out in the recent past and basically said that the BYU and Utahs of the world should be happy with the current system because it is better than the previous system. At least these smaller schools have a chance of getting into the Sugar Bowl and Fiesta Bowl when under the previous system they had no chance at this. Well, with that logic, shouldn't African-Americans have been happy with legal segregation because it was better than the previous system of slavery? I know civil rights is a much more important issue but I use the example to show the bigotry of the haughty leaders of the BCS. Billions of dollars are spent on college football every year. This IS a problem that congress should deal with. It's a business. Our government protects American citizens from corrupt business dealings.

Socialists | 8:16 a.m. July 2, 2009

Its very interesting to see the people in this most conservative state advocate legislation forcing the BCS to accept teams from smaller conferences. Never mind that very few of you will put your money where your mouth is. When Utah beat Alabama, there were less than 15,000 Utah fans in attendance. You are legislating forcing bowls to take a financial loss. If you won't follow your team, get a ticket, get a hotel, eat meals, buy souvenirs, the bowl can't pay out $12,000,000.

Join a Real Conference | 8:18 a.m. July 2, 2009

If BYU and the U want to seriously compete for the national title then they need to laave the MWC (Mediocrity West Conference) and join the PAC 10 or the Big Twelve. My guess is that the two schools won't do this because they like having so many MWC patsies on their schedules which almost guarantees a good record.

Rockjock | 8:30 a.m. July 2, 2009

On top of everything else if the NCAA has done wrong. Take one look at march madness and the revenue it generates for the schools involved. I think if it was legit the championship game would be more popular than the superbowl.

THEeyepatch | 8:34 a.m. July 2, 2009

He's right no matter what you think. We do need a Play-off system. Utes were an underdog against a team that they destroyed. Utes were 13-0. BCS teams are overrated and I know we would have beaten Florida, but we will never know? Get this system fixed!

Clueless | 8:54 a.m. July 2, 2009

The only reason got into the BCS this year is because Congress did this same hearing several years back and the BCS modified their plans. The only way to change this is by legislation, because the BCS people will continue to protect their $ as long as they can.

I have a suggestion. Take the top ranked BCS team and the top ranked non BCS team and pit them together in a championship bowl game. If the BCS teams are so great they will whip the non BCS ranked team every year. We know that won't happen because the BCS guys don't want to have to eat crow when they get their rearends handed to them on a platter, like Utah did to Alabama. They want to maintain this artficial superiority as long as they can and will drag their feet all the way to the bank for as long as they can.

The NCAA is a gutless, useless, no back-bone, spineless group of President's who just happen to be from BCS conferences so they were duplcitous in their approval of the BCS system.

Congress is gutless to not solved this problem before.

Nothing changes | 9:02 a.m. July 2, 2009

Years ago these same BCS schools were allowed to stockpile athletes so the other school coulnd't get them. Then the NCAA was forced to put a limit on scholarships and they could no longer stockpile athletes and these athletes started going to the other schools. That leveled the playing field. Then they said, why not have a limited bowl system which only we can get into and that will give us the big bucks and the athletes will want to come to our schools and not "those other schools". After all they want to play on the national stage.

And the arrogant, hypocritical, gutless, spineless , political prostituted NCAA bought into it.

The BCS should be tried on RICCO charges as a mafia type organization.

Scoobie | 9:11 a.m. July 2, 2009

REF: Swifttouch
You know... it sure would be nice if some people knew thier BCS history a little. Dude... there is no movement to get The Big BCS Bowls moved. You're totally out in left field long after the lights have been turned off here. The 3 big Traditional New Years Day Bowls along with the 3 Major networks that always covered them conspired originally with the Big Ten conference to ensure that a 1984 National Championship never happens again. The 1983 Holiday Bowl is the only NCAA National Championship that was not played in either one of the former 3 Major New Year Bowls or the newest Power Bowl the Fiesta Bowl along with the newest TV power broker ESPN that not too many years ago challenged the 3 big Networks for the BIG MONEY Market share.

The big Ten is where the BCS Brain Child is from...These guys were used to BIG LONG STANDING TRADITIONS. The Big Ten when playing for National Championships were used to winning or losing them usually in the Grand Daddy of all Bowls... The Rose Bowl......not some podunk little stadium in San Diego in December.

WOW | 9:29 a.m. July 2, 2009

So what else is new...This issue will die here in Utah as the local teams start losing and there will be no real need for altering the current BCS.

lost in utah | 9:47 a.m. July 2, 2009

Dear Brother Hatch! Good for you! But what about the oil companies, the broadcast media that use the people's air ways, the banks, the insurance companies, wall street,corporations in general, health care etc.? Oh! they can take care of and police themselves! We must focus on sports! Sports is everything especially now. Lets keep our focus.

I can't believe we are so stupid.

Scoobie | 10:05 a.m. July 2, 2009

REF:Amazing
The so called Elite Teams formally given that status because they consistently year after year trompled over every one have been greatly reduced in recent years. The Big guns number fewer. Right now the only conferences who can brag about having more than one are The SEC with (4) and the Big 12 with (2) for sure and possibly a third.

