Can We Stop Using "BCS Conferences" and "College Basketball" In The Same Discussions?
Athens, GA (April 1, 2009) - I was listening to the Tirico & Van Pelt show on ESPN Radio yesterday while driving yesterday. They were discussing whether or not John Calipari would jump to Kentucky. In the discussion, they were weighing the merits of whether or not he should make the move or not.
In comparing the programs, Van Pelt (I assume it was he) said it should be a no-brainer to move to one of the "BCS Conferences" from Conference USA. It was not the first time I heard basketball conferences called "BCS Conferences". And it makes my skin crawl.
The BCS is a creation of and for college football. Yes, people use then term generically to apply to all college sports, instead of the more palatable "power conferences". Unlike Van Pelt, Tirico referred to them as the power conferences.
And why does it makes sense to do so? Simply put, there have been many moves over the years by the power conferences to change the Division I basketball membership criteria as to eliminate smaller schools and conferences from the cash cow known as the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. If this were to happen, we would not have teams like Xavier, Siena, George Mason, and Gonzaga appear on the national stage and get a little limelight (and cash).
From another angle, not all sports are created equally in the so called power conferences. Look at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) this year, as well as other years. Does being a football power like the University of Georgia equate to success on the hardwood? Not even close. Does the fact that the Big East has traditionally been a basketball force equate to success on the football field? How can it when the conference structure and membership is different for basketball and football? DO conferences like the Big East and ACC even deserve to be in the BCS elite at all?
So let's stop using the term BCS Conference to apply to all sports. Otherwise we might have to force the power conferences to start competing in sports like lacrosse, soccer and ice hockey. Strike that, we don't want those sports spoiled and ruined by the greed of the big boys. I know, I know, I did not say girls. But since they don't play football, I can't use them in the same breath of "BCS conferences". Or can I?
Couldn't agree more....the reason behind the FBS and FCS designations was too many times schools like Montana, Idaho State, Appalchain State, Weber State, etc. were referred to in basketball as I-AA instead of Division I. Now the nomenclature is effecting a different group, but still showing bias to the bigger conferences.