Congress wants probe of BCS for antitrust ?'s

[Globetrotter]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3351626

I have yet to read the entire story but, I wonder if we could write our congressmen and get them involved too. The BCS is clearly illegal because of its limitations. However the drafts and salary caps for major sports are also illegal but are negotiated as part of the collective bargaining agreements. Thats not dealing with public monies tho. I will be interested in hearing your thoughts.

WASHINGTON -- Forget government corruption or corporate fraud. Three members of Congress want the Justice Department to investigate whether college football's Bowl Championship Series is an illegal enterprise.

Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) are introducing a resolution rejecting the oft-criticized bowl system as an illegal restriction on trade because only the largest universities compete in most of the major bowl games. The resolution would require Justice's antitrust division to investigate whether the system violates federal law.

The measure would also put Congress on record as supporting a college football playoff.

"Who elected these NCAA people? Who are they to decide who competes for the championship?" Abercrombie said at a press conference Thursday on Capitol Hill, gripping a souvenir Hawaii football.

Abercrombie said the matter is worthy of federal review because college football is big business with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake.

"It's money. That's what this is all about," he said.

But it's no coincidence that all three lawmakers have home-state schools with recent beefs against the bowl system.

Hawaii and Boise State University in Idaho each had an undefeated season in recent years but were denied a shot at the championship. And Westmoreland said he is still smarting about his Georgia Bulldogs being passed over for the national championship game last year.

Georgia instead was matched up against undefeated Hawaii in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, winning 41-10.

Westmoreland and Abercrombie said they started talking about the resolution after that game, as Abercrombie was paying off a bet with chocolate-covered macadamia nuts.

The lawmakers say the bowl system is rigid and blocks all but the largest universities from competing in postseason bowls, denying dozens of others not just the opportunity to compete but also a shot at the big payoffs and national exposure that come with bowl appearances.

Abercrombie maintained that television markets are one factor in selecting which teams go to high-profile bowls.

"We shouldn't have to argue about who the champion is," Westmoreland said, citing the excitement and unpredictability of the NCAA college basketball tournament. "That should be decided on the field."

The BCS was created in 1998 by the six most powerful conferences. It relies on polls and computer ratings to determine which teams qualify for the top bowls.

Congress held a hearing on the BCS in 2005, but no legislation came of it.

In a statement, ACC commissioner and current BCS administrator John Swofford said the BCS allows all qualified teams to participate and is beneficial for student-athletes, universities and fans.

"This issue has been looked at before," Swofford said. "We're confident that it complies with the law."

[jpfalcon09]

My dad and I were talking about this the other day, and it's good to see that Congress is at least showing it cares. My dad thought it'd be smart for the non-BCS schools to perhaps have their own national title game, like the small school championship from years passed. Incorporate some teams from FCS like App. State and such, and have the winner of the non-BCS championship play the winner of the BCS championship in a winner take all scenario.

It'll never happen, but hell it sounds like a somewhat equal playing field for the non-BCS schools.

[Falconfreak90]

jp,

My dad has been saying what you and your dad talked about for years. He says the non BCS conferences should form their own division and play. It is good to see SOMEONE taking a look at the monopoly the BCS has created.

I, personally, do not want BG or the MAC in a lower division...

[Globetrotter]

It is my hope that BG is at some point on a level playing field of some variety with OSU. The idea of a second tier playoff would never allow that to happen. It would take a much greater commitment from the university. Probably shelling out a ton for a coach who can get better recruits here and then get more fans in the seats. Not really sure what the blueprint should be. But we need to do something.

[It's the Journey...]

I am presuming you were not in the stands the day we took the field in Columbus with Josh Harris at QB. That Falcon team was every bit as good as OSU. We need to just keep working to be the best Falcon team we can be. The rest will take care of itself.

[tekekini]

These three guys are from Idaho (Boise St.) Georgia, and Hawaii. This is just sour grapes and nothing will come of it. They just want to help their teams get to the title game.

There have been several non BCS teams make BCS bowl games, how exactly is that a monopoly?

Don't get me wrong, I would prefer a playoff as well but this is a weak argument over sour grapes.

Georgia wouldn't have even been in the playoff's as they did not even play in their conference championship game. So that is another weak argument. You have to at least make the conference title game to have consideration.

I think these three should re-prioritize the issues as the War, forclosure crisis, and rising fuel costs are much much more important than trying to find a way to help your team get to the title game. Keep the lawmakers out of it and let the NCAA figure it out for themselves.


