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.

[staytrue]

It's pretty clear that the Big10 was the toughest conference followed by the SEC.

It is also pretty clear by the beating the BIG 12 took in the bowls, that the most overrated conference was the big 12.

[BlueNgold]

The BCS got it right .. almost....
It was a seeded 4 team playoff bracket:
#1 played #4, and #2 played #3. The higher seeded teams (USC/LSU) both earned the right to play at home.
For some reason, through a computer glitch I am sure, they simply forgot to schedule the final game ...

[TexasCajun]

Screw the AP!

LSU Tigers #1

[raptor29]

"It is also pretty clear by the beating the BIG 12 took in the bowls, that the most overrated conference was the big 12."

And what's classic is that Oklahoma's 'strength of schedule' component made the Sooners #1 in the brilliant BCS computer rankings. What a farce.

[Eva]

USC's schedule was not too tough, either. University of Washington is in a recruiting slump, WA state had that coaching problem at the end of last season, and who knows why the other teams were so weak this year, but they just were.

[Euro-American Scum]

O.K. Let me try to explain what the major issues with the BCS were as the season ended this year, at least for USC fans.

USC got beat out by LSU on the last weekend of the regular season after getting hammered on what appeared to be – at least to us – an inflated importance placed on strength of schedule this year over prior years.

All season long, we’ve been hearing about how “down”, “soft”, and “weak” the Pac 10 was this season. And when did all this talk start? It surfaced last August during the pre-season media hype. Now I’ve got a simple question about this? How can that be? How is it, all these east coast media pundits knew the Pac 10 was down before so much as one down of football was played? Based on what? How was it determined? Did they have a crack staff of college football analysts slavishly working ‘round the clock to determine this? Or was it Vinny the mail boy who works at 30 Rock having a beer with his buddies at some watering hole on 6th Avenue in New York City?

The second issue is that we never hear about the Big 10, ACC, SEC, Big East or Big 12 having “down”, “weak” or “soft” years. Which is amazing considering the personnel of these teams is changing every year just like the Pac 10. Looks like these are powerhouse conferences every year, regardless of any personnel changes. And Notre Dame is never any of these things. The Irish are always either a juggernaut, or “in transition”. Can’t have a team with an exclusive multi-billion dollar NBC contract being “down”. No. That just won’t do. If a 6-5 team gets into the BCS title game, trust me, it will be Notre Dame.

The final issue was the computer polls. Fred Roggin is a local sportscaster in L.A. and has a radio program on 1540 AM The Ticket. Right after the final week of the regular season – when the BCS finalists were announced – Roggin had Chris Hester of the Anderson/Hester computer poll on to explain how his system worked. Hester said a lot of things without saying anything, really. But he did say a couple of noteworthy things:

First, the BCS didn’t pay him or any of the other pollsters for their systems. They just used them.

Second, he couldn’t explain how he rated the teams (i.e. he didn’t know), but could speak with assurance that the systems were fair and couldn’t be tampered with.

Now let me speak as a software developer for the last twenty-five years. If anybody believes Hester and/or his partners in crime didn’t receive any compensation for their time and trouble, I’ve got some beachfront property in South Florida I can sell you. Hester is a consultant. The BCS is his client. As a savvy computer consultant, he’s going to take the specs his client gives him and deliver what his client wants. And if the east-coast-only BCS boy’s club says the Pac 10 is down, that’s what the computer geeks are going to deliver.

As for modifying the system as the season went along, let me tell you, simple mods to software systems are done all the time, and on the fly. You make a change to a mathematical formulation; recompile the program(s), reinstall the software and you’re ready to go and nobody knows the difference. I found it interesting that Hester wouldn’t release his code logic to the media or the public just to show just how these ratings were calculated.

This could very well explain how Oklahoma stayed in the BCS top 2 after they got blown out by Kansas State. The east coast hacks who run the BCS didn’t want a west coast team in their showcase game. They had been invested in OU all season long. They went to the computer geeks and requested a “tweak” of their system to keep the Sooners in it, come what may. Massive dollars changed hands and presto chango! Oklahoma – LSU in the Sugar Bowl!

Now this is all very speculative, I realize. But if any part of this is true – especially the arbitrary nature of the computer formulations -- then the fix was in. And don’t look for it to be any different next year.

The Pac 10 could help remedy this situation if they dump the BCS when the contract is up after the 2005 season. They made a deal with the devil and got ripped in the process. They lost exclusive rights to the Rose Bowl, and got no representation in the BCS title game. Not really. The BCS made out like a bandit. The relegated the Rose Bowl to the scrap heap of college football with the rest of the bowl games, and paid lip service to any sense of inclusion in the BCS title game they offered the Pac 10.

