Quote :

"WASHINGTON -- The coordinator of the Bowl Championship Series told a congressional committee Friday that a switch to a playoff system -- favored by fans, President Barack Obama and some lawmakers -- would threaten the existence of celebrated bowl games. Sponsorships and TV revenue that now go to bowl games would instead be spent on playoff games, "meaning that it will be very difficult for any bowl, including the current BCS bowls, which are among the oldest and most established in the game's history, to survive," BCS coordinator John Swofford said in prepared testimony. "Certainly the 29 games that are not part of the BCS would be in peril." Swofford 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. Under the BCS, some conferences get automatic bids to participate, and others do not. Conferences that get an automatic bid -- the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC -- get about $18 million each, far more than the non-conference schools. Swofford is also commissioner of the ACC. Craig Thompson, commissioner of the Mountain West Commission, which does not get an automatic bid, said in prepared testimony that the current system is patently unfair. "Such economic disparities and anomalies cannot be justified and should not continue," he said. "Many have said the current BCS system ensures a permanent underclass. They are right." The MWC has proposed a playoff system and hired a Washington firm to lobby Congress for changes to the BCS, which currently features a championship game between the two top teams in the BCS standings, based on two polls and six computer ratings. The MWC proposes, among others things, scrapping the BCS standings and creating a 12-member committee to pick which teams receive at-large bids, and to select and seed the eight teams chosen for the playoff. The BCS has previously discussed, and dismissed, the idea of using a selection committee. The four current BCS games -- the Sugar, Orange, Rose and Fiesta bowls -- would host the four first-round playoff games under the proposal. Thompson argued that a playoff system would be a boon for those bowls, because they would help determine the national champion. Thompson said that under the current system, teams that don't come from a conference with a guaranteed bid have no realistic chance of winning a BCS championship. Swofford argued that criticism that the BCS guarantees berths and money to only some conferences "states the situation exactly backward." Prior to the BCS, he said, the conferences that now have automatic bids were guaranteed an attractive bowl slot for its champion. "If the BCS were to disappear tomorrow, each of those conferences would return to the marketplace and obtain a similarly attractive bowl slot on its own through individual negotiation, most likely in one of the current BCS games," he said. But there would no longer be guaranteed annual bowl game pairing the top two ranked teams. Among those participating at Friday's hearing is Texas Rep. Joe Barton, the committee's top Republican, who has introduced legislation that would prevent the NCAA from labeling a game a "national championship" unless it culminates from a playoff system. In an interview before the hearing, Barton called the BCS system "more about cartels and revenue sharing" than athletic performance. "It's big money," Barton said. "We're going to start looking into where the money goes." The BCS is in its final season of a four-year deal with the Fox network. A new four-year deal with ESPN, worth $125 million per year, begins with the 2011 bowl games. The BCS has come under attack from a range of politicians. Last November, as President-elect, Obama told "60 Minutes" he would prefer an eight-team playoff system. "I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this," he said then. "So I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit." In the Senate, Utah Republican Orrin Hatch has put the BCS on the agenda for the Judiciary's antitrust subcommittee this year, and Utah's attorney general, Mark Shurtleff, is investigating whether the BCS violates federal antitrust laws. Fans were furious that Utah was bypassed for the national championship despite going undefeated in the regular season. The title game pitted No. 1 Florida (12-1) against No. 2 Oklahoma (12-1); Florida won 24-14 and claimed the title."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4121294

Ok so why is this a governmental issue? Why should Congress get involved in this? This shouldn't concern them at all!

[Edited on May 1, 2009 at 12:03 PM. Reason : ]

5/1/2009 12:03:04 PM

this is not a government issue, and it is annoying that they were even discussing such things.

5/1/2009 12:07:21 PM

With all of the other crap going on in the world right now, why are they focusing on this?

5/1/2009 12:09:47 PM

Because the government does the will of the people, and for better or for worse, the BCS makes the people angrier than a lot of other things they should be more worried about but aren't.

5/1/2009 12:36:16 PM

the same could be said about the Mitchell Report as well. The government has nothing to do with baseball, yet they wasted tons of time looking into steroid use. From someone who's not a fan of baseball, it seemed like a huge waste of time on their part.

