Congress to tackle college football's BCS series. Why?

As a college football fan for many, many years (Go Gators!), I certainly am no fan of the way in which the Division 1-A championship is determined. It's mostly based on which teams win the popularity contest amongst the press and amongst college head coaches. Sure, there's a blend of computer-aided rankings, and they've tried over the last few years to match the #1 and #2 ranked teams via the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) system, but the championship ultimately isn't determined on the field via an extended playoff, as it is in every other division of college football and every other collegiate sport.

Well, apparently some members of Congress now feel the need to get their two-cents in on the matter by holding a hearing next week after this year's post-season bowl matchups are announced. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), chairman of the House subcommittee on Energy and Commerce, has decided that maybe Congress doesn't have enough to do with a war going on and myriad other MORE IMPORTANT matters to deal with. So, he's decided to delve into the matter of how the NCAA determines its Division 1-A football champion.

Honestly, can't these elected officials find more important issues to tackle with their time? Personally, I love college football and I hate the BCS system, but come on! This is not something that requires the attention of Congress, is it?

If Texas wins the Big 12 championship game tomorrow and if USC disposes of UCLA in their Pac 10 finale, we'll actually have a BCS matchup of, unquestionably, the two best teams this season. In fact, it could shape up to be one of the best college football games ever. One might even suggest that the BCS has worked magnificently this year.

But that won't stop the Republican-controlled Congress from trying to meddle, will it? Of course not. They've just got to get their grubby little fingers into everything, especially when there's lots and lots of money involved.

The beat goes on...