Thanks, Terry, for that impressive research. Looks like it wasn't such a big farce after all. Like so many things in our lives that were pre-whatever, it's the way things were (e.g., pre-computers, pre-interstate highways, pre-BCS, etc.). To demean something of significance accomplished under the rules of the era is to demonstrate a lack of appreciation for history.
The rules at the time were woefully inadequate. BYU should have played any one of a number of teams like Washington or OU etc. instead of a 6-5 Michigan squad that wound up 6-6. Name one national champion in the past 60 years that had to only beat a 6-5 team in a bowl to win the title!!!