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Congressional hearing puts BCS officials on defensive

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Duh | 9:29 a.m. May 1, 2009

I think it would be better to go back to the old system. At least a team like Utah would have the chance for a National Championahip. By all Standards, they were the NC but because the BCS does not choose them, they are left in the dark. No one from the BCS would select a team that is not an automatic bid to the BCS Series for the Championship game. I like the legislation proposed that the BCS could not use "National Champion" if there is no playoff. Sounds fair to me. They just don't want to let go of the money, pure and simple.

Self Serving | 9:30 a.m. May 1, 2009

I can not fathom that the ACC Commissioner, who is also head of the BCS, really believes it when he says that the lesser bowls will be threatened...and that is a justification for the continuing the rigged system.

Teams can still go to bowls without being in the playoffs. Duh. No one is saying that there can't be non-playoff bowls. Duh. When 6-6 Iowa plays 7-5 Virginia in the Ticky-Tacky Bowl, they are under the current system not in a playoff and not playing for the national championship. Under the playoff system, since only the top eight of 10 teams in the rankings might be included, there are still going to plenty of opportunities for the 7-5 and 6-6 teams to go bowling. Geez.

Truth detector | 9:35 a.m. May 1, 2009

WRONG ANSWER! A playoff system would simply mean, the big conferences wouldn't be able to steal from the smaller conferences anymore, and the collusion between the big conferences, ESPN and ABC would be shattered. That's all.

Comments continue below

Fans aren't stupid | 9:41 a.m. May 1, 2009

Most fans recognize that some of the bowl games would have to go away and they are perfectly okay with it. The real fact is that playoff system determines the champion at every other level of organized football except the FBS. Why is that? It's not to please the fans that's for sure. I think what Mr. Swafford really means is that his 3rd mansion in Malibu is in peril.

Anonymous | 10:01 a.m. May 1, 2009

Replace the bowls with playoff games. Instead of it calling it the "Tostitos Fiesta Bowl" call it the "Tostitos Semi-final" or something like that. Sponsors will still put in the big money, people will still buy tickets. I don't see how they will lose money accept that they are afraid their teams won't get to those games.

commando | 10:03 a.m. May 1, 2009

this is a desperate, non sequitur argument from the head that is about to go under the guillotine. Why couldn't conferences keep their bowl alliances for teams that aren't playoff bound? Furthermore, why couldn't separate stages of the playoffs be their own bowl games? the final 8 teams would play in the cotton, sugar, orange, and fiesta bowls, then the semi finals would be called something else and then the championship game? Loss of revenue? A college football playoff would put March Madness to shame viewership-wise.

Grandstanding | 10:07 a.m. May 1, 2009

The BCS dons say:

"...a switch to a playoff system...would threaten the existence of celebrated bowl games."

Why? A playoff would pit a bunch of top 8/12/16 teams against each other multiple times. HELLO!!! Is it just me that thinks this would be the most profitable venture in sports history? I normally couldn't care less about non-BYU football, but I would go out of my way to watch some playoff games.

A playoff would be great, and the BCS dons ought to consider it.

However:

"...favored by fans, President Barack Obama and some lawmakers..."

"[The BCS guy] was appearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee's commerce, trade and consumer protection subcommittee, some of whose members back legislation aimed at prodding the BCS to switch to a playoff system."

Why is this an issue at the highest levels of government? Aren't there more important problems Congress should be addressing? Oh, now I remember: the current Congress caused those problems. So they're turning to something they have no right or reason to regulate--football games--so they can look semi-competent. It won't work.

NCAA are whimps | 10:12 a.m. May 1, 2009

The people running the NCAA are a bunch of whimps. They should not have let this get out of control by allowing a few conferences to wrest away from them the responsibility of determining a national champ.

So now everyone is running to the Federal government to fix things. That's just great. Yeah we need to do that because our Federal government doesn't have anything else more importnat to work on and they really are the only ones who can fix stuff for us and make our lives better (barrrrrrrf!!). The non-automatic bid conferences need to sue the NCAA to make them get their butts in gear on this.

Cats | 10:21 a.m. May 1, 2009

It's about time. As a dyed-in-the-wool Cougar, I think that Utah got robbed this year.

It's not right for one organization to have a monopoly on chamionships and who gets to make the big bucks and who doesn't. It's UNAMERICAN. This is definitely an anti-trust issue and it needs to be corrected.

All the smaller conferences have playoffs and there's no reason that division 1A can't.

