Deseret News | Hatch endorses anti-BCS group

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Hatch endorses anti-BCS group

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Get a job Hatch | 1:51 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

This is not an issue for the Senate

Anonymous | 2:08 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Hatch cheers new anti-BCS PAC.... Ha.ha.ha...

How about the following.

Hatch cheers new anti-insurance company PAC?..Ha.ha.ha...

Hatch should give his 1 million dollars back to the people that he recieved from the Insurance industry who robbed it from the people.

Money so he could look the other way as americans health suffers.

Its more important for us all right now since people are dying instead of Football injustice.

Ask the BCS to change when you change, Mr Hatch. 30 years of recieving these donations while turning down any type of healthcare change during this time.

Where much is recieved (insurance companies), much is required (Look the other way)... Sad... Profits over People... instead of people of Profits..

walkerak | 2:20 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

amen!! about time..its time the have notsget what the have's have..bout time some people stand up to the big colleges and draw the line in the sand..

Comments continue below

Dutchman | 2:32 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

You bet it is an issue for the U.S. Senate! Have you ever heard of anti trust laws? Millions of dollars are at stake for tax payer funded schools that blocked out by the BCS.

Why??? | 2:53 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Why should the Senate have anything to do with this? I am not a college football fan, I understand that people are frustrated but do you really want the government involved?

Maybe I am missing something here... can you explain why Congress should be bothered with this?

re: why??? | 4:38 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

how about b/c Congress' job is to make citizens' lives better, and frankly, we'd all make it through long winters a bit easier if we had a "December Madness" playoff to watch.

Tutoc | 4:59 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Or maybe they should just wait two years when the BCS contract is over. Then you'll have some real change. Or they can just shoot the dead horse over and over and hope that it dies a little more each time.

Donations to Hatch | 5:51 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

I am surprised Hatch took time out from protecting the obscene profits of the health care industry, at the expense of American families, to actually look at another subject. That could cause him to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in "donations" from the health care industry.

Hatch/Shurtleff | 5:54 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

At least Hatch is wanting private fat cat money to fight the BCS. Shurtleff wants tax dollars, carefully timed in spending, so that he gets maximum bang for OUR money. Last time it was Warren Jeffs and Shurtleff's social welfare programs for polygamists. What a clown!

Ernesto de Bajo | 6:08 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

It is time for the gutless NCAA to step up and say: Here is the football tournament that will decide the Division 1A national champion. Here is how its participants are determined. Here's how it works.

The NCAA has the responsibility and the authority to do this. Further, the NCAA has no requirement to grandfather the bowl games. The NCAA's mandate is to do what is right for Division 1A college football. Period.

About Time! | 7:22 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Where do I send a check?? It's time to take down the BCS. Whining about it won't help. An organized lobbying effort might. Good thinking!

BCS days are numbered | 8:51 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Collusion, collaboration, monopolies and such produce a poor product. Non BCS teams have competed just fine in that money grab program. Go non BCS teams!

NevadaCoug | 10:03 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Health care industry. Not a monopoly.

BCS = monopoly.

This absolutely falls under the congressional power to regulate interstate commerce. Setting up "free" health care for all does not.

BCS Monopoly | 10:08 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars are controlled by the BCS where a bare majority of schools dictates the rules for all of major college football and prohibits non-BCS schools from having equal access to the college football market.

A classic monopoly.

Idahoan | 11:14 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

I also want the NCAA to get a spine, speak out, and take control. I just don't see it happening. The recently deceased Miles Brand showed guts to fire Bobby Knight at Indiana when Brand was president there. Yet while heading the NCAA he wasn't willing to fight the BCS. I don't see anything happening by the NCAA until they feel threatened somehow, like the BCS overshadowing them. Oh, wait, isn't that already the case?

Until the non-AQ schools stand up together, maybe through litigation, the BCS won't change. (I also don't see Congress getting serious enough to intervene. Having Congress get involved is really the least desirable, in my opinion.)

Eugene | 11:55 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

BCS = bad.

Anti-BCS PAC = good.

16 team playoff based on BCS formula for rankings for top 16 teams no matter the conference. Rotate major bowls for playoff games. Takes 4 weeks to complete, when most teams are done by the end of November anyway. Only two teams would play 16 games if they made it all through.

