Obama Administration May Investigate Controversial College Football Bowl System
EmailABC News’ Karen Travers reports:
President Obama has made it abundantly clear that he does not like the current system for naming a national championship team in college football.
Now his administration may take action on behalf of him and the countless other sports fans who oppose college football’s Bowl Championship Series (BCS), the controversial system by which a national champion is crowned every January.
In a letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich said the Justice Department is deciding if it will investigate whether the BCS system violates antitrust laws. The Republican lawmaker had written to the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division last October requesting such an investigation.
In his four-page letter, an exhaustive explanation and dissection of the complex BCS system, Weich said that the department is exploring several options to address the concerns of those opposed to the current system, including asking the Federal Trade Commission to examine its legality under consumer protection laws and having a governmental or non-governmental body or commission study the possibility of a playoff system.
President Obama has been vocal in his opposition to the bowl system and advocated for a playoff, similar to what college basketball does.
“I think it is about that we had playoffs in college football. You know, I'm fed up with these computer rankings and this and that and the other,” Obama said on a "Monday Night Football" broadcast on Nov. 3, 2008. “Get eight teams, the top eight teams right at the end, you've got a playoff; decide on a national champion.”
Obama is not alone in his push for a playoff system. The BCS is based on a much-maligned computer ratings system that determines the rankings of college football teams based on polls and algorithms. Opponents say that the computer system unfairly discriminates against schools from conferences that do not have automatic qualifying bids for the championship bowls.
In his letter, DOJ’s Weich noted that both Utah and Boise State had undefeated seasons but did not have an opportunity to play for the national championship.
“This seemingly discriminatory action with regard to revenues and access have raised questions regarding whether the BCS potentially runs afoul of the nation's antitrust laws,” Weich wrote.
Hatch welcomed the news from the Justice Department and said he was encouraged by the response.
“I continue to believe there are antitrust issues the administration should explore, but I’m heartened by its willingness to consider alternative approaches to confront the tremendous inequities in the BCS that favor one set of schools over others,” Hatch said in a statement tonight.
Hatch said the current system of determining the national champion “runs counter to basic fairness that every family tries to instill in their children from the day they are born.”
“It is systematically unfair, jeopardizing students, players, education quality, ethics and true competition,” he said. “I look forward to working with the administration on this issue that effects so many of our young people, not to mention the millions of fans of college football, across the country.”
-Karen Travers
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Unemployment over 10%, an economy with virtually no growth, deficits growing near exponentially, two wars in progress, Soviets introducing jet fighters better than anything we have, blizzards crippling the center of the country…
and the clown college dropouts we have in the executive branch have nothing better to do than muck around with college football.
Somebody let me know when the adults get back in charge.
Posted by: 2Brixshy | January 29, 2010, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
Ok, we are getting serious now…. Change we can believe in!
Posted by: twg | January 29, 2010, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
What else will this administration attempt to take over? Desperate for power. He can’t close gitmo, stimulus hasn’t created the jobs he promised, healthcare reform is a mess, deficits and debt in every headline, housing a bust, banking regulation, and on and on and this joker wants to interfere in college football. The 5-10 year old soccer players will be his next agenda.
Posted by: jmjeanette | January 29, 2010, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
Hell he couldn’t pour water out of a boot even if you told him the directions were printed on the bottom of the boot.
Posted by: Sandcrab1612 | January 29, 2010, 9:52 pm 9:52 pm
His eye is on the sparrow.
Posted by: Bob | January 29, 2010, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
What a sad, pitiful follow-up to the recently failed (for want of senate seat in Mass.) Health Care Reform bill…
As a non-sports fan I join my tens of million ESPN-subscribing (but not watching) friends in expressing our complete and utter dis-interest in this whole matter.
What’s next a crackdown on “World’s Greatest Grandparent” mugs, as they are discriminatory against those who can’t afford them?!
Posted by: N2vip | January 29, 2010, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
OK, I’m not sure what it is…the water, mold in the buildings, all that hot air spewing out of politicians’ mouths…some strange virus that roams the halls of DC’s government properties.
