Friday, April 01, 2005
School Funding? Medicare? Let's Fix Football Instead!
Sometimes, the Texas legislature actually makes me smile. On those rare occasions, it's a smile of disbelief.
Rather than fix the public school funding crisis (which has been mandated by the courts...oh...wait...Republicans don't like the courts), Texas Republicans are again taking up legislation that would ban state-supported universities from college football's Bowl Championship (BCS) system.
Now, as a devout college football fan, I'm quick to say there are problems with the BCS. The Texas Legislature, however, is hardly the institution to fix it. Furthermore, by keeping the likes of UT, A&M, and Texas Tech out of the BCS, they'll be causing more harm than good. Schools participating in the BCS make a lot of money from the system, especially when they win. The rights to broadcasting and merchandising bring in lots of cash.
As it stands now, Texas students are already reeling from tuition deregulation put in place by the Texas Legislature in their last session. The state's universities...and their students...can hardly afford to lose BCS money, too.
The very idea that the lack of Texas school participation would somehow hurt the BCS is also extremely arrogant. Yes, the often overrated Longhorns finished the 2004 season at #4 in the BCS standings, but there are plenty of schools willing and able to take their place.
Rather than fix the public school funding crisis (which has been mandated by the courts...oh...wait...Republicans don't like the courts), Texas Republicans are again taking up legislation that would ban state-supported universities from college football's Bowl Championship (BCS) system.
Now, as a devout college football fan, I'm quick to say there are problems with the BCS. The Texas Legislature, however, is hardly the institution to fix it. Furthermore, by keeping the likes of UT, A&M, and Texas Tech out of the BCS, they'll be causing more harm than good. Schools participating in the BCS make a lot of money from the system, especially when they win. The rights to broadcasting and merchandising bring in lots of cash.
As it stands now, Texas students are already reeling from tuition deregulation put in place by the Texas Legislature in their last session. The state's universities...and their students...can hardly afford to lose BCS money, too.
The very idea that the lack of Texas school participation would somehow hurt the BCS is also extremely arrogant. Yes, the often overrated Longhorns finished the 2004 season at #4 in the BCS standings, but there are plenty of schools willing and able to take their place.
