NCAA and SMU

[jtstang]

Actually mrydel, this discussion started with SMU suing the NCAA for "selective enforcement" or somesuch. A non-winner. The BCS issue is a different one, and an antitrust suit in regards to the distribution of money in that organization might actually have legs, based on my rudimentary understanding of antitrust law.

[PK]

Ok Spock. I would rather hear from Bones on the subject.

So would I...

[EastStang]

The BCS as a separate organization might very well violate the Sherman Act as an organization which restricts competition. The problem is that the BCS allows each conference to contract for almost all of its bowls, to contract for their own television contracts, and obviously for their own schedules. The only area that it has any involvement is naming a national champion and that is only in one poll (the coach's poll) and scheduling games in six bowl games out of what 26 bowls. The guaranteed bowl slots to the major conferences for $$$$ is problematic, but for example the Rose Bowl is owned by the Big Ten and PAC-10 and they have openned their bowl up to the BCS on the condition that they can compete in that bowl. The Orange Bowl used to tie in with the Big XII and ACC. The SEC with the Sugar. The Fiesta had a tie in with the BE briefly. So, if there is no BCS, then these bowls would go back to their old tie-ins. It would not appreciably open up any slots to other conferences. The Orange would undoubtedly look at Big XII vs. either ACC or BE champion. The Sugar would keep the SEC with the Big XII runner up probably. The Fiesta would probably try and lock in the PAC 10 runner up and either the ACC or BE champ. And you'd be more likely to end up with options being foreclosed to Div. 1-A mid-majors. While I don't like the BCS system, I'd like a playoff, at least if a mid-major runs the table they have a chance to earn a big pay day. For example if SMU ran the table this year (as if), they would have wins over TT, TCU and USM. Let's say that UNT or Ark. State won the Sun Belt, TT did well in the Big XII and TCU had another season with only one loss to us. We could go to a BCS bowl. Or we might not. If for example the ACC or BE stink it up again, they could lose a slot in a BCS bowl if for example a mid-major was ranked about them.