EDITORIAL: Capitol Hill tackles the BCS

Proving that no matter is safe from governmental involvement, college football is the latest political football on Capitol Hill.

Three bills have been introduced in the House to blitz the NCAA’s Bowl Championship Series, and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican, threatens to throw his own penalty flags in Senate hearings later this year. While we sympathize with the senator’s ire that undefeated second- (AP), fourth- (USAT), or sixth- (BCS) ranked University of Utah was denied a championship berth, the legislature hardly has a winning record of solving such complex policy issues.

Congress, however, is seeking comprehensive football reform. The House bills would impose a playoff system, restrict federal funds to colleges and universities with football teams participating in the heinous “bowls,” and ban any mention of the BCS being a “national championship” as false and deceptive advertising. This latter bill might raise uncomfortable questions in international circles about Major League Baseball’s chutzpah in calling its championship the “World” Series, but we digress.

While the global economy melts down, the financial system teeters on the brink of dissolution, and our global adversaries circle like hungry vultures, it is nice to see that Congress has the time to attend to a critical matter like this. In our ideal world, there would be no more important issues for Congress to handle than overseeing postseason college sports. Unfortunately, the world is in crisis, and our leaders should keep their eyes on that ball.