But it’s time to throw a net over Capital Hill AND the White House.
With all the critical, severely dangerous problems the US is experiencing…we have Senators and the Justice Department and the President wanting to waste time on sports.
Senator Hatch is out of sorts because Utah didn’t get to play in the big games. It’s unfair…waaa waaa waaa.
And the POTUS wants Congress and the Department of Justice to investigate college football for anti-trust violations. What about investigating health insurance companies and getting rid of their ‘get-out-of-jail card’ so they can be prosecuted for anti-trust violations?
What’s unfair is how hard-working, talented, intelligent young people can’t find a college to go to because colleges are too busy packing the classes with boys who can play a game.
Posted by: malcat | January 29, 2010, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
Where are the Obama apologists tonight? Why aren’t they here to defend their messiah?
Posted by: ConservativeWoman | January 29, 2010, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
There are other things besides war and civil rights and healthcare that our government is responsible for looking after, including sports. Though the BCS is not as monumental as say healthcare it is symbolic of an more widespread type of unfairness (monopolization, class discrimation etc.) and therefore may and should come under presidential consideration. Obama has a big mind he can juggle 10 issue or 50 issues at one time….please oh please grow up!
Posted by: Cal45 | January 29, 2010, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm
The federal government has no business getting involved in this. Period.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | January 29, 2010, 11:24 pm 11:24 pm
“both Utah and Boise State had undefeated seasons but did not have an opportunity to play for the national championship. This seemingly discriminatory action…”
Typical liberal move- everyone and everything have to be on equal footing- bring down USC and Florida State to TCU and Boise St’s level- Toledo will go undefeated and the libs will say that they ought to be natl champs. Next they will say it’s discriminatory because your kid is allowed to attend Yale and their kid goes to city community college.
Posted by: djwilliams | January 29, 2010, 11:48 pm 11:48 pm
“both Utah and Boise State had undefeated seasons but did not have an opportunity to play for the national championship. This seemingly discriminatory action…”
Typical liberal move- everyone and everything have to be on equal footing- bring down USC and Florida State to TCU and Boise St’s level- Toledo will go undefeated and the libs will say that they ought to be natl champs. Next they will say it’s discriminatory because your kid is allowed to attend Yale and their kid goes to city community college.
Posted by: djwilliams | January 29, 2010, 11:48 pm 11:48 pm
Don’t you have better things to do-BO? Perhaps work on the economy? What a joke!
Posted by: stevemb12 | January 29, 2010, 11:55 pm 11:55 pm
The federal government needs to stay out of college football. I happen to agree that a playoff system is needed. But the govt is running too much already. He cant reform the health care system but now he’s gonna reform college football??
Posted by: Zeke | January 30, 2010, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Did they not get the message in Massachusetts? Stay out of our lives!
Posted by: Red Sox rule | January 30, 2010, 12:10 am 12:10 am
Obama is a joke! Please wake me when he finishes his term. Maybe I’ll be able to find a job then.
Posted by: Sandy | January 30, 2010, 12:38 am 12:38 am
“countless” other fans who oppose the bowl series? I have yet to meet one, sorry. Why is this such a priority for the Obama administration anyway? Shouldn’t he focus on more important matters rather than a collegiate sports program?
This guy continues to disgust me on a weekly basis. The car industry, the bank industry, the medical industry, university police, bailouts and spending creating a master and servant relationship, now college football . . . the government intrusion never stops with this clown.
Posted by: EPU | January 30, 2010, 1:13 am 1:13 am
Even if there is a problem the White House should stay out of it. I’m astounded that this was even mentioned as part of an agenda.
Posted by: Robert Smith | January 30, 2010, 1:26 am 1:26 am
This president simply amazes me each time he opens his mouth. If it is not a lie to hook the gullable liberals, he is wanting to get the government’s nose in every aspect of American’s lives. Enough already obama!!!
Posted by: Sept Chase | January 30, 2010, 1:26 am 1:26 am
Amazing. Busy, busy, busy. Anything but doing what this administration should be doing. Killing jobs wherever it can find them. Sticking the government nose in everything. Get a clue, Mr. President. You are not a king. Good grief.
