House panel approves measure to change college football playoffs; Georgia’s John Barrow casts a lone ‘nay’
This from the Associated Press:
A House subcommittee approved legislation Wednesday aimed at forcing college football to switch to a playoff system to determine its national champion, over the objections of some lawmakers who said Congress has meatier targets to tackle.
A House subcommittee approved legislation Wednesday aimed at forcing college football to switch to a playoff system to determine its national champion, over the objections of some lawmakers who said Congress has meatier targets to tackle.
The bill, which faces steep odds, would ban the promotion of a postseason NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision game as a national championship unless it results from 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.
“With all due respect, I really think we have more important things to spend our time on,” Barrow said before the vote, although he stressed he didn’t like the current Bowl Championship Series, either.
The BCS selections announced last weekend pit two unbeaten teams, No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Texas, in the Jan. 7 national title game. Three other undefeated teams — TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State — will play in a BCS bowl game, but not for the championship.
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58 comments Add your comment
Carlos
December 9th, 2009
4:54 pm
It’s sad that The Presidents of these universities and coaches didn’t have enough within them to speak out and stand up for what is right. The BCS is CRAP!!!! Yes Congress should be focusing on other things but if no one else was going to stand up for what is right, then someone has too. It’s sad because the players are the ones who are getting screwed. Not all of them will play in the pros so at least if you are a good team you should have a chance to play for a title. Not too hard. Take this year for instance we have 5 undefeated teams and we really can’t say who is the best team. It was going go take the players either boycotting or sitting out for a change to happen but hopefully now we can take the focus off of making MONEY for schools and reward the players who sacrifice for their particular school. They are the ones we should be concerned about anyway. Don’t get mad at Congress, someone has to take a STAND.
Won'tHappen
December 9th, 2009
5:17 pm
Using Boise State as an example, how many fans would actually travel to Arizona for game 1, then to New Orleans for game 2, then to Pasadena for the Championship? Bowls thrive on TV & fan attendance for revenue & I just do not see fans taking off for 3 weeks to travel around the country visiting Bowl games, especially in this economy. Why didn’t the teams that only play 12 games (no conference championship) play each other last weekend? ps. Aren’t we at war?
GDAWG65
December 9th, 2009
5:33 pm
I agree with a play off championship but Congress? They are too busy getting kickbacks and working on getting reelected to mess with college sports. Let the schools decide.
Tony Smith
December 9th, 2009
6:09 pm
We have massive deficits. We are fighting wars on two fronts. We have over 10% unemployment. And Congress is spending time considering legislation to force a college football playoff. And we wonder why our country is in trouble.
Congress passes bills like this because the responsibility for implementing it falls on someone else. Get your priorities in order.
BAMADAWG
December 9th, 2009
6:25 pm
Our country is great & our gov. sux. Don’t you dare touch college football. And leave our health care ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cletus T. Rockafella
December 9th, 2009
6:33 pm
This is the BEST these deadbeat politicians can do? The ‘garbage’ that we are paying for need to be in jail.
Dawg-Hatin' Jacket
December 9th, 2009
7:02 pm
The issue isn’t whether Congress has more important things to do. The issue is the extent they will go to control every aspect of our lives. This is just another example of how far Congress has strayed from constitutionally-granted powers. After seizing control of automotive, finance, and soon health care, taking over how sports are run is the next logical place for them to seize additional powers. Eventually the imperial federal government will control every aspect of our lives.
Bobby Anthony
December 10th, 2009
10:14 pm
This is one of the few thing I agree Barrow.