5/1/2009 12:52:01 PM

Somebody had a huge thread on this a while back.

I'm not gonna post in here cause shit hasn't changed since then and will not.

5/1/2009 1:37:31 PM

bowl games bring in a lot of money to the states, so yes it's important for the people who represent the people in those states to look out for the states and try to get things changed so they can get in on the money they'd get if they went to a bowl game

5/1/2009 1:38:04 PM

Quote :

"The government has nothing to do with baseball"

really? tell me again who funds most of the stadiums that are built in this country?

also, state governments are financially invested in the large state schools where the bcs system obviously favors some schools over others. this won't be solved by a state legislature because its scope is much larger than that. sure i think this is a little silly for our congress to take up. but who should?

5/1/2009 1:43:35 PM

Just make it a playoff. I don't see what the reasoning is for keeping the current system other than keeping money in the hands of the larger schools.

5/1/2009 1:43:48 PM

Quote :

"The government has nothing to do with baseball, yet they wasted tons of time looking into steroid use. From someone who's not a fan of baseball, it seemed like a huge waste of time on their part."

it may well be a waste of their time, but the government does in fact have some involvement with baseball because the MLB is exempted from antitrust legislation:

Quote :

"In 1998, Congress passed the Curt Flood Act which revoked baseball's exemption from the antitrust laws in matters dealing with labor relations. The remainder of the exemption was left intact. Opponents of the antitrust exemption for baseball argue that this exemption results in higher ticket prices and provides individual teams with the ability to extort public funding for the construction (or reconstruction) of baseball stadiums. (For more information on this topic, you may wish to visit the related debate on public funding of municipal sports stadiums.) It is suggested that, in the absence of the antitrust exemption, cities in which baseball is highly valued would be able to attract additional teams. In this situation, cities would not be as subject to a threat that a team will leave if the city does not provide a new or rebuilt stadium. "

http://www.swlearning.com/economics/policy_debates/baseball.html

5/1/2009 2:52:54 PM

The NCAA doesn't lable it at a national championship game. I-A football does not have an NCAA championship.

5/1/2009 2:57:19 PM

Quote :

"Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, called the Bowl Championship Series format unfair and perhaps took it one step further. "You should either change your name to BES for Bowl Exhibition System or just drop the C and call it the BS system, because it is not about determining the championship on the field." "

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/01/football.bcs/index.html

LOL I think this is funny the BS system as this descriptively describe what the system is BULLSHIT.

The system is artificially designed to keep the same teams propped up and even with the bullshit "computer calculations" a big chunk of it still comes down to some stupid coaches vote. I lost complete faith in the BS system when in tOSU unjustly got repicked for the "National Title Game" after getting their ass kicked the year before and receiving the game when there were clearly other teams more deserving.

Honestly I would not have it out against the Bowl system as much if they would just do away with the "National Title Game". Allow the big four bowl games to be prestige in them self. Artificially creating a "National Title Game" is just a marketing ejaculation used to exploit people's need to have an arbitrary "champion" and allowing certain people to profit off its use.

5/1/2009 8:18:40 PM

Why was he in front of the Energy Committee? Seems odd.

5/1/2009 8:38:03 PM

Quote :

"the same could be said about the Mitchell Report as well."

the same was said.

5/1/2009 8:55:01 PM

Quote :

"LOL I think this is funny the BS system as this descriptively describe what the system is BULLSHIT."

I WONDER IF THAT'S WHAT HE MEANT WHEN HE SAID IT OMG LULZ

5/1/2009 9:47:42 PM

let's see, the big conferences get the money, the big conferences rotate their commisioner as BCS coordinator.. of course they're not gonna say they should change it. but really, since none of the other bowls really matter, you can still have them during the week, then have the playoff rounds on weekends. somebody should be smart enough to come up with a way that works.

5/1/2009 10:20:47 PM

What we need is a constitutional amendment declaring the separation of Sports and State

5/2/2009 12:11:39 AM

Quote :

"Because the government does the will of the people"

Wait.

Since when?

5/2/2009 12:35:24 AM

You guys are obtuse sometimes.



Of course the Government is going to have to get involved.


