The Rome report

President-elect Barack Obama,

There is an enormous problem that requires your immediate attention. No, it isn’t the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq. No, it isn’t the slumping economy. It is a problem that is much greater than those problems combined. Mr. President-elect, the American people need you to get rid of the Bowl Championship Series and implement an eight-team college football playoff.

Mr. President-elect, do you know how much more popular you could be if you were to make this happen? You would be huge. The American people would love you. Just imagine a world in which we no longer have to ask whether a one-loss SEC team deserves a shot at the championship more than an undefeated WAC or Mountain West Conference team. Image a world in which we don’t have to wonder whether the best team won the championship. Mr. President-elect, that is a world in which I want to live.

Mr. President-elect, I am not going to lie to you. A playoff will not solve every problem. There will still be people who complain about how you choose the eight participants. The ninth-ranked team will still complain about not being in the top eight, but you shouldn’t let that stop you.

Remember, in your “60 Minutes” interview that aired Nov. 16, you said that you would use your weight to get this playoff system implemented. On the night before the election, you said college football should get rid of the BCS and go to a playoff. I was leaning toward Sen. John McCain before that statement. After you said that, I was with you all the way to the White House. And remember, there is precedent for a president using executive power to influence college football. In 1969, President Richard Nixon declared Texas the national champions even though Penn State also went undefeated that year.

Mr. President-elect, I will do whatever you need to get this playoff going. I will lobby Congress. I will write letters to anyone you deem necessary. Just let me know. I believe that it is my duty as an American citizen. If you want my opinion, I think you should see if you can get it written in the Constitution. Hey, it couldn’t hurt. I promise that if you get this playoff implemented, I will start beating the drums for Obama in 2012.

Mr. President-elect, we need this change. The people of America have trusted you to get this done. Just remember, this is an issue that needs to be addressed now. Mr. President-elect, you changing the BCS into a playoff is “a change we can believe in.”

Sincerely,
Jerome Foster
Associate Sports Editor

P.S.

I am not surprised that Oklahoma beat Texas Tech on Saturday night. I said a couple of weeks ago that the Red Raiders would lose to the Sooners. Even though Oklahoma’s defense was banged up, I just thought they were still better on that side of the ball. Not to mention, you don’t go into Norman and beat the Sooners. It has only been done twice in Bob Stoops’ tenure there. So now what do we have with the BCS? I believe that the winner of the SEC title game between Alabama and Florida will get to the title game. I also believe the winner of the Big 12 title game between Texas and Oklahoma (we still don’t know who will win the tiebreaker) and Missouri will be the second participant. I will take Florida and Texas/Oklahoma. After all this controversy with the BCS, it looks as if we are going to get the best teams in the best two conferences facing off against each other for the title.