BCS must be more equitable
COMMENTARY
Carlos Alvarado

The U.S. occupation of Iraq, the fires in California, not to mention global warming, Medicare and AIDS, have been many of the recent topics discussed on the floor of Congress. However, amidst all this, senators took the time to discuss the NCAA football championship system known as the Bowl Championship Series.

“It looks un-American. It really does. It looks unfair.” Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. said of the BCS. “It looks like a rigged deal.”

Football is one of the least important issues facing our country, yet the Senate decided to tackle an issue usually reserved for ESPN and Sports Illustrated. However, it is an issue on a lot of peoples’ minds especially fans of the Horned Frogs.

The BCS system has its flaws, but no flaw is larger than the lack of regard it pays to the schools that are not members of the six BCS conferences. The BCS schools, fans and the writers who cover them do not feel that any school outside of their circle is an equal. They look down upon TCU, Northern Illinois and Boise State as if they are some undeserving trash that has found its way into their private club.

The lack of respect is what will keep mid-majors from ever having a fair chance at playing for a national title or playing in a BCS bowl.

Mid-majors will never get enough respect from the pollsters to move up in said polls to be guaranteed a chance to prove themselves. Yes, the mid-majors would like some of the money, but right now they would settle for some respect.

This is why the BCS needs to instill a form of affirmative action. President Johnson had it right when he decided that someone needed to level the playing field or else the gap between the haves and have nots would grow. While many question the value of affirmative action in our present society, this is the best answer for the current BCS system.

Give the mid-majors a chance to prove themselves year in and year out. Afford the highest ranked mid-major the opportunity to play against one of the big boys year in and year out. Give schools like Marshall, Air Force and Utah something to play for. Yes, they may get creamed, but at least they will get a chance. Right now, these teams have nothing to play for other than the same old bowl games they have been competing in now.

Teams like Gonzaga in basketball have gone from Cinderella to Princess, because it was given a chance and took advantage of its opportunities. How can the TCUs of the nation ever become a national power if they don’t get a chance to prove themselves?

The Senate took the time to discuss this issue because something needs to be done. All members of Division I-A football must be given equal opportunity to prove themselves. These members want a chance to be respected, to prove they belong. Inequality is a frustrating and demoralizing situation. How much longer can the mid-majors continue to live like this? The only way to make it right, to make it equal is to give the mid-majors a chance. Equality in an unjust world requires sacrifice. America strives to grant all its citizens an equal opportunity, and the BCS must do so as well.