Chris Petersen Rips BCS: Boise State Coach Says, 'I Don't Know Who It Makes Sense To'

Chris Petersen's Boise State Bronco's may be going to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks, but it certainly isn't because they're lucky.

Although the Broncos finished seventh in the BCS standings, because they didn't win their conference, they have been relegated to playing in a lower tier bowl game against a team that already fired its head coach in Arizona State. This is the fourth time Boise State has finished in the top 10 of the BCS standings and not been invited to play in a BCS bowl.

And head coach Chris Petersen made it clear that he's not happy with the status quo.

"Everybody is just very tired of the BCS," Petersen told The Idaho Statesman, "I think that's the bottom line. Everybody is frustrated. Everybody doesn't really know what to do anymore. It doesn't make sense to anybody. I don't think anybody is happy anywhere."

In addition to Boise State, three other teams ranked in the top 10 of the BCS standing were left out of BCS bowl games, which dole out a significant pay out to participants.

"Why are we even voting if they're all left out of games like that?" Petersen continued. "It doesn't make any sense. I don't know who it makes sense to. I haven't heard anybody say, 'This is pretty good.' Everybody goes, 'This is really bad.'"

Petersen, who has been rumored to be a candidate for the vacant UCLA head coaching position, is far from the only major figure in the college football world frustrated with the system. On Monday, interim Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas called for a plus-one system that would pit the top four teams in the final BCS rankings against one another. A high ranking BCS source told Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated that "almost everyone" wants to do away with automatic qualifying BCS bids, but they're unsure of an alternative.

Many were disappointed when Alabama was ranked 2nd in the final BCS rankings and thus given another shot to play against an LSU team that beat them previously in the season. Fortunately for those hoping for a new system, Petersen expressed to The Statesman that he was optimistic that such an upheaval might occur: "I think (change) is coming, I really do."

Comments

[luapmi2]

04:12 AM on 12/08/2011

This is just a demonstration of America's "King of the Hill" mentality. Everyone is down on the SEC because they currently OWN college football. Is this 5 or 6 consecutive National Champions?

[Wayne909]

08:07 AM on 12/08/2011

6

[luapmi2]

04:05 AM on 12/08/2011

Boise State doesn't get invited to a significant bowl because they are ....Boise State.

A laughable school where players in blue play on a field of blue. Camo football.

[patrickgarret]

01:51 PM on 12/07/2011

Can you imagine if the NCAA basketball champion was "Voted On"? Duke and NC would have many more titles right due to record, conference, etc. Yet they don't win EVERY year do they. Other teams do. Because they have a playoff. I guarantee the SEC would not have the 5 or 6 BCS championships they do today if we had a playoff. Teams would have proven it on the field, not just in 1 game voted on. Who said a 9-3 Pac 10 team couldn't go all the way. It could happen. It does EVERY year in basketball.

[smatt968]

06:17 PM on 12/07/2011

That's the problem with basketball. Are you really ready to crown a 3 loss Georgia champion or how about 3 loss Oklahoma. Just because you win a tournament shouldn't make you a champion.

The BCS was designed to pick the best 2 teams in football and they basically got it right! There are 2-3 teams each year that prove they are better thoughout the season. I am for a four game playoff at most. Anything else would be absurd. Lets not mess up college football and make it like college basketball.

[sgdbaty13]

11:40 AM on 12/07/2011

Peterson is spot on except its not about the voting, its about the money. The BCS is in love with the SEC even though they play very few games outside there own conference during the regular season. ND gets better bowls than Boise State because they are a better draw. $$$$$$. Its not about the kids, its about the money.

[mightbesane]

10:53 AM on 12/07/2011

What major team sport doesn't have playoffs? It doesn't make any difference whether it's four, eight, or sixteen teams. There are umpty-seven teams in March Madness and somebody always gripes about being left out. Winning the regular season is one thing. Making it through all-or-nothing playoffs tests character.

[Mattcat25]

10:50 AM on 12/07/2011

Who exactly are the BCS?

???

Who are they?

[philips0811]

01:56 AM on 12/07/2011

'/;kjhn

[Jetman60]

01:51 AM on 12/07/2011

I agree with the Coach and MANY other coaches, players, and fans. The BCS should be abolished and replaced with a system developed by the participants (the college coaches and their athletic directors) with NO input from persons not associated with a college but thing that just because they have money then they should for some reason be given a voice in this process. The money in college sports ultimately comes from the FANS paying the ticket prices, buying the merchandise, and watching the ads for the sponsors. It is NOT from money bag people (they don't pay the teams or give their money to the system - in most cases they profit somehow from the system). JUST SAY NO to the BCS and let's put something in its place that will work for the colleges.

[coecase]

12:57 AM on 12/07/2011

And the article does not even mention Oklahoma State, who should have been chosen to meet LSU in for the season's championship!

[bahkey]

07:10 AM on 12/07/2011

they lost to a unranked Iowa st. team. Bama lost to #1 LSU in OT. 9 - 6. game could have went either way.

[doctorj2u]

11:13 PM on 12/07/2011

A HOME game for Bama.

[drbracket]

12:49 AM on 12/07/2011

The BCS is like our capitalist system . The rich get richer the Boise States have no opportunity

[smatt968]

12:33 AM on 12/07/2011

Only playoff system needed is a 4 team playoff. There are only 2-3 really good football teams each year that deserve the right or honor to play and be called National Champion. We don't need likes of Arkansas, KSU, South Carolina, or Clemson in this pool.