SJ | 10:26 a.m. May 1, 2009

Amen to Self Serving.

There are too many bowls anyway and the system is outdated. A playoff is the only way to go.

BCS = Buy Conference Superiority | 10:29 a.m. May 1, 2009

Time for the government to break up this BC$ Monopoly. There is very little debate among fans that the system begats haves and have-nots.

Wake Forest...a football team in a BC$ *magic* and *superior* conference that gets all that extra money? Just sent their FIRST, read as numero uno, football player to the NFL draft EVER this year. How many has Utah had over the years? BYU?

That there is even a debate here is laughable.

wallofvoodoo | 10:39 a.m. May 1, 2009

Are we really spending taxpayer money on this issue?

Anti BCS | 10:54 a.m. May 1, 2009

Re: wallofvoodoo

Do you have any idea how much money local (ie non-BCS) schools are losing out on each year by not being part of this elitist group ? .. money that now has to comes out of your pocket as taxes to support the schools.

A true playoff would mean many millions in revenue each year to the non-BCS schools. It would also put them on equal footing as far as recruiting goes. Revenue to universities has been tied to how well their athletic teams do so non-BCS schools may be able to generate more revenue from their alumni if they were part of a true playoff as well.

If the BCS monopoly can be brought down, it's taxpayer money well spent.

ctchrist | 11:09 a.m. May 1, 2009

It's all about the $$$. Once they figure out a system by which current BCS conferences can continue to benefit financially from a playoff system, they will switch to a playoff system. It's about time!

Anonymous | 11:12 a.m. May 1, 2009

The BCS is how the religious right of the Republican party treats Mormons. They'll let them in once in a while but don't try and grasp any power or be the presidential nominee.

BCS is Best | 11:14 a.m. May 1, 2009

The BCS is not about money. A playoff system would actually bring in much more money. The BCS is about producing a national champion and at the same time maintaining the great tradition of college bowl games. Injuries are an important factor in big time college football, and after a grueling season, teams need two or three weeks off in order to mend, prior to the bowl season.

The BCS is a BIG improvement over the previous system, where top ranked teams seldom played each other in bowl games.

In the NCAA Basketball Tourney, all teams except one return home a loser. In the BSC/Bowl system, half the teams return home winners.

The BCS is great. Just keep tweaking it.

Bowl games | 11:18 a.m. May 1, 2009

Hardly any bowl games are not directly connected to BCS conferences. Reduce the number of bowls, reduce BCS revenue.

The whole bowl system is designed to enrich BCS schools.

Let's just have a playoff.

Put the NCAA back in charge.

Re: comment @ 11:14 | 11:40 a.m. May 1, 2009

Are you smoking ganja? Are you un-American? Do you even realize how the BCS is set up? The BCS is ALL.... repeat.... ALL about money for any conference recognized by it and about keeping that money away from the non-BCS conferences. It is laughable that they feel they are doing this as un-biased as possible. That comment reminds me of the tobacco industry.. "We don't BELIEVE that nicotine is addictive...." Bottom line here: The BCS system PROMOTES inequality and costs schools and universities outside of their beloved conferences MILLIONS of dollars anually in lost revenue. They argue that the system is set up to produce a TRUE national champion. How many years has that comment been in question? (Even by teams INSIDE the BCS conferences....) I am disgusted by the BCS and what it has done to college football since it's inception. The minute it is done away with and move to a playoff system, there will again be a TRUE national champion.

It wouldn't work | 11:50 a.m. May 1, 2009

A playoff in College FB wouldn't work. You'd have to always play at 1 teams' home field, which in the case of travel may be a huge loss for the visiting team's fan base-UT v AL? If they were played at the same venue, how many of you would stay home for the first game, in hopes that your team would win and go to the next game? The pro playoff counts on season ticket holders excersing their right to tickets, AND they have 60-70k seat stadiums. Many college campii do not have such large venues. And in college basketball, you have three-four games in a weekend which attracts large crowds. Not the same in football.
Pragmatically, I don't see much success in a playoff system.
The real problem is the amount of money that is doled out to major conf's and the $0 given to the rest of the Div 1 schools.

RE: BCS IS BEST | 11:51 a.m. May 1, 2009

The BCS is a monopoly that automatically eliminates half the college football teams in the nation from ever having a chance at the NC. If were really about choosing a national champion they wouldn't have "automatic" berths to BCS bowl games and leave all other conferences out. Wake up. You've bought into the propaganda that the BCS spews. Kind of reminds me of the tobacco companies claiming that tobacco doesn't cause health problems. Doh!!