Huge ratings, more money for all, equity among all teams, ONE TRUE CHAMPION! Sounds good to me! President Obama, where is our NCAA football czar?

High School coach | 12:13 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Aren't there bigger problems in the world for our pokiticians to be worrying about other than college football? Let's solve some real problems first, the worry about the BCS.

Ute in Thailand | 12:41 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

It would be nice to see our Senator and his cronies in the Senate and the House put as much energy and concern into solving some of our real problems in this country as they seem willing to do over the BCS circus. How about these issues, just to name a few?
- the wars that are killing young Americans in defense of corrupt governments in both Iraq and Afganistan
- health care for those without
- quality education for all young Americans
- unemployment
- equal representation and standing under the law for all Americans
- etc., etc., etc.

I guess my priorities are all screwed up again.

NCAA tournament | 12:44 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

--All 11 conference champions plus the next 5 highest ranked teams (AP and Coaches polls combined)
--seeded by a selection committee just like the NCAA basketball tournament
--first round played on the home fields of the higher seeds the first Saturday after Christmas
--quarter-finals played in the Orange, Sugar, Fiesta and Rose bowls the next Saturday
--semi-finals played in two of the previous bowls the next Saturday
--final played in one of those bowl sites the next Saturday
--just like the NIT co-exists NCAA basketball tournament, other bowls could still be played anytime except for the first and second Saturdays after Christmas
--if this makes the season too long, eliminate the conference championship games

It's not hard to figure out and the revenue generated from a major college football tournament would dwarf the current BCS bowl payout AND

EVERY major college football team would have an equal opportunity to play for the championship and share in a portion of the tournament revenue.

50 years from now... | 12:49 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

there will be a major college football tournament and fans will look back on the early 2000s and wonder why the BCS ever existed, since having a tournament to decide the championship is a no-brainer.

re: High School Coach | 3:06 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

There are no bigger problems in the world. The BCS is the biggest problem to ever face this nation and it must be stopped.

Who Cares? | 5:37 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Our national obsession with sports is truly disgusting at many levels. Taking people's attention away from real problems of what's going on in our government and society. Can't believe politicians like Hatch getting involved, but then again, he's never far away from the spotlight or the Hollywood set (wannabee) is he? Time to go, Orrin. Worry about SOcialism and Obama radicalization of our government, not sports leagues!!!!!!!! Unbelieveable.

Thats Why | 5:38 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

That type of thinking is why you are still a HIGH SCHOOL football coach.

kw | 5:42 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Since almost all colleges are state run.(have a few private schools), why shouldn't the congress be involved. It seems like they should just say, every school should have a fair shot at the major bowl games or for the national championship. It would be pretty easy to do. It seems like congress in the past have given schools mandates for $ if they didn't adhere to certain rules. Let's do that for football. Tell these major conferences, get rid of the BCS, or some of your funding will dry up that schools receive.

NeverEnuff | 5:47 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Giving money to politicians who merely favor a playoff system will never bring change. Giving money to politicians who take measurable actions to bring change would be mroe effective. Introducing legislation, calling for hearings, proposing anti-monopoly bills, taxing the BCS's earnings at 75%, etc, are all actions that would demonstrate the politicians are doing something for the cause, not merely favoring a playoff. Give them money only if they do something concrete for the cause.

Perfect | 6:19 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

College football is a billion-dollar business that affects schools' revenues, alumni networks, capital projects, and scholarship programs. There ARE bigger issues, but why can't they spend a little time on something that has off-the-field consequences?

If the BCS won't listen to the public, we need our elected officials to speak for us.

Great job Senator Hatch!

yup | 6:29 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Must be an election coming up. How soon?

Wars, hunger, pestilence, disease, terrorism and terrorists, and our senator wastes his time on this.

Good grief, play to the masses. I must be living in Rome about 2000 years ago.

TED | 6:47 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! Who makes the rules? The guys with the MONEY! Who has the MONEY? The BCS, The TV markets, and the NCAA(under the table; what do ya bet?)

Anonymous | 7:17 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

So, Orrin, drop a bill in the hopper. Don't just talk.

