BCS Cronyism |
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Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy. Cronyism exists when the appointer and the beneficiary are in social contact; often, the appointer is inadequate to hold his or her own job or position of authority, and for this reason the appointer appoints individuals who will not try to weaken him or her, or express views contrary to those of the appointer.
Case in point, some conferences get automatic seats in the BCS bowl games. Some do not.
Here are the 6 conferences that AUTOMATICALLY send their champion to a BCS game.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Big 12 Conference
Big East Conference
Big Ten Conference
Pacific-10 Conference
Southeastern Conference
This year, Virginia Tech, the ACC Champion has a record of 9-4. Cincinnati, the Big East Champs are 11-2. WAC Champions, Boise State are one of only two teams in college football with an undefeated record (12-0).
However, Cincinnati and Virginia Tech, both who have lower rankings in the BCS poll will leapfrog Boise State because of the system of Cronyism that rewards specific conference champions rather than rewarding teams based on BCS ranking and overall win/loss record… a system called meritocracy.
To make matters even worse Boise State could still have made it into a BCS bowl game as one of the four “at-large” teams that BCS bowls choose from to match up against the teams that automatically get in. But even the “at-large” teams suffer from Cronyism. Big Ten runner up Ohio State (10-2) will also leapfrog Boise State into a BCS bowl game simply because of their name recognition.
So that’s THREE teams ranked lower than Boise State all of which have at least TWO losses that will end up in BCS bowl games over the undefeated and more deserving Boise State Broncos. The same goes for Texas Tech, who will get shut out of the BCS bowls because of a rule that only 2 teams from a single conference can be in the BCS bowls.
This system of Cronyism in college football is NOT one of the precious traditions we speak of that makes the game so awesome. If playoffs aren’t the answer to this mess, at least getting rid of the “automatic” BCS bids is!
I wholeheartedly agree. Out here at Rutgers, we’ll be playing at one of the lesser bowls with lovely corporate-sponsored names. Nothing conjures up the spirit of American football than the Papajohns.com Bowl from Birmingham, Alabama.
Anyway, Rutgers is in this bowl because of a late season surge that catapulted them to 2nd best in-conference record in the Big East (behind aforementioned Cincinnati).
As a student and a lifelong Rutgers fan, I’m, of course, excited to watch my team during Bowl week. But the fact of the matter is, there are far-better teams out there and far-more deserving in conferences that aren’t part of the BCS cronyism machine. Rutgers gets a bowl berth because of their 2nd-best, in-conference record within the Big East. What a ridiculous stipulation. It evaluates nothing about their 7-5 record, six-straight games won to end the season nor their loss to underdog Navy or lesser Fresno State.
For the second straight year, Boise State gets snubbed. I feel for you, my friend.
Although I’m not too sure Boise State could beat some of the teams that leapfrogged them, but we all know that these things are about TV ratings. Even I, an avid OSU-hater, would prefer to watch a game with them involved instead of Boise State. However, I don’t think Cinci could.
However, I do think they at least deserve a chance. I’m in favor of a playoff, but FOX and other TV networks don’t because they have a big, fat contract that brings in lots of cheese.
Hopefully, Obama works this out. If not, Congress will eventually step in.
Need I remind you of the greatest football game ever played? 2006 Fiesta Bowl. Oklahoma. Adrian Peterson. Boise State can go toe to toe with the likes of Ohio State… and you would seriously rather watch ANOTHER Ohio State bowl game rather than watch Boise State? If nothing else the drama of their story makes it more compelling football to watch.