Hawaii decides not to join suit against BCS

Hawaii apparently will not join the state of Utah and others in a planned lawsuit against the Bowl Championship Series.

"It does not look like Hawaii is going to join us; in fact, I was told they would not," Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said.

A spokesman for Hawaii AG David M. Louie did not comment.

Louie had earlier been "looking into" the possibility of joining the suit, according to previous statements by his office.

Shurtleff is scheduled to make an announcement about the suit following a conference call on Friday.

Shurtleff has said the suit will allege the BCS "has wrongfully deprived a number of non-BCS schools, including the University of Hawaii, of opportunities or money they should have received.

"All of the WAC has been harmed," Shurtleff contends. "The bottom line is that Hawaii and our Utah State from the WAC were denied some of the millions because Boise State was kept out (in 2010) based upon their (the BCS’) scheme, which we believe is an illegal scheme."

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has been a longtime vocal critic of the BCS system. As a U. S. representative four years ago, he helped sponsor legislation seeking an investigation of the BCS.

In a 2008 newspaper commentary, Abercrombie wrote the BCS "constitutes an illegal restraint of trade as it currently operates …"

He added, "Non-BCS schools must use their general funds to cover costs of their athletic departments, which takes funding from academic and administrative needs."

Should a BCS overhaul soon address many of those concerns, the suit is not expected to go forth.