MagicMtnDan
01-09-2004, 10:15 AM
NCAA rejects Gateway's call for USC-LSU playoff
Computer maker Gateway says it will put up $30 million in scholarships if there's a national football championship game between the University of Southern California, No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, and Louisiana State University, ranked first in the BCS poll. Gateway says it would settle once and for all which is the best collegiate football team for the 2003 season.
The NCAA says no way to the idea from the Poway-based computer maker. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, the NCAA has rejected the idea, saying such a game is prevented by the bylaws of the organization, which oversees college athletics in the United States.
Gateway's deal is an offer of $10 million in scholarships each to LSU and USC, with the winner of the game getting an additional $10 million in scholarships from Gateway, plus $1 million in Gateway technology products for use in academic and athletic programs. The offer remains on the table with the two universities and the NCAA having until Monday, Jan. 12 at noon Eastern Standard Time to officially accept or decline.
Gateway's idea may not be completely altruistic. The fine print of the offer gives Gateway -- which makes popular plasma screen TVs -- the television rights to the game. The company says it would intend to broadcast it in high definition and stream the game live on the Internet.
Computer maker Gateway says it will put up $30 million in scholarships if there's a national football championship game between the University of Southern California, No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, and Louisiana State University, ranked first in the BCS poll. Gateway says it would settle once and for all which is the best collegiate football team for the 2003 season.
The NCAA says no way to the idea from the Poway-based computer maker. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, the NCAA has rejected the idea, saying such a game is prevented by the bylaws of the organization, which oversees college athletics in the United States.
Gateway's deal is an offer of $10 million in scholarships each to LSU and USC, with the winner of the game getting an additional $10 million in scholarships from Gateway, plus $1 million in Gateway technology products for use in academic and athletic programs. The offer remains on the table with the two universities and the NCAA having until Monday, Jan. 12 at noon Eastern Standard Time to officially accept or decline.
Gateway's idea may not be completely altruistic. The fine print of the offer gives Gateway -- which makes popular plasma screen TVs -- the television rights to the game. The company says it would intend to broadcast it in high definition and stream the game live on the Internet.