[dallyup]

12:32 AM on 12/07/2011

LSU played a difficult schedule and they deserve to be in the title game. But I am sooooo tired of hearing about how Alabama played such a tough schedule. Georgia played a lot harder schedule. Here is Alabama`s schedule. I rest my case. only 2 top 20 teams. Yes Florida was considered a cream puff this year.

Opponent Result Record
1 Sat., Sep 3 Kent State W 48-7 1-0
2 Sat., Sep 10 @Penn State W 27-11 2-0
3 Sat., Sep 17 North Texas W 41-0 3-0
4 Sat., Sep 24 Arkansas W 38-14 4-0
5 Sat., Oct 1 @Florida W 38-10 5-0
6 Sat., Oct 8 Vanderbilt W 34-0 6-0
7 Sat., Oct 15 @Mississippi W 52-7 7-0
8 Sat., Oct 22 Tennessee W 37-6 8-0
10 Sat., Nov 5 LSU L 9-6 (OT) 8-1
11 Sat., Nov 12 @Mississippi State W 24-7 9-1
12 Sat., Nov 19 Georgia Southern W 45-21 10-1

[kbrown2225]

12:43 AM on 12/07/2011

Georgia did not play a harder schedule, they did not play the three best teams in the conference (LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas). Alabama played 5 ranked teams, sure maybe some of those teams dropped in the ranking but that was after Alabama beat them and they played LSU, the best team in the nation, to a tie in regulation (and actually outplayed them in most offensive and defensive categories.)

Those other one loss teams had a chance to be number 2 and all of them choked and lost. The two best teams in the nation are going to the National Championship game.

[rwolsen]

12:46 AM on 12/07/2011

if OSU's 'D' played every game like it did vs. OU, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[bahkey]

07:12 AM on 12/07/2011

their "D" gave up 37 pts. to unrank Iowa st.

[TimFredrickson]

12:09 AM on 12/07/2011

The FCS does it right. They start with 24 teams with the lower 16 that play in for places against the top eight and then they go from there. Championship game is at a neutral site. If they can do it anyone can do it.

[smatt968]

12:24 AM on 12/07/2011

No!!!! Do you really want 24 teams playing for the National Championship. You are talking about teams like Virginia and Florida St. They have no business playing in any competition to be considered the best team in the country.

We only need 4 teams in the playoff. Anything else is absurd.

[rwolsen]

12:36 AM on 12/07/2011

who's the 4th, Stanford or Oregon?

[TimFredrickson]

10:50 AM on 12/07/2011

With only 30 teams in the mix MLB allows 8 teams in the playoffs. With only 32 teams in the mix the NFL allows 12 teams in the playoffs. with hundreds of teams the NCAA-BB allows 65 or 66 teams in the playoffs. I am NOT talking about teams like Virginia and Florida State. I am talking about teams like Oklahoma State, Boise State, Oregon, Stanford, Wisconsin, Baylor, etc. These teams, of course, change from year to year to year. This about proving on the football field that you really deserve to move forward and then to be crowned as a champion. If the FCS can do it, there is no reason except for the greed of the BCS system to prevent it from happening. Anything else is more than absurd, it is corrupt.

[dallyup]

11:53 PM on 12/06/2011

I agree that the BCS is a popularity contest. Judged by the biased. Maybe the small schools would not hold up in a playoff. But then again, maybe they would and all you know it alls would have to eat all that crap that Nick Sabans been shoveling. Only sport without a playoff system. Not about the kids or the sport. Its all about the money. Too bad. A 12-18 team playoff system would be amazing. All college fans would be at the TV. Instead of having soo many meaningless bowl games.

[smatt968]

12:10 AM on 12/07/2011

Amazing? Do you really want to see West Va., Clemson, Virginia tech play for a National Championship that don't deserve or earn the right to play for. That ACC title game was really exciting. Stop with playoff talk. Unless it is only 4 teams, playoffs are really bad idea.

[Justin Parfrey]

01:13 AM on 12/07/2011

you MUST be an Alabama fan. why not include those teams? if they can play in a playoff and defeat other teams then why would they not have the right to do so? in your own words Alabama shouldn't have the right to play because they lost their division and conference and lost to #1...playoffs work and work VERY well in ALL other sports except the FBS?? that makes very little sense....Houston went 12-1, went from #6 to #20??? that is ridiculous, keenum passed for 5,099 yards and gets a bottom end bowl? Arkansas' only losses are to #1 and #2 yet they too get a crap bowl?? this system is FLAWED from top to bottom. it DEMANDS an overhaul..

[luapmi2]

04:10 AM on 12/08/2011

If WVU, or anyone else, makes it to the title game then they deserve to play. Your bias is showing....

[pjfrostpj]

12:50 AM on 12/07/2011

The money monster must be quelled.

LSU let them play USC

[fisherdude47]

11:29 PM on 12/06/2011

"three other teams ranked in the top 10", yep that is what's wrong with the BCS. Teams in the top ten not playing a BCS bowl game and other teams not in the top 10 playing BCS bowl games. We might as well be watching golf.

[pjfrostpj]

12:51 AM on 12/07/2011

Who enjoys watching a rigged season

[LuLou Murder]

12:25 PM on 12/07/2011

SEC fans.