Rich get Richer, BCS Auto-qualifying on the table

[Water Pony]

Plus, another rumor is Orange Bowl wants to drop tie to BE

No changes planned for BCS system

Posted: Friday February 4, 2005 5:27PM; Updated: Friday February 4, 2005 5:27PM

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- While changes to the Bowl Championship Series ranking system still appear months away, there will be more money for the top teams.

Commissioners from the 11 Division I-A conferences and Notre Dame's athletic director wrapped up three days of meetings Friday without a definite plan for changing the selection formula.

But they did reach agreements in principle with the Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls to remain part of the BCS through 2009. The Rose Bowl is also part of the BCS, but has its own deal.

Under the deal that would go into effect the 2006 season, team payouts would start around $17 million and increase to about $18.5 million by the end of the deal. BCS teams from last season will get about $16 million each.

"We're pleased with the fact that we've been able to achieve some growth at a time when a lot of people where questioning if that would be possible," BCS coordinator and Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg said.

Now the commissioners have to figure out how to pick the BCS teams.

The Associated Press in December asked that its poll no longer be used to help determine the teams. The BCS formula also used six computer polls, but was streamlined last season to put a heavier emphasis on the human polls -- the AP media poll and coaches' poll.

Last month at the NCAA convention, the commissioners discussed many options, including a "hybrid" approach incorporating the coaches and computer polls with a selection committee similar to the 10-person panel used to set the NCAA basketball tournament field.

"Every meeting leads to a little more clarity about what the options are and how they can be constructed," Weiberg said. "The full range of options that we've talked about before remains under consideration."

Weiberg said a committee approach without some kind of ranking system was unlikely. He said commissioners still want some kind of ranking.

Other conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White, whose school is part of the BCS, referred questions to Weiberg.

There will be a series of conference calls and they could meet at the NCAA Final Four, but Weiberg said there still may not be any final decisions at their next scheduled meeting in late April.

"Even if we get a firm direction in mind, it might take another period of time after that to firm it up before we would be prepared to announce all the precise details," he said, not elaborating on a timeframe.

It will be the fifth time since the system was implemented in 1998 that the BCS will change the way it computes its standings.

There were also discussions this week about automatic BCS qualifications, and how to determine which and how many conferences should get those spots. But those changes won't be made for at least two years.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press.

[SWC2010]

Reading this article, I noticed AP covered this out of "Irving, Texas". The fact that the leading Commissioners of the BCS would meet in Irving tells me they are idiots & will never figure out any logical playoff system!

[Stallion]

DFW is the most accessible airport in the country. For years Irving has been one of the more popular places to hold these meetings so the NCAA representatives can meet at a central locale.

[Eddie P]

True dat.


But I thought they were meeting in Grapevine at that Gaylord thing?

[SWC2010]

True dat.


But I thought they were meeting in Grapevine at that Gaylord thing?

Your right, EP, ncaa & others met LAST month at the Gaylord.

I was just taking a swipe at the 12 wise men, who control the largest venue of American athletics, then elect to meet in scenic Irving (this month).

BTW, Stallion, the BCS Commiss meet all over. Last year, they met in San Diego. SD is certainly a strategic travel location for all parties east & west.