BCS--its time for change...

Here's a draft of the letter I sent to USA Today regarding their position on creating a true college football playoff:
I recently completed my dissertation on "The Launch of the Big Ten Network". My findings agree with your analysis--it is time for change.

Athletics departments at the NCAA Division I level are strongly encouraged to be self sufficient. Bowl game revenues and television monies go a long way towards paying the bills for other "non revenue" sports. BCS advocates will argue that Congress has more important priorities than to meddle in college sports; however, I would argue that they have a responsibility to step in when the playing field becomes uneven.

I do not worry for the 40+ schools that are members of BCS conferences--they are and will be fine. I do worry for the other 80 schools who will end up dropping male and female nonrevenue sports while their institutions continue to pump more money into football to remain competitive. It's those student athletes, numbering in the thousands, who are dependent upon Congressional action.

If Congress chooses to, once again, look the other way, it does so at an economic moment in time when colleges are already faced with making cuts in their core mission. When a college president examines where the money is flowing, and recognizes that it is flowing towards the BCS Conferences almost exclusively, what incentive do they have to continue to throw "good money after bad"? The deck is stacked against them.

It is time for Congress to act on their behalf, and not just consider the impact on the local chamber of commerce who hosts the bowl game. Someone needs to speak up for these student athletes--before their opportunities vanish.