Sports
Sports

College Football Playoff statement on ‘religious liberty’ bill

The College Football Playoffs bowl games decide the NCAA's national champion.

Credit: Tom Pennington

Credit: Tom Pennington

The College Football Playoffs bowl games decide the NCAA's national champion.
By
March 21, 2016

The College Football Playoff organization reacted to Georgia’s controversial “religious liberty” legislation today with a statement from executive director Bill Hancock:

“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. 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.”

Hancock’s statement came in response to a request for comment from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The College Football Playoff, which is a separate organization from the NCAA, last year awarded its January 2018 national-championship game to Atlanta’s new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In addition, Atlanta’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is slated to host a semifinal game in the playoff on Dec. 31, 2016, in the Georgia Dome.

The "religious liberty" legislation, if signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal, jeopardizes Atlanta's bid to host the 2019, 2020 or 2021 Super Bowl, based on a statement Friday by the NFL.

MORE: What SEC says about the Georgia legislation.

About the Author

Tim Tucker, a long-time AJC sports reporter, often writes about the business side of the games. He also had stints as the AJC's Braves beat writer, UGA beat writer, sports notes columnist and executive sports editor. He was deputy managing editor of America's first all-sports newspaper, The National Sports Daily.

Follow Tim Tucker on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta Dream forward Brionna Jones (24) cuts between Indiana Fever guard Shey Peddy (5) and forward Brianna Turner (11) in the first half of a WNBA basketball playoff game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Credit: AP

Fever defeat Dream to even series, 77-60

‘Whole new ballgame’: Dream’s defense cools down Fever in Game 1 win

Second and fourth quarters prove to be the difference in first playoff win in seven years.

Dream’s mission continues: Defeat the Fever, avoid do-or-die Game 3

With semifinals within reach, Atlanta seeks to handle business Tuesday in Indiana instead of risking a winner-take-all game back home.

The Latest

Georgia Tech football coach Brent Key (center) had a blast after beating Clemson.

Credit: Colin Hubbard/AP

The Win Column: Inside an iconic call

Atlanta TV sports listings

Fever defeat Dream to even series, 77-60

Featured

Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Fani Willis loses last chance to stay at the helm of Trump Georgia election interference case

Georgia's top court declines to hear Fani Willis appeal in Trump case, meaning she can no longer pursue the election interference case.

Investigator: Ex-APD officer raped woman on duty, returned when she called 911

Fulton County Magistrate Judge Todd Ashley ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed against former officer Muhammad Muhammad.

Cobb County agency green lights tax break for Home Depot’s $140M project

The Development Authority of Cobb County voted 6-0 to give initial approval for Home Depot's request Tuesday but didn't disclose the property tax savings the company sought.