House panel passes college football playoff bill

[The Straight Story]

House panel passes college football playoff bill

WASHINGTON – A House subcommittee approved legislation Wednesday aimed at forcing college football to switch to a playoff system to determine a national champion, over the objections of some lawmakers who said Congress had more pressing matters on its plate.

The bill, which faces long odds of becoming law, would ban the promotion of a postseason NCAA Division I football game as a national championship unless that title contest is the result of a playoff. The measure passed by voice vote in a House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee, with one audible "no," from Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga.

"With all due respect, I really think we have more important things to spend our time on," Barrow said before the vote, although he stressed he didn't like the current Bowl Championship Series, either.

The bill's sponsor, GOP Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, said the BCS system is unfair and won't change unless prompted by Congress.

The vote came three days after the BCS selections were announced, including the Jan. 7 national title game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Texas.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bcs_congress

[chelsea0011]

1. Huh???

[Lance_Boyle]

2. The BCS system *is* a sham, but

not as much of a sham as Congress. Unreal.

[The Straight Story]

10. It is rather sad... (nt)

[NightWatcher]

3. "more important things" blah blah. If they can pass something that doesnt cost $ and works...

I'll be pleasantly surprised

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

6. But what enumerated power gives congress the right to govern the BCS?

Federal laws governing the structure of a football tournament.
That's goddamn laughable.

[gratuitous]

9. Interstate commerce

Even before I clicked on the link, I strongly suspected that Joe Barton was somehow involved. What a nincompoop.

[LiberalFighter]

4. The BCS should replace Texas with another school for the title.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

5. Wow, this real (HR 390). IMO this is retarted.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-390

Why the hell is government sticking it's nose into college football?!?
Also, what grants congress the power to legislate over college sports?

This is so fucking stupid... even if the BCS system is retarted.
It's intrusive and a waste of resources at a time when congerss has much bigger problems.
Any congresscritter that wastes time voting yes for this shouldn't be reelected.

[KamaAina]

8. "retarted"?

Many people with intellectual disabilities (the term "retarded" is considered offensive) are sports fans.

[HopeHoops]

7. Why the hell does Congress GIVE a fuck about sports?

They waste more time on silly games about silly games than they seem to spend on things that actually MATTER in this country. Congress should let the people who actually care about sports deal with what's going on with sports and instead focus on important issues. Hell, a bill to regulate whether toilet paper should flow over or under on the roll holder would be more important.

[OhioChick]

13. My thoughts exactly. n/t

[Johonny]

18. college sports tends to be very regional and in theory

they're regional representatives. For the effort it takes to pass these things, if a few unhappy people feel represented I have no problem with it.

[AngryAmish]

11. This is so stupid

It is not the job of the us government to tell colleges how to conduct the search for the best football team. If you don't like the system, don't watch.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Wow. The GOP certainly takes 'keeping the government out of your business' seriously, doesn't it?

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

16. There are dem cosponsors and dems in the commitee as well. This isn't just repug.

I am surprised either party gives a shit about this.
My guess is they all want more rounds of playoffs so that they can gamble on more games.

[Ganja Ninja]

14. Nothing like having your priorities in order.

Sponsored by a Republican from Texas. (Some how I knew that even before I read it.) :banghead:

[ThomThom]

15. we spend way too much time on college football

and money
college is for learning not flying kids around the country to play a game. Play in a regional conference and then get back to the books. I would much rather have pro basketball on New Years day than amateur kids that don't get paid bringing in the big bucks for the networks.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

17. College football makes schools alot of money.

Football and basketball make TONS of money for the Div 1 universities.

One reason they do the BCS is to save time. The season would have to be increased almost a whole month.
The season already begins at or before the start of the fall semester and goes all the way to the end.
As it is now, the championship games are played during winter break before the spring semester begins.

[ThomThom]

19. and how much does the athlete get?

Doesn't change my opinion.

[The Straight Story]

20. I think a lot (or some anyway) get their education paid for

So in some ways they do get something.

My First X wife was offered a full ride scholarship to 10 universities (she didn't take any though as she did not get the school she wanted...like I said, she is an X - although she has passed on so not going to slam her, but I told her many times she should have taken one of those scholarships, I would have killed to have enough money for college).

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

29. They get a free education as well as

exposure on a national stage to see if they can play at the next level.

As someone who is sitting under ALOT of student loans, I can say it's a pretty big leg up in life if you can get your degree and start life with no strings attached. School loans are killin me - I'm thinking of attending classes again part time JUST so I can defer the payments (it's just a bonus if I pull a grad degree out of it).

[ThomThom]

30. Yes some, not all get some or all of their eduction paid for.

Some get life long injuries but most students get nothing.
And what about the teams that don't get to go the big games, they get huge expenses for programs that take away from every other facet of life at the university or college.
All students should have the opportunity to learn sportsmanship first hand not just the handful to play football. Stop exploiting the students.

This is my last comment on the subject, I believe strongly in the point of view I have taken and will not be swayed.
Thanks to all for reading and thinking about it.

[marmar]

21. Deck Chairs, Big Unsinkable Boats......

[HuckleB]

22. Oh brother.

What else is there to say about such nonsense?

[Toasterlad]

23. Well, It's Better Than That "Yeah For Christmas!" Bullshit They Were Doing.

[liberalhistorian]

26. I'm almost afraid to ask what

that's about? Not sure I can take the answer right now, though, my "stupid" tolerance is getting a mite low tonight.

[Toasterlad]

27. There's Another Thread On DU Somewhere About Congress Passing a Resolution In Favor of Christmas.

Yeah, that's what I said, too.

[1]

24. it's about time. that took longer than hcr...

[liberalhistorian]

25. Oh, Good Gravy, what a load of trivial shit!

Why is it that Republicant's and ConservaDems don't give a shit about the gross unfairness of current health care, corporatocracy, etc., etc., but get their knickers in a knot about stupid unimportant shit like this? WHO. FUCKING. CARES.

[liberalhistorian]

28. Hey, Barton, guess what? You wanna know what's "unfair

but won't change unless prompted by Congress"? The current health care system AND the so-called "reform" bill! But I realize college football is oh so much more important, so please, carry on with your useless, trivial bullshit.

[Initech]

31. Ok so we don't get a public option but we do get a streamlined college football playoff system.

We're fucked as a country. :crazy: