Yesterday, the merry band of knuckleheads, approved Georgia
Tech's bowl waiver, allowing the Yellow Jackets to play in a bowl game even if
they lose to Florida State and finish 6-7.
Georgia Tech had filed a waiver after the NCAA board of
directors passed a rule last summer, prohibiting bowls from picking a 6-7 team
over an eligible 6-6 team.
The NCAA's decision to allow a team with a losing record in
a bowl means a non-AQ team with a .500 record or better will not get a bowl
bid.
Now, we understand that bowl money plays a key role in the
GT athletic budget and it may well support some non-revenue sports. We’re cool
with that, but rules is rules people.
Like the Big Wigs at T.A.H., Mid-American commissioner Jon
Steinbrecher was disappointed in the NCAA's decision.
"I could not disagree more with the rationale
provided," Steinbrecher said in a statement. "One of the reasons for
the development of the policy covering this matter was to clearly create a
selection order to manage just this situation.
"These selection orders were developed with NCAA staff
input and approved unanimously by the NCAA Board of Directors last July. To
suggest that the NCAA staff or task force working on bowl policy did not
contemplate such a circumstance, when this same situation occurred last year,
is incorrect. The policy is clear and understandable.
"What is lacking is the willingness to enforce NCAA
policy and that is regrettable. All the Mid-American Conference asks is that
the rules that have been approved by the member institutions of the NCAA be
enforced. That did not occur in this instance."
Last week, ESPN learned that "several” conferences were
opposed to a Georgia Tech receiving the waiver and taking a spot from a .500 or
better team, specifically because the NCAA had changed the rule just five
months ago.
To see arguments for and against, click
here.
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