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The executive director of the BCS said he will give a voluntary briefing at the Department of Justice's request this summer to explain college football's postseason system.
"I still believe the government has more important things to do but I'm happy to talk about the benefits of the BCS every chance I get," executive director Bill Hancock said Thursday. "We see this as an opportunity to tell them why this has been created, how it works and the benefits that it has brought to the game. And to answer all their questions."
Hancock said the meeting is expected to take place in late June in Washington, D.C.
Asked if he was concerned the structure of the BCS was in jeopardy, Hancock said: "I don't think it is, because I am confident it follows the law."
"But if the conferences are prohibited from coming together to create a BCS, then they likely would also be prohibited from creating anything else, such as a playoff," Hancock added. "So if the BCS goes away, then the most likely scenario is a return to the old bowl system where there's not a guarantee of a meeting between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams."
In that scenario, the NCAA could be in a position to create a playoff. But university presidents and chancellors have not indicated a desire for either a playoff or turning over control of the football postseason to the NCAA.
The Department of Justice sent a letter to the NCAA asking for an explanation on why there is no postseason in college football, but president Mark Emmert suggested it ask the BCS.
Justice Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona said the department continues to review information to determine whether to open an investigation into the legality of the current system under antitrust laws.
"It's not unusual for us to have discussions with knowledgeable parties on a particular matter," she added, but declined to confirm with whom the department was meeting.
"I'm not an attorney but the fact is that antritrust is to protect the consumer against lack of access and lack of competition," Hancock said. "The BCS provides more football for the consumer than ever before, including a guaranteed No. 1 vs. No. 2 and the access for non-AQ's (automatic qualifiers) is far greater than ever before. There's no question the access is much much better."
Utah attorney general Mark Shurtleff has said he plans to file an antitrust lawsuit this summer against the BCS. President Barack Obama has said he favors a postseason playoff system for college football.
Source: AP
"I still believe the government has more important things to do but I'm happy to talk about the benefits of the BCS every chance I get," executive director Bill Hancock said Thursday. "We see this as an opportunity to tell them why this has been created, how it works and the benefits that it has brought to the game. And to answer all their questions."
Hancock said the meeting is expected to take place in late June in Washington, D.C.
Asked if he was concerned the structure of the BCS was in jeopardy, Hancock said: "I don't think it is, because I am confident it follows the law."
"But if the conferences are prohibited from coming together to create a BCS, then they likely would also be prohibited from creating anything else, such as a playoff," Hancock added. "So if the BCS goes away, then the most likely scenario is a return to the old bowl system where there's not a guarantee of a meeting between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams."
In that scenario, the NCAA could be in a position to create a playoff. But university presidents and chancellors have not indicated a desire for either a playoff or turning over control of the football postseason to the NCAA.
The Department of Justice sent a letter to the NCAA asking for an explanation on why there is no postseason in college football, but president Mark Emmert suggested it ask the BCS.
Justice Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona said the department continues to review information to determine whether to open an investigation into the legality of the current system under antitrust laws.
"It's not unusual for us to have discussions with knowledgeable parties on a particular matter," she added, but declined to confirm with whom the department was meeting.
"I'm not an attorney but the fact is that antritrust is to protect the consumer against lack of access and lack of competition," Hancock said. "The BCS provides more football for the consumer than ever before, including a guaranteed No. 1 vs. No. 2 and the access for non-AQ's (automatic qualifiers) is far greater than ever before. There's no question the access is much much better."
Utah attorney general Mark Shurtleff has said he plans to file an antitrust lawsuit this summer against the BCS. President Barack Obama has said he favors a postseason playoff system for college football.
Source: AP