POTUS, ESPN & the BCS

First, Barack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton. Then he took on John McCain and won yet again. But now he has dared to challenge his most powerful enemy yet, the Bowl Championship Series… can he possibly emerge victorious a third time?

That President-Elect Obama stated on 60 Minutes Sunday that he believes college football should institute a playoff system to determine the national champion is already old news.  What I find interesting is how quickly afterwards BCS coordinator and ACC commissioner John Swofford announced the new BCS television pact with ESPN.  Terms of the new deal (the first to place a major sport championship game on cable) call for ESPN to pay $125 million a year from 2011-2014 to broadcast all Bowl Championship Series games other than the Rose Bowl.

Hmmm… Everyone knows all too well that the very reason the BCS exists instead of a playoff system has everything to do with money for the so-called power conferences.  But the timing of the arrangement, plus its length (the deal expires two years after the end of Obama’s first and possibly only term), strike me as very suspicious.  Having a contract already in place adds that many more obstacles to any attempts to establish a college football playoff system.

On another BCS note, check out the “Welcome to the BCS” blurb on th official Bowl Championship Series home page.  ”A high note…” and  ”A showcase for the sport…”  How laughable is that?

• December 17, 2008 -- College Bowl Picks (0)
• January 9, 2009 -- 2008-2009 College Football Wrap-Up (0)
• January 8, 2009 -- Fierce And Nerdy: The BCS Championship Game – Oklahoma Sooners vs. Florida Gators (0)
• January 6, 2009 -- Running Up the Score (6)
• December 19, 2008 -- Nate’s Most Intriguing Bowl Matchups (2)