Playoff PAC, the new federal political committee dedicated to discarding the Bowl Championship Series and instituting a competitive postseason championship for big-time college football, has launched its first advertisement entitled "You Had a Great Season."
"Under the BCS system, certain schools are eliminated from championship contention before their season even starts," Playoff PAC co-founder Matthew Martinez said. "Undefeated teams from outside of the 'privileged conferences' are offered only a verbal slap on the back. This is wrong.
"When the BCS imposes a glass ceiling on these teams, it is not merely denying fans bragging rights. It is robbing schools of the substantial institutional benefits — improved funding, alumni networks, publicity and admissions numbers — that these playing opportunities would bring."
The ad runs 47 seconds, but a shorter version — 30 seconds — will run on TV stations in Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth and Salt Lake City later this week.
The ad features comments made by BCS executive director Bill Hancock on the Nov. 18th edition of the "Dan Patrick Show." To listen to the full radio interview, click here.
As Playoff PAC points out, the BCS has permitted only 12 teams to play for its championship during its 12-year existence. The six BCS conferences received $430.6 million more in BCS revenue than the five non-BCS conferences from 2005-09.
The revenue disparity would have been greater if non-BCS teams — Boise State, Hawaii and Utah on two occasions — had not qualified for BCS bowls in four of those postseasons.
The people SPENDING the money don't give two rips about the non-BCS teams... they want the SEC, PAC-10 and the BIG-12 in those games because that's where the fan following (and more money) is.
Why is it so hard to understand that it's the "Golden Rule": he who has the gold makes the rules... and in this case, it's the SEC.
Seems quite fair to me.
Posted by: Purple People Eater | January 04, 2010 at 02:53 PM
College Basketball has essentially a 17 day season...no drama during the purported regular season, unlike college football, and this is reflected in TV ratings.
Besides, over the past 12 years, only 17 schools have met in the finals BB tourney, not a big difference. Those other schools from the smaller conferences largely are in the tourney to make up the numbers, with virtually no chance of winning the championship.
Posted by: John Nicholas | January 04, 2010 at 03:43 PM