Sen. Hatch suggests Justice Department look at BCS(College Football)

[JonLP24]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, reaffirmed his unhappiness with the exclusionary nature of the Bowl Championship Series at a Senate Judiciary hearing Tuesday and said there could be antitrust violations that should be examined by the Justice Department.

"There is an arrogance to the BCS that just drives me nuts," Hatch said at a subcommittee meeting on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights. "That comes with power; they have the power, and they are exercising it.

"It's time to throw open the door and reconsider their position. I think Justice should look into this. It's time to quit playing their games and be fair to everyone."

Justice Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona would say only they are "monitoring the hearing."

Hatch was the only senator who heard testimony from Utah president Michael Young, Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman and antitrust lawyers Barry Brett and William Monts, III

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2009-07-07-bcs-congress_N.htm

[wilt the stilt]

1. very important

right up there with healthcare

[pinniped]

2. lol

I take it you're a football fan.

Next, they'll be investigating illegal mods to NASCAR cars.

[JonLP24]

3. lol

I think the BCS sucks and everything but suggesting the Justice Department look at it. :wtf:

[No Elephants]

4. The wheels are coming off the world and Hatch is nutty over college football? All rightie, then.

[get the red out]

5. Did BYU or Utah not get a bowl bid last year?

Isn't this what the NCAA is for, figuring out how to run college athletics?

I wonder how Senator Hatch feels about making college more affordable to non-athletes? Guess that kind of thing doesn't rate the Senate's time.

[JonLP24]

10. To be fair that isn't the issue

6 wins gets you into a bowl game no matter what conference you're in but many are not very prestigious. BCS is simply the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and the National Championship. The issue is who gets in the National Championship and the money gets overwhelmingly paid to the Big 6 conferences (Pac-10, Big-12, Big-10, SEC, ACC, Big East)

What may play a role is he is a Utah Senator and Utah went 13-0 and even beat Alabama who was ranked #1 all the way up to the SEC Championship game but still did not have an opportunity to compete for the National Championship.

I agree the BCS needs reformed but like other posters have pointed we have more pressing issues then this. His defense for this line of reasoning is "It's a business like anything else."

[get the red out]

12. Where is the NCAA?

That does make sense, but isn't the NCAA the body that should spend time on this issue? It seems that this sort of thing is what they are in existence for. I am sure I would also be pissed if my Alma Mater were a football school instead of a basketball school,(six or 7 football wins is considered wonderful).

I just enjoy making fun of Hatch. Horrible to say, but if it upset that jerk, it kind of makes me laugh.

[JonLP24]

18. I think the NCAA is the one that created this BCS thing and continue to do so

I think the NCAA should make the changes necessary that other conferences have a better shot to compete like College Basketball has a tournament and every conference winner gets a shot.

As far as Orrin Hatch I share your opinion. I laughed when I saw this article I had to post it. I was thinking it should probably go to the lounge but since it involves the Federal Government it is ok to be in LBN at least IMO.

[hugo_from_TN]

24. There is no National Championship. The winner wins the BCS Championship.

[JonLP24]

25. Ok BCS National Championship Game

Everyone knew what I was talking about in my post.

[a la izquierda]

11. Football and other sports...

keep college affordable at my university. It's a big university too. Anecdotal, perhaps, but I believe that's the case at lots of large universities with good athletic programs.

[get the red out]

17. I am a HUGE college sports fan

I am just going after Hatch. I can't stand the guy. And I do think it would be better for him to address helping higher education be accessible to more families, but Republicans tend to not be into that, greedy bastards.

I agree on college athletics benefiting the institution 100%. My old college just went through getting unjustly reamed out in the local and national news for spending loads of money to get a good basketball coach, but it will pay off in the end for the university in a lot of ways, including additional academic scholarship funding.

[a la izquierda]

26. I totally agree with you!

I just was pointing it out, in case you didn't know. :toast:

[KamaAina]

29. Utah did, but not to the national championship game

despite being undefeated.

So yup, another case of Coleman-itis.

[rurallib]

6. Talk about arrogant

Hey Hatch, college football won't get me health care!
I have a better idea, ban the fucking sport so easily distracted senators can concentrate on real policy.

[indepat]

9. There is an arrogance about clueless Hatch that drives me nuts

:P

[WriteDown]

16. See post 15 nt

[WriteDown]

15. Why rail against Hatch?

He stole this idea from Obama.

[Ian David]

7. Because all our other problems are solved. n/t

[Dawgs]

8. Good. This is a pretty big deal to us college football fans.

And, I'm not kidding.

[Stuckinthebush]

13. He actually has a point

There is a great deal of money in the mix for BCS teams.

Of course this isn't as important as many other justice department priorities, but Hatch is right that they do need to eventually look into it.

God, did I just agree with Orrin Hatch? I'm going to go take a shower....

[WriteDown]

14. Cool he is right on the same page as Obama...

The BCS has to go. The favoritism that Notre Dame receives should be reason enough alone.

[Johnyawl]

19. Good idea Hatch! Oh, and while the Justice Dept is looking into anti-trust...

"There is an arrogance to the Oil companies that just drives me nuts," Hatch (shoulda )said at a subcommittee meeting on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights. "That comes with power; they have the power, and they are exercising it.

"It's time to throw open the door and reconsider their position. I think Justice should look into this. It's time to quit playing their games and be fair to everyone."

[david_vincent]

20. Actually,

I don't believe that colleges should play sports at all. A college or a university is supposed to be an institution for learning. I reject the idea that sports somehow benefits the school - in fact, I think that's a spurious rationalization. If you like sports, fine. Just say you want colleges to play sports because you're a sports fan. But it's impossible to say with a straight face that playing sports is actually a legitimate part of higher education.
When it comes to big sports like football and basketball, it's really all about money, just like nearly everything else in America. Money is what really matters. Don't believe me? Then why isn't college badminton or croquet considered in the same light -- or, for that matter, even track and field??
I deliberately went to a college that has no sports so that I wouldn't have to share the campus with jocks who expect to be treated like demigods (and, inevitably, some people do treat them that way). I also work at a college that has no sports. And when it comes to college sports like football, I just don't give a rat's ass. It's NOT unAmerican to believe that institutions of higher education should not waste their time and money on sports.
Sorry for being a radical believer that education should be the first and only priority for institutions of higher education.

[WriteDown]

21. Yep, and they should wear uniforms with drab greys and browns

Colors can be distracting and may interfere with learning. :eyes:

[Rebubula]

22. Other side...

...is that sports pours BILLIONS of dollars into schools every year.

I understand your opinion and respect it...however, sports money does help many people go to college and enjoy nice campuses, dorms dining halls etc.

[ladywnch]

23. "There is an arrogance..........That comes with power......"

yeah, just like Congress!!!!!!!

clearly the BCS HAS more power than Congress! LOL

Project much Orin?!!!!

[lumberjack_jeff]

27. Tell you what Orrin, let's make a deal.

BYU can be champion next year in exchange for your vote on public healthcare. Whaddya say?

[Vidar]

28. LOL.