BCS Presidential Oversight Committee denies MWC's proposal
June 25, 2009 11:03 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
The Mountain West's plight to change the BCS is tabled at least for now.
The BCS' Presidential Oversight Committee, in a Wednesday teleconference, heard each conference's take on implementing the Mountain West's eight-team playoff plan and decided that there was "no overall support" for the idea.
"There was frank and respectful discussion among the Presidential Oversight Committee members," David Frohnmayer, University of Oregon President and BCS Presidential Oversight Committee Chairman, said in a statement. "These presidents and chancellors are dedicated to their universities, and also to the sport of college football. They want to do what's best for the game.
"There was no overall support for the proposal, although some conferences were interested in considering certain elements of it in the future -- particularly those related to revenue, access and governance of the BCS arrangement. As I have stated many times, the group will give full and due consideration to proposals submitted by the conferences. Each conference is encouraged to suggest ideas for improvement."
In March, the Mountain West outlined a plan that would create an eight-team playoff using the current BCS bowls -- FedEx Orange, Allstate Sugar, Tostitos Fiesta and Rose -- as well as a fifth unnamed bowl. Ultimately the teams would be whittled down until a national champion was determined.
Almost immediately, the Mountain West received strong opposition not only from the six automatic qualifying conferences and Notre Dame, which has a stake in the BCS, but also its non-automatic qualifying brethren.
But that hasn't stopped the Mountain West from taking its fight to Capitol Hill. In May, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson appeared before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Also last month, Utah senators Orrin Hatch (R) and Bob Bennett (R) sent a letter to Frohnmayer and BCS coordinator John Swofford, criticizing the "inadequacies" of the current system. Utah attorney general Mark Shurtleff has said he plans to file an antitrust lawsuit against the BCS.
Frohnmayer did say some conferences are considering parts of the Mountain West's proposal, "particularly those related to revenue, access and the governance of the BCS arrangement."
But for now, the system will remain unchanged and Frohnmayer contends that's a good thing and it's the way it's going to be for the foreseeable future.
"I believe we all agree that no system will ever be considered perfect, particularly by those conferences and institutions whose teams are not chosen in any particular year," Frohnmayer said. "But the BCS is the best postseason arrangement that has ever existed in college football."
Below is the entire statement from Frohnmayer regarding the Mountain West's proposed changes to the BCS system.
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