Will ESPN Continue to Criticize the BCS?

Submitted by Zone Left on

Doc Saturday's take on the potential pitfalls of ESPN taking over the BCS broadcasts as it relates to those of us hoping for a playoff is below.

It's interesting, because ESPN is very much a focused, on message broadcaster. Will they be inclined to bite the hand that feeds it? Will the BCS itself be able to shape the WWL's message? Obviously, we can't know that now, but it will be interesting if Herbie is OK with a controversial BCS pairing this year--or perhaps even lauding it for making the right choice.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/ESPN-paid-5…-?urn=ncaaf,231129

Search4Meaning

March 30th, 2010 at 8:52 PM ^

And they won't.

ESPN is in the information sales business. To be profitable in that business you need to be controversial and edgy. BCS is just that with people.

Additionally, the SEC is by far and away the best football conference.

The ACC is the heaven of college hoops.

No one really cares about hockey.

USC is the greatest football team every year. They only beat themselves.

Have I missed anything?

FL_Steve

March 30th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^

This is an interesting topic, however I feel that ESPN will allow its writers and columnists to voice their opinion of the BCS, be it praise or criticism. If anything this move now gives ESPN supreme rights to College football and subsequently the thoughts on which direction to move it (play off or not), as they are "the leader in sports." Besides come BCS bowling time are they really going to lose revenue or viewers by supporting a playoff system? I think not.

The Beard of L…

March 30th, 2010 at 9:03 PM ^

ESPN is the Kleenex of sports. Almost synonymous, almost to the point where sports will soon be spelled "E-S-P-N" (it probably is by a lot of US high school students)

ESPN has made college football over the last 20 some-odd years--they can do what they want.

It seems to me almost that by letting ESPN take over just about everything not named Notre Dame or Wal Mart (yet), a playoff is now that much more a possibility.

jcgold

March 30th, 2010 at 9:13 PM ^

Yes. People tend not to like the BCS, so ESPN will give people what they want: Criticism. Turning down the criticism would simply turn people off from College Football Live and SportsCenter.

ESPN also knows that college football fans will still tune into the BCS, regardless how legit they perceive it to be. The BCS' criticism does nothing to affect its ratings. Expect the call for a playoff to continue.

wolverine1987

March 31st, 2010 at 9:18 AM ^

To be clear upfront, I don't like the BCS at all and would rather go back to the old bowl system than what we have now. And I would advocate for plus 1 or plus 6 like Brian's system. But, I'm sick of the ESPN guys on Sportscenter and GameDay constantly acting like it's a supreme injustice to humanity that there is no playoff. It's football, not the constitution. Even though a majority would like to see a playoff, it's a very small minority that actually is angry and passionate about it.