Looks like the BCS is being noticed by congress

Blackshirtsguru

Blackshirtsguru

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Although I am not holding my breath on this one but it is nice to see the BCS is being looked at by them.

HOUSTON -- Calling the Bowl Championship Series "deeply flawed," the chairman of a congressional committee has called a hearing on the controversial system used to determine college football's national champion.
A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, charged with regulating America's sports industry, announced Friday it will conduct a hearing on the BCS next week, after this season's bowl matchups are determined.

"College football is not just an exhilarating sport, but a billion-dollar business that Congress cannot ignore," said committee Chairman Joe Barton, a Texas Republican. Barton's panel is separate from the House Government Reform panel that tackled steroids in baseball.

The committee announcement called the hearing, scheduled for next Wednesday, a "comprehensive review" of the BCS and postseason college football.

"Too often college football ends in sniping and controversy, rather than winners and losers," Barton said. "The current system of determining who's No. 1 appears deeply flawed."

Barton said he does not have legislation in mind to force a change, but said he hopes congressional hearings will spur discussion and improvements. It won't be the first time Congress has looked at the BCS. In 2003, the Senate probed whether the system was unfairly tilted against smaller schools.

NCAA Division I-A football does not have a playoff. The Bowl Championship Series was established in 1998 to determine a national champion using the traditional bowl system and a mix of computer and human polls to set up a championship game.

Because of the controversy surrounding the bowl selection process last season, The Associated Press told BCS officials to stop using its writers polls in its formula.

The committee invited testimony from Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg, the current chairman of the BCS.

"If members of the subcommittee have ideas on how the college football postseason can be improved, we welcome that input," Weiberg said.

"The current structure is designed to match the No. 1 and 2 ranked teams, identified through a ranking system, in a bowl game. It is an extension of the bowl system and a method to determine a national champion through the bowls," Weiberg said. "It has paired teams in bowl games that would not have been possible under the bowl arrangements existing before its creation."

Along with the acclaim of a national champion, the BCS also created a financial windfall with tens of millions of dollars at stake for teams and conferences who participate.

But it has seldom been without controversy.

For example, Southeastern Conference champion Auburn was undefeated in 2004 but was shut out of the BCS title game, which matched USC against Oklahoma. Utah also finished the season undefeated but could not play for the title.

The Jan. 4 Rose Bowl is the site of this year's BCS championship game. Other games with BCS ties are the Orange, Sugar and Fiesta bowls, with a rotating schedule for hosting the championship matchup.
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I think congress should look at rotating where the major bowls are held....... I'm tired of them being in the southernmost 1/5 of the coutnry, even though I understand why they are located there.

College football is not just an exhilarating sport, but a billion-dollar business that Congress cannot ignore," said committee Chairman Joe Barton, a Texas Republican
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Hmm, must be a Baylor fan if he's actually proposing changing things... Certainly not UT. Maybe A&M ?

;)

 
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"If members of the subcommittee have ideas on how the college football postseason can be improved, we welcome that input," Weiberg said
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Those SOB's know exactly what needs to be done. A 4 team playoff with the 2 winners advancing to next years new BCS bowl that was approved. It's just 1 more freaking game.

 
"If members of the subcommittee have ideas on how the college football postseason can be improved, we welcome that input," Weiberg said
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Those SOB's know exactly what needs to be done. A 4 team playoff with the 2 winners advancing to next years new BCS bowl that was approved. It's just 1 more freaking game.
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Even though a playoff would be best ( I prefer 8 or 16 teams, personally) I would prefer Congress keep its f-ing hands off of college football.

Dont they have more important things to worry about, such as the national budget and the war on terror :WTH

 
u can tell we live in america when congress cares more about the bcs, then maybe let see the drug problem, the war, or that little threat of terriost, or x-wives, or whatever little problems that are out there

 
Yea, I never really understood the logic behind congress getting involved in things like that. Seems like a giant waste, I mean, don't they have anything else to do?

 
The unfortunate giant waste is all government entities are essentially wasteful and inefficient. Less bang for your buck. That is gov't in general not POLITICS thats another ball o fecal matter for another forum.

IMO the guvmint should stick to listening to their favorite lobbyists and cohorts. Pass bills and enact laws that may have some bearing on the national endeavor. Next they will want to get involved in baseball and steroids :lol:

How many of the Senate and House have vested interest in the bowl games and the companies that run them??????

Sorry just my 60-70's cynicism peeking out. :smokin

 
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"If members of the subcommittee have ideas on how the college football postseason can be improved, we welcome that input," Weiberg said
Click to expand...
Those SOB's know exactly what needs to be done. A 4 team playoff with the 2 winners advancing to next years new BCS bowl that was approved. It's just 1 more freaking game.
Click to expand...
Even though a playoff would be best ( I prefer 8 or 16 teams, personally) I would prefer Congress keep its f-ing hands off of college football.

Dont they have more important things to worry about, such as the national budget and the war on terror :WTH
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:yeah

... if i ever "yeah that" FF again... someone slap me.

 
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