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Changing The BCS Is Harder Than Winning The Presidency, Says Man Who Lost The Presidency

Arizona senator/former Republican presidential candidate John McCain stopped by Dan Patrick’s show earlier today, and while McCain was especially focused on advocating for HGH testing in the NFL, we were more interested in something he said before that. Patrick asked McCain to make an interesting comparison: is it harder to enact meaningful reform to the BCS system, or win the presidency? Though McCain delivered his answer with a laugh, the response was telling:

On the one hand, you’d think McCain – who you’ll remember, if you were alive in 2000 or 2008, knows a thing or two about how difficult it is to win the presidency – was delivering that answer tongue in cheek. Then again: McCain’s from Arizona. The Fiesta Bowl’s in Arizona. Earlier this year, this happened with the Fiesta Bowl – but while the bowl’s top executive lost his job and the bowl was docked $1 million, it kept the most important thing – its BCS status. Consider the status quo maintained, even in face of rampant corruption. Maybe McCain’s answer was the right one.

Additionally, we’re kind of impressed Patrick went for it and asked McCain if he’d go with Sarah Palin as his running mate again, if given the chance. And Patrick got another interesting response out of the senator on that one – sure, he didn’t say anything bad about Palin (and even got in a requisite “liberal media” crack), but he sure had a lot of other names on his mind, too.

One other thing: in discussing which of his fellow senators are the most knowledgeable about college football, McCain said Southern lawmakers are generally the bigger fans. Not surprising. He said Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was among those big fans. Makes sense. But then, he described Graham as a “fanatic” about both Clemson and University of South Carolina football. And that just doesn’t happen. You don’t see Auburn/Alabama dual allegiances. Texas fans hate A&M, and vice versa. If Graham can bridge that divide, there’s really no excuse for the two sides of the political aisle not working together.

Getty photo, by Brendan Smialowski