FootballFan | 7:31 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Seriously, this is an issue for congress because BCS is big business and federal funds are being used to finance college football, so we the people, through our elected officials should have a say in how the money is spent.
If the NCAA cannot do it job and provide a platform for fair competition, then they should be replaced with better people that can get the job done.
Today we no longer have I-A and I-AA, but supposedly have two Division I groupings, the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Only problem is that there are in fact three Div I groupings, The FCS where anyone can with the NC, the FBS where any BCS school can win the NC, and the Non-Automatically-Qualifying Subdivision (NAS) where no one can win the NC.
Either the NAS should be officially recognized as the third subdivision of Div I or the BCS should be eliminated so that the NAS goes back to being part of the FBS. I think right now it would be better to call them Div. I-A, I-AA (MWC and WAC included here), and I-AAA.

Mikee | 7:36 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Not in favor of the socialism required to ensure every American has access to affordable health care.

In favor of the socialism required for the government to interfere with the operations of college sports.

Hooray for having priorities straight.

gk | 7:57 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

I am with Senator Hatch on this.

naysayers | 8:01 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Its funny to think that Senator Hatch couldn't possibly work on more than one problem at a time. Just because he is busting his behind to derail a bad health care idea doesn't mean he couldn't take a little time for another 25 causes. I work in the energy business and know that he has done more for energy independence (including green energy development) than anyone in Congress. I am not an expert in health care but I do follow it and he has GOOD ideas for health care reform, unlike the behemoth governmental intervention program being pushed by the Obama crowd. Because the takes a little of his time to try to correct a huge unfairness in college sports that is worth literally millions of dollars to non-BCS schools, two of which could conceivably contend from his home state, you want to pick at him. C'mon, buck up and realize that most people can work on more than one project at at time - I know I can.

trueblue | 8:15 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

The BCS is anti American. The principles with which this country was founded on are in direct conflict with the monopoly of the BCS. The Government of the United States of America is supposed to provide equal opertunity to all it's citizens. I realize we have a long way to go however, College football is a billion dollar industry and it is viewed by millions of Americans and other people around the world. To have at it's roots an establishment of unfairness and conspiracy to favior certain conferences/teams over others is an injustice to all it's participants. "WE DON'T WANT A KING"

Anonymous | 8:31 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Unless all conference champions have a chance to play in the tournament, it cannot be considered a national championship.
NCAA tournament has it right.

If the first two rounds are conducted immediately following the season, there would only be three remaining games in the tournament. Hold the three games for the final four at three of the major bowls and allow all teams not still involved in the tournament to compete in the rest of the bowls. That way the bowls can still continue and we get a true champion.

I pay too | 8:43 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

For all of these posters that keep saying that the politicians should solve other problems, I have a few things to say.

1. I pay taxes too and I want them to work on this problem now. Does it make me a bad person because I want the football problem resolved before the war problems? Probably, but I pay taxes too and I get my say.

2. If the politicians can solve this one, I will be more confident in their further ventures. If they can't solve a simple football problem, then why would they be able to solve the other problems listed?

3. I agree that winter would be much better with December Madness.

Time for Hatch to go. | 9:00 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ELECT POLITICIANS TO DO!

Check | 9:09 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Its time for the government to send me my monthly check. I am tired of Hacth not getting on the ball and helping with my government run health care program. How can people expect to get health care when they don't work? If I get a monlth check from the government, I should also get free health care. Hello I don't have a job so how can I have health care? You repubilicans like hatch have no heart! Do you really expect me to go back to work???

Man who still Cares | 9:12 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

I would like to say, that those of us who support dismantling the BCS aren't so naive as to think that there aren't other issues in the world today, but isn't that all the more reason to have some sort of an outlet. We go to work, we come home and all the news is bad, there is one thing that we can still be passionate about, America's favorite passtime, football. Except when our team is denied the opportunity to compete. I know that Florida would beat Utah 9 out of 10 times, as would Alabama to BYU, but every now and again, the underdog comes through and wins, and it is a beautiful thing. We love it! Why not give them a chance to prove it. It's sad that the only thing American's get passionate about now is making money and wars overseas and health care. I hope and pray I never lose my passion for sports like that. A lot of days it's the one thing that can get me excited after so much work and bad news.
Thank you for helping the passion survive.

