AP crowns USC (mythical) national champs (Final Poll is out)

espn ^ | 1/5/03 | AP

[Diddle E. Squat]

RANK TEAM RECORD PTS PVS

1. USC (48) 12-1 1,608 1 Last game: Def. Michigan 28-14 (Jan. 1)

2. LSU (17) 13-1 1,576 2 Last game: Def. Oklahoma 21-14 (Jan. 4) Next game: vs. Oklahoma (Jan. 4)

3. Oklahoma 12-2 1,476 3 Last game: Lost to LSU 21-14 (Jan. 4) Next game: vs. LSU (Jan. 4)

4. Ohio State 11-2 1,411 7 Last game: Def. Kansas State 35-28 (Jan. 2)

5. Miami 11-2 1,329 10 Last game: Def. Florida State 16-14 (Jan. 1)

6. Michigan 10-3 1,281 4 Last game: Lost to USC 28-14 (Jan. 1)

7. Georgia 11-3 1,255 11 Last game: Def. Purdue 34-27 (Jan. 1)

8. Iowa 10-3 1,107 13 Last game: Def. Florida 37-17 (Jan. 1)

9. Washington State 10-3 1,060 15 Last game: Def. Texas 28-20 (Dec. 30)

10. Miami (OHIO) 13-1 932 14 Last game: Def. Louisville 49-28 (Dec. 18)

11. Florida State 10-3 905 9 Last game: Lost to Miami 16-14 (Jan. 1)

12. Texas 10-3 887 5 Last game: Lost to Washington State 28-20 (Dec. 30)

13. Mississippi 10-3 845 16 Last game: Def. Oklahoma State 31-28 (Jan. 2)

14. Kansas State 11-4 833 8 Last game: Lost to Ohio State 35-28 (Jan. 2)

15. Tennessee 10-3 695 6 Last game: Lost to Clemson 27-14 (Jan. 2)

16. Boise State 13-1 645 18 Last game: Def. TCU 34-31 (Dec. 23)

17. Maryland 10-3 564 23 Last game: Def. West Virginia 41-7 (Jan. 1)

18. Purdue 9-4 526 12 Last game: Lost to Georgia 34-27 (Jan. 1)

19. Nebraska 10-3 520 22 Last game: Def. Michigan State 17-3 (Dec. 29)

20. Minnesota 10-3 368 24 Last game: Def. Oregon 31-30 (Dec. 31)

21. Utah 10-2 308 25 Last game: Def. Southern Miss 17-0 (Dec. 31)

22. Clemson 9-4 230 NR Last game: Def. Tennessee 27-14 (Jan. 2)

23. Bowling Green 11-3 189 NR Last game: Def. Northwestern 28-24 (Dec. 26)

24. Florida 8-5 165 17 Last game: Lost to Iowa 37-17 (Jan. 1)

25. TCU 11-2 126 19 Last game: Lost to Boise State 34-31 (Dec. 23)

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES Oklahoma State 109, Arkansas 73, Virginia 36, Northern Illinois 30, Auburn 8, Oregon State 8, Pittsburgh 7, N.C. State 7, West Virginia 4, Connecticut 2.

DROPPED FROM RANKINGS West Virginia 20, Oklahoma State 21.

[Joe_October]

Because the writers are corrupt and idiotic. I say it again and again and no one corrects me. Because they are idiotic and corrupt. Anything they say is meaningless.

What else?

[Joe_October]

I've been ranting for weeks that the AP writers are corrupt and it against their interest to vote with the BCS. No one has corrected me.

I actually prefer USC to Oklahoma and LSU. Try again.

Why do you hate LSU?

[Mudbug]

#1 by the AP (which has nothing to do with the BCS

That's not true. The AP poll is component of the BCS ranking.

[Joe_October]

...Why can't you let this whole thing go and congratulate both teams for fine seasons...

And, if you've read my posts for weeks (which is false), you would know that I have congratulated USC a number of times. A fine team. But, why do their fans insist on taking from LSU what they deserve? Why can't they congratulate the true winners?

[Mudbug]

There is also the fact that a controversy keeps the ratings up... so the AP has a vested interest in a split.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

by that I meant the AP championship which is unlike the coaches poll/championship, who are bound to vote for the BCS game winner

[TheConservator]

There is no disputing that OK v LSU was the proper matchup under the BCS system. LSU is the BCS champion. They are a national champion. USC and its fans shouldn't whine about that.

But if you were a fan of college football, you would know that for many years, two ranking systems have been consistently recognized, and the winner of either one of them is considered, by consensus, the national champion.

So USC is every bit as much a national champion as LSU. I congratulate them both.

