MWC still plans to fight
Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson's battle with the BCS is apparently not over.
Thompson said Wednesday at the MWC football media days in Las Vegas that the conference still planned to stay on the offensive in pushing for changes to a playoff football format.
Thompson agreed that change will not come fast -- it could take five years to get any change to the Bowl Championship Series system.
"We feel a change needs to be made and inclusion needs to be broader," Thompson said.
The MWC conference backed down a bit in its efforts last week when it became the last conference to sign a broadcasting contract with ESPN for the 2011-14 seasons.
Thompson says the conference agreed to the ESPN deal so MWC athletes wouldn't be denied a chance to compete in the nation's showcase football games.
"We couldn't take our kids voluntarily out of the chance to play in a BCS bowl game," Thompson said. "As much as we would like to see change in the system, it is the only system."
Six conferences -- the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC -- get automatic BCS bids.
The Mountain West has proposed an eight-team playoff featuring first-round play in the four top current BCS bowls -- Sugar, Orange, Rose, Fiesta. Winners would advance to a championship.
Thompson said the MWC would continue its $265,000 contract with a Washington lobbying firm to keep the BCS issue before Congress, which held hearings on May 1.
For more on Thompson's state of the conference address, click here.
Thompson said Wednesday at the MWC football media days in Las Vegas that the conference still planned to stay on the offensive in pushing for changes to a playoff football format.
Thompson agreed that change will not come fast -- it could take five years to get any change to the Bowl Championship Series system.
"We feel a change needs to be made and inclusion needs to be broader," Thompson said.
The MWC conference backed down a bit in its efforts last week when it became the last conference to sign a broadcasting contract with ESPN for the 2011-14 seasons.
Thompson says the conference agreed to the ESPN deal so MWC athletes wouldn't be denied a chance to compete in the nation's showcase football games.
"We couldn't take our kids voluntarily out of the chance to play in a BCS bowl game," Thompson said. "As much as we would like to see change in the system, it is the only system."
Six conferences -- the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC -- get automatic BCS bids.
The Mountain West has proposed an eight-team playoff featuring first-round play in the four top current BCS bowls -- Sugar, Orange, Rose, Fiesta. Winners would advance to a championship.
Thompson said the MWC would continue its $265,000 contract with a Washington lobbying firm to keep the BCS issue before Congress, which held hearings on May 1.
For more on Thompson's state of the conference address, click here.
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