GREAT JOB HATCH! | 9:56 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

I pay taxed too and getting rid of the BCS is an important issue to me, as ending war, helping those in need and creating a better society for all people to enjoy! You people that think because Hatch has spent a whopping 5 minutes on this issue (compared to the many other important issues around our country) that he should "go"! Are you kidding me?! Newsflash folks... the Senator can work on more than one thing at a time! You say..."Oh no, the senator is wasting his time trying to help get rid of a corrupt monopoly (BCS) so that our local universities can reap some financial rewards for their efforts... we should get rid of him!" Get real people! He can and does care about more than this one issue! I helped to elect him and he represents me as well and the BCS issue is ONE (not the only one) issue I am concerned about as well!!! Yeah college sports are horrible. Those student athletes that help mentor children who are struggling and help build houses for families who are less-fortunate (look at all the Cougar homes built each year) are wasting time (sarcasm intended)

re: Who Cares? POT... | 9:59 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

calling the kettle black.

Look who's reading and blogging about sports.

If it makes you feel better, do your part by rooting sports out of your life.

We elect | 10:11 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

politicians to do what "we the people" think is important.

For all of those complaining about a politician spending a little time investigating the BCS, SHUT UP already!

The issue may not be important to you, but it is important to me, and to millions of other voters.

Thank you Senator Hatch for addressing an issue that I, a taxpaying voter, consider important!

RE: Check | 10:30 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

That is hilarious. I think you just summed up the real reasoning behind government health care.

I am so tired of the political conflicts in this country today. College football is a break from all of that stress. Besides, I would love to see our elected politicians do something that actually makes sense, instead of the bad ideas that they keep proposing. This is a no-brainer. The BCS just doesn't make sense.

United We Stand | 10:36 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

This game played by the big 12- Pac 10 - SEC is coming to an end. I hope a team from the bigeast wins it all this year. Why should Texas-bama-Florida- have to play such a tough conference schedule when teams in the bigeast don't? Down with the BCS

Government Involvement | 10:43 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

The question really is, is this the proper role of Government -- to be involved in dictating the terms of private sports leagues on the collegiate level? As a Libertarian, I am emphatic in saying no. What else can or will the government regulate for us? And whom can we enlist to "settle scores?" Has this sports league obession become, unwittingly, a new sport to entertain us? Please, hands off sports. Hands off a lot of things, particularly my wallet.

All the news is Bad? | 10:47 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

May be, but that doesn't mean you just ignore what's going on and just slip into the Sports induced Coma? Sports are a positive thing in our culture, but have become out of balance in our schools and popular culture. Some men I know spend 3 or more hours a day listening to sports radio or watching ESPN --even at work. They're obsessed. Sports like other things must be kept within bounds for a balanced life. To use them as an escape and opiate to drown out connecting wtih and paying attnetion to spouses and family members or other more important responsibilities is wrong. And just because the "news is bad" is no excuse for not pulling your head out of the sand to what's going on that impacts you and your family in months and years to come.

Football forever!!! | 11:01 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

We will play football until the end of the world, so lets get it right!

No polls, no rankings. Wins and losses in the regular season against league opponents determines the conference champion, who advances to the playoff against an opponent seeded by an NCAA committee.

Why, becasue that's the way its done in every other college sport!

Thank you Hatch! | 11:37 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

This isn't the most important issue of the day, but given the fact that college football revenues affect our Utah schools' scholarship programs and building projects, our Members of Congress from Utah should spend a couple of minutes on this--especially when NOTHING else has or will work. They can walk and chew gum at the same time, people!

Look at what's brought change so far--2004/2009 congressional hearings and Obama's comments on the stump. They won't listen to the public, so thank you Senator Hatch for sticking up for your constituents.

Hatch needs to go, Bennett too | 11:42 a.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Senator Hatch has been in D.C. way too long. Please I beg my fellow citizens vote both Bennett and Hatch out of office in their primaries.

This is a disgrace to Utah. Hatch just wants to be popular and feel important instead of doing the work that needs to be done to fi, our nation. Bennett is the same. I plead with all of the great citizens of Utah vote both out next time. BTW, I am a CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.

Matt Connelly | 12:03 p.m. Oct. 20, 2009

Rock on! Love this effort! Kudos to those who are finally taking on the BCS Beast. In every other sport besides college football the champion is determined on the field. Time for college football to produce a champion the way every other sport does it. Until that happens, there is no legitimate college football champion. If you don't win it on the field, you haven't won anything.

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