BCS' solution: Market the BCS better
By Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News
October 21, 2009, 12:19PM
http://blog.al.com/solomon/2009/10/bcs_might_hire_permanent_point.html
BCS logo.jpgLeave it to college football to attempt to fix the public's annual frustration with the Bowl Championship Series by marketing it better. The Associated Press reported today that BCS officials are considering hiring a permanent point person to be a full-time advocate for the BCS.
Until now, I never thought working for the IRS could be surpassed in the category, "Jobs I Don't Want to Reveal at a Dinner Party."
This latest idea comes as Senator Orrin Hatch wrote a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to launch a Justice Department investigation into the BCS over antitrust laws. According to the AP, Hatch wrote to Obama that a "strong case" can be made that the BCS violates antitrust laws.
Currently, the commissioners of the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big East, Big Ten and Big 12 rotate two-year terms as BCS coordinator. It's a job no one wants. SEC Commissioner Mike Slive has likened the two years to serving in a penalty box. ACC Commissioner John Swofford, the current BCS coordinator, has had to testify before Congress twice this year to defend the BCS.
Conflicts of interest inevitably occur for the BCS coordinator, whose job first and foremost is to be an advocate for his conference, not defend a flawed system that makes their schools rich. No conference commissioner likes having to talk from two sides of his mouth as one of his teams gets screwed by the BCS. Talk about awkward.
New Big East Commissioner John Marinatto is supposed to take over as BCS coordinator next season. However, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese told the AP that "putting anybody in that position and not having had them live through it is not being fair. It is a hard, hard thing to do."
Memo to the BCS: If your reason for hiring a full-time coordinator is that a current commissioner shouldn't have to live through college football's version of purgatory, perhaps it's time to build a new house, not try to save it with a fire extinguisher.
Swofford confirmed to the AP that commissioners and presidents are considering potential changes to the administrative structure to accommodate the growth of the BCS. No decision has been made. The ad for new BCS coordinator could read like this:
* Seeking even-tempered person who won't lose his cool when he's unable to explain to irate fans what factors go into each computer ranking.
* Must have good relationships with coaches to talk the American Football Coaches Association off the ledge from returning to non-transparent final ballots in 2010.
* Close living proximity to Washington D.C. or frequent flyer miles are a plus for recurring trips to Congress.
* Needs legal experience to handle regular lawsuit threats from those pesky Mountain West and WAC folks, who were supposed to take our money and additional bowl access and go away.
* Must be able to eloquently spout every defense presidents have made for why there's no playoff. In advance of the job interview, the candidate must submit written papers on these arguments: Hurts regular season attendance, hurts regular season TV ratings, hurts the bowls, hurts the academic welfare of student-athletes, and hurts the physical welfare of student-athletes. Special consideration will be given to anyone who can successfully defend the presidents adding a 12th regular-season game but not a playoff.
* Hates dogs. Despises sunsets on the beach. Enjoys being a glutton for punishment.
By Jon Solomon -- The Birmingham News
October 21, 2009, 12:19PM
http://blog.al.com/solomon/2009/10/bcs_might_hire_permanent_point.html
BCS logo.jpgLeave it to college football to attempt to fix the public's annual frustration with the Bowl Championship Series by marketing it better. The Associated Press reported today that BCS officials are considering hiring a permanent point person to be a full-time advocate for the BCS.
Until now, I never thought working for the IRS could be surpassed in the category, "Jobs I Don't Want to Reveal at a Dinner Party."
This latest idea comes as Senator Orrin Hatch wrote a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to launch a Justice Department investigation into the BCS over antitrust laws. According to the AP, Hatch wrote to Obama that a "strong case" can be made that the BCS violates antitrust laws.
Currently, the commissioners of the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big East, Big Ten and Big 12 rotate two-year terms as BCS coordinator. It's a job no one wants. SEC Commissioner Mike Slive has likened the two years to serving in a penalty box. ACC Commissioner John Swofford, the current BCS coordinator, has had to testify before Congress twice this year to defend the BCS.
Conflicts of interest inevitably occur for the BCS coordinator, whose job first and foremost is to be an advocate for his conference, not defend a flawed system that makes their schools rich. No conference commissioner likes having to talk from two sides of his mouth as one of his teams gets screwed by the BCS. Talk about awkward.
New Big East Commissioner John Marinatto is supposed to take over as BCS coordinator next season. However, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese told the AP that "putting anybody in that position and not having had them live through it is not being fair. It is a hard, hard thing to do."
Memo to the BCS: If your reason for hiring a full-time coordinator is that a current commissioner shouldn't have to live through college football's version of purgatory, perhaps it's time to build a new house, not try to save it with a fire extinguisher.
Swofford confirmed to the AP that commissioners and presidents are considering potential changes to the administrative structure to accommodate the growth of the BCS. No decision has been made. The ad for new BCS coordinator could read like this:
* Seeking even-tempered person who won't lose his cool when he's unable to explain to irate fans what factors go into each computer ranking.
* Must have good relationships with coaches to talk the American Football Coaches Association off the ledge from returning to non-transparent final ballots in 2010.
* Close living proximity to Washington D.C. or frequent flyer miles are a plus for recurring trips to Congress.
* Needs legal experience to handle regular lawsuit threats from those pesky Mountain West and WAC folks, who were supposed to take our money and additional bowl access and go away.
* Must be able to eloquently spout every defense presidents have made for why there's no playoff. In advance of the job interview, the candidate must submit written papers on these arguments: Hurts regular season attendance, hurts regular season TV ratings, hurts the bowls, hurts the academic welfare of student-athletes, and hurts the physical welfare of student-athletes. Special consideration will be given to anyone who can successfully defend the presidents adding a 12th regular-season game but not a playoff.
* Hates dogs. Despises sunsets on the beach. Enjoys being a glutton for punishment.