@8:18 | 10:15 a.m. July 2, 2009

First of all, its the PaC 10 and Big Twelve, not Pac 12 and Big Fourteen.

Second of all, if BYU and UTAH were in those other confrences, they would have a far better recruiting pool than they do now. They would have some rebuilding years where they would have a hard time keeping winning records, but once they got a strong team in place, and a stronger recruiting class, you would see they would be able to dominate those confrences with ease.

RE: Join a Real Conference | 10:45 a.m. July 2, 2009

Get a clue. Don't you think they would have done this years ago. Have you ever heard of any invite? You have no idea what you are talking about. The BCS schools are scared to even play MWC schools. Have you seen their schedules? You want to talk about patsies check out Florida's OOC shedule.

Hatch is doing the right thing. Level the playing field and spread the wealth.

RE: lost in Utah | 10:51 a.m. July 2, 2009

This is a sports article, if you don't like it go to the buisness section. If you don't care about sports or the situaton with the BCS don't read it. Your the one that needs to focus.

Grover | 11:04 a.m. July 2, 2009

Expensive way: sue for antitrust violation. Cheap way: pass legislation that bars the use of the term "national champion" without a playoff.

wow | 11:06 a.m. July 2, 2009

I still can't believe that Hatch knows something that has affected our state. I wonder where he got his information. He must have an inturn that lives in Utah or something that told him about it.

I thought Hatch was too busy working on the Death Star to notice anything that happens in Utah.

He is 75 years old - don't you think if he is about to have his drivers license taken away, he shouldn't be able to be a senator anymore....

Oh and to the poster who suggests that the Utes should just join another conference....uh I'm not sure you should be using a computer, but you actually have to be "invited" to join those conferences... hence the problem..

Fix the Economy | 11:27 a.m. July 2, 2009

I'd like congress to focus on things that really matter. The BCS is fine as it is. When my Longhorns go undefeated their national champs. Perfect. Look for it to happen again this season. OU or Florida go undefeated they're national champs.

If the Utes and zoobies played in a real conference they could do the same, oh wait, they would have to play a full season against real football schools. I would love to see the Utes try to run the gauntlet known as the Big 12 South. TCU couldn't do it. Ask TCU enjoyed OU last year. The y will get a taste of OU soon enough. Now imagine playing UT, OU, OSU and TT over a six week period. Throw in Missouri Nebraska and A&M to round out your season. Ouch!

Enjoy being a big fish in the mediocre MWC puddle or man up and join a real conference. But stop crying and wasting government resources.

Anonymous | 11:28 a.m. July 2, 2009

I just would like to add that there are some that say this is just a "sports" issue or that there are other "bigger" issues out there. Make no mistake this is a multi billion dollar business that the BCS has going on and they don't want to share. It is completely unfair and a total sham. Something needs to be done about it. The BCS is getting away with millions of dollars to select schools and conferences. What about the little guy or the chance to be the best. Hopefully something will change and even dealing with what some call an "insignificant" issue as this will help this country and the economy. Just my opinion

Cats | 11:32 a.m. July 2, 2009

To: OH PLEASE...your comments show that you CLEARLY have no idea what goes on in Washington. Hatch, in fact, is a very effective and respected Senator. He is probably the leading constitutional expert in the U.S. Senate. You really should get a little more experience before you make such uninformed comments.

VF | 11:45 a.m. July 2, 2009

Roughly for Hatch: 19 (63%), and anti Hatch, 11 (37%).

Those FOR Hatch have the best understanding of the BCS and those who are AGAINST Hatch either have NO understanding of the BCS or they are FOR teams playing for the BCS and want to keep it that way.

Go Orrin, and don't think about your ANTI's. We are with you.

Hatch is fixing the economy | 12:23 p.m. July 2, 2009

I would much rather these guys focus on sports than getting together to decide what else they can do to spur the economy. So far they have only interfered with the free market creating even worse long-term problems. The less gov't the better. So if they all took time away from fixing the economy it may actually just fix itself.

Sillyguy | 12:44 p.m. July 2, 2009

Yawn ,none of you need to worry. Next year the Utes and Cougars will have sub par years and they will be both fighting to get to the Las Vegas bowl so they can be beat by yet another pac-10 team. yawn

re 5:04 | 5:45 p.m. July 2, 2009

I hope you're being sarcastic. Utah deserved a NC. Ask anyone who watched the Sugar Bowl last year. By the way, I was picked on for wearing a Utah shirt to school. Hypocritical cougar...but then again I wouldn't expect anything different of a BYU fan.

re:re 5:04 | 6:24 p.m. July 2, 2009

ask anyone who watched it that was a Utah fan. No one in the country outside of Utah thought Utah should have been National Champs..

Change the name | 6:29 p.m. July 2, 2009

If Utah had played the same schedule with the same results, but under the name of Notre Dame, etc. they would have been National Champions. Can anyone argue with that?

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