NCAA says it received Justice Department letter on BCS
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The NCAA on Friday finally received a copy of a letter from the Justice Department full of questions about why there is no major college football playoff.
"We continue to review whether to open an inquiry into the legality of the current system under the antitrust laws,'' Justice spokeswoman Gina Talamona said.
In the letter dated May 3 and addressed to NCAA president Mark Emmert, the Justice Department asks three questions:
1. Why does the Football Bowl Subdivision not have a playoff, when so many other NCAA sports have NCAA-run playoffs or championships?
2. What steps, if any, has the NCAA taken to create a playoff among Football Bowl Subdivision programs before or during your tenure? To the extent any steps were taken, why were they not successful? What steps does the NCAA plan to take to create a playoff at this time?
3. Have you determined that there are aspects of the BCS system that do not serve the interests of fans, colleges, universities, and players? To what extent could an alternative system better serve those interests?
Since taking over the NCAA last fall, Emmert has consistently said the association would be willing to run a major-college football tournament should the member schools vote to have one. The six major conferences that have the most influence within the BCS, including automatic spots in the five major bowls, are against going to a playoff.
The Justice Department is acting in response to questions from senators such as Utah's Orrin Hatch and a group of 21 college professors requesting an antitrust investigation. In addition, Utah Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff has said he is putting together an antitrust lawsuit. Playoff PAC, a special interest group which favors a playoff, contends the BCS stifles inter-conference competition and that the government should get involved because of the millions of dollars at stake each postseason.
BCS executive director Bill Hancock has said he believes the group is on firm footing with its position.
Contributing: Kevin Johnson
See photos of: Bowl Championship Series, NCAA
