< Back to Front Page Text size +

Honoring Gators, Obama renews playoff push

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor April 23, 2009 05:40 PM

President Obama paid tribute to the national champion Florida Gators during the traditional White House visit today.

But he continued pushing for a playoff system to determine the college football title.

"I don't want to stir up controversy," Obama said. "You guys are the national champions -- I'm not backing off the fact we need a playoff system. But I have every confidence that you guys could have beat anybody else. And so we'll see how that plays itself out."

Florida won its second BCS title in three years in January with a 24-14 victory over Oklahoma in Miami, but many analysts and fans say the poll- and computer-driven system doesn't necessarily match the two best teams.

"I noticed they got all quiet after that," he added, as the Florida players laughed. "But you know, I'm one of those politicians -- I don't just tell you what you want to hear, I tell you what you need to hear."

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
.

President Obama is right there should be a playoff sysytem for the NCAA National Division I Football Championship as there is for NCAA Hockey & Basketball.
I remember a bunch of years ago, when Notre Dame beat Florida State head to head. Later in the season, BC beat Notre Dame with a last second field goal. Florida State & Notre Dame had the same record, yet Florida State was sent to better Bowl Game and awarded the National Championship. This was plainly unfair and political. Any doubts would have been resolved by a proper playoff system. By the way,, I went to BC not Notre Dame so I'm not be bias.

Posted by Michael April 23, 09 06:56 PM
.

What a dope!
Wouldn't you think he had enough to do than worry about basketball?

If he really had his act together, we wouldn't have waited 4 f'n days for the USN to do their job and blow that rescue boat out of the water. We have a real light-weight doing a job he has NO idea about.

God help us!

Posted by wbcci3371 April 23, 09 07:27 PM
.

You're the dope. Considering he isn't even talking about basketball.
You Republicans just can't get over the election. Its a joke calling someone a Dope after Bush the last 8 yrs. Now go listen to Hannity to figure out how to respond.

Posted by Brett April 23, 09 08:35 PM
.

We elected you President not sports czar , Just run the country.

Posted by .Rod Clark April 23, 09 08:36 PM
.

wbcci -- it's football... and all national champions visit the white house. It's been the custom for quite a while.

Obama is on top of every important issue out there. He's not a lightweight at all. Frankly, you come off as a lightweight.

God help YOU! Ha!

Posted by broskiman April 23, 09 09:01 PM
.

i agree obama should not be president but dude we are talking about football here not baskterball!

Posted by George Bush April 23, 09 09:03 PM
.

doesn't this pres have bigger fish to fry? this country is toast

Posted by joker67 April 23, 09 09:18 PM
.

Go Obama. This is one crisis you can solve. Everyone stands united ... We need a D-I football playoff.

Posted by Otis April 23, 09 09:31 PM
.

I find it silly that wbcci3371 is calling Obama a dope.

First, he's talking about football, not basketball.

Second, the timing of the SEAL action was dictated by operational requirements, not the Commander in Chief.

Third, it was not a rescue boat, it was a life boat.

Fourth, if they had "blown that rescue boat out of the water," everyone would have lost their lives.

wbcci3371 - before you call other people names, look in the mirror. I, for one, am pleased we have someone in the office who is not an intellectually disengaged ideologue.

Posted by Padrango April 23, 09 09:40 PM
.

Uhmm...it's actually football, not basketball. But you couldn't be more right. I love college football, and I love my country....but what the hell makes Lord Obama think that it's any of his business wether or not there's a college playoff system. How bout worrying about Iraq, Iran, the Taliban, Pakistan, Korea.....then worry about Saturday afternoons in the fall.

Posted by Bryan April 23, 09 10:38 PM
.

Hey wbcci3371, he's talking about FOOTBALL you clown shoe! Speaking of people having NO IDEA ABOUT things....

Posted by el_duderino April 23, 09 11:09 PM
.

wbcci3371, he honored a FOOTBALL team. Talk about someone who has no idea. And the reason he waited was to make sure that everything was lined up properly before acting, unlike Bush who acts first and then thinks

Posted by Andy April 23, 09 11:30 PM
.

