It’s become a cliche to criticize the BCS, but in my opinion its a mindless preoccupation. And now ESPN reports even the President is getting in on the act in spite of the fact that he repeatedly whines about all of the horrible, time-consuming, and overwhelming catastrophes his predecessor, George W. Bush, left on his plate:
The Obama administration is considering several steps that would review the legality of the controversial Bowl Championship Series, the Justice Department said in a letter Friday to a senator who had asked for an antitrust review.
In the letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch, obtained by The Associated Press, Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich wrote that the Justice Department is reviewing Hatch’s request and other materials to determine whether to open an investigation into whether the BCS violates antitrust laws.
“Importantly, and in addition, the administration also is exploring other options that might be available to address concerns with the college football postseason,” Weich wrote, including asking the Federal Trade Commission to review the legality of the BCS under consumer protection laws.
Several lawmakers and many critics want the BCS to switch to a playoff system, rather than the ratings system it uses to determine the teams that play in the championship game.
“The administration shares your belief that the current lack of a college football national championship playoff with respect to the highest division of college football … raises important questions affecting millions of fans, colleges and universities, players and other interested parties,” Weich wrote.
Of course, the federal government must continue to do the small things as well as the big things in order to keep the country running. But having said that, it certainly can choose what new projects it wishes to take on. It simply makes no sense that a President who claims to be steeped high in tragedy would take on something as relatively trival as how our college football champions are crowned.
My Opinion on the BCS Nonsense:
I on the other hand have a lot of time on my hands and, therefore, will give you my two cents on the topic.
People complained about the system that preceded the BCS, they complain about the BCS, and they will complain about the system that replaces the BCS.
We need to understand that we can only ever have an approximate national champion because:
- There is a wide variance in the difficulty of the schedules of Division-1 teams
- There will always be teams left out of the playoff scheme who have the same or better record than teams who are chosen to be in the playoff scheme
- Some group or governing body will still be charged with choosing which teams are in the playoffs and which teams are out
- Controversy surrounds the NCAA basketball tournament every year and that playoff structure allows a whopping 64 teams to compete for the championship
- A football tournament would only allow at most 8 teams to compete and would require the student-athletes from the winning team and the runner up to play an additional 3 games
Coaches, fans and players will continue to bitch about the system when their team is excluded and applaud it when their team is included.
Mr. President, save some of the taxpayers’ money and ignore it. It’s human nature.
3 responses so far ↓
1 AspiringCPA // Feb 1, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Look out, when they make you get a low-flow and recycled toilet paper they will be in your other serene place as well (since they are grabbing the strata-lounger with this one).
2 Peter // Feb 2, 2010 at 12:02 am
The government knows what you need!
3 Chad Bordeaux // Feb 2, 2010 at 9:55 am
I must agree that with all the problems we face, it would be silly for the federal government to waste tax dollars on fixing this.
On the other hand, I do think it needs to be fixed – just not by the government. Also, it is one of the few things that I actually agree with President Obama on. Of course, I probably would not agree on the tactics he would propose to accomplish it.
Leave a Comment