Sports columnist Bill Oram’s piece, “The College Football Playoff’s flawed system failed Oregon and needs to be fixed,” struck me as sour grapes, even while I apologize for the Ducks’ terrible Rose Bowl performance.
In order for a school like Oregon to host a quarterfinal home playoff game during the worst weather conditions and during the time between semesters when there aren’t many students on campus, Oram wants to blow apart what’s left of the bowl system. Oram believes that this is more crucial than allowing organizations like the Rose Bowl to keep making money.
However, the Rose Bowl is a community-based organization made up of two charities, one of which has a sizable following among Pasadena political officials. The bowl game serves as the focal point of the Tournament of Roses, a multi-day celebration that attracts marching bands, performers, and tourists from all over the world. It also features a historic procession. If given the choice, who would choose sunny Pasadena to wet Eugene on January 1st?
Wilsonville, Paul A. Diller
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