It’s Time to Finish College Football Season

That an undeserving Florida State team took part in the BCS championship game and at the expense of Miami (or Washington or Oregon State, for that matter) is clear. Hopefully, this should put to rest claims by the BCS that it represents “the solution” to the annual controversy that surrounds the crowning of college football’s champion.

What escapes me, however, is why it is not equally obvious that the much-called-for playoff system will represent no improvement. Just like the BCS, any playoff system would necessarily involve a cut-off of some sort. If four teams make the playoffs, you’ll have the annual four-versus-five controversy; if eight teams make the playoffs, you’ll have the annual eight-versus-nine controversy, etc.

Let’s just go back to the good ol’ days when the national championship was decided by two, three or four different games, all on the same day; when New Year’s Day was a relevant day on the sports calendar. Besides, aren’t two national champions better than one? Why not share the wealth?

NICK MOROSOFF

San Marino

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Can we make a New Year’s resolution that The Times will leave the Florida boosting to the East Coast media; they don’t need your help. Included in the resolution should be an effort to get behind our West Coast teams in the “beauty contest” of determining a Division I football champion. I’m tired of watching “Bubba Bowls” and reading articles [J.A. Adande, Jan. 3] about how great Florida football talent is.

My recollection of Pac-10 encounters with Miami since Jan. 1, 1994, is that four Pac-10 schools scored five victories, two of them at the Orange Bowl.

Does anyone seriously believe that Florida State could have played in the Pac-10 for the last six or seven years and lost only two games, as it has in the ACC? And Florida has not played a Pac-10 team during the last decade to my knowledge.

Starting next summer, I suggest you call in your sports reporters (they can probably be found hanging out in Pac-10 parking structures looking for stories) and have a meeting announcing a strategy to get the West Coast’s largest sports section behind the teams west of the Rockies so we have a shot at seeing someone in next year’s BCS championship game who doesn’t think “Dixie” should be our national anthem.

DOUG STEIMEYER

South Pasadena