A Championship Strategy: Play-off the Voters

Before putting the BCS to bed, I had one more thought that came to me while thinking about last week’s post National Champion a National Emergency? Don't Think So... Now I must warn you before hand… this thought is somewhat ridiculous and is merely a product of my imagination. In no way, shape, or form do I truly believe it will or should ever become reality. But I still think it’s worth talking about, if only just to stir up some conversation.

The thought is again about politics and the BCS. Now I know this may contradict my last post, but think about this… What if politicians fought for sports issues on the campaign trail? For example: “Coming up on NBC Nightly News… Senator John McCain pushes for education reform, tax cuts, and a government-imposed budget on the Yankees.”

Seems pretty ridiculous I know. But could it actually work? In the case of the BCS, it just might.

Say Barack Obama promised voters that if elected President, he would create a college football playoff. Just think about some of the states that might have gone his way had they known he would put an end to the evil BCS.

Utah’s five electoral votes might have gone blue if they knew their beloved Utes might have a chance to play for the national title every year. Being in the Mountain West (a non-BCS conference), they don’t get much love when it comes to the BCS’ final computer rankings. However, after trouncing SEC powerhouse Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to finish as the only undefeated team in Division I college football, it’s difficult to come up with a reason why this team shouldn’t be considered worthy of a national championship.

The same case could be made for Idaho’s four electoral votes. A Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma in 2007 showed that Boise State can play with the best. Still, their weak Western Athletic Conference gets no respect.

Total electoral votes won so far: 9

Maybe the most compelling case can be made for Alabama. The owner of nine electoral votes, this red state houses two of the nation’s top football programs with two of the nation’s biggest BCS quibbles. Auburn hates the BCS more than anybody. In 2004, after an undefeated regular season, they were left out of the national championship. Instead the nod went to undefeated USC who destroyed also undefeated Oklahoma. Could the Tigers have competed with the Trojans? A playoff could have answered that.

And what about the University of Alabama? The Crimson Tide missed out on the national championship this year after suffering their first and only loss of the season in their last game against Florida. The problem? Florida also finished with the season with one-loss coming at the hands of a weak Ole Miss team.

They hate the BCS so much in Alabama, if Obama had mentioned it while campaigning there, they may have just handed him the electoral votes right then and there bringing the total electoral votes won so far to: 18.

Last, but certainly not least, is Texas. It would be hard to imagine the Longhorn State’s 34 electoral votes going to anybody other than a Republican. But hey, if there is one thing Texans love more than their republicans, it just might be their football… and this year they had a bone to pick with the BCS. One-loss Texas finished just behind one-loss Oklahoma in the final standings, sending the Sooners to the national championship game. The problem… Texas BEAT Oklahoma earlier in the season.

Knowing that Obama could have reversed the fate of their football teams might have just been enough to reverse the votes.

Total electoral votes won: 52


New Obama campaign ad!

National Champion a National Emergency? Don't think so...

It created quite a buzz, that’s for sure. Just days before Election Day, Barack Obama came out and said exactly what millions of Americans wanted to hear. No, not a solution to the nation’s deteriorating economy or new thoughts on foreign policy. In his most powerful and confident tone Obama announced: “I think it’s about time we have playoffs in college football!”

The statement came in an interview with ESPN’s Chris Berman during the halftime show of a Monday Night Football game, and suddenly, it was the talk of the sports world. A politician of that power echoing what all the fans, sportswriters, and coaches have been saying ever since the BCS began spoiling title hopes for title-worthy teams. When the others spoke, it was insignificant… just more of the same hopeless complaining. When Obama spoke, it brought a new light, a new fire… it brought back the hope.

Could our President actually have a say in today’s most heated sports debate? Probably. Should our President actually do anything about it? Eh, probably not.

It’s been a busy 18 days since Obama became President. An 18 days filled with economic stimulus packages, Guantanemo Bay and abortion bills, Wii bowling with the daughters… yet no mention of the BCS. That’s possibly because college football season ended almost a month ago putting the debate to bed until a new season with new controversies. But it’s probably because Obama knows better than to use his power to meddle in the affairs of sports. It’s great to have a President passionate about sports and even better to have one who expressed opinions. But that’s as far it should go and it’s as far as it will go. To start having politicians dictating the rules of our nation’s professional and collegiate sports would start a long journey down a very slippery slope. Where could it go from there? Congressmen vetoing trades because it hurts the team in their district? Basketball players charged with misdemeanors for flagrant fouls or football players charged for helmet to helmet contact? How about a Presidential pardon for the next big-named baseball player to be suspended for steroids?

Obviously these suggestions are extreme and would probably never happen but it helps to prove that problems in sports are trivial when compared to the problems that politicians should really be worrying about.

And if Obama did decide to act… what could he do? Legal experts gave Tim Lemke of the Washington Times some possible options.
1. Obama could impose an executive order on the NCAA to create a playoff. Result: Being a private institution, the NCAA probably would have the upper hand when the bill went to Congress.
2. Obama could have the Justice Department explore whether the NCAA is violating any laws by excluding non-major conferences from BCS games. Result: Most non-major conference schools shouldn’t be in BCS games anyway. Stupid idea.
3. Obama could threaten to remove the NCAA’s tax-exempt status. Result: Not enough money for the NCAA’s smaller sports to survive.

Taking legal action for an issue that is so trivial when looking at the big picture would be a waste of time. But changes DO need to be made in college football. So here’s to hoping that the conference officials and university Presidents in charge of these decisions will listen to their President and will put an end to the BCS before someone else steps out of their place and does it for them.