Posted by: mickeymat | January 30, 2010, 7:00 am 7:00 am
Americans don’t elect presidents to meddle in how college footbal operates. Butt out, Mr. President, it’s not your concern. How bout working on JOBS, and taxes, and security….you know, your job!
Posted by: bo | January 30, 2010, 7:41 am 7:41 am
Obama can’t deal with terrorists, but he wants to meddle in college football. If so many people don’t like the system, then this should be an internal issue to be addressed within the BCS. Is there nothing this dictator won’t meddle in?
Posted by: Girl with a Pearl Earring | January 30, 2010, 8:49 am 8:49 am
Finally! Now that all of our country’s real problems have been solved, its good too see that Obama has the time and energy to devote to imposing his will upon the college football playoff system. If we elect him for a second term, perhaps he can then focus on my son’s little league playoffs….
Posted by: stan | January 30, 2010, 9:16 am 9:16 am
How did this clown ever get elected. I can’t think of a more accurate representation of how incompetent he is as a leader that he is wasting any energy whatsoever on this completely irrelevant issue. I guess he’s satisfied with his progressive on the 150,000 more important items on his to do list? On second thought, if only all of our elected officials could dedicate all their time on issues this important the rest of us might actually save this country.
Posted by: Howie Did Ever | January 30, 2010, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Maybe the White House is taking this on at the request of Sen. Hatch, a Republican. As it is, both President and Senator have far more important concerns to face than college football.
Posted by: BachisBest | January 30, 2010, 9:38 am 9:38 am
The Sec teams will only play teams outside of the SEC so they can have as easy a schedule as Boise State and Utah.
Posted by: Kenneth Pennington | January 30, 2010, 9:38 am 9:38 am
Outrageous!! The day after President Obama assured the GOP that he has no interest in controlling the lives of Americans thru excessive government interference, he once again validates Joe Wilson’s outburst by attempting a government takeover of college sports. His actions and his words have very little in common.
Posted by: BubblerDad | January 30, 2010, 9:38 am 9:38 am
The BCS is a JOKE. It violates everything that America stands for. The schools that are not from major conferences have no chance to win making it unfair. If the BCS system was in place in other sports it would not be tolerated. The computer picks the champion….. WHAT? I always thought that the players on the field should decide who is the National Champion, not a computer and some pencil necked geeks who never played and really know nothing about the game but want to keep all the money for themselves. Every other college sport at all divisions has a legitimate playoff. Why does football use a computer? The answer is money. It should be made illegal so that all teams regardless of what conference they play in have the chance to win.
Posted by: dayle | January 30, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
If it was up to you guys the 1980 American hockey team should have just gave the gold medal to the Russians. The computer said the Russians were better. Why even show up to play? No miracle on ice for you!
Posted by: dayle | January 30, 2010, 10:07 am 10:07 am
What a waste of taxpayer money. Washington! You have no horse in that race. Don’t be stupid!
Posted by: rightbehind | January 30, 2010, 10:30 am 10:30 am
does the President have nothing more to do than worry about football
Posted by: linda | January 30, 2010, 10:32 am 10:32 am
Great move! I’m a huge college football fan, and myself among so many others think the BCS system is a joke. It’s not like Obama has to spend much time on the issue, so he can tackle it. Unlike the previous president, he can do multiple things at once. W couldn’t chew gum and walk.
Posted by: logan | January 30, 2010, 10:34 am 10:34 am
LOL!!
Robert wrote:”countless” other fans who oppose the bowl series? I have yet to meet one, sorry.
What planet are you from. I don’t know one real College Football fan that likes this crappy unfair system. This is not a Obama or Republican or Democrat issue, it is an American issue. BCS should go, the whole NCAA needs to change anyway. Coaches making millions, where does all that money go anyway?
