Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Congressional Hearings on BCS System

Timothy Epstein notes that the House Committee on Energy and Commerce--charged with regulating America's sports industry--will be conducting a hearing today at 10 AM Eastern Standard time on the Bowl Championship Series ("BCS") system. Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) calls the system "deeply flawed" and asserts that "college football is not just an exhilarating sport, but a billion-dollar business that Congress cannot ignore." Along those lines, Congress claims an interest in this topic because, along with the acclaim of a national champion, the BCS provides a financial windfall with tens of millions of dollars at stake for teams and conferences who participate.

Though Rep. Barton states that no specific legislation is being threatened, the Committee wants a "comprehensive review" of the BCS system.

Here is the witness list (and a webcast link can be found at this link at 9:50 AM EST):



Mr. Jim Delaney
Commissioner
Big Ten Conference
Park Ridge, IL,
Mr. Derrick S. Fox
President, Football Bowl Association
President and Chief Executive Officer, Alamo Bowl
San Antonio, TX,
Mr. William Johnstone
Chairman
Rose Bowl Game Management Committee
Pasadena, CA,
Mr. John Junker
President
Fiesta Bowl
Tempe, AZ,
Dr. Robert Khayat
Chancellor
The University of Mississippi
University, MS,
Mr. Kevin Weiberg
Coordinator, Bowl Championship Series
Commissioner, Big XII Conference
Dallas, TX,

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