Federal legislation that could lead to a college football playoff tournament will move a step closer to reality on Wednesday in a hearing before a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection will consider a bill that would allow the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prohibit any bowl game from calling itself a "national championship" unless the game is "the final game of a single elimination post-season playoff system." The subcommittee is expected to vote on the proposal on Wednesday after a line-by-line consideration of the bill.
Written and sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), the bill is a direct attack on the BCS and, if enacted, would bring the long simmering controversy over the BCS to an end. In a legislative process that is long and can be tortuous, the hearing is a significant step. This is the furthest any bill on the BCS controversy has ever progressed on Capitol Hill.
At a hearing on the BCS issue in May, Barton demanded a playoff and warned BCS officials that if "they sit on their hands and yawn, this legislation could end up on the President's desk for his signature." This week's development, according to a spokesman for the committee, is Barton's response to the BCS's refusal to consider a playoff.
Wednesday's hearing is known as a "markup," a procedure that allows any committee member to propose amendments to the bill, followed by committee action on the amendments. The procedure is frequently used to iron out technical problems in the bill's language and to provide a forum for compromises among committee members on substantive issues.
Barton's bill is supported by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), the chairman of the subcommittee. If the subcommittee approves the bill, it will move to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where Barton enjoys some leverage as the ranking Republican. The next steps would be a vote on the floor of the House, passage by the Senate, and approval by President Barack Obama. Obama has said in numerous interviews on ESPN and on "60 Minutes" that he supports a playoff system.
The bill would give the FTC the authority to regulate the college football postseason with the power to obtain injunctions and to assess huge fines against any organization that promotes a "national championship game."
If enacted into law, the rule would become effective for the 2011 college football season and would affect bowl games played late in 2011 and in January of 2012.
I already see an out for the BCS. They can call the current title game a single elimination two team playoff, if this passes and gives the FTC this power.
For full disclosure, I hope it does pass, but that shouldn't shock any long time posters/lurkers.
Originally posted by ZeruelI already see an out for the BCS. They can call the current title game a single elimination two team playoff, if this passes and gives the FTC this power.
If this bill became a law, that argument would last about 3.4 seconds in court. People can't expect to get away with bad faith letter-of-the-law interpretations when there's actually someone on the other side who's gonna call them out on it.
It's in a subcommittee now in the House, that is a long way from it becoming law. And, if it somehow passed, there is a far greater likelihood that you would have the pre Bowl Alliance/BCS system put back into place before a playoff were ever to occur. Then, it is just the pollsters voting at the end of the year, as #1 would rarely play #2 in a bowl due to previous conference tie-ins. And, if this somehow limited conference tie-ins to bowls so that the anarchy of the late 80's occurred, God Bless Them.
Originally posted by ZeruelI already see an out for the BCS. They can call the current title game a single elimination two team playoff, if this passes and gives the FTC this power.
If this bill became a law, that argument would last about 3.4 seconds in court. People can't expect to get away with bad faith letter-of-the-law interpretations when there's actually someone on the other side who's gonna call them out on it.
- StingArmy
So what? The important thing is this bill in no way whatsoever "forces" a playoff. Hell they can just rename it to a typical bowl game, and call it the American Bowl or whatever but it would still match 1 vs 2. Let the AP name them as official champions instead of the bowl. What do they care? Or they can dump the BCS and go back to the way it was when they didn't have any championship game.
They certainly don't and won't have to go to a playoff.
So this must mean the economy has recovered, health care has been reformed, unemployment is at historic lows and we are no longer in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What a stupid, stupid waste of time. What will Fox, ESPN and every other sports outlet carp about if we solve the BCS problem.
Originally posted by ZeruelWritten and sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.)...
I would have believed a congressman from Ohio or Idaho, but TEXAS? He DOES know they're in the title game, right?
Texas Christian University is also in Texas.
Was going to say this.
Oh, and he DOES probably know they got 'robbed' last year, they only had 1 loss yet 2 1 loss teams (including one they beat) played, and their only loss was by 1 point on the road at a top 10 team.
Anyways, this link is nothing. Lawmakers have been trying to force a playoff since before I was born, it seems.
Originally posted by DrDirtSo this must mean the economy has recovered, health care has been reformed, unemployment is at historic lows and we are no longer in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What a stupid, stupid waste of time. What will Fox, ESPN and every other sports outlet carp about if we solve the BCS problem.
The one argument in favor of this being a legitimate use of Congress' time is that the BCS as it stands is an unlawful restraint of trade and/or an unregulated monopoly. Take that for whatever it's worth.
Originally posted by DrDirtSo this must mean the economy has recovered, health care has been reformed, unemployment is at historic lows and we are no longer in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Brother, I was just about to say the same thing. Nice to see Congress has its priorities straight.
"You're about as much fun as a divorce-- which is not a bad idea." "I want custody of me."
--Michael Knight and KITT, Knight Rider
Fan of the Indianapolis Colts (Super Bowl XLI Champions), Indiana Pacers and Washington Nationals
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
Co-Winner of Time's Person of the Year Award, 2006