1. College sports is a multi-billion dollar industry. Just because the players don't get paid doesn't mean everyone else and their brother isn't profiting from it. There are people who make their livings from being associated with the BCS. There are tax revenues that are returned to the government from this stuff. They have a vested interest in it beyond just what the constituency wants in a fair & balanced system.

2. Despite widespread disapproval, the BCS has consistently said "Fuck you" to the people who contribute to it (viewers, advertisers). Congressional leaders are the only ones who can play a bigger "Fuck you" card by legislating the regulation of the "College Football" industry.




You guys might even want to investigate how the US Government works again, because this is precisely why we have it.

The courts can't just tell the BCS to do it the way the public wants it, not without legislation from Congress.


Otherwise, we just end up with the same thing we've had for years: an endless loop of people bitching about the system not being fair (which it isnt) and the BCS saying "fuck you."

5/2/2009 8:05:43 AM

^It's America, if the BCS wants to run a Bowl system, they can. That's not Congresses choice. It's not the peoples choice. If the people don't like it, don't watch it.

5/2/2009 8:41:48 AM

Oh get off it with the whole "this is America" shit. Go take a Political Science course.



America was not founded on the principle of Capitalism, it was found on the principle of Democracy.


If a company doesn't do what its customers want, the customers are well within their rights to have that company either legislated into their place or out of business.


THAT is true capitalism.




and for the record: This is America, you[re right - where every single thing is meant to be the people's choice.

[Edited on May 2, 2009 at 8:49 AM. Reason : the people choose a playoff system. congress is the tool by which it will be done.]

5/2/2009 8:48:06 AM

^ First, this country is a constitutional republic. While its principles are clearly present, the word "democracy" actually does not appear anywhere in the US constitution. The idea was that certain principles, laws, etc. need to be permanent, unchanging, unable to be manipulated by popular opinion.

The BCS is not a public entity. Our taxes do not go into supporting it. More importantly, the BCS is not "doing harm to the public good." It's merely making an assload of money off of a system that's growing more and more unpopular. B/c of that unpopularity the system will inevitably fall. But it is not the duty of the Congress to speed that process along for no reason than to tackle and issue that resonates with the voting public.

However, I diagree with this:

Quote :

"the same could be said about the Mitchell Report as well. The government has nothing to do with baseball, yet they wasted tons of time looking into steroid use. From someone who's not a fan of baseball, it seemed like a huge waste of time on their part."

Granted I hate that $texas$ was spent on this, but it was justified if you consider the threat to the common good. Use of steroids by MLB players had an obvious trickle down effect into kids in high school. Widespread use of steroids by today's youth is a very serious problem, no less problematic than say using cocaine, heroin, etc.

5/2/2009 10:35:06 AM

Public money goes to member institutions via the government in forms of loans, grants, scholarships, etc.


You cannot divest the fact that BCS members are on the whole publically funded and are making profits off of that funding. Therefore, it is entirely within the rights of the government to regulate the BCS.



You kids and your libertarian idealisms just don't get it.


There are too many strings are attached to too many purses. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE BCS DEBACLE IS TO INVOLVE THE GOVERNMENT. PERIOD.

Quote :

"But it is not the duty of the Congress to speed that process along for no reason than to tackle and issue that resonates with the voting public."

It is the duty of congress to do whatever their constituency asks of them. They are public servants.



And furthermore, no one seems to be able to comprehend that the BCS is a business, and the government exists to maintain fairness where there otherwise would be none.


If you don't see the obvious parallels between the BCS situation and say, for example, a Auto manufacturing boss testifying before Congress about unfair labor practices, then you are too dense for this conversation to begin with.

5/2/2009 11:30:09 AM

Quote :

"You kids and your libertarian idealisms just don't get it."

Oh get off it with the whole "litbertarian idealisms" shit. Go take a Political Science course.
I mean you know, because only your belief is the right one.

Quote :

"There are too many strings are attached to too many purses. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE BCS DEBACLE IS TO INVOLVE THE GOVERNMENT. PERIOD."

DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER. IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO GET INVOVLED WITH FOOTBALL. PERIOD.

Furthermore, there are many more important things that Congress should be dealing with.