Well first off, basketball has a playoff; this is football. So as far as calling him a dope, perhaps you should redirect that on yourself.

Second, while I'll agree that perhaps this wasn't an opportune moment to question the validity of the BCS (maybe do it when you're congratulating either UNC on their basketball championship or BU for hockey...if he waited for hockey he could point out how unbelievable the tournament was), the fact is he's not "worrying about" it. He's commenting on it. He has no authority over the NCAA and certainly isn't going to waste time trying to lobby for this. I'm pretty sure he knows he's got plenty of other things to "worry" about.

That said....he's right. But, it'll never happen...at least not anytime soon...because there is too much money to be made with the bowl system. Fact is, it's the controversy over the BCS and whether the proper matchup has been made for the championship that keeps a lot of people watching.

Posted by Stephen Barry April 24, 09 12:35 AM
.

There should definitely be a playoff for NCAA Football. Good work by wbcci on thinking this was about basketball (ever heard of march madness) and then spinning it into how Obama screwed up the pirate situation.

Posted by rlemega April 24, 09 12:45 AM
.

The more he worries about this the less time he has to ruin my country.

Hey Obama, I think Major League Baseball needs a playoff change too.

Posted by Doug April 24, 09 01:05 AM
.

So, its Obama's "fault" that the Navy SEALS were successful, took their time and really got the "mission accomplished", and save the Captain's life. You cant just run in shooting and ask questions later....You really have no clue. Idiot!

Posted by William April 24, 09 09:09 AM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.

News from the Washington Bureau

In N.E. governors’ races, GOP sees a chance to build on gains

Invigorated by state house victories earlier this month in Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans are turning their attention to governorships in New England, where they believe the retirement of four incumbents and a competitive race in Massachusetts has created wide-open opportunities. (Globe Correspondent, 11/25/09)

Senators voice optimism on public option

WASHINGTON - Buoyed by their weekend victory on a vote beginning the health care debate, several Senate Democrats expressed optimism yesterday they could find a way to keep a government-run insurance plan in the sweeping bill. (Globe Staff, 11/23/09)

Health overhaul narrowly advances

The Senate narrowly overcame the first of two critical hurdles to passing sweeping health care legislation last night, mustering the minimum of 60 votes required to begin debate on the bill and opening a volatile floor fight likely to last weeks. (Globe Staff 11/22/09)

Latinos, blacks take harder hit amid recession

Latinos and African-Americans in Massachusetts and across the country are facing high unemployment rates that could spiral to levels not seen in decades as the jobless economic recovery drags on, analysts and urban community advocates say. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Some lawmakers push back Catholic church on health care bill

Representative Louise Slaughter has a consistent record advocating abortion rights. So the New York Democrat was stunned recently to receive, for the first time, a letter from a Catholic diocese in western New York, demanding that she explain her vote this month against a health care amendment prohibiting insurance companies from paying for abortions. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Support wanes for curbs on credit-card interest rates

Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent. (Globe Staff, 11/19/09)

Obama domestic agenda largely a one-party effort

Despite early pleas for bipartisanship, President Obama is forging ahead with his domestic agenda with a largely single-party strategy, unable to corral more than a handful of Republicans on a wide range of major legislation before Congress. (Globe Staff, 11/17/09)

Beirut attack victims’ families face new hurdle

On Veterans Day, Christine Devlin stood in the cold in Westwood for the unveiling of a new memorial to local soldiers lost overseas, including her son Michael, one of the 241 servicemen killed in the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983. (Globe Staff, 11/14/09)

FHA runs low on cash, fueling bailout concerns

The Federal Housing Administration, which propped up the collapsing housing market last year, acknowledged yesterday that it has drained its cash reserves to dangerously low levels, heightening concerns that it might need a taxpayer bailout. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)

Powerful health care groups offer optimism on overhaul

Two leading health care interest groups, representing insurers and big business, struck a more conciliatory, even optimistic tone on the health care overhaul yesterday, emphasizing their support of the overall goal of increasing coverage and containing costs even as they warned that the wrong bill could cause great harm. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)
archives