Tradition | 12:02 p.m. May 1, 2009

Just because you've always done it that way, doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid.

(From a despair de-motivator)

Idahoan | 12:24 p.m. May 1, 2009

"He asked BCS Coordinator John Swofford, who is also commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, "How do you answer that, that before the first game is played half of the football teams in the country don't have a prayer to win the national football championship."

Swofford said, "The answer to that is the polls reflect what's happened on the field," and the BCS works to match the top two teams according to several polls it chooses in the BCS championship game."

What a response! How can polls reflect the games before there is even one game played? Teams are eliminated before the season starts, and this commissioner says it's okay because polls are used?! How can he justify a 1-11 team in a BCS conference getting money that a 12-0 non-BCS conference team can't get? Or having a better shot at the championship? That's the injustice of the BCS. It exists, no matter what Mr. Swofford and the other BCS conference commissioners say.

Anonymous | 12:29 p.m. May 1, 2009

Thank God that for congress! The BCS is absurd and needs to be destroyed.

Facts and Truth | 12:30 p.m. May 1, 2009

It is about money (obviously)

Utah wasn't invited, not because they weren't the most qualified, but because the BCS decided that a Florida/Oklahoma match up would bring in more money in advertising, ticket sales, etc.

If you make it so that it isn't about the money, then you wouldn't have as many arguments about a playoff system.

suggestion:
Allocate 100% of the income the BCS and NCAA receives from all bowl games (or playoff games if that ends up being the case) to all the conferences in that given division. Case closed. Not about the money any more. Less arguments against a playoff system, and we may have a legit national champion for the first time EVER!!

And I imagine a Florida/Oklahoma game in the Alamo bowl would still bring a lot of money, even if it wasn't for the national championship.

Baseball | 12:41 p.m. May 1, 2009

If this continues, someone at the U.N. would sue MLB for the use of the "World Series", since it is not really a "World" competition, but only 2 nations!

Hmmmmmmmm!

2 Games | 1:12 p.m. May 1, 2009

What are we really talking about adding? Two semi-final games. They already have the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, and Rose Bowl games that would be quarter final games. They already have the "National Championship" Game. We are talking about two additional games. Also think of the fan excitement if a Cinderella Mountain West Team advanced to the Champioinship game. The nation would actually see that we play outstanding, entertaining football. It would help recruiting for all the non-BCS schools.

Tomcat | 1:24 p.m. May 1, 2009

I just find it amazing that a conference that has three teams in the top 25 of everyones polls is eliminated before the season starts. Obviously the quality of their competition is high enough to be held in such regard. Meanwhile the ACC and Big East whose very best teams were 15 and 17 respectively are good enough to be in the hunt. How can you tell someon they are not good enought before the first coin toss.

David S. Alexandria, VA | 1:43 p.m. May 1, 2009

It amazes me that Congress spends anytime on this issue. This once again shows me that something is seriously wrong with Congress. These are both Republicans and Democrats wasting time and our money on this topic. This is something the NCAA needs to address with its members.

J in Iowa | 1:51 p.m. May 1, 2009

I agree the NCAA are whimps and let this one get out of hand. Why isn't congress questioning them?

magnus | 1:52 p.m. May 1, 2009

I'm still not sure why they are arguing that putting smaller bowls out of buisness is a bad thing. It wasn't more than 10 years ago that there were only maybe 15 bowl games total.

Many of these lesser bowl games end up costing the schools that go to them money anyways, and for what? to see a .500 team from a big conference play a 7-5 scrub school on FOX SPORTS regional sub-affiliate.

I like the 8 team tournament proposal with the first four games being the current BCS bowls, but I think the BCS should be dissbanded and the NCAA should assume resposibility for this tournament.

I think conference championships should still be rewarded though. I say that the top 4 ranked teams should be automatically in, but instead of a selection commitee for the last 4, what you do is any Conference champion from any conference who is ranked in the top 12 at the end of the season is in. If there aren't enough Champions to fill the 4 spots then the highest ranked non-champion is in.

Lets all hope somebody has the backbone to make this happen.

