 |
|
Posted on 01/05/2005 8:38:56 AM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
USC No. 1 from start to finish in AP poll
|
|
|
MIAMI (AP) -- Southern California joined some elite company with its latest AP national title. The Trojans became just the second team to go No. 1 wire-to-wire in The Associated Press Top 25, and the 10th team to repeat as national champs.
Following a resounding 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, USC received all but three first-place votes early Wednesday to easily outdistance Auburn.
The Trojans (13-0) are the first back-to-back AP champs since Nebraska in 1994-95.
"I know right now I'm in the middle of something special," USC coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday morning after receiving both the AP and Bowl Championship series national title trophies.
"We are now unanimously No. 1," Orange Bowl MVP Matt Leinart said right after the game.
Not quite, but good enough.
USC received 62 first-place votes and 1,622 points. Auburn got the other first-place votes and 1,559 points.
The Sooners (12-1) finished third, ahead of unbeaten Utah (12-0) and Texas (11-1).
Auburn (13-0) finished its perfect season Monday night with a 16-13 victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.
Tigers coach Tommy Tuberville and his team practically pleaded with poll voters to give his team a championship, but to no avail.
"Anybody who thought that last night was a championship game, I beg to differ," Tuberville said Wednesday morning. "I'm disappointed that with the type of team we had, as balanced as we were, we did not get a chance to play in that game."
The Trojans' 36-point rout was the third-largest margin in a matchup between No. 1 and No. 2 teams.
USC joined Florida State in 1999 as the only teams to be No. 1 from start to finish since the AP started a preseason poll in 1950. The Trojans are also the 10th preseason No. 1 to win the national championship.
The Trojans' fifth AP title tied them with Miami for the fourth most.
Notre Dame leads with eight national titles, followed by Oklahoma with seven and Alabama with six.
And if the Trojans start next season No. 1 - a good possibility even if Leinart skips his senior season for the NFL draft - they will match Miami's record of 19 straight polls as No. 1.
No team has ever won three straight AP titles, but USC could enter next season as the favorite to do just that.
Louisville was No. 6, followed by Georgia, Iowa, California and Virginia Tech.
Miami was 11th, and for the first time since 1982, no team from Florida ended the season ranked among the nation's top five.
Florida State (9-3) finished ranked 15th and Florida (7-5) ended the season unranked.
Boise State's first loss of the season to Louisville in the Liberty Bowl dropped the Broncos two spots to No. 12.
Navy made it into the rankings for the first time since 1979 at No. 24. Fresno State also joined the poll at 22.
He didn't help himself in the Sugar Bowl. He looked more like a Honda than a Cadillac.
VT fans were complaining about VT players doing the same thing.
Looks like they've lined up mighty Ball State for next year.
"... it is truly absurd to be against an institution because of one person in the stands."
Hey, don't take it personally. Sports IS an absurdity, think about it. I pull for Ohio State, but did I go there, no. I should be pulling for the University of Akron, ugh. Many who have rooting interests in college games may not even live in the same state as the team they root for. In fact, the closest some of them have been to college is to drive by.
So picking a reason to dislike a team is no more or less rational than picking a reason to like them.
And don't get me started on the lack of logic in rooting for professional millionaires!
Hawkeyes, Hawkeyes, Hawkeyes...
What'd the Bucs do ?
in the bowl they kicked the crap out of Oklahoma St.....
and next year they are returning just about everybody....
I agree except I would have the playoffs start in January just like the NFL. I would do the Top 12 teams.
>>>>You seem to presume the sportswriters are against Auburn. Why would they be?<<<<
>>Auburn university is in the state of Alabama, Alabama voted for George Bush.<<
Um, the question was asked in the context of why Oklahoma was picked over Auburn. Oklahoma is redder than Alabama.
LOL!
Gave up 37 points vs the Buckeyes and 40 vs Texas. TOTAL joke!
"And USC played 1 ranked school (California who gave them a close game) that got crushed in their Bowl game by Texas Tech. Oklahoma was overrated, and Auburn got robed.'
And Texas crushed Tech.
Throw in AA OT Terrence Wisdom (starter on 03 NC team) who was suspended this season and they have 17/22 starters. They remind me very much of the late 80's early 90's Miami powerhouse teams and yes they are good kids. PC has done a great job.
and I doubt Ohio State will be on probation...
I dont think the school did anything wrong...they might be a bit naive, but that isnt a sin I dont think...
if they arent and everything is equal, OHio State will be in the top 5 by the end of next year.....their defense is going to be spectacular....
Don't forget Oklahoma's weak schedule: Baylor (3-8), Colorado, etc.
Sorry! But from an unbiased viewpoint (I'm not a fan of both schools), USC would beat Auburn 8 out of 10 times. SC is just too talented. Plus, they have grown as a team.
Now, unfortunately, we will never know for sure, but in watching both teams, clearly, USC is the dominant team.
yup........you got that right.....i guess for now we will just have to fall back on our #1 public university ranking and academics with more top ten programs than even Stanford or MIT or Harvard and more PH.D's than any university.......danmed I hate when that happens....
I agree, I think they may be the team to challenge USC next year.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
