Big Ten Football: Rose Bowl Idea Isn't Outdated, It's Just Bad

University of Georgia president Michael Adams had some strong words about the Big Ten and Pac-12's plan for the Rose Bowl to serve as the postseason for every Big Ten/Pac-12 champion, even if they're in contention for a national championship under a four-team playoff model.

It's an insane idea, frankly, and I hate it. On this, Adams and I agree, but his comments took a couple of turns that don't do his argument any favors, according to the statements he made to The Wall Street Journal's Rachel Bachman:

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This is not 1950 or 1960. There are great schools in the [Atlantic Coast Conference] and the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12. I think it’s time to put everybody on an equal footing. I just reject the notion that the Big Ten and the Pac-12 ought to be treated differently in this process.

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Equal footing, yes, that's good, but 1950? The notion that the BCS should accommodate the Big Ten and Pac-12 to the point where there are essentially three semifinal games to determine two finalists is not one steeped in history; it's one steeped in stupidity.

The BCS as we know it would not survive the wrath of a Top 4 team that either won the Rose Bowl or its own semifinal game, but then was shut out of the national championship.

If we were talking history, though, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany and Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott would have simply suggested that the final polls be tabulated before the bowl games, which would not count in any official capacity. That's how things used to be in Adams' hellish nightmare of 50 years past. But, that's not even close to the Big Ten's stance on this postseason.

Lastly, Adams followed up his statement with one that, in the proper context, is even more curious. Adams says he likes the four-team playoff idea, except—well, let's let him say it:

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The predominant view seems to be for a four-team playoff of some sort. I think that's an improvement, but I think it diminishes the importance of the nation's strongest athletic conference, the Southeastern Conference.

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Adams says the idea of a four-team playoff (remember, he's just talking about a four-team system "of some sort," not the dodo-bird Big Ten idea) "diminishes the importance" of the SEC.

Good to see Adams' notion that "it's time to put everybody on an equal footing" lasted almost one whole interview before he tossed it out the window to stick up for his own conference. Leave that to Mike Slive, Mr. Adams.