Last week, I attended the IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum in New York, where many of the big issues facing higher education and college sports were discussed. During the two-day conference, some of the most powerful people on college campuses shared their opinions, including college presidents and athletics directors. Frankly, it was fascinating to hear them speak in such an open and candid environment.

While there were numerous issues that deserved the focus of the discussions, the two issues that kept coming up over and over seemed to be the economy and the BCS situation.

The economy
I'm not usually a fan of the phrase, "it is what it is," but this might be the best way to describe the current economic situation as it relates to intercollegiate athletics. After hearing many people touch on the issue from the perspective of their own schools, it is apparent the current financial condition is affecting everyone in some way. This is a topic we have talked about in great detail on the Double-A Zone over the last few months.

Undoubtedly, most schools are feeling the effect of the current market situation, but there is little they can do except wait it out and hope it turns in the near future. For instance, some schools that have taken on multi-phase construction projects related to athletics facilities might need to rethink their approach or hold off on some of it altogether.

The aspect of the discussion I found interesting was that few (if any) athletics departments will be forced to take part in massive personnel layoffs, a trend that has developed in recent weeks in other sports organizations (such as the NFL). We'll see how this all plays out in the upcoming months, but for now, it appears that most athletics departments will be able to hold stable to hopefully get through the tough times.

BCS
In light of the recently-concluded college football regular season and subsequent BCS controversy between Texas and Oklahoma, the BCS was the center of the discussion on numerous occasions during the conference.

As we have pointed out on the Double-A Zone in the past, the NCAA has nothing to do with the ultimate decision to form a Division I FBS playoff. In order for this to occur, it will have to be decided on by the presidents of BCS football schools.

After hearing some presidents and athletics directors weigh in on the situation, don't hold your breath on a FBS playoff. Some estimated that only a small percentage of BCS-conference presidents would currently be on board with the idea of a playoff.

When Notre Dame Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick was asked if 30 percent of university presidents were currently in favor of a playoff, he responded that he thought that number was "incredibly high." Additionally, both Ohio State President Gordon Gee and Arizona State Athletics Director Lisa Love said perhaps only one president at the most would vote for a playoff in each of their respective power conferences (the Big Ten and Pac-10).

In other words, few decision makers (outside of some coaches and President-Elect Barack Obama) believe a playoff is necessary. If anything, from listening to the discussions, it seems more likely that a plus-one format would be implemented before a playoff, although it doesn't appear this is coming anytime soon either.

The current BCS system has caused unbelievable interest in college football, and unless something drastic occurs, it appears this is how it will be for a long time moving forward.