Disdain for BCS crosses political boundaries

It seemed bodies of steaming water in hell would freeze before Sen. Orrin Hatch and President Obama agreed on something.

Anything.

But the Utah Republican and Illinois Democrat do not like using the Bowl Championship Series system to determine our national champion in major college football.

Hatch is urging Obama to invite Boise State University to the White House along with BCS winner Alabama, arguing both undefeated football teams deserve the honor.

The Utah Republican made the request Thursday in a letter to Obama.

In the letter, Hatch said inviting both teams will "send a clear message" that champions should be chosen on the field.

An apparent danger, however, is that a Republican and Democrat are caught agreeing publicly.

Lace 'em up, Satan, it's time to go skating.

• RAM TOUGH -- A weak economy is keeping a few corporate giants from buying commercials in next month's Super Bowl.

No advertisements for Pepsi and FedEx will be aired during the Feb. 7 game on CBS.

But Chrysler will advertise in "The Game" this year for the first time since 2004, making it the first U.S. automaker in the world's most expensive advertising showcase in two years.

Wonder if any American bailout bucks are being used?

No U.S. automaker -- Ford, General Motors, Chrysler -- advertised in last year's game amid a sharp industry downturn that saw Chrysler and GM seek bankruptcy protection and government aid.

According to TNS Media Intelligence, CBS is selling 30-second advertisements from $2.5 million to $2.8 million.

Chrysler will feature its Dodge Ram trucks in a 60-second ad in the first half of the NFL championship game.

The news is being well received by NFL fans in St. Louis, who relish the chance to finally have a Ram be part of the country's biggest game.

• JUST BLAME AL -- If you are fed up with the college football coaching soap operas at Southern California and Tennessee, blame it on Al Davis.

It's not enough that he's running the once storied Oakland Raiders into the ground. One of his ingenious decisions is why Tennessee's program is topsy-turvy.

Were it not for Davis, new SoCal coach Lane Kiffin still might be an unknown USC assistant.

Davis put Kiffin in the spotlight three years ago when the then-31-year-old was hired to coach the Raiders, who now have lost at least 11 games for seven straight seasons.

That move lasted 20 games and not even two seasons.

After being terminated, Kiffin found life as a Volunteer before sneaking out the back door this week to take over one of the country's most vaunted programs.

But there is hope for Tennessee.

Davis was to meet with Raiders coach Tom Cable on Wednesday, so he soon might be unemployed.

COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL