CNN

[...] Hawaii Democratic Congressman Neil Abercrombie kept the chains moving by calling for a Department of Justice investigation. [...]

[...] his suggestion of a playoff. Representative Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii has even less power, but he thinks it's a splendid idea to get the government involved in forcing college football into some kind of playoff system. [...]

Why not, government has it's grubby little hand in everything else?
This is just another photo op for a bunch of people who can't wait to find new ways to waste tax money. When are we going to wake up and stop the tyranny – Merriam Webster: oppressive power exerted by government.

Hmmm....mixed feelings on t his one. On the one hand, I agree that our nation has more important things to worry about. On the other hand, until Obama stepped into the fray, it looked like we were doomed to have this ridiculous unfair corrupt college football playoff system ad infinitum.
If Obama can spur a discussion (without wasting too much of his own time for more important national and international concerns) that ultimately results in a fairer more balanced playoff system, then I shall certainly think it were worthwhile!

The LAST thing the federal government need worry about is which college teams will or will not be going to Bowl games.

If we need to worry about anything related to colleges it would be the quality of the education students receive. And by the looks of many of the posts on these CNN blogs the quality is dismal. So many mis-spelled words; grammatical errors abound! We won't even bother to address puncuation. And I have never witnessed so many people using so many wrong words, i.e. "Waist," when they really want the word "Waste."

Can we send the educational system back to basics and forget about the peripheral stuff?

What a buch of crap. WHO CARES!!!

And to "Texas Longhorns"....try not to have a stroke.

Apparently, nothing gets peoples' panties in a really big knot than taking things less seriously. Take hand very slowly away from panic button, two steps back, and smother head onto pillow. Sleep very gently, and the world will slowly crumble without you even feeling one thing.

For the "gee don't we have more pressing issues" crowd, what part of "restraint of trade is against the law" do you not understand? If the BCS were Microsoft we'd already have been through hearings and the financial hammer would already have dropped.

Just because there are more pressing issues facing the country doesn't mean that something like this can't be dealt with by the DOJ or appropriate federal agency. It's not like you don't enforce the law because you have an energy crisis or because you're at war. If you follow that logic, the government (or the nation) wouldn't ever do more than one or two things at a time because for all other issues, there's always a more pressing issue.

This is long overdue, and it might as well be dealt with now as later. Not like we'll care more about enforcing our anti-trust laws once India and Pakistan start behaving themselves.

Not exactly imperative to our national security, but about frickin' time someone in government said something about this. Especially with teams like Boise State ranked higher than Ohio State, but won't get a BCS berth because they aren't allowed. That's not equity, that's greed. It's all about the money, not who plays better football.

This is ridiculous. A President has NO RIGHT delving into the world of college sports just because poeple are unhappy with the current system. When is too much government interference too much. This just shows that Obama and the Democrats want a dictatorship not a Free Democracy.

This is ridiculous. A President has NO RIGHT delving into the world of college sports just because poeple are unhappy with the current system. When is too much government interference too much. This just shows that Obama and the Democrats wants a dictatorship not a Free Democracy.

Well for all that voted for Obama, congratulations you've gotten what you asked for. Change. NOT!!!!!!!!!

This should not be what we pay our elected officials to do. Sports have nothing to do with governance. President Elect Obama made a statement, he was not taking a political stance and this Abercrombie guy is an idiot for trying to push the issue.

Robert the man!

Please if you can beat UT then HOW COME YOU DIDNT????? oh i know why we put the killing on that little girl SAMSON!!!!!!!!! just like Oklahoma state had his legs in the air! OU all you have to show is that you beat the brakes off of Texas Tech, which means........................... NOTHING!! if you wanted to beat on someone how come you didnt do it to TEXAS???????? Cause you couldnt!!!!!!!!

Seriously, this better be a joke. If it's not, Congressman Abercrombie needs to be removed from office.

For all of you who say we have more important issues...I agree, BUT, first of all it's not going to be the top agenda item, second of all, I'm relative confident that Obama can walk and chew gum at the same time. So just relax.

For all of you who say this isn't the role of government...you're wrong! This is exactly the role of good government; that being to serve the interest of the citizens. There are maybe 100 rich guys who benefit from the system as it is. On the other hand there are litterally millions (all of the athletes, all of the fans etc. etc.) who want the system changed. The politicians work for the people and they are the only ones with enough muscle to make this happen.

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

Everyone getting their underwear in a bunch realize that this was said tongue in cheek and he wasn't really serious about it right?

Cmon CNN. Provide some context.

TJ: Just because Obama doesn't play football doesn't mean he doesn't understand it or the problems it causes for schools, who are more concerned with the financial implications. That and the fact that many FOOTBALL coaches and players have been calling for a playoff system for a while. Should politicians be involved in making the decision? no, but that's not what you're complaining about But come on. Really? you're blaming liberals for this? I didn't realized that Republican Reps. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia and Mike Simpson of Idaho owere liberals. Try reading the facts before you go bloviating about on a partisan bent.

To: Robert The Man

Robert, what planet are you from? UT already beat OU this year. UT lost to Tech on a last second play. So what? Tech certianly didn't "dominate" UT if they needed a last second play to win. . .

It is nice to say that OU dominated Tech, which they did, but UT beat OU by more than one score. How can you argue that OU is a better team than UT when they lost to UT?

Excuse me but my 401K is more important than a college football.

Uh...I think he has more pressing issues, like two wars and the Bush recession.

KG– let's be fair brah, ultra left in Hawai'i nei is a little different than ultra left in say California, yeah? But I do agree that Abercrombie seems a little lolo in even bringing this up.
Say, where you from in the islands, braddah? Me? Moku O Keawe, Kona side. 'Most' of our pakalolo is over Puna or Ka'u way. And they can keep it there as far as I'm concerned. Maybe Tutu Pele will take it all away one of these days.
Mele Kalikimaka kakou!

He was a innocect wide-eyed dove flying in the blue sky, care free and with a twinkle in his heart longing for the far away land of utopia...holding hands, cumbaya, peace on earth and brotherhood of men... until he received the Economic and National Security Briefings which sent him shaking like jello to former Clintonites and Bush's Secretary of Defense: HELP, HELP, yelled the dove in despair...

Texas beat OU 45-35 on a neutral site. Argument over.

Yeah man we definately deserve to be in the Big 12 championship game, Texas Tech beat us fair and square though, i'm not going to complain about that. Go Longhorns!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like the good senator has eaten too much poi.

But hey, with the ever present threat of terrorism (despite what the libs say), and an economy that is now going to attempt to be repaired by the very same party that played a major role in its destruction, of course the most important issue is the flippin' college football playoff system. No, the reason the world has a bad view is not because of Bush you libs, it's because of dolts like this senator who have the gall (yet apparent lack of intelligence) to say that the president should step in on this.

Get real.

Oh, Great Obama, spread your magic pixie dust and save us from ourselves!

People need to get off their high horse. Of course there are bigger problems but who said the goverment cant do more then one thing at a time?

Also this is a multi billion dollar industry. So yea, it isnt just some stupid little college football game.

Get the thing fixed

Although I do want a playoff system, I do not believe that the President of the United States should get involved nor spend any tax dollars to investigate the situation and then to provide the government's viewpoint ... this is not a concern that I would want my money wasted on ... even if the "committee" that were to provide a recommendation what makes anyone believe that it would even be honored or that any actions would be taken ... besides, what other pandora boxes could this open ... let the NCAA handle their own affairs.

I mean, really, just how important is it to the world that there is a college football playoff for championship? Why would a president need to get involved, or why would DOJ need to get involved? This is inane with so many truly significant things happening in our world, but, unfortunately, it is so like the liberals who elected that egotistical Obama who thinks he know how to fix anything (even football which he does not play???). I suppose because he likes basketball, he thinks that makes him an expert thinker for football, too?

Wow! This issue is almost as important to me as guns and bibles in schools!!!

Get a life. I don't agree with the playoff ranking for college football bowls either, but our President-Elect has 1000 more important issues to deal with. Why don't you turn the TV off and go volunteer at a soup kitchen!

To be completely honest, we need a playoff system but really is that important at this time. There has been things mentioned about college tuition rates, there are so many ways to go to college that there is really no excuse for someone that wants to go to school. With, grants, scholarships, other routes of free money there are plenty of ways to go to school.

And for the record even in a playoff system, OU would smash UT in a playoff system, so either way, UT go cry somewhere else. You were domniated during the Tech game, and OU domintaed tech. So go cry you Autin baby. OU is the better team.

Utterly asinine. With all the challenges we have, WHY are we even wasting time with this?

Go Horns!

And this is something a newly elected Prez should have to contend with? Why not worry about all the bailout money he plans to spend and how high the taxes for us regular folk will become??? Big job, big change–ha!

TEXAS FANS:

YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF BUSINESS AGAINST TECH, AND THIS WOULD ALL BE MOOT!!!

NOW YOU'RE FORCED TO ROOT FOR MIZZOU!!!

Adam:

It's WASTE, not WAIST.

Must have been one of those athletes, huh?

Finally. Obama is addressing a real disaster.

I'm hoping Obama will also address my son's little league draft system. It's really not fair to the 8 year olds.

C'mon people.... lighten up for a minute!
Just because the story isn't about politics or war or the economy doesn't mean it doesn't deserve some thought. Even if it's just some good natured ribbing. (sorry 'bout that Longhorn)
Every now and then it would do us all good to remember that we are ONE NATION. The things that divide us shouldn't overshadow that fact. It's not a bad thing to look at the lighter side now and then.
Oh, and GO BIG 12!

"Abercrombie, along with Republican Reps. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia and Mike Simpson of Idaho, and Democrat Jim Matheson of Utah, introduced a non-binding resolution in April directing DOJ to investigate the BCS system and take appropriate step if it found illegal action."

Alright!!! That's 4 people so far!! Let's keep raising that ante and get GOP and Dems involve. This will be a bigger accomplishment than the "Lousiana Purchase!" LOL!! Na'h, I'm playing, I'm playing...

Come on Mizzou, VT(Virginia Tech) and Florida!! First hook me up wtih the conference title then we can work on this system. plus, Tebow could snap in this next games and oput himself in the Heisman back baby!! If he's superman, I like my chances but Florida being a 10 point favorite, I don't know about but based on my calculations, that's a lot so be careful if you shoose em.

Tebow!!!!

Hey guys, come on. You know it's all about the money. It's big business. Just like the American system. The haves and the have nots. Let all the colleges play each other just like the NFL and come up with one winner and not 5 or 6,7 winners.

Hey guys, come on. You know it's all about the money. It's big business. Just like the American system. The haves and the have nots. Let all the colleges play each other just like the NFL and come up with one winner and 5 or 6,7 winners.

Yes. We want playoffs!!!

Well if OBAMA takes this initiative I will support him for he will have Integrity. I have not been on his band wagon but the man shows he does have excellent common sense. WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN OUSELVES A PRESIDENT AFTER ALL.

It's a great idea to have a college football playoff. I have been advocating for one for years. I guess the good ole boys make to much money off the current system to want to change it though.

Yes College Football fans; there should be in a playoff system. But Texas Longhorns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! don't blame the BCS, (a system of voting college coaches and a formula that they conceived and recognize) but blame your own (Big 12) conference to even suggest that it use outside sources (BCS system) to manipulate the standings within the conference. You think you have issues. Us Red Raiders aren't even considered in the BCS, due to the 2 team maximum, and yet we should be the other team in the BCS not Texas. Sorry Longhorn fans, you lost to the Red Raiders! Live with it!

Since he's from Hawaii, and my new President has family ties there, I say why not let staffers check it out! Anybody else requesting it, I would have said give him the boot!

Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you! Be nice (R)!

Lillian. Thank you for putting clearly putting this into perspective. I am an AVID college football fan and I do want a playoff system. But wasting one iota of power on anything less than the health and security of the nation is insane. Ladies and gentlemen THIS IS NOT A GAME.

Who says we can't have fun while we solve serious problems? Isn't that the American spirit that led to the baby boom era during and after world war II and vietnam war? Please get a life people and YES President Obama please look into it and lets have some real play-off in college football. It will generate more funds for schools and local governments where the games are played. Yeah!

I hope constituents call these representatives and tell them to GET TO SOME REAL WORK! I don't want a SECOND of government time or a PENNY of my tax dollars spent on this "issue"...wake up people!!!

Adam:

The BCS may not be the most pressing issue facing America right now, but its still something many citizens care about so no reason to dismiss it outright. I'd like to think many problems can be tackled by this administration, not just one or two big ones.

Also, waist is a body part. I think you mean "waste."

Playoff!!Playoff!!Playoff!!Playoff!!Playoff!!

As a college football fan who got his graduate degrees from LSU, the BCS has been very very good to me.

But, yeah, maybe we should get the country away from the brink of bankruptcy first.

Am all for the play off and this is CHANGE we can believe in, too.

The Democratic puppet president is really attacking the important issues of our country. This will be another waist of tax payers dollars.

Okay, throw rocks at me if you want, but I am of all for it. It is an equality of opportunity issue to where athletes from specific schools are guaranteed the privilege of earning the national championship. If you go to a school, such as Boise State, and you win your conference championship, you are not allowed the privilege of trying to win a national championship because you do not belong to a privileged conference. Division I College Football is the only sport that does this. If this were basketball or baseball, you would have a chance to play for a national title. It falls into the government’s antitrust legislation.

Doesn't anyone care about the student-athletes education? What does adding more weeks of play and more playoffs due to the athletes educational pursuit? Isn't that why this kids are in college to begin with? Why don't we have the NCAA investigate why the football teams going to the BCS games have lower graduation rates than those teams who don't make it to the post season play offs?

Thank you Lillian. Do people seriously think this is what the Department of Justice should be spending its time on? It's college football people. It's meant to be played by student-athletes as they (supposedly) get an education along the way. There are over 300 Division I schools, each playing about 11 games per season, so if you do the math, there is no way that we could ever have a definitive #1 every year. And why do we need one anyway? Get over it.

Sure he should look into it, after he looks into:

Iraq
Afghanistan
Iran
Global Warming
Economic Crisis
Housing Market shambles
Social Security
(place another global/country crisis here_____)................

You need to learn how to spell. It's "waste" not "waist". Anyway, why not weigh in on something like this? It's not like he's going to spend weeks or months at a time hovering over college football. It's just simply him providing his opinion a few times, and hey it'll make him look good with college football fans.

@ Adam -"waist" is what America's collective pants are way too far below these days. "Waste" is what we are doing with our time. But on the bright side, unlike a lot of other CNN bloggers, you got the spelling right. But anyway , Go UB Bulls !!!!! on to their first ever bowl game!!!!

Just develop a play off system and be done with it.
This issue like steroids in sports is of NO concern to the federal govt. Is there not a couple of real issues to tend to any way?

playoff for the love of god!

Lillian I completely agree with you that this bozo has nothing better to do than protect his voters of his state and district, what is he thinking?
His concerns should be on the Middle East because not a single person has taken any action over there, and can not understand why anyone would be frustrated enough to ask the President-elect for help when there is obvious corruption going on. What is next, is someone going to ask him to start putting the same qualified teachers that educate the children of Bellvue Wa (next to door to Microsoft) in the ghettos of Chicago schools just because he knows there is a problem. This is the President-Elect he has much better things to do like continue to facilitate the out flow of cash, so banks can hoard the money while they collect from borrowers in distress, he has to use his double edge sword or maybe that bozo has a point.

How about he starts with investigating torture, spying on American citizens, the manufactured case for war in Iraq, no-bid contracts to Enron and Halliburton, the illegal use of Blackwater mercenaries, voter disenfranchisement programs, politicized firings of US attorneys, the politically timely death of Sen. Wellstone, CIA-supported right-wing paramilitary units in South America, and Henry Paulson's rape of the Treasury?

Oh yeah – now there's a priority issue if I've ever seen one!!! The PE had better get right on this one, the season's almost over. Oops, sorry it will be by the time he can do anything about it.

Being from Hawaii, I can say this – with all the issues we have to worry about in Hawaii and the rest of the country, if this is all Neil Abercrombie has to worry about then maybe he should come back to Hawaii, resign his position, smoke his pakalolo, and fade away into oblivion where he belongs.