Who elected these BCS guys? My question is who elected these three idiots to worry about college football over the more important issues that I had mentioned earlier?

Maybe they should take the money that this investigation would cost and pay it towards our trillions of dollars of national debt instead of raising our taxes? Nah, that is too logical I guess.


How can anyone take Washington seriously when they keep getting involved directly in the sports world instead of the real world.

Ridiculous.

[cph2133]

These three guys are from Idaho (Boise St.) Georgia, and Hawaii. This is just sour grapes and nothing will come of it. They just want to help their teams get to the title game.

There have been several non BCS teams make BCS bowl games, how exactly is that a monopoly?

Don't get me wrong, I would prefer a playoff as well but this is a weak argument over sour grapes.

Georgia wouldn't have even been in the playoff's as they did not even play in their conference championship game. So that is another weak argument. You have to at least make the conference title game to have consideration.

I think these three should re-prioritize the issues as the War, forclosure crisis, and rising fuel costs are much much more important than trying to find a way to help your team get to the title game. Keep the lawmakers out of it and let the NCAA figure it out for themselves.


Who elected these BCS guys? My question is who elected these three idiots to worry about college football over the more important issues that I had mentioned earlier?

Maybe they should take the money that this investigation would cost and pay it towards our trillions of dollars of national debt instead of raising our taxes? Nah, that is too logical I guess.


How can anyone take Washington seriously when they keep getting involved directly in the sports world instead of the real world.

Ridiculous.

its all about reelection. plain and simple. sure they could make controversial legislative decisions (in the eyes of some of their constituents) or they can make publicity about how they're trying to change the BCS which screwed their home states team. The shame is the majority of the voting population will only know this act that their representative did, so why not make it something your whole district would support.

[tekekini]

because it is worthless and unjust and it is costing US money for them to do whatever it is they are going to do. If I was from Hawaii, Georgia or Idaho I would be ashamed of my elected officials.

[Globetrotter]

because it is worthless and unjust and it is costing US money for them to do whatever it is they are going to do. If I was from Hawaii, Georgia or Idaho I would be ashamed of my elected officials.

How is it unjust?

[tekekini]

It is unjust because the BCS does not shut out the smaller schools from participating in the big money bowls as they claim. Hasn't Utah, Boise and Hawaii proven that?

They say that College football is a big money business and that the smaller conferences do not have a fair chance to compete for a BCS bowl. Isn't that the reason that they added another game and make the title game separate? If it wasn't for that then Boise and Hawaii never get in to the BCS in the first place.

College football is no place for government to stick it's nose into. It is just not an important issue. It is a GAME.

Like I said, I am all for a playoff. I just don't think these idiots should waste their time and our money when it will not accomplish anything. The best it will do is put Congress on record that they support a playoff.

Wow. What a BIG fricking accomplishment.

[Globetrotter]

It is unjust because the BCS does not shut out the smaller schools from participating in the big money bowls as they claim. Hasn't Utah, Boise and Hawaii proven that?

They say that College football is a big money business and that the smaller conferences do not have a fair chance to compete for a BCS bowl. Isn't that the reason that they added another game and make the title game separate? If it wasn't for that then Boise and Hawaii never get in to the BCS in the first place.

College football is no place for government to stick it's nose into. It is just not an important issue. It is a GAME.

Like I said, I am all for a playoff. I just don't think these idiots should waste their time and our money when it will not accomplish anything. The best it will do is put Congress on record that they support a playoff.

Wow. What a BIG fricking accomplishment.

We currently have a system where half of the teams dont have a legitimate chance to play for the national championship even if they go undefeated. That is unjust right there homie. Especially when you factor in the FACT that what the system does is restrict these teams, the lower teams, from being being able to build there programs by consistently giving them a share of the money each year. A 16 team playoff would spread the money around and help programs build themselves. Ask Gonzaga or the MVC if that is true in college basketball, a different animal that has had extoardinary success with that recipe. A 16 team playoff in which every conference has a bid, the first 11 bids and seeds, is the only thing that is fair and it also happens that it would be incredibly lucrative.

[tekekini]

It is unjust because the BCS does not shut out the smaller schools from participating in the big money bowls as they claim. Hasn't Utah, Boise and Hawaii proven that?