And Congress should do stuff based on the majority. I can fully assure there is no evidence that the 'majority' of people want to get rid of the BCS system.

I mean shit, I would love to see SAS become a publicly traded company. So should Congress go force them to do that? Force Jim Goodnight to sell his legacy? Yeah great idea, that'll keep America strong.

[Edited on May 2, 2009 at 11:47 AM. Reason : ]

5/2/2009 11:41:10 AM

Everyone screams "small government" until their trash doesn't get picked up.


And if you want to stop Congress from pandering to people with money.... then go lay a fat sack of Hamiltons on your Representative's desk and ask him to stop worrying about the BCS.




Populism generally has no place in politics, but it does here, with this issue. The BCS system blows ass, and your empty statement:

Quote :

"I can fully assure there is no evidence that the 'majority' of people want to get rid of the BCS system."

is worth about DICK-ALL when there are plenty of pundits on TV, Congressmen, and the President of the United fucking States - all with an innumerable amount of credibility in comparison with your ass - have something completely different to say about it.


I look forward to seeing you next in front of the committee on CSPAN.


EVERYONE LET IT GO, JRB599 ON THE WOLFWEB HAS IRREFUTEABLE PROOF THAT PEOPLE ARE A-OK WITH THE BCS SYSTEM

5/2/2009 12:09:47 PM

Quote :

"It is the duty of congress to do whatever their constituency asks of them."

Wow.

Just wow.

I mean

wow.

5/2/2009 12:13:13 PM

Quote :

"I mean shit, I would love to see SAS become a publicly traded company. So should Congress go force them to do that? Force Jim Goodnight to sell his legacy? Yeah great idea, that'll keep America strong."

wtf does that have to do with anything?

the bcs bowls get a large portion of their revenue based off of investments made by multiple publicly funded institutions across the country. where else should disputes with the ncaa be aired?

5/2/2009 12:17:21 PM

^^ En masse, they represent the interests of their constituencies. Do you not understand how it works?

The people elect them, and they ask them to do things by casting their vote. It's a simple concept.




If you've got a different interpretation, please feel free to share.

[Edited on May 2, 2009 at 12:18 PM. Reason : because I'd really like to see what you think they're supposed to do and how.]

5/2/2009 12:17:49 PM

Quote :

" DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER. IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO GET INVOVLED WITH FOOTBALL. PERIOD. Furthermore, there are many more important things that Congress should be dealing with."

Actually, there are probably quite a few people who are say in, Boise, Idaho, who might have this issue much higher on their list of "important issues" then you. Everyone has a different idea of what the government should focus on, that is a narrow minded view to think that way.

The fact is that sports have become larger then ever before in this country to the point where the Government is the only thing that can step in if there are issues. The BCS system is one where the rich get richer, and the mid majors get screwed. The separation between the two will get worse and worse. It is to the point where there is no reason for mid majors to compete in the BCS. The revenue is held within certain conferences and the way the rules work it is extremely hard for teams not in those conferences to be included.

I don't think they should be messing with it personally, however I'm able to see why they are and why there is a large group of people who are encouraging it. When we are talking about billions of dollars.. it isn't unreasonable for the government to be involved in anything and for that much money they often will find a way.

5/2/2009 12:20:21 PM

Quote :

"When we are talking about billions of dollars.. it isn't unreasonable for the government to be involved in anything and for that much money they often will find a way."

/THREAD

5/2/2009 12:25:23 PM

Congress represents their constituents within the confines of the Constitution. Last I checked, the Constitution doesn't include doing whatever the majority wants.

5/2/2009 12:28:47 PM

The constitution doesn't cover lobbying, either, but it is done quite often.

And that is beside the point.

Even though the majority of people are in favor of this issue, it's the MWC that is lobbying.



The tried and true American method of "lemme put some dollas in yo' hand" succeeds again.

5/2/2009 12:33:51 PM

Lobbying is covered by the First Amendment.

5/2/2009 12:40:30 PM

not exactly. I don't recall the 1st Amendment giving people with money the right to bribe senators and congressmen. But that's just me...

btw, I'm glad the gubment is blowing time with this. That way they aren't fucking us over in other ways

5/3/2009 9:22:56 PM