Posted by: Offer up ideas | January 30, 2010, 11:01 am 11:01 am
How about Obama just resigns as President so he can become the NCAA Chairman and screw that up also. Obama is a complete joke; can anyone near him just wispher in his ear “shut the hell up, you make a fool of yourself everytime you speak”. Can 2012 come soon enough or do we have to Impeach this moron? Hillary must be getting her 2012 campaign signs together. God help us.
Posted by: Peter King | January 30, 2010, 11:09 am 11:09 am
Whether or not you agree with the BCS the scary thing is that our government is even entertaining the idea of forcing college football to change its current system. Especially for the reason that they don’t agree with it.
Posted by: Gary | January 30, 2010, 11:10 am 11:10 am
Doesn’t he have anything better to do… Oh right HE doesn’t!
Posted by: jafo | January 30, 2010, 11:16 am 11:16 am
It doesn’t matter how you feel about the the BCS system — The POTUS has no business spending time on that when he has already ignored the economy and jobs for a year while making stump speeches for healthcare reform!!
Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | January 30, 2010, 11:26 am 11:26 am
They (Obama and Gang) want to take our salt away so they can take our doctors away so the jobless don’t have to pay and now how college football is to play.
Get him out of office as ASAP before he drives this nation into the depths of despair!!
Posted by: Mary McCurry | January 30, 2010, 11:55 am 11:55 am
For goodness sake find something useful and constructive for the inept White House gaggle to do. They are way beyond ridiculous.
Posted by: rplat | January 30, 2010, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
Why would he worry about college football when there are bigger issues to deal with. Does he delegate ALL the really important issues to everyone else in his administration, so he can deal with minuscule issues like college football?
Please Mr. President, concentrate on the major tasks at hand – unemployment, housing,banking, & national security. The health of our country is more dependent on these issues than college football, and healthcare. Let common sense rule.
Posted by: dede | January 30, 2010, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Even when having a losing season, Notre Dame is pushed down the throat of football fans on a major TV network every single week. Many of us would rather be watching other teams. I detest Notre Dame on this account and never watch them.
It’s a rare day when one has the choice of watching a Boise State team that has turned in some fantastic performances in recent years.
This is the same sort of inequity epitomized by the BCS. I’m no fan of Orrin Hatch, but I do agree with his reference to ” . . . the tremendous inequities in the BCS that favor one set of schools over others.”
Posted by: Tom Camfield | January 30, 2010, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
I guess all you Obama haters missed the part the says this was requested by a Republican Senator. And that the Justice Dept said it MAY look into it as a Anti trust matter. The Story simply says Obama ,and many other sports fans, think the system discriminatory.
Perhaps you Obama hater should actually read these story’s and (shock) try to comprehend what you’re reading.
Posted by: bp | January 30, 2010, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
The sport is an important activity in our life so we should treat it with respect.
Also respect for Obama which is a great man.
Posted by: natural | January 30, 2010, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
Hey Obama, why don’t you concentrate on the economy, job creation, terrorism, and the 2 wars we are fighting? Unbelievable!
Posted by: RM | January 30, 2010, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
Every team should have a chance to play for a national championship! The whole BCS system is totally unfair. Let the kids play it on the field and not in some computer lab. The NCAA hides behind amateur competition while it rakes in billions of dollars. Something needs to be done….
Posted by: metigerman | January 30, 2010, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
I dont care if a Republican or Democrat came up with this. Let college football police itself. Keep government out of college sports. They’re taking over more of our lives daily!
Posted by: Charlie C | January 30, 2010, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
I agree with the article. We should get rid of BCS and implement a playoff system.
Posted by: DFW | January 30, 2010, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
bp, Does wanting to keep freedoms make me an Obama hater? Is this another instance where we are not allowed to criticize for fear of being labeled?
Posted by: Charlie C | January 30, 2010, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
DFW, I also agree we need a playoff system. I dont agree that the government should force one.
Posted by: Charlie C | January 30, 2010, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Please tell me this is satire
Posted by: Barney | January 30, 2010, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
I think he should worry about the tasks of the job he was ELECTED for, I didn’t know that one of his platforms was the BCS. How about the ECONOMY, and taken responsibility for our country and stop BIOBush. It’s been a year and stil playing the blame game. Real Transperency
Posted by: tjb057 | January 30, 2010, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
The United States is going in the tank because of Obama, and he’s worried about college football.
