Congress to look into 'deeply flawed' BCS system - Notre Dame Football Discussion

**EnviedOne** · 12-03-2005, 02:22 AM

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.

Source: ESPN.com

**EnviedOne** · 12-03-2005, 02:24 AM

Wow, just wow. While I am amazed that Congress doesn't have more taxing issues on their plate, could this lead to a playoff system that is desperately needed?

I don't know if I should be excited, outraged, or what? Wish they could give a little more attention to our boys over in Iraq. I mean, they took on baseball, then briefly got involved in the TO saga... now this?

Just wow.

alaska_rick · 12-03-2005, 03:32 AM

"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."

Can anyone ever think of any situation when Congress or for that matter the Presidency ( i.e. elections, selection of Supreme Court Justices, etc.) could not be accurately described by this quote? In fact when would this quote did NOT apply. I mean this is every day in Congress. Is he being obtuse intentionally or is this just his sense of humor?

~~**QueensNY**~~ · 12-03-2005, 04:28 AM

congress has been on top of sports lately with steroids, and now the BCS. They have no case because nobody can dispute the national championship this year, and they need to realize that all other bowls are meaningless and come down to money, and the good of college football. NOBODY cares or wants to see Oregon.

Just more congressmen trying to get noticed........

**EnviedOne** · 12-03-2005, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QueensNY

congress has been on top of sports lately with steroids, and now the BCS. They have no case because nobody can dispute the national championship this year, and they need to realize that all other bowls are meaningless and come down to money, and the good of college football. NOBODY cares or wants to see Oregon.

Just more congressmen trying to get noticed........

Agreed... however, if it can get us a 16 team playoff, I may actually vote for some of the toolbags.

**Domer95** · 12-03-2005, 12:20 PM

Come on....tell me this is from 'The Onion'..........if not, it's just sad.

**irish9331** · 12-04-2005, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Svoboda

Wow, just wow. While I am amazed that Congress doesn't have more taxing issues on their plate, could this lead to a playoff system that is desperately needed?

I don't know if I should be excited, outraged, or what? Wish they could give a little more attention to our boys over in Iraq. I mean, they took on baseball, then briefly got involved in the TO saga... now this?

Just wow.

I know seeing as that pesky Iraq war is all sorted out, gas is at a reasonable price, you can see why they have the time to deal with this.

12-03-2005, 02:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
EnviedOne Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Envy HQ Posts: 24,653 Cash: 266,501.45 Bank: 0.00 Total Bankroll: 266,501.45 Donate	Congress to look into 'deeply flawed' BCS system 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. Source: ESPN.com __________________ IRISHENVY - MATURE AND INTELLIGENT NOTRE DAME DISCUSSION Notre Dame Ringtones - Browse a Collection of Notre Dame Ringtones! T-Shirt Promotion - Get a Free IrishEnvy T-Shirt!

12-03-2005, 02:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
EnviedOne Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Envy HQ Posts: 24,653 Cash: 266,501.45 Bank: 0.00 Total Bankroll: 266,501.45 Donate	Wow, just wow. While I am amazed that Congress doesn't have more taxing issues on their plate, could this lead to a playoff system that is desperately needed? I don't know if I should be excited, outraged, or what? Wish they could give a little more attention to our boys over in Iraq. I mean, they took on baseball, then briefly got involved in the TO saga... now this? Just wow. __________________ IRISHENVY - MATURE AND INTELLIGENT NOTRE DAME DISCUSSION Notre Dame Ringtones - Browse a Collection of Notre Dame Ringtones! T-Shirt Promotion - Get a Free IrishEnvy T-Shirt!

12-03-2005, 03:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
alaska_rick Waterboy Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Cash: 1,024.00 Bank: 0.00 Total Bankroll: 1,024.00 Donate	"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." Can anyone ever think of any situation when Congress or for that matter the Presidency ( i.e. elections, selection of Supreme Court Justices, etc.) could not be accurately described by this quote? In fact when would this quote did NOT apply. I mean this is every day in Congress. Is he being obtuse intentionally or is this just his sense of humor? __________________ Alaska_rick[FONT="Century Gothic"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="Blue"][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

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12-03-2005, 04:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
~~QueensNY~~ SCUMBAG WHO DELETES THREADS Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,575 Cash: 6,206.50 Bank: 0.00 Total Bankroll: 6,206.50 Donate	congress has been on top of sports lately with steroids, and now the BCS. They have no case because nobody can dispute the national championship this year, and they need to realize that all other bowls are meaningless and come down to money, and the good of college football. NOBODY cares or wants to see Oregon. Just more congressmen trying to get noticed........

12-03-2005, 12:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Domer95 Varsity Club Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Jersey Shore/NYC Posts: 625 Cash: 11,833.50 Bank: 0.00 Total Bankroll: 11,833.50 Donate	Come on....tell me this is from 'The Onion'..........if not, it's just sad.

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