by JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist , Tulsa World

NO ONE AT the University of Tulsa is going to protest if Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky takes a little dig at the Mountain West Conference. When asked about the MWC's idea to change the BCS system, Banowsky said, "We have all signed off a new deal with the BCS. We are in business, and when we make a deal we stick by it. A deal is a deal."

In other words, if the MWC wants to go off on its own, please feel free. The Mountain West Conference, headed by Craig Thompson, has been pushing a new idea for the BCS. Actually, it is a deal that would pretty much dismantle the BCS. But, as anyone at Tulsa or several other former Western Athletic Conference schools can tell you, eight of the MWC schools have been known to make a few secret deals behind closed doors. The MWC is the same eight schools that pledged solidarity in the 16-team WAC and then ran off in the night, leaving TU and seven others in the dark. It has all worked out well for TU. The Golden Hurricane would appear to have a great fit in Conference USA. Now, the MWC, not long after agreeing to a new BCS deal that gives the non-BCS schools access to the BCS bowls and more money, is pushing an eight-team playoff. The MWC's idea actually makes good sense. You have an eight-team playoff using the four major bowls as quarterfinals (Orange, Sugar, Fiesta and Rose). The BCS formula, a combination of polls and computers, would be replaced with a 12-person committee. Imagine the pressure on those dozen folks. Thompson has been pitching the idea all spring, including to a congressional hearing. However, the restructured BCS negotiated a four-year deal $500 million contrast with ESPN that will run through 2013. Banowsky believes, as that time approaches, will be the time to talk about changes. "The BCS and postseason football is always a fascinating topic," he said. "But, I believe the bowl system is very entrenched in college football and provides wonderful opportunities for student-athletes. "For starters, how do you deal with the bowl system. I believe you don't want to do anything to undermine or upset the bowl system. The politics of the whole thing is very challenging." The college football system does not have a simple solution, as many people believe. Instituting a playoff won't come without a lot of negotiation between the bowl system and the power conferences. The non-BCS leagues have to walk a fine line. They want to push hard enough to have access and get a piece of the financial pie. However, push too hard and the big conferences might just run off on their own. So, Banowsky knows there are no simple answers. And, he believes the latest agreement has certainly improved the situation for C-USA. If you are in one of the leagues with an automatic BCS berth, then you do have access to one of the 10 BCS slots be in the top 12 or be in the top 16 and ranked above one of the automatic qualifiers. It is not as good as having an automatic berth like the BCS leagues (Big 12, Southeastern, Big Ten, Pac-10, ACC and Big East). However, it does give C-USA schools a chance to jump into the BCS. "I believe we have real access to the BCS under the new rules," Banowsky said. "We can play our way in. It is real access. Our coaches can go into practice and tell their players that if they win all of their games, they have a very real chance to get into the BCS. "If Tulsa had run the table a year ago, it would have opened up some interesting opportunities." In the past three years, two WAC teams and one Mountain West team have played in BCS games (winning two of those bowls). Banowsky believes the football in Conference USA is getting better every year, and he believes the league is close to grabbing one of those BCS slots. "Last year we had Tulsa and East Carolina, with some impressive early victories, that had a chance," Banowsky said.. "I really believe we have access to the BCS in my mind. There is access." Could it be better and more access? Absolutely. But, unlike the Mountain West, trying to push their way into the BCS might not be the best path to getting full access.

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