Congressman Pushes for BCS Hearings (and Why This Is a Bad Idea)

Like the majority of college football fans, I am in favor of a playoff. While nobody has come up with the perfect solution to this BCS madness, anything is better than ending the year with four good teams (Florida, Utah, Texas and USC) winning their bowl games and ending their season with either one or no losses.

So yes, the BCS needs to be tweaked. I think that is a truth that most would agree on. What doesn't need to happen? Congress spending time debating the issue, but according to Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), that's exactly what they'll be doing.

Congress spending time on the BCS issue -- like they did with the performance-enhancing drug talks of 2006 -- seems ill-timed. While I thought it was a waste of time back in '06, at least there were a few truths with the baseball talks:

-- Steroids are/were being used too much in sports, which is/was a problem.

-- Our youth looked up to these (gargantuan) athletes.

-- Our youth were using steroids because athletes were using them, thus harming their bodies when they really didn't have a clear understanding of what the substances could do to them.

I thought the hearings back in 2006 proved a few things. One, athletes can be intimidated by Congress. Two, if Congress wants, they can get to the bottom of most things. And three, athletes will lie about anything if it keeps them looking good.

The problem with involving The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform with the Bowl Championship Series is that there isn't anyone to blame. Do you blame the committee that came up with this format? No, because when it was first introduced everyone loved the idea of having "one true champion." The problem is, that hasn't really happened and it has become a system of mockery and scorn. We wanted to "fix" college football and while the BCS has tried, it has failed.

We don't need Congress spending their precious time trying to figure this thing out. President-elect Barack Obama has stressed his interest in putting an end to the BCS and adding a playoff system, but I think it is best left to the bowl committee.

I mean, would I go to the athletic director of my college just because I felt I was fouled in a pick up game at the rec center? Exactly.

h/t CFT

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-14-2009 @ 5:55PM

Corey said...

Sweet, so all of those unemployed folk out there can sit around and watch this debate on C-SPAN during the day! Way to get those priorities straight Congress!!! The BCS is certainly a threat to the way of life of the average American, and simply must be addressed by the powers that be.

1-14-2009 @ 6:44PM

Phil said...

Are you working right now ass****? You must be one of the UN-EMPLOYED. I an an engineer, so I am EMPLOYED, WHAT ABOUT YOU.....................so damm stupid.

1-14-2009 @ 5:59PM

nmajdan said...

Unfortunately, the powers that be are in no hurry to change this format. The current BCS contract goes through, what, 2014? They have shown no impetus and as long as the committee is composed of reps from the major conferences, I don't think it will ever change. That would basically force the big conferences/schools to give up potentially millions of dollars.

1-14-2009 @ 6:09PM

Jessica Simpson Boot said...

Congress should not be getting involved in sports, but since they do, I hope that they change the BCS and implement a playoff system.

1-14-2009 @ 8:31PM

rob said...

That's just WHAT WE NEED........some sorry assed politicians that obviously don't HAVE A CLUE in straightening out the mess that this country is in, now putting their two cents (half of them not evn worth a penny themselves) in telling the NCAA that they need a playoff. Talk about Political Jack-offs! People are losing their jobs, homes and their mental sanity with the CHRONIC, SELF-SERVING Bullshit that continues to plague what WE Call Government. They need to get their asses down to business and LIKE RIGHT NOW, Clowns.

1-15-2009 @ 10:37AM

Dude, Phil, you have issues. I am gainfully employed. My point is that there are much bigger issues for Congress to address rather than pandering to college football junkies by pushing BCS hearings. The only point for such a thing is to win votes, plain and simple. They have little to no jurisdiction unless they try to justify some "fair trade" or monopoly bs.

College sports is entertainment, and the only people getting hurt are those fans of schools who feel slighted by not getting into the NC game (or other BCS bowl).

1-16-2009 @ 5:58PM

mrjlpla said...

I am so ready for a new year, just so we can all forget about Utah and move on!

1-17-2009 @ 6:06AM

crystalball2114 said...

Now that the Socialists have screwed up the economy in just two years since taking over Congress in 2006, now they want to turn their sights on NCAA football.

Just wonderful.

1-18-2009 @ 7:05PM

Gator said...

Here Ye Here Ye all those who are thinking that a playoff will guarentee that the best two teams are in the "College Super Bowl Game" Arizona the number 4 seed is going to the NFL Super Bowl. Playoffs do not get you the best two teams 100 percent of the time if ever. Yes the BCS is a mess but a playoff does not fix it!

Florida Gators going for 3 NC's in the last 4 years!
Go Gators!

1-18-2009 @ 7:37PM

Hear Ye Hear Ye all those who are thinking that a playoff will guarantee that the best two teams are in the
"College Super Bowl Game"
Arizona the number 4 seed is going to the NFL Super Bowl. Pittsburg and Baltimore are not the top seeds from that conferance yet one will be in the Super Bowl with Arizona..........
Playoffs do not get you the best two teams 100 percent of the time if ever. Yes the BCS is a mess but a playoff does not fix it!

Florida Gators going for 3 NC's in the last 4 years!
Go Gators!