Anti-BCS Bill Passes First Hurdle

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 9, 2009 1:52 PM PST in Mountain West Football

Today, Texas Republican Joe Barton's anti-BCS bill H.R. 390 -- which calls to bar the BCS from claiming it is providing a national championship game that is not decided by using a single elimination tournament -- surprised many and passed nearly unamious in a subcommittee vote:

WASHINGTON – A House subcommittee approved legislation Wednesday aimed at forcing college football to switch to a playoff system to determine a national champion, over the objections of some lawmakers who said Congress had more pressing matters on its plate.

The bill, which faces long odds of becoming law, would ban the promotion of a postseason NCAA Division I football game as a national championship unless that title contest is the result of a playoff. The measure passed by voice vote in a House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee, with one audible "no," from Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga.

John Barrow feels that this crusade to end the BCS and bring on a playoff that 95% of the public wants voted against the bill because of spite, since he feels the government should be worrying about 'real' problems. Geez, that is what I want if I were being represented by Mr. Barrow a spite vote real mature.

Executive Director of the BCS Bill Hancock had this to say prior to the vote:

"With all the serious matters facing our country, surely Congress has more important issues than spending taxpayer money to dictate how college football is played."

Then subcommittee chairman, Rep. Bobby Rush, an Illinois Democrat who co-sponsored the bill, said,

"We can walk and chew gum at the same time."

ZING!!

This is just the first of a long series of votes that must wind its way through the House and Senate which has not happened, but Utah's Orrin Hatch has pressed for a Justice Department antitrust investigation into the BCS; so look for this to creeping forward. Since this passed through the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee it now goes to the full committee where it would be examined to determine if it is worth taking to the House floor. Then it would go through the Senate to make amendments before a vote happens there.

Voting this week was great timing since the BCS has screwed Boise State and TCU from proving themselves from the automatic qualifying leagues -- strike while the iron is hot. I really do not care how this gets done, but as long as it gets done with the BCS being disbanded and the old system is not brought back to replace the BCS cartel. Just get something in front of President Barack Obama who is a playoff fan and get this signed.

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Comments

Interesting step

But I still think the way for the government to bring down the BCS is through an antitrust investigation. Bills take too long to get through congress. All Obama needs to do is have the DOJ start asking some questions and making some phone calls and the BCS will start to get worried. It doesn’t take an act of congress to get an antitrust investigation going. Also, it hits the BCS where it hurts — their money. If this bill passes, the BCS will change its name before it gives up its format.

by Nick Kroes on Dec 9, 2009 1:56 PM PST reply actions

the more noise the better. i don't care where it comes from.

yes i am obsessive, obnoxious, in your face and all about covering the spread. those are my good qualities.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Dec 9, 2009 3:42 PM PST reply actions

With all due respect to the gentlemen,

I’d like to see Congress walk before they try chewing gum.

by David Hooper on Dec 9, 2009 3:59 PM PST reply actions

good point Hooper

Noise is good and the anti-trust might be the way.

Mountain West Connection

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 9, 2009 5:47 PM PST up reply actions

It has not passed the house.

It passed the sub committee. Now it goes to the full committee then the house.

If it passes the house a copy will be forwarded to a committee in the senate that reviews all bills passed by the house. If passed on by that subcommittee its voted on by the senate.

If the senate makes amendment or offers an alternate bill and house and senate have committees to reconcile the differences. Once these committees reach a common ground the houses then could vote again.

If a bill ever gets through the house and the senate Obama will sign it.

That said, I have yet to see a bill that the BCS lawyers could not weasel out of. This bill is likely to reduce the value of a playoff making a return to the old bowl system more likely than if the BCS is left to their own devices.

BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter

by utesfan100 on Dec 9, 2009 7:45 PM PST reply actions

thanks

Ill edit that. I was slightly confused from the article I read about this.

Mountain West Connection

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 9, 2009 8:31 PM PST up reply actions

Pretty much.

When the Bowl Alliance/BCS was first invented, it was advertised purely as a way to get a #1 v. #2 matchup. Everything else was supposed to be a continuation of the bowl system. That’s the way they still approach it, even though a lot of people have interpreted this to mean that the BCS is supposed to find the ‘best’ team. The difference in those two concepts means everything.

by David Hooper on Dec 9, 2009 9:08 PM PST up reply actions