FWIW, I think USC would beat LSU in a head to head matchup. But I can't prove it. And no one can prove the opposite. It is a moot point, under the current system.

[LisaMalia]

I kinda think this is why the liberal media STILL has a bias towards Ohio State.

“People talk about how devoted Woody is to football,” Mrs. Hayes once observed. “He was just as dedicated to the Navy. Why, we had been married only five days when he asked for sea duty. He didn’t get it at once, but he did request it. Stevie was nearly nine months old before Woody saw him for the first time.”

Throughout his coaching career, military icons, in fact, played a large part in the manner in which his teams operated, down to running plays being named “Patton” for General George Patton. Former Ohio State fullback Pete Johnson recently remarked, “Patton #1 through #6—those were all my plays.”

[BookmanTheJanitor]

So I guess it's alright to rant against the AP writers and the AP championship, but anyone who rants against the BCS is a whiner?

[Joe_October]

The NCAA does not conduct a national championship in Division I-A football and is not involved in the selection process. Since 1998, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) operated jointly by the ACC, Southeastern, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and Pacific-10 Conferences uses a ranking system to determine the number one and number two teams at the end of the season. These two teams play each other in a post-season bowl game for the BCS national championship.

When that was decided there can be only 1.

Winning the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, or Orange bowl is a great accomplishment. Cheers to them all!

But, #1 is reserved for 1 team (that's why they call it #1). This year, it was the winner of the Sugar bowl.

The system is corrupt and bent in every way possible but in this, it is clear.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yeah, its all a conspiracy. Wouldn't have anything to do with the guy having an attitude and slugging an opposing player.

Sheesh.

[Joe_October]

Are you defending the AP writers? They picked Gore, Dean, Hussein, Bin Laden, Abortion on Demand, more taxes, universal health care.

I can't think of an issue they got right.

And before you start with this is different, they show their bias in the polls they REVEAL. Imagine, the ones you can't see. And before you go down the "secret" computer code straw man, remember the AP admits their bias when they show their polls.

On top of the fact as I have said, it is in their interest to promote a different champ. It is in their interest to oppose the BCS. It is in their interest to build controversy.

No. The AP is corrupt.

No one has said the BCS made an error in their calculation. They claim the rules that were established before the emotion of the season, are now not to their liking. No error. No corruption. (With the possible taint of the AP which was agreed to in advance so you can't do anything about them.)

So, you aren't saying the writers aren't idiots and corrupt are you?

[Joe_October]

...Winning the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, or Orange bowl is a great accomplishment. Cheers to them all! ...

Oh, and cheers to the winners and participants in the other bowls as well. It has been a delightful season!

[Mudbug]

Winning the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, or Orange bowl is a great accomplishment.

They had to leave out the Cotton Bowl because they were afraid Dems would call it a White Wing Conspiracy

[Always Right]

FWIW, I think either an OU or LSU vs Michigan matchup would have been a blow-out.

Exactly....Michigan would have kicked their airses.

[Mudbug]

Not in this lifetime.

[Always Right]

Not in this lifetime.

Easily

[BookmanTheJanitor]

I don't give a rip about the AP writers - I was just fascinated that someone who ranted for weeks on this subject would actually label someone with a different rant/criticism/point of view...a whiner.

Oh well - that's your thing. Obvioulsy, you're passionate about this subject and like to argue/debate about it and enjoy that. I was hoping to get past all this crap and congratulate two fine teams. I was obviously naive on this point as some people enjoy the debate.

BTW - I agree with you on many points and fully acknowledge that both the BCS system and AP writers have major flaws and fully acknowledge LSU as the BCS champion & USC as the AP champion. I just think we have different ways of discussing football and that's cool. Out.

[Joe_October]

Indeed. The debate is half the fun (since none of my teams are in it.

You do make a good point. When I call the AP idiots (a point I must remind that no one has refuted), I could be a whiner. I wish someone would correct me if possible.

And I have called some of the fine USC fans whiners in a moment (or a dozen) of heat. I can't think of a nicer word at times. But, you must admit, we fans can be a bit whiney.

Would USC fans argue so strongly if they were in the Sugar and LSU was in the Rose? I think not. I would. (I would be arguing with a different crowd to be sure.)

I would like to be convinced to their point but all the points that I've heard are flawed. The strongest point is that the AP voted them in and you know my opinion of that.

The rest are grasping points. Some have been argued well but painful to hear (you can't believe THAT?).

Neither outcome is of any consequence but it is interesting to see if others can be swayed. (If we can't convince each other on this point, how can we convince each other on taxes, health care, the (bogus) green house nonsense (there I go)).

I've congratulated them. And am impressed by those who would stand up to a pretty steady barrage from one passionate fan.

[Mudbug]

Thanks, Joe.