January 13, 2008 in Sports

Big business runs the bowls

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What’s wrong with this bowl picture? A sixth-ranked team plays an unranked opponent. Same for a 12th-ranked team. USC is forced to play an obviously overmatched Illinois team (14-point favorite).

When one TV color commentator (who will remain anonymous for his own protection) was asked whether Arizona State would be invited to the Fiesta Bowl, he said, “No way the Chamber of Commerce, I mean the Fiesta Bowl committee, would do that. They want full hotel rooms and restaurants.”

Not only is football the only major college sport without a playoff, it’s the only one run by business interests in a supposedly amateur sport.

I had LSU and Ohio State as No. 8 and No. 9 going in to the BCS. USC, West Virginia and Missouri were Nos. 1, 2 and 3. How well your team is playing at the end of the season is irrelevant and your bowl berth is determined by the size of your alumni “traveling squad.”

WSU can forget a BCS at-large hid.

Mike Helland

Elk

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