On Saturday CFT wrote about the “religious freedom” bill sitting on the desk of Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and whether the College Football Playoff -- which will hold its title game in Atlanta after the 2017 season and annually includes the Atlanta’s Peach Bowl as part of its New Year’s Six -- would weigh in on the bill.
They never responded.
On Monday, though, CFP executive director Bill Hancock provided a statement to CBSSports in which he says, essentially, nothing.
“We deplore discrimination wherever it occurs and note that there is a public debate about this matter and its implications, as well as whether or not it will become law,” Hancock said. “We will keep an eye on this, but our group’s focus is on sports and public policy matters are better left to the experts and voters to resolve.”
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey also provided a statement to CBS, saying his league was “attentive” to the issue and not much else. His conference hosts its football championship game in Atlanta annually.
“Our conference championship events are an extension of our universities which are places of diversity and opportunity,” Sankey said. “We are attentive to this legislative matter as we continue our policy of considering numerous factors in determining sites for our championship events.”
It’s quite possible Hancock and Sankey declined to dip their respective toes in these political waters because the waters may not exist much longer. Gov. Deal has stated in the past he would reject any measure that “allows discrimination in our state in order to protect people of faith,” and urged Georgia conservatives to “recognize that the world is changing around us.”
In the event Gov. Deal signs the bill into law, Hancock and Sankey may have a decision on their hands. The NFL has all but stated an on-the-books “religious liberty” bill would factor into its Super Bowl awarding process.
Gov. Deal has until May 3 to sign or veto the bill.