MWC applying for BCS status
by pcrawttu on Jan 26, 2009 10:14 PM CST
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PrintI just read this article about the Mountain West Conference seeking status as an automatic qualifier in the BCS bowls.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3861079
First off, I think the BCS is a bunch of crap. But that is a common feeling these days.
I can understand why the Mountain West wants automatic status, especially after they had 3 powerful teams this year. But I'm not sure they will let in just one conference when the WAC had another highly ranked team also. Plus, if they let in the MWC, that would only leave one reamaining at-large bid, of which there is already a shortage.
The most obvious solution to this whole argument is to do away with the current system and start over. Due to money, contracts, and the good 'ol boy system of the power conferences, this will never happen.
On the other hand, the most sensible and fair adjustment to account for highly ranked non-bcs schools in the already broken bcs system would be to just dissolve the rule mandating the champion from the six bcs conferences. In fact, this should never had been a rule in the first place because it pretty much disqualifies half the schools in the country from ever dreaming of a bcs bowl. It also is the same system that forces the rich to get richer while the poor stay poor. This is the whole basis of Utah's lawsuit, also. But I digress.
Anyway, this different rule would account for shifts in power between schools and conferences. While one of the "power" conferences may be having an off year, one of the "lesser" conferences may be having a stellar year. In this case, I would propose that the 6 most highly ranked confererence champions would be guaranteed to play in bcs bowls and throw in the 2 at-large bids also. That way, if a conference champion is ranked, say, #19 or #12 (Virginia Tech, Cincy), they don't automatically beat out other conference champs ranked #6 or #9 (Utah, Boise St.).
Even though these other conferences have been historically weaker, enough people and computers obviously think they are pretty good and prove themselves, or else they wouldn't be voting them that high. And some of these teams have started to build solid reputations and have proven themselves for years now (see Utah, TCU, Boise St.) If they were really that weak, they would still be getting voted with the pollsters "fluke vote" in the upper-teens, like Tulsa and Ball St. earlier this past season.
And we could go on and on about this.
Or college football could just have a playoff.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors.
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It's crap
Pardon me but this will only give TCU an automatic BCS every year which isn’t good. It’s not a perfect system but no way should the MWC get the same automatic a Big 12 or SEC conference receives. Teams in the MWC that win constantly such as TCU should lobby more on getting into a better conference and not improving a purely dominated conference by 3 teams.
If MWC were to get the automatic I say Tech needs to join the MWC along with A&M and OSU. Get my point?
MWC has a legitimate request.....
Common now, TCU, BYU and Utah were all in the top 20 all season long. These teams beat PAC 10 opponents, BIG 10 opponents, beat one of the top SEC teams and probably could hold well against any of the BIG East, BIG 12, ACC and the rest of the PAC 10, BIG 10 and SEC teams. TCU, BYU, Utah, and Air Force have shown competitiveness year in, year out…. thats 4 teams in one conference. The ACC has between 3-4 that are legitimate contenders year in, year out…. BIG 10 also 3-4, PAC 10 3-4, BIG East 2-3…. so yeah, why not? TCU, BYU and Utah have been hitting up to 10 win seasons for a little while now, better than most teams out there.
Ok, ok.....
Who am I kidding??? PAC 10 doesnt have any team other than USC and maybe 1 or 2 other teams with a legitimate shot…. and thats not year in, year out teams either. Oregon/Cal one year….. Cal/OState the next….. Oregon/Ostate the following. Arizona has not been up in years, they are now just starting to get things going over that ways. An the remainder of the teams are just there filling open spots. So yeah MWC does have a legitimate case in this perspective.
I see your point but that will make it very easy for teams like TCU a contender for the NC. I have a problem with that seeing how tough our conference is and the SEC. I totally understand the argument that a school like TCU would have but I think the MWC becoming a BCS conference would be a mistake. I would much rather see a playoff as I’m sure everybody but ESPN would at this time. Another point would be grant the Big 12 an option to send more than 2 teams to the BCS if there are more than 1 one loss teams like this past year.
This sounds more like a miracle at this point.
I'm against it too. However,
Is it possible that by putting MWC in the BCS, it validates them and they improve as a conference as more blue chips may go there? Look how good those Eastern teams got with their legitimization in Big East. And, ACC was never considered a football conference. BC, WV, even Cincinatti has improved. Look what happenned to Louisville and USF. Now I know these aren’t juggernauts, but they all have made huge strides since their inclusion into “Big Time” ball. Just saying…Everyone BUT TCU of the old SWC is subpar because they’re in a joke conference, but what if Houston would have gone to B12 instead of us? We’d be in their shoes maybe.
I really think anyone in the top 12 should be eligible, regardless of conference affiliation. If there happens to be three teams from the same conference in the top 12 that year, so be it. I spoke to a lawyer buddy who is interested in the investigation and he thinks that there could be room for a winnable suit should the MWC decide to go that route. One of the things that the BCS backs itself into a corner with is the amount of money at stake for each school (or in their case, left out of). It’s gotten too expensive for Non-BCS conferences to *not*do anything. By purposely excluding all be a select few, there could be some nice litigation at some point, regardless if all the parties signed agreements. That, after all, is what keeps courtrooms busy, right?
Let's not get the lawyers in on this.
If there is one thing in this country we do not need, it’s another stage for lawyers to act on. They are OK for legitimate cases, but all too often they push unnecessary cases to the limelight just to grab a bit more of the cash flow.
As for the MWC and the BCS, I just think the BCS is in general a joke now, and has been since it was started. A playoff system, starting after only 10 allowed regular season games, is the best scenario, involving all conference champions as well as any other conference teams ranked inside the top 10 to 12 in the country. That way, when a conference is having a really good year, it will be rewarded more than one that is not doing so well, and all conference champs have a shot, as well.
Kill the BCS and go to what EVERY other competitive team format has, a playoff to determine the year’s champion, on the field.
TTpilk
Amen
Someday that may actually happen. From what I’ve heard ESPN has the BCS games locked in till 2014 or something like that. The media will decide if a playoff system is going to happen. It’s all about televsion and other forms of medai at this point.
One good thing and maybe a bit off the subject. FOX did an awful job covering the BCS games this year with a bunch of no name announcers. Lets be happy at least that’s over.
I know people hate us lawyers but
Anti trust litigation is a pillar of 20th century fairness in the U.S. Also, while it is a bit stupid at times, tort lawyers are responsible for many simple, life saving steps in manufacturing. I’m just saying, maybe this is an area where we can help force a positive change for an even playing field. The talking heads don’t want to see Utah in the MNC game because they don’t have enough “talent.” Well we’ve seen what their less talented squads have done againt the blue bloods the past 10 years. Less make it a meritocracy where the best “TEAM” wins the NC, not who Kurt bleached hair, bleached teeth thinks is deserving. The arrogance some people have. You’ll never see a George Mason in football, guys who were a senior laden team with experience and trust in another who believed in themselves and there scheme more than the blue chippers who can’t face adversity. Exhibit 1: Kurt Warner over Matt Linert. But I digress a bit too much.
Sorry, but that just felt good to get off my chest. I’m for the little guy in this world and if the BCS schools wanna take government money, they can’t descriminate. Even though I don’t think Feds belong in education in tv first place.
Litigation
I truly believe that this is the only thing that will force a change in the BCS.
I also do not think that that is in anyway a negative thing, in fact I cannot think of a more "American Way
of forcing the change that needs to happen.
Theodore Roosevelt would use the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 to bust the BCS if he was still around.
VIVA LA FIGA!
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