They say that College football is a big money business and that the smaller conferences do not have a fair chance to compete for a BCS bowl. Isn't that the reason that they added another game and make the title game separate? If it wasn't for that then Boise and Hawaii never get in to the BCS in the first place.

College football is no place for government to stick it's nose into. It is just not an important issue. It is a GAME.

Like I said, I am all for a playoff. I just don't think these idiots should waste their time and our money when it will not accomplish anything. The best it will do is put Congress on record that they support a playoff.

Wow. What a BIG fricking accomplishment.

We currently have a system where half of the teams dont have a legitimate chance to play for the national championship even if they go undefeated. That is unjust right there homie. Especially when you factor in the FACT that what the system does is restrict these teams, the lower teams, from being being able to build there programs by consistently giving them a share of the money each year. A 16 team playoff would spread the money around and help programs build themselves. Ask Gonzaga or the MVC if that is true in college basketball, a different animal that has had extoardinary success with that recipe. A 16 team playoff in which every conference has a bid, the first 11 bids and seeds, is the only thing that is fair and it also happens that it would be incredibly lucrative.

Like I said "homie" , I prefer a playoff system so your are preaching to the choir. I said it is unjust for the Congress to stick it's dirty nose into College Football because quite frankly it isn't all that damn important and it is not an illegal enterprise. They just want to put themselves on record as being for a playoff...Big Deal, so does everyone else. They dont have to waste our money to tell us that they want the same damn thing that everyone else already wants.

The investigation as to wether it is an illegal operation is what is unjust. That is my complaint. I am all for the playoffs just not an investigation for Congress to conduct to tell us that we need one.

Pay attention.

[buffaloefalcon]

You should know better than to bring this type of info into the BG site. The majority of fans here are asleep or just really OSU fans. Yes, this system is unjust and less than half of the 120 teams in DI have a shot at a BCS game. It all starts with recruiting and the amount of funds that a particular conference gets for a winning season. The MAC can pretty much max out on sharing about 2-3 million while your Big 11 shares ova 20 million! Why do you think these SO CALLED major conferences can recruit the best players in the country and gloat about team history and tradition! It's all a game and our team ain't allowed to play! The last time I checked, our society was prone to being sheeples! FOLLOW THE WINNING TEAM! NEver SEEK THE TRUTH!

[tekekini]

You should know better than to bring this type of info into the BG site. The majority of fans here are asleep or just really OSU fans. Yes, this system is unjust and less than half of the 120 teams in DI have a shot at a BCS game. It all starts with recruiting and the amount of funds that a particular conference gets for a winning season. The MAC can pretty much max out on sharing about 2-3 million while your Big 11 shares ova 20 million! Why do you think these SO CALLED major conferences can recruit the best players in the country and gloat about team history and tradition! It's all a game and our team ain't allowed to play! The last time I checked, our society was prone to being sheeples! FOLLOW THE WINNING TEAM! NEver SEEK THE TRUTH!

Whose fault is that? The big schools had smart people all through their history to make them who they are. OSU built the biggest stadium, the biggest campus, had one of the first programs in the state.

Maybe if BG would build a bigger stadium, extend their academic programs, extend the size of their incoming classes and relocate to a bigger city then maybe it would be a more attractive place for a top notch player to go to. Maybe it would be a more attractive place to attract new young fans and fill more seats.

I don't see how a school who can't even fill 30,000 seats and has to worry if they will meet NCAA 1-A attendance requirements every year deserves to be in a bigger conference and share more money.


Do you want to send half of every pay check you get to freeloaders too? So they can survive on your dime? The big schools are where they are because they got themselves there.

[daspollak]

Here is the recipe to compete at the top-flight college level. Get an alumini that is worth billions, like T. Boone Pickens, and have him invest a couple hundred million into the program. With that money build larger stadiums and athletic facilities, hire the best coaches, and watch the programs grow like weeds. Unfortunately BG does not have the alumini base nor the money to compete with the big boys. We are a small school that produces teachers and other mid-level employees that will never make the large money to fund a major sports program. The Sebo Center is nice, but cannot compare to what some of the other colleges are able to build. The new basketball court is great, but lacks the size and the luster of the Dean Dome or Value City Areana. I love BG and I donate when I can, but my 500 a year is a drop in the bucket compared to what alums at the major schools donate. What I would like to see Congress do is make donations that are earmarked for athletic programs non-tax deductable, and for schools to pay taxes on the revenue that football and basketball programs make. Teams might think twice before paying a coach 4 million to run a program.