This year, the country got a look (again) at how spectacular a matchup the Rose Bowl can be. And while I doubt the Big 10 would join them in the revolt – because let’s face it, the Big 10 is an east coast media darling – it would at least restore some semblance of order to the farcical nature the BCS has brought to the mix.

Either way, it beats bending over and spreading our collective cheeks every other year or so.

[Terry Mross]

Florida ends up in the Top Ten and Arkansas doesn't? I'm partial but this sucks. And Texas, no matter what their record, shouldn't be that high either. Neither should Tenn.

[Terry Mross]

I like your ballot. I'm not sure whether USC or LSU should be number one. I do think LSU is a great team. I also think you have the Sooners too high. They've been highly over rated all year.

[hook2]

Was it just me, or did anyone else think the broadcast by ABC last night was horrible.

[Terry Mross]

It sucked. But here's what really sucked. I had tickets to the Independence Bowl and the Peach Bowl. My wife got sick so we blew off the Independence Bowl. She talked me into going to the Peach Bowl 'cause she loves Tenn. We got to Montgomery (from Houston) and she had a "relapse" so we turned around and came back. We listened to the game on the radio. Now we're glad we didn't go. She's ashamed how Tennessee players acted like a bunch of thugs. Fulmer has no control over his team.

[raptor29]

I agree, the broadcast was brutal. But what can you expect from 'Burnt Hamburger' an announcer who has taken overrated to heights reached only by the Big 12 this year. By the way, Oklahoma QB White had to have a bad shoulder last night, because he couldn't even get his arm up to throw, and he had no juice on any of his passes. They showed a highlight of that hit/pile-driving he took against Kansas State on his right shoulder, but then they didn't mention much about it the rest of the night. White threw well earlier this year, but he had nothing on the ball last night.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Bummer. Here's hoping your wife is feeling better.

[Amerigomag]

(I say this as a fan and student of the game who supports none of the teams as a booster.)

I have no issue, one way or the other, with LSU or USC. My concern involved Oklahoma being ranked near the top after exposing their character in the game with Kansas.

[kevkrom]

On the other hand, the way Oklahoma looked in their final two games may make you think that the computers were wrong to place OU at #1 in the first place...

[LibertarianInExile]

I won't begin to argue with such a complete refutation of my comments...oh, wait, it isn't one. I said the AP ratings of PAC teams are inflated. That they have finally won one outright does not diminish the truth of my statement--even the best polish won't shine $#!#. And do not begin to state that the coaches' poll is any less tainted than the AP--that's why both polls are still around, and that's why the BCS is around, because people doubt both polls.

You can point to exceptions and claim cross-conference bowl game victories all you want, but only playoffs will prove you right or wrong. Until they happen, I'll continue to state it and you will be unable to effectively deny my assertion that the PAC is a wuss, overrated football conference. Maybe not as wuss when compared to the CUSA or the WAC...but not by much.

[LibertarianInExile]

I'm fixin to check Gupta by conference. Will post it when I can.

But playoffs will settle it all. May they come quickly. Then we'll see who's the real thing, and no wussy poll crap will be important any more.

[Psycho_Runner]

"LSU beat the 2nd place team in a conference that went 1-6 in the bowls, and did not look good in any of them."

Nebraska looked good.

[Psycho_Runner]

"LSU is the BCS champion. They are a national champion. USC and its fans shouldn't whine about that."

They are a natioanl champion by beating a team that couldn't win the Big 12. Gimme a freakin break.

[staytrue]

Nebraska looked good for the 1st quarter when they got up 14-0. After that, they looked like the rest of the big 12, weak.

[Psycho_Runner]

"One day there will be a 16-team single elimination playoff, and this lameass BCS/'who's the best conference' crap will be settled."

I have already a playoff system which leaves everyone happy and wealthy while leaving the traditionalist suicidal. Basically, the playoffs would begin Thanksgiving weekend, with each succeeding weekend a playoff weekend. Two bowl games on Christmas day would setup the final Bowl game on New Years Day.

The downside would be a reallignment of bowl games on thanksgiving weekend (8 bowl games) the BCS Bowls would be still be used for the finals and champoinship games.

And how the 16 teams picked? Twelve leagues leaders and four invites ensure top contenders. This system also creates the importance of winning their league.

I have thought of submitting this to NCAA, but its pretty obvious they only listen to the bowl sponsors.