And for any of you wondering "who is this numbnut?" Abercrombie is one of Hawaii's ultra-left, liberal Democrat congressman. Pure moron (and that's being generous).

All that being said, we need a dang playoff!!

YOOO, Barack, you were hired to be the President not a sports caster personally, big time collage sports is more professional with the players getting very little and the univercities get a ton of TV money. Lets keep our focus here MR. President, no more time for fun for you its TIME TO PRODUCE RESULTS AND NOT HOT AIR.

Hey Lillian, Obama can multi-task right? Representitives can have side projects right? Go rant on a blog for an article on ranting.

How about we finish at least one of the two wars we're in, get the economy back on track, and then worry about college foot ball!

LET'S GO METS!!!!

Finally the pressing issues of our time...

Seriously? I feel like he has bigger things to deal with than angry football fans...

tO: Lillian

Some people look at football as a time to relax (down time)

I CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE MY LIFE BE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BEHIND THE GREED OF PEOPLE! SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL NOT WORRY ABOUT THINGS THAT I CAN NOT CONTROL!

I WATCH FOOTBALL, AND I AM A WOMAN FROM AUSTIN TEXAS AND PROUD OF IT!!!!

Let me get this straight. The middle east is in shambles. India and Pakistan are on the brink of a nuclear war. Our economy is now "officially" in a recession (for the better part of a year). The US will be the target of a bioterrorist attack within the next 4 years. And this bozo is blathering about college football? Who IS this numbnut?
"Life gotta go on" u numbnut urself...

Lillian: Do you truly think this is his only focus? The man is capable of multitasking. Why not give him a chance before insinuating he is incapable of doing his job? That's the real problem here. The election is over, and you still cannot give the man a chance.

Why is this a political ticker? Please move this article to sports. Thank you.

Lillian, of course this is last on the priority list, please lighten up and go read a book

Crush the BCS mafia

That would be the only thing I think he could handle.........I bet he would vote present on the rankings

Very insensitive to be whining about football when people in this country are hungry and losing jobs. NOT A RELEVANT NEWS STORY.

Bravo Obama, Abercrombie and others! This is part of the change we will so happily embrace! It is inconceivable for the present system to change on its own. With the right push by the DOJ, it may offer them a new opportunity for the playoff system being enjoyed by the other divisions and sports.

Obama also needs to look into standardized arcade scoring. There is NO WAY someone beat my highscore on the Frogger machine, and yet my initials now only occupy the 2nd position! CONGRESS MUST INVESTIGATE.

also, if the Longhorns were that good, maybe they should have beaten Texas Tech. OU didn't seem to have a problem with that (by 44 points).

While this is perhaps not the most important issue facing the nation, I agree that the BCS system is unfair and needs to be fixed. A playoff system may be better. Fight on you NIU Huskies!!!

I agree with Lillian. I'm an huge college football fan but I think there are more important issues to worry about than college football playoffs. I hope he was joking.

We want real news!

i hope this will be on the bottom of president elect obamas list.

This is almost as good as when Joe Biden went after pro baseball for steroids... a few years after renewed interest in the game because of the McGuire/ Sosa home run race. The reason that non-bcs teams don't play for the national championship is that they are....in second rate conferences with weak schedules. If Boise State/ Ball State/ BYU/ whoever want to play in the big game, go to a big conference and play that conference schedule. This is a colossal waste of time and taxpayer money.

Let's do it!

Seriously? Is this really something that the Federal government has any business setting policy? I'd love a playoff system, but let's do it the right way and let Obama focus on some issues that are actually important to the country...

Congressman Neil Abercrombie needs to get a life!

Our economy is in shambles, terriorism in India and other country seems to be worse than ever and Mr. Abercrombie is worried about "college football". Please!!!

I certainly hope that putting all the dems in a near filabuster proof congress doesn't backfire with trivial matters such as these.

Now there's a way to unite Republicans and Democrats!

Oh come on. This is the problem with us Americans; we waist too much time on stupid things like college football championships. Why don't we focus on college academics and the increased cost of tuition while more and more athletes are getting free rides; many of which, by the way, will not become professional athletes and will have wasted their time in college learning very little more than what teachers go easy on sports players. With the economical turmoil we are going through this should be the last thing Obama weighs in on. I voted for Obama do to good for our country, not waist our time.