TJ | 1:57 p.m. May 1, 2009

I would love to see a playoff but I just do not see how it is possible. Even with the 8 team tournament they wanted I still don't see it working. The polls favor the BCS and the top 8 are almost always BCS school TCU had 2 losses and both were to teams in the top 3 and they weren't even in the top 8. I believe they were 9. The 8 man tourney they want won't work like they want. I just don't see how a playoff is possible although I would love one. There are just too many teams and not being able to play more than one game a week would drag the season on into June(maybe June is a little of an exaggeration but it would be really long)I don't think TCU would have made the top ten if Utah hadn't been undefeated. They deserved to be but the polls favor the BCS schools so anything to do with the BCS will not work. I want to see something new but haven't heard anything that would work(even though the current one doesn't work)

BCS=Badly Crafted System | 2:01 p.m. May 1, 2009

As a west coaster, I've seen for years bias against the PAC-10. The SEC seemed to think they're the only REAL conference. It's disgusting how they treat both the WAC and Mountain West. We love both BYU and Utah and we're happy and proud at the Utes spectacular win. Clearly, a change is needed and a good playoff system is needed. Money is the REAL issue. Look at how bowl games have changed their names to reflect their sponsors first. Glad the granddaddy of them all still has class and keeps it the Rose Bowl sponsored by. Pasadena loves the match up the way it's been for years- PAC-10/Big 10. The year the national title came in, the Rose parade took "2nd fiddle" and attendance was way down. Local businesses love the set up of parade/bowl game. I love the suggestion pulling winners of the bowls going into a playoff for the national title. "If you built it, they will come . ."

Lou | 2:27 p.m. May 1, 2009

I remember growing up there were about 4 bowl games: Orange, Sugar, Cotton, and Rose Bowls. Where did all these other so-called bowl games come from? What the BCS needs to do is wait until the end of the season and then pick the top schools from ALL conferences to compete in a playoff system, culminating in ONE championship bowl. BCS needs to pull their heads out and look at the big picture of all the conferences. There are more confernces than just the ACC, SEC, Big 10, and PAC 10 that only schools from those regions get to play in the BCS games. In my opinion, UTAH IS THE NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE NATION!! Not some mealy-mouthed team that had one or two losses in the regular season. You want a national champion that is undefeated. That shows who the real champion is. Come on BCS, get with the program and make it fair for all schools not just who picks them at the beginning of the season. And speaking of voting before the season, how do those idiots know how each team is will do before the season begins? Fix the system now!!

Maybe the Untited Order | 2:29 p.m. May 1, 2009

is in order. If ALL the money was divided evenly among ALL the colleges playing football, I think the smoke and mirror defenses would... go up in smoke.

BGomer | 2:30 p.m. May 1, 2009

I understand why the mid-major conferences hate the BCS, that's fine I think we should do away with automatic berths but I looooove the BCS.

A playoff would be fun, but it would cheapen the regular season...and don't try to tell me it wouldn't.

I am a huge OU fan (I don't need to be told their previous bowl record), every week is a crucial because one slip and your season could be done. It makes every game so exciting and important. Then after you lose one game you have to watch 10 other teams praying that the right teams lose the right games. There is nothing like it.

Giving any room for error, cheapens the experience of the regular season.

I understand though that mid-major schools have a beef, I don't blame them. But for me being a fan of a major conference team I love the BCS, even in the years it doesn't work in OU's favor.

Jonny Ute | 2:40 p.m. May 1, 2009

It is obvious that I am 100% BYU. BUT, listen to me! Utah should have played for the national championship. I think they might have won the darn game, given the chance! There is no way to argue against it. I argue for it. The BCS is ridiculous. Utah should have had a chance at the title. May the BCS rest in peace and give legitimate teams the chance to play in the biggest game. The NCAA is deep in this conspiraacy, too. Where is the money really going? It is a crime.
And Jonny Harline is STILL open.

BGomer | 2:47 p.m. May 1, 2009

Another thing....

I love the unique nature of college football, why try to make it like every other sport??

I think how it currently is gives the most schools and players the most shot at a successful season.

If you make a playoff, that will be the focus of the entire season. Bowls will become irrelevant. Don't try to tell me they won't, if there is a playoff bowls will be irrelevant and will eventually disappear. If there is a playoff college football will be like every other sport you can't have both.

With so many teams in college football you would have to open up the playoffs to 64 teams like BBall in order for every team to have something to play for. That is not reasonable. But how it is now at least gives every player something to shoot for, just go 6-6 and you can play in a bowl. It is an amazing system, every team has a chance to have a successful season. Thats not the case anywhere else.

Enjoy what you have, it is amazing.

East vs West | 2:50 p.m. May 1, 2009

The biggest problem is that everyone doesn't play everyone else like in all other sporing leagues. So in the NBA you have it broken up by divisions and conferences. So does the NCAA football in that they have conferences. So why not make conferences into divisions and have East meet West like the NBA or NFL? Works for them.

