Coaches Poll + BCS = BS!

I feel in the interest of establishing credibility I must first admit that, yes, I recently stated on PST Radio as well as The Sports Guys that I was growing tired of listening to the BCS criticism and playoff solutions. You would think that puts me in the minority when it comes to most college football fans’ view of the BCS, but actually I am on the same Anti-BCS bus, riding to the same stadium, for the same game. You see, “I am Brandon Phillips, and I am a Playoffaholic!” I despise the BCS as much as the next person, however it has become quite obvious that our cries for a playoff are falling on deaf ears, and the reality of change is nowhere in sight. As a result we, as fans, have been relegated to nothing more than puppies chasing our tails, having the same arguments day in and day out. Think about it for a second, if you had a nickel for every time you heard a “who should be in the BCS title game, who shouldn’t be in the BCS title game,” argument that ended with, “That’s why we need a playoff,” you could be the official sponsor of the BCS is Crap Bowl, time and location TBA. The sad part is the small concentration of people who control the BCS, and feed us this “BCS is good for College Football,” crap, have made us, as fans, so irrational that we spend most of our time arguing with each other over something we all agree upon to begin with (we need a playoff). 

The BCS Boobs tell us that all of our arguments about “Who’s number one?” go to show how much interest in college football the BCS generates. Excuse me, I think my BS alarm is going off, allow me to hit the snooze button! So am I to believe there was less interest in college football prior to the BCS? We must stop wasting our time arguing with each other about who should or shouldn’t be in the BCS title game, and redirect this frustration towards the BCS Boobs and force their hand for a PLAYOFF! Leave behind the old days of BCS rhetoric, challenge all playoff naysayers the way you challenge the fan who says USC would beat Florida, or Texas should be in over Oklahoma. I feel it is reasonable to assume if you made a list of the top three groups who should have the most say in the postseason format of college football, you it would go (in some order) Players, Coaches, and Fans. However, as I listen to each of these groups scream for a change, all I hear is college presidents feel the system is “fine.” Interesting that the one group not included in the aforementioned list of “who should matter,” is the one pulling the strings. Ladies. And gentlemen, welcome to college football purgatory.

Now let me reel my ADHD back get to the basis for this article. One of my criticisms of the BCS (among many) has been the Coaches Poll which comprises 1/3 of the BCS formula, or 33.33333333333333333333333333% for those of you who play the percentages. The Coaches Poll in theory sounds like a reasonable idea. Create a panel of voters comprised of respected coaches, include representation from each Bowl Subdivision conference (AKA Division IA for normal people), and let them weigh in on who are the most deserving teams to play for a national championship. Each week these individuals will provide a ranking of Bowl Subdivision teams in an order they feel most appropriate, taking into consideration wins, losses, strength of schedule, blah, blah. I think most of us are okay, up to this point with the theory of a College Football Coaches Poll: now for the problem. For the Coaches Poll to have any credibility, I contend it must center on the premise that the 61-member panel is comprised of high character people who will vote each week in an ethical and unbiased manner. However, I am of the opinion that the next poll, of any kind, which is conducted ethically and unbiased will be the first of its kind. The voting process in and of itself is designed to encourage bias, which is why you vote and support one team or candidate and oppose another. It is human instinct to want to protect your own agenda. Additionally I contest it is extremely hypocritical to expect me, the fan, to take any poll seriously that hands out ballots to:

George O’ Leary: Subject of NCAA investigation at GA Tech regarding ineligible players, and in 2001 was relieved of his temporary duties as Notre Dame Head Coach following the discovery of “inaccuracies” on his resume.

Hal Mumme: UK fans might remember this guy for his high-octane offense as well as the probation, loss of scholarships, and post-season ban that would prevent the Wildcats from taking part in Bowl Play for three seasons.

Mike Price: Probably most remembered for his brief stint as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, however he was relieved of his duties before even coaching a game after it was alleged by Sports Illustrated that Price was seen at a strip club then later checking into a room with one of the dancers. (I think it is important to not that I’m not criticizing the act as much as I am the judgment.)

Steve Kragthorpe: Need I say more Louisville fans?

And what happens to the votes for coaches given the pink slip moving forward? Tommy Bowden, Sylvester Croom, Philip Fulmer, Tommy Tubberville, Tyrone Willingham? Of course does the question of who is voting really matter if the coaches do not take the time to vote anyway? 

It seems the consensus amongst college football fans is that the coaches do not pay attention to their commitment of doing the poll, and in fact, do not even fill it out themselves, but rather have various staff members make the picks on their behalf. This what brought to light when prior to a 2007 matchup with the Texas Longhorns Ohio St. coach Jim Tressel claimed to vote the Longhorns number one, and his Buckeyes number two. However it was later discovered he actually voted Ohio St. number one and Texas number two. Many felt Tressel didn’t want to give the Longhorns any added billboard material which is why he was less than honest about his ballot. Tressel defended his original comments on the vote by laying the blame on Ohio. St. Director of Player Development Stan Jefferson, who allegedly “changed the pick” when calling it in. For as you know, Directors of Player Development change their head coaches’ votes without their knowledge pretty regularly. Tressel made his original comments with the comfort of knowing the ballots were not made public, however USA Today let it be known if public comment is made by a coach, and is inaccurate, it is their place to set the record straight. Treessel isn’t the only one doing it, he is just the one who got caught. Now each season the final coaches poll is made public (which I love), but what is the logic in not having these votes public all year? How can you justify the last week of the regular season, and not the rest? Is it simply a matter of sacrificing accountability in the poll in exchange to limit bulletin board material for opposing teams?

The latest incident bringing the Coaches Poll into question revolves around Texas Longhorn head coach Mack Brown. Brown announced last week that he would have voted Texas No. 1 in the last coaches poll, going against an agreement with the BCS, but stated, "I read something that said your vote didn't count if you voted for number one because number one already was taken. I didn't want to hurt our team by voting us number one and it not counting, so I guess I misunderstood.” For starters Brown reiterates a clause in the Coaches Poll which dictates coaches have to vote the winner of the BCS Title game number one in their final vote of the season, regardless if they feel that team is deserving or not. Additionally Mack Brown openly acknowledges he’s not even really clear on what the rules of voting are to begin with. Now do these sound like the traits of a system worth determining a national champion in college football to you?

I think it’s important to note that the coaches aren’t entirely to blame. How can you reasonably assume a man who works 80 hours a week preparing his football team could keep up with 30 or 40 other teams across the nation? Additionally, if my paycheck and job security were in some way tied to the outcome of that poll, you can darn well believe I’ll be casting the most self-serving ballot you’ve ever seen. While the Coaches Poll is by all accounts a joke, it is simply part of the bigger problem, the BCS. And yes I know I’m a hypocrite but “That’s why we need a playoff.” Here’s your friggin nickel!




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