The BCS is turning to Ari Fleischer for help

SHARE The BCS is turning to Ari Fleischer for help

The Bowl Championship Series — everyone’s favorite organization to berate — has hired former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer in hopes that he can improve their image.

The 49-year-old served in the Bush administration from 2001-2003.

The move comes in part as a reaction to an anti-BCS group called Playoff PAC, which was founded by six politically-savvy college football fans and represents many pining for a playoff.

Playoff advocates have had an easy ride where they have never been called on to explain exactly how they would create an alternative. There is tremendous division among playoff advocates, said Fleischer. While the BCS has its share of critics, once people see both sides of the issue, they will see why the system has its great support.

Fleischer’s firm specializes in instructing organizations and athletes on how to deal with the media — expertise that he’ll have to draw on heavily when selling the wildly unpopular BCS. Of course, after serving as W’s PR guy, it might not be the hardest job Fleischer has ever had.

The Latest
As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis worsens, protesters at universities all over the U.S. are demanding that schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict.
White Sox starter Chris Flexen delivered the best start of his season, throwing five scoreless innings, three walks and two strikeouts in Friday’s 9-4 win over the Rays.
Notes: Lefty Justin Steele threw in an extended spring training game Friday.
Imanaga held the Red Sox to one run through 6 1/3 innings in the Cubs’ 7-1 win Friday.
Hundreds of protesters from the University of Chicago, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University rallied in support of people living in Gaza.