PLAYOFF PAC LAUNCHES EFFORT TO REFORM COLLEGE FOOTBALL; KEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS COMMENT
For Immediate Release
Monday, October 19, 2009
Contact: Press@PlayoffPAC.com
WASHINGTON, DC—Playoff PAC, a new federal political committee dedicated to discarding the Bowl Championship Series and instituting a competitive post-season championship for college football, today announced the official launch of its reform effort.
Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) stated: “Yesterday’s release of the first BCS rankings for 2009 remind us that selecting a major college football national champion is still arbitrary and anti-competitive. The BCS process continues to operate like an exclusive country club rather than a true play-off system. I fully support Playoff PAC’s efforts to bring change to college football.”
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) said: “I think I’ve made it clear that I believe the BCS to be fundamentally unfair. I’ve always hoped that the government would not have to get involved and that those with the power to reform the system would recognize the error of their ways. But, even after hearing the complaints of millions of college football fans, not to mention government officials, they are apparently unwilling to make any significant changes. That being case, I’m supportive of all reasonable efforts to ensure that students and schools are treated fairly and a national playoff system being advocated by Playoff PAC seems like a reasonable way to accomplish that goal.”
Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) stated: “The entire BCS system is a farce. It arbitrarily selects champions and reduces competition between conferences. College football’s post-season championship should be decided on the field, and that’s why a playoff system is needed. I look forward to working with Playoff PAC in reforming college football.”
Bryson Morgan, a member of Playoff PAC’s Board of Directors, said: “All of us recognize that our nation has weightier issues to tackle. However, this issue merits attention because college football’s reach extends beyond the playing field. Democratically elected leaders should devote attention to a national institution that is financially and culturally important to their constituents—particularly when BCS officials demonstrate repeated, willful deafness to public appeals for change. We look forward to working with candidates and officeholders to bring about an accessible playoff system that rewards on-the-field accomplishment.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON PLAYOFF PAC
What Is Playoff PAC?
Playoff PAC is a federal political committee dedicated to establishing a competitive post-season championship for college football. The Bowl Championship Series is inherently flawed. It crowns champions arbitrarily and stifles inter-conference competition. Fans, players, schools, and corporate sponsors will be better served when the BCS is replaced with an accessible playoff system that recognizes and rewards on-the-field accomplishment. To that end, Playoff PAC helps elect pro-reform political candidates, mobilizes public support, and provides a centralized source of pro-reform news, thought, and scholarship.
How Will Playoff PAC Help Reform College Football?
Playoff PAC fills a void in existing reform efforts. Many groups ask the public to sign petitions or boycott BCS sponsors. But frankly, more substantial measures are necessary to build the sustained public and political pressure that will bring meaningful reform.
Change will happen when there are more college football reformers in Congress. Until now, only a small, dedicated group of federal officeholders has taken action on this issue. The BCS has wrongly dismissed them as political panderers and quickly diffused pressure that resulted from congressional hearings and legislation. The BCS could not successfully do this if the coalition of college football reformers were broader. This “reform caucus” must be expanded so BCS officials understand that federal intervention is imminent if they refuse to answer the public’s calls for change. Playoff PAC will therefore vigorously support pro-reform candidates and defend individuals who advance reform proposals.
Change will happen when the reform movement coalesces and matures. The BCS offers the public and media a centralized information source where it aggressively promotes its agenda. In contrast, pro-reform thought is scattered around the Internet in countless op-eds and fan blog posts, where most BCS arguments are not rebutted. The BCS’s days without daily, active, and organized opposition are over. Playoff PAC aggregates news and high-quality scholarship from the reform community and vigorously refutes BCS arguments through its website and other public communications.
Through these and other activities, Playoff PAC will play a crucial role in replacing the BCS status quo with an accessible playoff system that encourages inter-conference competition and crowns national champions based on their on-the-field accomplishments.
