When will Congress act to rectify this wrong?
Utah whipped Alabama 31 to 17 and the score did not reveal fully the wondrous skills and marvelous energy of the Utes of Utah. They appeared faster, tougher, meaner and more creatively coached.
But they do not get to play in the national ersatz championship game. This is a dreadful wrong. Almost every year the BCS final game should stand for Bogus Concluding Fiasco. Everyone knows, and our incoming President has said, a play-off is in order.
Among other virtues of a play off, the Sugar, Rose, Cotton and Gator Bowls of my youth could be resurrected in their former glory is they became necessary stepping stones to a final pairing. Put eight teams in a playoff series, and the television audience will soar for every game; have half the money go to supplement Pell grants instead of to the BCS cabal's football programs.
Congress must act, and act before another travesty occurs next year.
While I loved to see the underdog prevail, and I do believe that Utah is deserving of the national title based on their play last night, I just get the feeling that these bowl game victories ignore how teams performed during the season. For example, on the sports blogs USC fans are now claiming that USC should be in the title game based on how Utah performed in the Sugar Bowl because it somehow negates their loss. It just doesn't seem right.
Also, I think there is a big difference when you have two or three weeks to prepare for a football game vs one week in regular season play. The momentum has changed, and while a victory would have been nice for BAMA, I don't think they put their best effort. This was a game for pride, not the national championship.
But how would a playoff fix this? If the team with the weakest schedule runs the table do you say they were good or lucky?
When the Giants beat the Patriots last year, were they really better than the Patriots throughout the entire season or just for that game?
Also, how do you know that the eight teams in the playoffs are the best in the country? If you use the same criteria that you use for the BCS will someone deserving be left out? Probably. So, you haven't really fixed anything.
January 3, 2009 8:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
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Geez . . .
Before the Congress takes up the playoff agenda, don't you think Congress should first get the FCC involved to require the coverage of the actual school marching bands performance instead of cutting back to the studio to cause the viewer to watch the retired old farts in suits kibitz about their days in the sun?
Priorities priorities . . .
~OGD~
January 3, 2009 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not sure its the role of the national legislature to enhance Reed Hundt's football viewing experience.
If Congress is to get involved, how about a law requiring universities to pay revenue generating athletes competitive salaries.
January 3, 2009 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
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Uhhh . . .
Pay revenue generating athletes competitive salaries?
Sure.... Right after they graduate and not one thin dime before that.
Oh, and they can payback their athletic scholarship monies out of their paycheck if and when they graduate.
~OGD~
January 3, 2009 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Given the "value" of an athletic scholarship at the average big name university, they should be able to pay it off in what? A month's, maybe six week's work?
January 3, 2009 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
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But my main point was . . .
If they get paid, they should be required to graduate to get that one thin dime for their services rendered.
And since you stated "...pay revenue generating athletes competitive salaries" why not require them to also pick up the tab for the scholarship monies of the non-revenue generating athletes out of their paychecks after graduating? I say that, because realize it or not, that's how a percentage of the funds generated go. Those funds are required to stay within the athletic department, at least within the state I reside.
~OGD~
January 5, 2009 2:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
What a silly, silly post this is. Really. I was waiting on a pivot where you abandon the snark and get serious, but seems you were serious all along. I have no problem with you advocating for a playoff system for NCAA Football, but for heaven's sakes, with everything that's going on, do you really think our legislative branch should waste time on this?
January 3, 2009 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
With all due respect, Reed, are you doing these sports posts to fulfill your quota? Do I go to SI.com to read their columnists' take on Network Neutrality? No. Is it any profound news that the Deadskins and Whizzards and the BCS stinks? No, No and No.
You have plenty to write about in your area of professional expertise, all it takes is to get out of the LA-Z Boy where you write this fluff, and do some actual reportage. Otherwise, you're stuck until the Nationals start up spring training, when you can moan about how bad they are.
January 3, 2009 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously?? Can we solve the foreclosure crisis, the unemployment crisis and the melting planet crisis first?
that's how we got into all these crises to begin with, by letting the congress fiddle around with "issues" like steroids in baseball players so they can get their picture in the paper with superstars, instead of paying attention to the actual business of running the nation.
I recognize that you're trying to be light and funny, Reed... except you're not. It's a bit like making a joke about giving olympic diving scores to those folks who jumped out of the twin towers that awful day.
January 3, 2009 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink