Weekend Grudge "Classic": BCS System

This "classic" edition of the Weekend Grudge was originally posted on 8/30/08. Unfortunately nothing has changed and the grudge remains...and will be re-posted before the beginning of each college football season until it does.....The college football season began this week, and thus it is time to make my annual complaint about the BCS system that will determine the Division I National Champion. I remain puzzled as to why a playoff system is not in place (though we all know the real an$wer). One argument is there isn’t enough time, but if that is true, how can other divisions very successfully have playoffs to determine their champs? Or take the 12 regular season games and cut back by one. There is also a huge layoff for teams between the end of the conference schedule and the bowls, and that time could be reduced as well. Another argument I have heard is that it will take away from the importance of the non-playoff bowl games. Is that a serious argument? There are currently 34 bowl games, meaning 68 of the 119 Division I teams (57%) make a bowl. How significant came some of these games be now when more teams make them than do not? Is there really a lot of luster to be lost from such games as the St. Petersburg Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, or the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl? There is no need for a field of 64, like March Madness, but even a 16-team tourney (or 8? how about 4?) would end speculation as to who is #1 when all is said and done. The National Championship could be played the week before the Super Bowl and would be HUGE. But regardless of what excuses are made to avoid a playoff, this like most things is simply a money issue. So it’s time to figure out how to make a tournament just as profitable as the current system and make it happen…even if it means the Papajohns.com Bowl is made to be slightly less significant.