With all thats going on in the country and world, the fact that our elected and paid officals would waste one minute on this foolishness is grotesque.

If I were a citizen in Utah, Hawaii, Georgia or Idaho, I would repeal these boneheads. What poor tase as millions are losing jobs. Send these turkeys and the autoexec back to doing something productive and meaninful for the country.

Oh come on. This is the problem with us Americans; we waist too much time on stupid things like college football championships. Why don't we focus on college academics and the increased cost of tuition while more and more athletes are getting free rides; many of which, by the way, will not become professional athletes and will have wasted their time in college learning very little more than what teachers go easy on sports players. With the economical turmoil we are going through this should be the last thing Obama weighs in on. I voted for Obama do to good for our country, not waist our time.

College basketball does it...why not football? Yes too much east coast and Big 12 blatant bias rankings.

I've been watching NFL's games and saw those Texans bearing '35-45' or '45-35' marks and asked myself 'What's the meaning of this?', then I went to check on the answer and found it.
AND FROM THEM ON I SUPPORT THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!

Butt Out Obama...you need to concentrate on more pressing issues, like which failure from the Clinton Administration you are going to seat into a Cabinet position. Reformer my rear-end.

I know a lot of people will say there are more important things to worry about. In spite of this, the congressman has a point that it is a system that gives an unfair advantage to some schools. It is also unfair that by voting and computing, schools with identical records don't "settle it on the field".

How about saving that project for some lame duck down time in 2016?

hahaha, The BCS is just another Lobbiest Group!

we (TEXAS LONGHORNS) beat Missouri and Oklahoma and we are not going to the BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! but both teams are!!! all because of the STUPID BCS RANKING!!!! DUMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This needs to be evaluated this YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh...pulllllease......... is there anyone who REALLY wants to spend Congressional time on this? Being from Missouri and subjected last year to one of the biggest BCS snubs in history, I still find this request unbelievable.

For gosh sakes, I think President-elect Obama has a few more important things to deal with than college football. If he REALLY wanted to change the wrongs there, he might start by requiring players who haven't graduated before they sign with the NFL to return all scholarship monies, which would go back into the school's scholarship fund, thus making the sports' scholarships self-sustaining. Many of these guys never plan on getting an education anyway; it's just a place to platy ball where NFL scouts will notice them. I say, no degree, no cash.

PLEASE Look into it, Mr. Obama, I am having a hard time dealing with the fact the UT beat Oklahoma Sooner, and Missouri, and we are not going to the BIG 12 Championship game, Because of the STUPID BCS STANDINGS they have! its dumb and everyone was cheated, I hate that it had to go this FAR for it to get some attention!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been complaining about this for years. People might actually start watching college football again. I for one got tired of seeing the same teams in the bowl games every freakin year.

Let me get this straight. The middle east is in shambles. India and Pakistan are on the brink of a nuclear war. Our economy is now "officially" in a recession (for the better part of a year). The US will be the target of a bioterrorist attack within the next 4 years. And this bozo is blathering about college football? Who IS this numbnut?

Huh? Is this "report" a joke?

Please give me a break. I think the POTUS has some real problems to fix. Just because he said he would favor a play-off system doesn't mean he should devote one second to this "national crisis". Get a life, people.

The good congressman should realize that the incoming administration has more important things to do than get involved in collage sports.

There have to be 1000 things that need investigation before sports including what the hell happened to our economy! Anyone out there that believes that some bad home loans caused all this mess has their collective heads in the sand. it may be a contributor but, this economy has been heading south for the past 7 years.

Sports accomplish nothing except giving ignorant people disgusting amounts of money.

Oh please, let's be serious! With everything facing Obama right now, the economy, terrorism, two wars, I certainly hope the BCS is VERY far down on his priority list!

If Obama pulls this off and brings a playoff system to college football. He will win all 50 states in 2012 (especially the South)

We want a playoff!!

Yeah this is really the issue that needs to be addressed. The BCS system. This is the change we all wanted. I wonder how much money is going to be dumped into this.

Good Job Amercia!!!