The Fifty-Year Seduction : How Television Manipulated College Football, from the Birth of the Modern NCAA to the Creation of the BCS

Rating:
Summary: So that's why college football is so bizarre
Review: This book is absolutely essential reading for anyone who is interested in the business of college football. Even if you are just a casual college football fan, this book is pretty easy to read and helps explain a lot of things, like how Notre Dame can remain outside of the conference system and why the post season is so chaotic.

If there is any short-coming, it might be that the book focuses a little too much on the internal management of the NCAA, especially the consolidation of power that occurred under Wally Byers. But, in the end, this is such a gigantic subject that it had to have some kind of hook.

Rating:
Summary: Should be read by all True College Football Fans
Review: This is a well written, well researched book on the relationship of TV and college football. While I was aware of the significant ruling in the 80s when Georgia and Oklahoma as a test case for the CFA were allowed to televise away from the standard one game a week on ABC, I was not aware that the outcome was more games but significantly lower TV revenue. This was the most significant development of the past 50 years with the next big move being the bowl tie-ins and increased revenue available from the BCS bowls in the 90s.

But what this author did such a good job of was detailing the personalities involved with the NCAA and how that dictated how TV contracts were negotiated up until the 80s. Some fallout of those relationships is what led to the later mess in TV rights fees.

Having worked on a fundraising board with a 1-A College athletic program, this is a must read that I would recommend for any athletic administrator or diehard fan. I find it interesting that this book has been out three months and it hasn't been reviewed. I suspect that means that not many college football fans also read books. Or maybe it means they don't use Amazon. Irrespective, do yourself a favor and read this book if you enjoy the game of college football.