Congress in College Football

The United States economy is in a state being compared to the Great Depression, President Obama has recently announced that we will be sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, health care reform is causing a nationwide controversy, so what is congress at work on? College football. Yes, a Hose of Representatives subcommittee approved a bill on Wednesday that is aimed at forcing college football to have a playoff system instead of the current Bowl Championship Series.

Why is this any of congress' business? The short answer is that it isn't, there are obviously more important things for our government to be doing than working on making a pastime have a more fair championship. In effect, the bill will allow the Federal Trade Commission to give the NCAA penalties for advertising the game as a national championship. This will likely only cause a change in advertising, and no difference in the way that the NCAA handles the football system currently in place.

This is not an issue which is pressing enough for congress to be involved in, as Bill Hancock, the Bowl Championship Series Executive Director, stated "With all the serious matters facing our country, surely Congress has more important issues than spending taxpayer money to dictate how college football is played." And he is absolutely correct, only around 15% of households with TVs tuned in for the championship game in 2008, not anywhere near a majority of taxpayers.

Congress should be focusing on government issues: finding a way to handle the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, repairing our crumbled economy, helping the millions of Americans without healthcare, not involving themselves in college football.

While it may be a goal of the government to protect consumers, and many fans do spend large amounts of money on sports related products, they have crossed a line with this use of time/money. The "national championship" advertising was not confusing to fans, who understand that is not the fairest way, and the new bill will not cause much change. There is not a need for government intervention in football, it is what it is and fans can protest how it is wrong all they want and try to convince the NCAA, but it is not the place of Congress to enforce the change.

Works Cited

"Bowl season finishes with decline in viewership - USATODAY.com." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. .

"Congress siding with Boise and TCU, looking to force an NCAA playoff." Washington DC News, Restaurants, more by Top Local Experts. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. .

"Congress takes up... college football? | mndaily.com - Serving the University of Minnesota Community Since 1900." News | mndaily.com - Serving the University of Minnesota Community Since 1900. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. .

"Congress, this is pure BCS -." The Item - South Carolina. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. .