V Thomas | 3:13 p.m. May 1, 2009

The NCAA won't let a fan buy lunch for a potential recruit, yet, the BCS monopoly has many times more influence with the top athlete's choice of teams. It means potential exposure in the national media and a better chance for an opportunity at the next level. Isn't this hypocracy ridiculous. Where is the NCAA? Why can't they regulate this like they do every other aspect of intercollegiate sports?

Dallas | 3:31 p.m. May 1, 2009

You poll Every single D1 College Football player... ask them the following question:

What would you rather play for, a Meaningless post season bowl game with week long events. Or a chance for a playoff spot to play for the National Championship and possibly extend your season by 3 games but also has the reverse chance of missing postseason play with an above average record... I'll bet well over 90% of the players would choose the chance to play for a playoff and national championship, even if it means they risk zero postseason play with a 7 or 8 win record. And lets face it, nobody gives a rats dropping about the New Orleans bowl, New Mexico bowl, and whatever other bowl game that has any kind of below average team in it, which more than half do. The current system can stand to lose more than half of the current Bowl games. I love College football, love watching it, but even I can't stand to watch a Western Michigan vs Toledo game in the Fruit of a Loom Underware bowl.

It's time to even the playing field and lets get a real #1.

Government & FB | 3:37 p.m. May 1, 2009

Why is the government holding hearings on football?

Welcome to the USSA! | 3:38 p.m. May 1, 2009

No, that is not a typo. The way our government is headed we can soon expect the name of our country change to the United Socialist States of America and a hammer and sickle placed somewhere on the flag.

When a government fines its citizens half of what they own for dying (see recent legilation) and regulate everything in site, including college athletics, its obvious something is wrong.

Personally, I am all for a playoff system, but not the expence of turning it over to the federal government. They would probably screw it up anyways and make it worse than it was before.

Scott | 3:42 p.m. May 1, 2009

It's all about the money.

And always will be.

Dallas | 3:47 p.m. May 1, 2009

BGomer... all but 1 bowl game current stand as being nothing more than irrelevant as it is right now. The only difference between one of the Non-National Championship BCS bowl games and the Las Vegas Bowl is National stage difference. But when dealing with how relevant they are... they are equal!

Now throw in an 8 team playoff, and all of a sudden you have 7 games that are completely relevant. It is 8 teams playing for SOMETHING. The only bowl games that would be lost are those that had no business being including in the postseason. I'm sorry but no 6-6 team currently deserves a chance to play in the post season... and most of the bowls that we'd see leave are those that currently host 6-6 teams.

Anonymous | 3:53 p.m. May 1, 2009

Get government out of sports. There is no requirement that universities have football. This is America. If you don't like how the game is played go else where. We don't need nanny government involved. States like Utah want socialism? They want the government to accomplish want their teams couldn't? It's a sad day when whiners make the rules.

Get the BCS out of football | 4:42 p.m. May 1, 2009

The BCS is runn by executives almost all of whose salaries are paid by (state) government institutions. They are running a monopoly in order to corral the maximum amount of money for their institutions to the detriment of the rest of the public. This kind of monopoly would not be permitted in private enterprise and certainly doesn't belong in college sports.

diehard | 4:42 p.m. May 1, 2009

I am diehard BYU fan, been a cougar club member for many years, however if things don't change soon I am no longer buying season tickets. I am starting to not care, whats the point. If perfection will never be good enough than I am no longer investing financially nor emotionally. At best I will have a casual and distant interest. As for this year, I am going Texas but I am not going to the Vegas, New Mexico, San Diego, or San Francisco Bowls. Been there, done that.

Irritated | 4:51 p.m. May 1, 2009

This is so irritating. The BCS wigs are defending something that doesn't make sense to anybody. The playoff system always decides a champion. Utah wasn't given the chance to show what they could do. Not once but 2x Utah should of had a shot at a National Title. Boise had a shot too. The system is horrible.

Anonymous | 5:05 p.m. May 1, 2009

Get rid of the BCS!!!!!

BCS guys are idiots | 5:08 p.m. May 1, 2009

They don't realize how much football fans love football. Just because a playoff exists doesn't mean I'm going to avoid watching other "non-playoff" bowl games. There's a lot of good post-season football to like - and a playoff would be more fun. One of the best bowl games this last year was TCU vs Boise State. That was one great game.

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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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