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President-elect on Bowl Game Series: LET THERE BE PLAYOFFS!
January 09, 2009 2:42 PM
President-elect Obama today continued to push for a Bowl Game Series playoff system, despite opposition from university presidents and NCAA executives.
At a press availability today, after congratulating the University of Florida Gators –- the victor last in the BCS college "championship" beating the University of Oklahoma -- the president-elect quickly made his case for a change in the rules.
"I have to point out -- if I'm Utah, if I'm USC, or if I'm Texas, I may still have some quibbles," he said. "And you've heard my pitch."
NCAA sports and other divisions of NCAA football decide a national champion through playoffs. The BCS –- the Bowl Championship Series –- gives the two top teams ranked highest in the BCS a spot to compete in a "national championship game" –- not a formal playoff.
Many fans of the also-ran teams are quite annoyed with the official process. Most glaringly, perhaps, the No. 2 ranked team, the Sugar Bowl winning University of Utah Utes, are, with a record of 13-0, the only undefeated college football team. The officially labeled No. 1 team, the Gators, have a defeat blemishing their season record.
Last November, Mr. Obama told 60 Minutes that he supported an eight-school playoffs for college football.
"I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this," he said. "So I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit."
After Mr. Obama today noted the possible opposition in Utah, Texas, and Southern California to Florida being considered No. 1, a reporter asked "who is number one?"
"That’s why we need a playoff," the President-elect said, laughing.
At an Orange Bowl event yesterday, eight former Heisman Trophy winners supported a playoff system.
"Definitely," said 1984 Heisman trophy winner Doug Flutie. "Different system."
"Ditto," said Tony Dorsett, the 1976 winner. "I agree."
Lawmakers are considering legislation that would say if the NCAA declares any game a "championship" game without a playoff system, that would constitute fraud under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has joined with Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., on such an effort, and says he's spoken with the president-elect on their objective to create a college football playoff system.
"OK, Mr. president-elect, let's work together on this playoff system, because you said you're for a playoff, and I'm for a playoff," Barton said to the President-elect a few weeks ago, the Texas Republican told the Associated Press.
"Sure, let's do it," Mr. Obama replied, Barton says.
-- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
January 9, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (20)
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Here's the irony: Urban Meyer led Utah to its previous undefeated season before this one and got the shaft then. Now, he leads a one-loss team which claims the championship, again with Utah getting the shaft (again undefeated).
Nope. Not sure what the best system is, but I do know that Utah was the national champion this year. Don't like it? Then your team shouldn't have lost a game.
Posted by: MIguy | Jan 9, 2009 10:18:03 PM
"This makes sense on the surface until its pointed out that D2 & D3 schools have playoffs."
But would a Div 3 playoff be as big a deal as Div 1 Football?
An NFL Team spends two weeks preparing for the Superbowl- if the National Playoffs became that much of a consuming distraction then it is a problem for these students.
If there was a way to move it to March I'd be more in favor.
Posted by: BertieW | Jan 9, 2009 8:55:20 PM
Change the name to the BIS (Bowl Invitational Series) and run it the same.
Personally having watched undefeated teams fall victim to the voting and $$ they need to get rid of the "championship".
Posted by: Get Rid of BCS | Jan 9, 2009 6:03:00 PM
"Well there is the problem that these guys are essentially students so logistically another set of playoffs would take them away from supposed to be doing. Yeah many dont care about their studies but many do. Having them fly around for more games would mean thaey essentially are out the first 3 weeks of the new semester."
This makes sense on the surface until its pointed out that D2 & D3 schools have playoffs.
D3 schools don't even offer athletic scholarships so they are truly scholar-athletes.
This is about money that the big conferences get.
Nothing more.
Posted by: Ryan C | Jan 9, 2009 5:21:48 PM
"An instant replay of the so-called "election" couldn't hurt. "
You really want to relive McCain getting his butt handed to him?
Posted by: Ryan C | Jan 9, 2009 5:19:23 PM
I'm at a loss for words. Don't have much knowledge on the subject and could care less that I do.
Posted by: kat | Jan 9, 2009 4:48:17 PM
Belle Starr---"An instant replay of the so-called "election" couldn't hurt." the results would be the same.
as far as the issue at hand, i think playoffs are an excellent, fair and equitable solution. i'm suprised the BCS has lasted as long as it has.
Posted by: Paul Wall | Jan 9, 2009 4:44:31 PM
Dennis---you can buy all you want once the stimulus package comes through. there are other blogs dealing with more substantive issues (like your interest).
Posted by: Paul Wall | Jan 9, 2009 4:41:26 PM
agree!! Utah got the shaft , also USC needs to have a say.
have 8 team playoffs.. playing for the championship , and the other seeded teams that wasn't selected, let them still play for the other 50 BOWLS.
Win ..WIN for everybody.
Posted by: sam | Jan 9, 2009 3:50:51 PM
"Can't wait to see what she finds wrong with this idea. "
Well there is the problem that these guys are essentially students so logistically another set of playoffs would take them away from supposed to be doing. Yeah many dont care about their studies but many do. Having them fly around for more games would mean thaey essentially are out the first 3 weeks of the new semester.
Who gets the revenue from this? Or is this another game that the students are playing for free?
Its a no brainer from the viewer standpoint, but there are other things to consider.
Posted by: BertieW | Jan 9, 2009 3:45:04 PM
My husband and I were just talking about this last night. I completely agree, enough with the Bull Crap System and have playoffs like the pros.
Posted by: AnaB | Jan 9, 2009 3:42:23 PM
Fantastic idea! Long overdue. I sure hope Belle Starr jumps in on this one. Can't wait to see what she finds wrong with this idea. LOL
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | Jan 9, 2009 3:37:36 PM
Why in the world should the President-elect spend precious time trying to straighten out the football championship. With our Country in the mess it's in this should be the least of his concerns. Get the Country straight then play football!!!
Posted by: Louisianalady | Jan 9, 2009 3:33:58 PM
Anybody who is a fan of College fottbal knows the President is right on this.
Let's do what is fair for the players and the answer is change the crappy BCS system!
I'm all for that kind of change.
Posted by: Sara | Jan 9, 2009 3:33:01 PM
An instant replay of the so-called "election" couldn't hurt.
Posted by: Belle Starr | Jan 9, 2009 3:28:34 PM
Hope AND Change comes out in favor of Bread AND Circuses.
Posted by: BertieW | Jan 9, 2009 3:12:03 PM
Maybe The One better leave the position of sports-poseur in the practiced hands of His VP, lest the inattentive start confusing Him with OJ.
Posted by: Belle Starr | Jan 9, 2009 3:08:49 PM
I'm more interested to find out if the Messiah thinks we should bail out the porn industry. I mean why not, what else are the all the unemployed people going to do, watch porn!
Posted by: Dennis | Jan 9, 2009 3:07:29 PM
Scrap the BCS and move to a playoff system for Division 1-A college football?
Now that IS 'Change You Can Believe In'!
Can I get an 'Amen!'?
How about a 'Yes We Can!'?
Posted by: I'm With Stupid | Jan 9, 2009 3:07:02 PM
This is a great idea. It's so simple. 8 teams. Rotate the largest seven bowls for each of the seven games of the playoff. For all the other teams, let them play in the remaining 25 bowls like always.
The biggest question would be how to decide the 8 teams. The conference champions from the big conferences and any undefeated teams/next best teams? Or all the undefeated teams and the next X highest ranked teams? Or the top 12 teams to guarantee the #2 teams from, say the Big XII and SEC make it in?
Posted by: eric | Jan 9, 2009 3:06:44 PM
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