BIRMINGHAM, Ala., – Controversy has been swirling around the Southeastern Conference in recent days, but the beginning of SEC Media Days started with an often argued topic: the Bowl Championship Series.
In the 13 seasons of the BCS, the cry for a playoff has never beenstronger. BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock dismissed claims that aplayoff would make college football better.
“We have the best regular season in any sport, hands down,” Hancocksaid. “A playoff would ruin the regular season.”
Hancock said he’s gotten about a 1,000 playoff proposals sent to him during the years, but has no intentions to use any of them in the nearfuture.
“If you think things are controversial trying to pick two teams,imagine trying to pick four. Imagine trying to pick eight,” Hancocksaid.
Hancock said college football has thrived since the invention of the BCS.
“Like it or not, this sport is more popular now,” Hancock said.
Hancock admitted he could not bring up any hard evidence to supportthe BCS as the reason college football has grown.
“Intuitively, we know that attendance began to rise the year the BCSwas formed,” Hancock said. “Could it have been an accident orcoincidence? It could have. We know that the game has become much more of a national game because of the BCS … I don’t think it wascoincidental.”
—-Contact Katherine Terrell at [email protected].