That’s you people get for putting him in there.
Posted by: playmoreball | January 30, 2010, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
LOL! This is great! I love seeing the satirical news like this on the Onion Report…oh, wait, this is on ABC News, isn’t it? Well, it’s still good news because it means Obama must have solved the problems of terrorism, the economy, and healthcare reform overnight or he wouldn’t be piddling around with this non-starter.
Posted by: President Suit | January 30, 2010, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
I would hope this would INCLUDE the supposed 40+ “Drowning Murders” of college athletes.
Posted by: Oklahoma Cowgirl | January 30, 2010, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
How about the ECONOMY, and taken responsibility for our country and stop BIOBush
Posted by: Boston | January 30, 2010, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
It was requested by Orrin Hatch so GOP backers look at your own party. The Justice department is deciding now because of his four page letter.
Posted by: GOPhers | January 30, 2010, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
Obama sure has his eye on the ball now!! Who cares about double-digit unemployment? Who cares about Iraq and Afghanistan? Who cares about socialized medicine? Who cares about ANYTHING of consequence? Now this MORON is going to take up the BCS.
Just 276 more days before these MORONS are ALL sent packing…. that’s all. We can make it!!! YES WE CAN!!!!
Posted by: Laughing_All_the____Way | January 30, 2010, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
More proof that Republicans can’t read. This investigation is riding on the back of Hatch, a REPUBLICAN. Not Obama. Obama made a comment about it when asked, because the congress filed reports about it. Why don’t you ask why Hatch brought it upon his conservative heart to bring this up in session. You guys never pay attention. Just complain about nothing. Where were your complaints when we had a POTUS who sent us down the proverbial creek?
Posted by: Ohplease! | January 30, 2010, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
Why not investigate creating jobs, less spending, the economy, the wars or ACORN? Now that he’s in trouble, Obama is campaigning for 2010 and 2012! The entire 2008 campaign was based on lies. Americans are fed up with HCF and Cap and Trade. We want them to create jobs and reduce debt, among other things. Obama and the liberals in Congress plan to cram this down our throats, regardless of what it takes. They’re doing it “under the table”. They’re making deals “behind closed doors”. We don’t want this massive, intrusive government. What happened to transparency and C-Span? This is the most corrupt administration in American history.
Posted by: TOO MANY LIES! | January 30, 2010, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Offer up ideas – Whether it is a crappy system or not isn’t the point. The point is that the U.S. Federal government has NO business being involved.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | January 30, 2010, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
Really? We have nothing better to do or spend money on than this? I must have missed the articles on the Financial crises abating, 2 wars ending, and the nuclear threat in Iran fading away.
Posted by: Bob | January 30, 2010, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
I don’t care who’s idea this was….the gov’t has NO role in college sports! The system is a mess but it’s not the govt’s role to get involved..they need to mind their own business & worry about creating jobs. I also don’t think baseball players should be testifying on Capital Hill about using steroids. If they did or didn’t, it has nothing to do with our gov’t and the gov’t should BUTT OUT!!!
Posted by: jen g | January 31, 2010, 2:20 am 2:20 am
Maybe College FB should be about helping these young men to graduate from college..rather than being a training mill for professional sports.. let the NFL pay for a farm team system to sort and train athletes!!
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | January 31, 2010, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
I welcome some government involvement in college sports.For instance if you dont put expenditure caps on schools FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL PROGRAMS .INBRED dopes from texas will spend 3 billion a year on football deficits while dropping men’s soccer ,wrestling ,and track programs all while trying to blame title IX when the truth is they are all caught up in the football arms race of spend ,spend,spend.By the way the government DOES need to get involved in reforming title IX its a federal law .
Posted by: Dan | August 30, 2010, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
When college coaches salaries are higher then pro salaries and college football and basketball programs are running huge deficits while cutting “non revenue making” sports something needs to be done.
Posted by: Dan | August 30, 2010, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm