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Non-BCS Programs Need To Stop Whining
Published by MoonDog on August 6, 2009
As we work towards the start of another college football season that, as recent history has proven, will surely culminate in what has become the annual debate on which teams should play for the BCS national championship, I’d like to pose a few questions to the non-BCS programs.
If you’ve been following the business of college football ever since Utah was left out of the BCS title game in January, you’ll know the U.S. House and Senate have held committee meetings over the past few months questioning the legality of the Bowl Championship Series.
Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have both argued in separate committee meetings that the BCS is a monopoly that violates U.S. anti-trust laws.
Barton even referred to the BCS as “communism” at a subcommittee hearing in late April, further quipping that the system should be labeled “BS,” not “BCS.”
Hatch, representing the state of Utah, clearly has an agenda against the BCS since the Utes weren’t given an opportunity to play for the BCS national championship despite completing their regular season undefeated.
And while they are technically under the BCS umbrella, the Mountain West Conference has led the charge against the system, voicing it’s concerns during Hatch’s committee meeting in July.
Barry Brett, an attorney representing the Mountain West, said the BCS was “a naked restraint imposed by a self-appointed cartel” and further stated that a Justice Department investigation would serve the public interest.
But what if a team like Utah was invited to join the Pac-10 conference, a full-fledged, honest-to-goodness BCS conference that enjoys all the riches that comes along with membership.
If Utah was given an opportunity to move from the Mountain West to the Pac-10, do you believe they would make the move?
Anyone answering in the negative must submit to an immediate urinalysis. Every single non-BCS program in college football would leave their current conference to join a BCS conference in a nano second.
Maybe the first question was too easy so here’s another. If Utah made the jump to the Pac-10, do you think the school’s Athletic Director or Senator Hatch would complain about the current BCS system being unfair to non-BCS programs?
Your answer better be no. Not only no, but hell no.
Admittedly, the second question wasn’t too tough either so maybe this will make those non-BCS programs pause a few moments before answering. This is a two-part question so pay attention.
After making the move to the Pac-10, let’s say that Utah won the conference championship, guaranteeing a berth in a BCS bowl game. Would the Utes decline the invitation as an act of solidarity with their former non-BCS member schools?
Better yet, do you believe the Utes would turn down the $18 million payday that is guaranteed to all schools participating in a BCS bowl?
Hmm…
All of the answers to these questions are no-brainers.
Representatives of the Mountain West have spent a lot of time this offseason whining before House and Senate committee meetings, deriding the BCS as an evil system that prevents their schools and other non-BCS programs from being admitted into the fraternity.
Yet when faced with the reality of accepting the terms of the new BCS contract with ESPN, the Mountain West signed the dotted line.
And why? Money.
By their own admission, the Mountain West, along with the other non-BCS conferences, signed the deal knowing that if they didn’t, their share of the BCS money would end up being deposited into another conference’s bank account.
In the end, money is at the root of the non-BCS conferences ill feelings towards the BCS.
Look, the BCS is obviously an imperfect system. Chaos erupts around the first week in December when the final rankings are announced, but that’s the beauty of college football.
While flawed and despite what many believe, the BCS is at least a better way to determine a national champion than the previous method.
And though the non-BCS programs and the U.S. Congress are attempting to dismantle the current format, it’s a system every college football program in America would gladly be a part of if given the chance.
Similar Posts:
- Senator Hatch Wants BCS Investigated
- U.S. Congress: Stay The Hell Out Of College Football
- Mountain West, WAC Sign BCS Contract
- U.S. Representative Barton Calls BCS ‘Communism’
- New Political Action Committee Undertakes Elimination Of The BCS
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MSF Fantasy Sports Discussion Forum - Expert Fantasy Football, Fantasy Baseball Advice-Live Chat-Q&A on Thu, 6th Aug 2009 13:08
[...] Non-BCS programs need to stop whining — (MoonDog) [...]
IFChris on Thu, 6th Aug 2009 14:32
So, you’re saying Utah didn’t deserve a shot last year?
And just because it’s a better system doesn’t mean it’s worth a damn. The BCS is a sham, one that’s being spoon-fed to us by conference commissioners who, with a straight face, look in the camera and say this method is the one we, as in fans, prefer the most.
Are you f**king kidding me?
MoonDog on Thu, 6th Aug 2009 15:49
No, I wouldn’t have had a problem with Utah playing for the national championship last season. Utah did what they had to do. They played a competitive schedule and beat some really good teams.
I think you’re missing the intent of the post though. I don’t like the BCS any more than you do, but you know – as I so adroitly pointed out – that every non-BCS program would kill to be a part of the BCS fraternity.
Basically what I’m trying to get across is my perception that schools like Utah are being hypocritical. They don’t like the BCS now because they aren’t guaranteed a berth like the six BCS conferences are. But boy they sure wouldn’t be bitching if they were in the Pac-10 or the Big 12.
What – you want to let Utah into the mighty SEC? They’re only conference win would be against…KENTUCKY.
Thursday’s Links : SECRivals.com on Thu, 6th Aug 2009 20:08
[...] Non-BCS Programs Need to Stop Whining I Love Social [...]
Daily Toke: Who was the first person to look at a chicken and think "I'm gonna eat the first thing that comes out of his butt"? | Hail Mary Jane on Fri, 7th Aug 2009 07:49
[...] Non-BCS Programs Need To Stop Whining [...]
Patrick H on Fri, 7th Aug 2009 12:39
I’m a fan of a non BCS school and I don’t think the MWC really has a legitimate argument to be a BCS conference (yet, the need to prove it over the next 3 years or so) but your argument is weak. All you are saying is that the powerful incumbents combine to hold down the upstarts because it’s in their financial interest to do so. That’s just common knowledge and applies to cartels, conglomerates, politicians, countries and pretty much anything else you can think of where there is competition for limited money, power or resources. It doesn’t invalidate the claims or desires of non BCS conferences and schools. Those desires are entirely based on self interest not altruism which is why the MWC went out on their own rather than unifying support amongst all non BCS conferences. They don’t now and never have wanted all conferences to be equal. They just want a bigger cut of the pie and don’t really care what happens to the other non BCS conferences. Your sole point seems to be that they should just shut up and take what they’re given since their motive is self interest.